Pukeko Pages
A newsletter for Waikanae Golf Club members
September 2011
In this issue
New members
Club Captains Corner
Course report
The Aussie Expedition
Match results and upcoming events
Golf Coaching – Kevin Smith
New Members
Welcome to the following new members
Carolyn Hawe – Full Playing
Valerie Hassall – 9 hole
Ken Pinny – Full Playing
With the weather warming up we have a raft of summer members joining us
Ian Wallace, John Pope, John McKay, Mark Hodgins, Kevin Lyes, Mike Thomas, Alastair Milner, Ian Andrews, Andrew Neilson, Vance Stirrat, John Zeier, Andy Williams.
Welcome, enjoy your golf, good company and new friends.
Club Captain’s Corner:
Stroke Indices
In 2010, adhering to Golf NZ protocols, a statistical review was conducted of the blue course stroke indices resulting in significant changes. A similar exercise is underway for the white course. Results will be available in late November. The yellow course will be reviewed in due course. For those interested in the process, click on the NZGA Club Administration Manual and go to section 3, part V, p32: http://www.golfclub.nz/pdf/newzealandgolfclubmanual.pdf?ID=617
Spring golf
Following slicing of our greens and the arrival of daylight saving we are heavily into the main foci of the annual club programme with all sections having events coming up to their keenly contested conclusions.
This is the time of year when our course is at its best. I encourage members to avail themselves of this most enjoyable time of the golfing year by supporting your sectional programmes to the full.
Greens: Having recently returned from playing some of the “resort courses” in Australia, I can assure members that our greens are well up to and usually exceed this “international standard” Well done to our greens staff.
Course information
The 4th Blue tee is now in use and looking great thanks to the use of turf funded by the federated farmers group. They have now agreed to fund turf for the blue 12th Tee block so that it will be in play much quicker than would have been the case.
The 5th Blue tee is in limited use.
The irrigation pump is back in action, with suitable protection, having been knocked out by lightning, and new sprinklers installed on the 3rd, 5th,6th and 18th so we are all set another La Nina summer .
The greens were scarified with 3mm blades to 50mm on 12 to 14 September deep and then seeded and sanded and are coming back nicely.
Aussie Expedition
8 Men members of the Waikanae Golf Club recently toured to Australia’s Sunshine Coast to escape the NZ winter and try the resort courses on offer – wearing matching ex-Sally Army, orange-coloured, WGC-insignia’d shirts! Six courses were played. While away it was reportedly better weather in Waikanae than in Oz and, golf-wise, the result was an overwhelming 6 – 0 win to the resort courses. An overall Stableford competition saw Graeme “Deep-pockets” Quinn take out the money from “Unlucky” Ed Isaac. Rod “Malingerer” Peters took to his sick bed for a couple of rounds, but his every need was attended to by his “House” maid. What happens on tour stays there, so no need to report on “Big Boy”, “Gazza”, “PeeKay” and “Seve’s” activities – these matters are best kept between them and their addiction counsellors!
The photo below was provided by ”Strine” law and order authorities:
From the Match Committee
The men’s Monthly Medal was won by Club Captain Ed Isaac.
Shootout qualifying has ended- congratulations to all those who now have until 30 October to prepare for what is probably the best (and longest!) day in golf.
Placing ended on Sunday 11 September.
The first round of club champs commenced on 11 September. The final will be contested on 16 September. Finalists are Kelly Houghton and Gary Coutts, Intermediate – Ed Isaac and Adam Walding, Junior – Cliff Martin and Geoff Strand, Vets Grant Fairweather and Terry Jones. We have had some close matches so the finals should good contests.
The Pink Ball competition for men was won by Tony Barrow, Gary Mabey, Craig Phelps and Mark Mitchell with 35 points. Second on countback, one point behind were Grant Waterhouse, Dave Morete, Graeme Quinn and Chris Turner.
Mid- Week Men
MWM singles Champion for 2011 is John McConway, runner up was Ken Watt. Alan Tichborne triumphed over Brian Cardiff to win the plate.
Vets Golf
Kapiti Vets 10 October – Waikanae
17 October – Paraparaumu
Golden Coast Vets 17 October Rangitikei
4 Day Vets Tournament
Planning is underway for our annual 4 day vets tournament to be held on November 14, 15, 17 and 18. Mark your diaries
Women’s News
Competition Results
8th LGU, Silver Fran Callis 67 net and Bronze Sharon Muir with a 67 net.
The Winter Cup won by Diana Andrews with Kip Marshall runner up.
The Handicap Match play (WE) was won by Nedra Shand with Jennie Heggie runner up.
Club Championships are underway with the biggest competition in the Bronze 1 division. Other divisions, Silver and Bronze 2, have struggled this year to get qualifiers despite high numbers at least playing in the Bronze 2 division.
Spring Classic
The Pro Shop Spring Classic was contested on September 30 by a field of 99 players including 38 from Wanganui. It was a great day and the $3000 prize table a strong incentive to do well.
The big winners were
Div. 1: Gross – Gary Coutts, Nett- Alan Power, Stableford – Mark Morrissey
Div. 2: Gross – Kelly Houghton, Nett - Roger Broadbelt, Stableford – Peter Venner
Div. 3: Gross – Gary Massey, Nett - Ian Douglas, Stableford – Steve Smith
Div. 4: Gross - Grant Clark, Nett - John Endersby, Stableford - Graeme Quinn
Ladies: Gross - Rae Henderson, Nett - Cath Peters, Stableford - Cath Peters
Golf Coaching – Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is a Class AAA, NZPGA teaching professional who is available, by appointment for individual and group coaching and schedules 1 day and 3 day coaching skills at Waikanae.
He has 20 years’ experience teaching golf and is a Titliest Performance Institute level 1 coach.
At present he is the Srixon Academy, Development, Womens and Mens Masters Team Coach for the Wellington Golf Association.
He is a past NZ Womens National Coach and High Performance Coach for NZ Golf.
Kevin is an honorary member of the NZ Golf Foundation and is the Author of “The Complete Guide to Great Golf” (available from the pro shop) and writes for the NZ Golf Magazine.
Kevin enjoys working with golfers of all levels and ages and gets a lot of enjoyment helping golfers achieve their goals. For an appointment phone Kevin on 0274399402 or 04- 2933544 or email kevinsmithgolf@xtra.co.nz.
Kevin has generously offered to provide a monthly tip to Pukeko Pages.
Tip of the month
The tip for this month is very appropriate to the Waikanae course
Thinking Right? – “Accentuate the Positives!!
Believe it or not most of the conversations we will have are with ourselves, i.e. “Self-Talk”!
When on the golf course sometimes this is responsible for both our great shots along with those that disappoint L
As golfers, just like in life, we need to beware of how what we say can then effect how we react.
For example playing over a water hazard, or playing over a bunker or perhaps facing a short putt it is easy to say to ourselves; ‘don’t hit it in the hazard” or “don’t miss this putt” From these statements we usual end up doing one of two things, i.e. either a) hitting the ball into the hazard or perhaps missing the putt Or b) over correcting and producing a result which is just as undesirable!
Unfortunately our brains do not recognise the word “don’t” all it hears is “hazard” or “miss the putt” and not wanting to disappoint it assist us in achieving just this!
Another form of negative self-talk we need to be aware of are; Self for filling Prophecies, e.g. “I always play this hole bad” or “I always duff these shots” or “I hate this club”!
Once again all these statements do is confirm to the brain what our goal is – to play the hole, shot or club poorly!!
So what should we be saying to ourselves?
Like that great old song suggests:
Accentuate the Positive to Eliminate the Negative and don’t mess with MR In-between!
Always instruct yourself what you aim to achieve!!
As example: “this club has plenty of loft all I need to do is contact the ball during the down swing, take good aim, relax and swing smoothly” or “I’ve made tons of these putts before so I can make this one too – “take good aim, relax and make it smooth” or perhaps “I’m going to play this hole well today, where do I want my tee shot to finish….”etc.
I’m sure everyone knows people who have a really positive outlook on things and never seem to be fazed by situations.
All this takes is being fully aware of what we say to ourselves and then trust, do and enjoy the result!
Enjoy your Golf J
Kevin accentuating the positive over the 15th pond
Happy golfing
John McConway
