Aside from the battle to take place at AMI on the morrow, Friday saw Royal Wellington, Royal Auckland, Royal Queensland, Royal Sydney, The Australian, and ourselves gather at Shirley to establish trans-Tasman golfing supremacy. Rounding out the field but unable to compete for the major trophies were an invited composite team from Indrooroopilly and a local (but star studded) Barbarians unit. Each four is mixed so you get to play with people from other clubs rather than your own team mates.
The competition is stableford based, with 5 scores out of the 8 man team counting for the overall total combined score. Apart from the inevitable bragging rights three trophies are up for competition, with the major prize being best club. The outside invitees put up a sensational showing with Indrooroopilly heading the list while the Barbaas were very close behind after some outstanding individual scores. Given both sides were ineligible to win the first of the six regular contenders was Royal Sydney on 179 points from Royal Auckland in second.
Suffice to say Christchurch (164) failed to exploit home town advantage and finished well down the order but ahead of Royal Wellington who held up the bottom of the table. Our best score was Charles Whitwham with 36 points but unfortunately no one else chimed in - the team selection policy may have to be reviewed. The Bledisloe Trophy for the best country calculated by the top 15 scores from Australia and New Zealand was won by Australia (an inquiry into handicaps may have to take place!!).
The final prize is for the lowest score on the day and is the Geoffrey Fusion Hartigan Trophy which this year was captured by Graeme Kershaw from Royal Wellington with 21 points (he scored 9 points in the last three holes to even scramble to 21). In past years two Christchurch players have been the recipients of this dubious honour but on that my lips are sealed.
We played the Alternate Course to allow for a two tee start and nobody seemed to get lost; at the front of the field my grouping was round in 4 hrs.10 mins which was slightly quicker than the group teeing off 10 where Charles Whitwham was the trailblazer. After the golf a formal dinner (salmon followed by lamb shanks and creme brulee for afters) and prize giving was held in the Clubhouse with Reg Garters providing the entertainment by way of a solo performance incorporating speech, humour and song which was very well received by all present.
This event provided an opportunity for the Club to showcase its wares to a hugely influential audience and it is fair to say we were well above the bar from the condition of the course, to the excellence of the catering and to the efficiency of the organisation - all feedback was extremely complimentary and advanced our cause of being one of the leading New Zealand Golf Clubs. The day was highlighted by the convivial spirit that was generated by the players which added to the enjoyment of the occasion. Next year the match travels to Royal Queensland at the end of August and no doubt tales will follow the players home.
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