Hanmer’s grand designs

By Neville Idour

Hanmer Golf Club enjoys its position in one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist hot spots.

Along with the scenic beauty of the small town on the northern route between Christchurch and the West Coast, the famous Hanmer Springs thermal pools, Heritage Forest and many outdoor activities, the golf course sits nicely with them as an attraction in itself.

It was some years since I last played there but on a recent holiday, which included Hanmer, my wife and I enjoyed a round at this very pleasant country course.

It seemed logical to make the most of it so a chat with office and events' manager Karen de Latour was the result and would reveal some exciting and ambitious plans for the club.

De Latour has been at the club for about eight months but has considerable experience in golf club management. She previously worked at the Russley, Clearwater and Waimairi Beach golf clubs.

We asked how she was enjoying this new environment.

“Very much so,’’ was the immediate reply.

``I think the course is great, especially for a country course and it is a great destination as Hanmer has so much to offer.

``The greenkeepers do a great job and are always trying to improve the conditions. There are two full time greenkeepers and a part-timer.

How did covid-19 affect the club?

“When the South Island didn’t have any cases for quite some time lots of people were travelling and the club did very well. But once we moved to the red setting and omicron spread it has been a struggle with green fee players.”

What about membership? Has there been any increase?

“No and that is because Hanmer is a destination and many of the members live in Christchurch and also Hanmer’s population is only 1000, so there has been little increase.”

One of the things we noticed since we last played was the order of the holes seemed different.

“Yes what used to be one is 10 and 10 is now one. The two nines were reversed so now members could sit and watch players finishing on 18 which provides a great atmosphere.”

Since covid hit, tournaments and events have been cancelled but they are now back on track with a couple of tournaments held recently. The Hanmer Open which was cancelled last October will be held again in October.

Does the club have any plans?

“Concept plans have been drawn up for a complete refurbishment of the clubhouse. This will include double glazing, heat pumps and new golfing type carpet. The outdoor area will look quite smart with some planter boxes to add to the setting.”

When is all this going to happen?

“It will start this year with one focus area at a time. We are hoping to start on the roof before winter, then all of the double glazing a couple of months after that, then hopefully the outside areas by spring. The interior may be a 2023 project as the club has applied for funding to assist with the renovations.''

For a club with just 180 members it is a remarkable project as it is in reality a complete makeover of the clubhouse which has excellent bones and will not exceed the size of the existing shell. However, the club has property to assist with raising a portion of the finance and there seems to be no reason for the transformation not to proceed.

Like many New Zealand golf clubs, Hanmer has a rich history and is in its 111th year, having celebrated its centenary in 2011. It began in 1911 when 50 pounds was collected by residents and was formally opened on September 30, 1911, with 19 men and 20 women members.

One of the darker memories, is despite women making up more than half of the members, they were not treated as equals, nor it seemed were they to be trusted. At a meeting on October 29, 1912, it was decided that ladies must play with a man without any reason given. Imagine that today?

The original nine holes were on land leased from the Tourist Department and Domain Board along with a small area belonging to the club. Those holes bore little resemblance to the course today.

Beside what is now the fifth hole, the Defence Department built Queen Mary hospital for World War I soldiers suffering from shell shock and battle trauma. The club and the hospital developed a close relationship, with the club receiving a grant in return for servicemen playing the course.

The hospital, which eventually was dealing with alcohol and drug addiction patients, closed in 2003.

The first clubhouse, called a pavilion, was built in 1923 following much fundraising from dances and other entertainment. The club also purchased six acres of land adjacent to the course for 18 pounds.

In spring of 1932 the additional nine holes were opened although they were not playable. In 1935 another 19 acres were obtained and by January of 1936 four new holes were in play, eventually extending the course to 18 holes as membership grew.

The war years in the 1940s were difficult with membership affected, but after the war ended numbers continued to rise until the 1980s. Despite such crises, throughout its history, the club has enjoyed a healthy financial position. It has consistently received a major part of its income from green fees.

The club faced up to something of a crisis in the late 1980s regarding its’ membership imbalance. In 1978 an associate membership was introduced which was great for out-of-towners looking for a cheap sub to allow them to have a handicap and play at affiliated rates elsewhere.

Ten years later more than half the membership were absentee members while, of the rest only, 90 lived in Hanmer which placed a huge burden on these ones to manage the club.

In fact membership numbers over the years make fascinating reading. 1947 (173 members), 1956 (228), 1975 (310), 1985 (403), 1995 (252), 2008 (190), 2022 (180). The important factor is the current membership is fully united in supporting the growth of the club.

The 1989 annual meeting saw difficulty filling the committee numbers and consideration for closing the associate membership. A sub-committee of five, including three from Christchurch, was formed to look at membership and the future and structure of the club. This proved to be something of a turning point with every aspect of a golf club’s operations considered, from catering in the clubhouse to possible purchase of hospital land.

So, in 1991, it was decided that, apart from juniors, there would be just one membership category and base subscription for men and women regardless of where a person lived.

In this respect the club was ahead of its time as most clubs had different subscription levels and many still do. Also the purchase of the hospital land, which housed the then holes 13, 14, 15 and 16, was successfully completed both physically and financially.

The various changes and innovations revitalised and united the club. As time has moved to the present day the formerly shortish course has been lengthened to the current 5022 metres from the white tees and 4785m from the yellow tees.

But don’t be fooled, the course is no pushover. There is a variety of design with water in play on a few holes but will only penalise poor shots. One and two are par threes and a good tee shot should produce a par.

The fifth hole, at 262m, has trees either side of the not over-wide fairway and a poor position will bring the gentle dogleg into play.

The eighth, a par three of 127m, requires 100 metres to clear the pond and it is easy to misjudge.

Holes 12, 13, 14 are on a lower level and 14, a 152m par three, is named the wrecker … and for very good reason with a slope up to a raised green. Go too far right and the upslope may hold the ball while left edge of the green may send the ball tumbling down the slope.

All in all the course is a pleasant walk while enjoying the lovely environment and golf that provides a variety of challenges. The $35 green fee for affiliated players represents good value. We look forward to seeing the revamped clubhouse when completed.

The club produced an excellent publication of its history to celebrate the 100 year centenary in 2011 which is still available. So it is appropriate to thank the various contributors especially Ernie Poole who spent countless hours putting together the club history some of which has been recounted here.