Golfers happy as entries saved

Titahi Bay golfers have had a successful season, but now they are heaving sighs of relief.

This year Titahi Golf Club women players won the Lansdowne and Championship competitions, and came second in the Mary Alward/ Tuakana competition.

Titahi club members combined with Te Marua and Boulcott’s Farm players for the Lansdowne, and with Te Marua golfers in the Championship.

The Mary Alward/ Tuakana team led the contest but lost a play- off against another Porirua club, New Judgeford.

Following complaints from other clubs, a proposal was mooted to ban joint teams, but the teams’ survival looks likely now Wellington Golf Association has declined to recommend the rule change.

Lynell Huria is Titahi Golf Club president and plays in its championship competition women’s team on Saturdays.

She said the small club had difficulty fielding women’s teams because it only had two players available for the mid-week Lansdowne competition.

It only had two or three players on single digit handicaps but needed six to field a competitive championship team.

‘‘We were kind of disappointed [by the proposed ban] because we just wanted to participate,’’ she said.

Huria had also feared up- and- coming golfing stars such as Te Rongopai Clay would have been forced to join larger clubs to play competitive golf.

‘‘ She hasn’t said that she would move but, to be honest, it’s in her best interest.’’

Wellington Golf manager Peter Brinsdon said some clubs had wanted the change but WGA had decided last Tuesday not to recommend banning combined teams.

‘‘ There is no change.’’

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