Kaiapoi: Hickory sticks and sandy lies

 By Neville Idour

Founded in 1907, Kaiapoi Golf Club, situated a few kilometres north of Christchurch, calls itself the jewel of North Canterbury. 

 

I am certainly not going argue the merits of that claim here. One thing that is clear when playing Kaiapoi is it has a character of it’s own which sets it apart from most courses in the region.

 

It was logical to dig a little deeper after a round and have a chat to the golf operations and administration manager Karen De Latour who has been in the role for just over a year. 

 

She has considerable experience having worked for Canterbury Golf and previously at Hanmer Golf Club which was most enjoyable.

We asked how the club has progressed through the covid period. 

 

“Membership has increased from around 280 when we went into the first covid lockdown and now it is up to around 460,'' De Latour said.

 

``The club has been pro-active with marketing for members. We have developed a good relationship with Kaiapoi North School over the past year. 

 

``Starting in September we will have five weekly sessions at the school on Fridays then on the sixth and final one they will be here at the course. Overall there will be 180 children so we are hoping to get some of them into junior programmes here.”

 

Another boost for the club is the Kaiapoi Open on September 17.

 

“It fell away after the earthquakes but it was revived last year and it will again give the profile of the club a lift,'' De Latour said. 

 

``If he is not overseas Kazuma Kobori has said he will play.” 

 

The Kaiapoi Open usually draws a strong field. Many talented players have graced the event, including Sir Bob Charles many years ago.

Members are well catered for with it’s café/restaurant which is only closed on Mondays. Evening meals are usually available Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

As for the course there has been upgrading over the past year. A lot of gardens and paths have been established plus a couple of ponds. 

 

“We have a young greenkeeper Mitch Berry. He has been working hard with a team of volunteers doing some great things with the course.”

Originally more of a links layout it is now best described as a combination of links and parklands. With a sandy base, the course copes well during the winter months.

When the club celebrated its’ 100th anniversary in 2007 a detailed history of the club entitled Hickory Sticks and Sandy Links was produced in an excellent publication by Evan Thomson. It is a fine example of the community spirit that is a hallmark of the club.

In the beginning, 28 acres were leased from Horace Land with a right to purchase. This would prove beneficial for the club in later years. 

 

The land was cleared and a six-hole course was formed. Hickory days came to Kaiapoi with a few clubs in a slim canvas bag. A brassie, spoon, mashie, niblick and putter were enough clubs back then. 

 

Preparing for Saturday golf was quite an exercise with sheep to be cleared away and the greens mowed with a push mower. Adjacent land became available and the course was re-sited . A small clubhouse, a cottage with a verandah, was erected near the site of the present entrance.

 

Subscriptions in 1911 were 10 shillings for men and five shillings for women. In 1924 the first paid greenkeeper, Joe Jowers was employed for the princely sum of one pound per week. 

 

In 1931 the links course was expanded to nine holes. The club was in good heart with greenkeepers looking after the course admirably.

 

By 1952 the nine-hole course could not support any more members so membership was closed with a waiting list. The thought of 18 holes formed in the minds of some members such as Murray Stanley and Dick Frizzell. 

 

Land was acquired and the new layout agreed upon. A huge amount of work over many years led to the course as we know it today being opened in 1969. Ian Cromb designed holes one to five and Frizzell six to 18.

Len and Nola Wyatt dedicated their lives to the care of the course from 1953 to 1975. Len’s efforts as greenkeeper were described as heroic especially during the transition from nine to 18 holes. He was self-taught by doing the job and became skilled and meticulous at his craft. 

On the other hand Nola was the “afternoon tea lady” each Saturday. She would bake the scones at home. Then with the fruitcake and cheese on the carrier and the batched scones balanced on the handlebars of her bicycle, she pedalled to the clubhouse. 

 

There she would make the tea as each four came in after nine holes. The men would enjoy their scone and jam, or fruitcake and cheese for two shillings each, thus were fortified to attack the second nine holes.

 

In 1970 ``business'' ladies were finally allowed to have tee times on Saturdays. This despite there having been lady members from the outset in 1907 when there were 12 men and nine women. 

 

At the same time, because of the rising numbers using the course, it was realised a new clubhouse was needed. So in 1971 a sub-committee was formed to look at proposals, plans were drawn up and Williams Construction submitted a price of $59,739.

 

In 1975 the first ride-on greens' mower was purchased so one man could mow the greens in two hours whereas previously it took three men about four hours. 

 

There was a huge windstorm that year which caused havoc on the course. Trees snapped like matchsticks, others were uprooted crashing onto the course. There was a massive clean up of debris and there was no golf for six weeks.

Through the years the club has more than held it's own on the golf course in competition, whether it be individuals, tournaments or interclub. Amelia Garvey,  who is currently on the cusp of an LPGA Tour card, has Kaiapoi Golf Club as her home club where members follow her results.

The course itself is not long at 5113 metres from the white tees however it's stroke rating seems very generous producing a handicap that says the course is not difficult. 

 

Compared to other courses in the area which are supposedly more difficult, playing Kaiapoi gives the lie to that. In recent times the clearing of more than 600 trees has given a more links look to the course.

The course features undulating and at times tight fairways, requiring accurate tee shots. The rough, on occasions just off fairway, can be a challenge. The greens are excellent and varied in contours and size. 

 

There are five par threes and three par fives. Don’t expect an easy ride on the par threes at 119, 148, 156, 159 and 171 metres. The par fives are not long but again there is sufficient challenge to require good course management. 

 

The course features one double green and with the sandy base and computerised irrigation system it is one of the driest in Canterbury in winter.

The good news is it does not cost an arm and a leg to play. Just $25 for affiliated members and $30 for others. Nine-hole rates are $15 and $20. Limited number of carts are available at $20/$30. Push Trundlers are free. So why not play this jewel of North Canterbury if you have the opportunity.