Local Claude Smith had a productive day at the Tahunga Men's Open, winning the overall net and a new title – the Pine Cone Pairs Trophy – presented by a regular delegation from Poverty Bay Golf Club. The trophy is a drawn pairs title and Smith's name was drawn alongside Poverty Bay's Dave Smith (no relation) as the inaugural winners. Photo / Chris Taewa
It didn’t take long for the first “incident” of Tahunga 2026 to occur for the “Poverty Bay Posse”.
Just past the Roseland Tavern on State Highway 2, a horrified Collin Jeffrey realised a chilly bin of Waikato Draught had been left behind.
“Just fill up some empty bottles with Waipaoa River water,” was a back-of-the-minivan suggestion that didn’t impress Jeffrey or the Chiefs’ No 1 Gisborne fan, Andy Hayward.
U-turn. Back to town. And about 20 minutes later, the Gisborne Intermediate School-rented van was on the road again, carrying a load with an average age and weight far in excess of its usual cargo, bound for Pehiri and another edition of the Tahunga Men’s Open.
It’s an annual excursion looked forward to by camp mother Brent Colbert and his band of Bay brothers with the zeal of a kid on Christmas Eve ... a day-long rural escape from the big city for 18 holes on a classic country course, where the greens are still protected by fences, the Hangaroa River gleefully gobbles stray balls and the locals are as down-to-earth as Fred Dagg.
No one burns up Tahunga these days. The course rating sees to that. Everyone’s handicap cops a Friday the 13th Jason-like slashing.
“It’s the only time I’ll ever be on a plus-one,” Peter Stewart, who played six-over his handicap but was still good enough to win the overall gross, said.
Yes, there are prizes to be won, and this year featured a new trophy – the Tahunga Pine Cone Pairs, a rustic symbol of the Poverty Bay Golf Club connection with Tahunga.
The trophy features a large pine cone found on the Tahunga course last year and mounted on a piece of wood from Poverty Bay, alongside a cut-down iron and golf ball.
The entire field was paired off by draw and the duo with the highest combined Stableford were the inaugural winners. Coincidentally, both had the same surname, but are not related ... local Claude Smith and Poverty Bay’s Dave Smith – perhaps a fitting champion combo, considering the story behind the trophy.
Claude Smith’s 82-12-70 was also the best overall net while Stewart’s modest five-over-par 75 won the gross on countback from Poverty Bay’s Hamish Douglas – the second time “Doggie” has had to settle for runner-up on countback.
Douglas’ crew went home with a healthy share of the spoils. Dave Raggett (37 points) had the best Stableford and Murray Jones’ name echoed throughout prizegiving ... Stableford, approach and long drive honours to his name.
Not many played to handicap and, as usual, tales of woe emerged: From the Pātutahi Golf Club president who had three points for his first nine holes to the unfortunate Poverty Bay axeman who had 12 for his entire round, earning him the nickname “Dirty Dozen” on the minivan ride home.
Tahunga has been through Mother Nature’s wringer in recent years, an evil force called Gabrielle wreaking devastation in 2023. But it has survived, thanks to a committed, loyal and battle-hardened brigade of farmers, who refuse to bow to the weather gods.
After overindulging in the typically wonderful hospitality provided by the Tahunga faithful, the Poverty Bay gang once again reiterated their Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired vow before boarding the van for a DJ Hayward-led musical return to the bright lights.
“We’ll be back, Tahunga. We’ll be back.”
SATURDAY – Tahunga Men’s Open, net: Claude Smith 70, Murray Jones 71, Daniel Williams 71.
Gross: Peter Stewart 75, Hamish Douglas 75, Neil Mackie 77.
Stableford, Division 1: Dave Raggett 37, M. Jones 36, Daniel Williams 35, Neil Mackie 33.
Division 2: Claude Smith 36, Jasper Holdsworth 33, Matt Jefferd 32.
Pine Cone Pairs Trophy (drawn pairs combined Stableford): Claude Smith/Dave Smith 71.
All-in approach: S. Jeune.
Approaches: M. Jones (up to 9 handicap), R. Searle (10-27).
Long drives: M. Jones (up to 9), R. Searle (10-27).
Twos: T. Hindmarsh, S. Jeune, S. Butt.
Eagle on 7: J. Witika.
Electrinet Park has a busy two weekends ahead and Tairāwhiti’s best golfers will be heavily involved in both.
The course will be humming on Sunday for the grand final and positional playoffs of the Tairāwhiti men’s interclub pennants, and the last round of the Endeavour men’s handicap pennants series.
The following week is the Treemarkables Gisborne Park Men’s Open – a 54-hole strokeplay championship with some excellent prizes up for grabs.
The open features senior, intermediate and junior sections, with Daniel Collier the reigning gross champion after firing 76, 74, 71 (221) last year to head off Waka Donnelly by six shots.
Entries were a bit slow as of earlier this week and organisers encourage golfers to enter a tournament with a prestigious history they are keen to add to.
COMING UP: SATURDAY/SUNDAY, May 30-31 – Treemarkables Men’s Strokeplay 54-hole Open, first round and first nine holes of second round on Saturday, from 9am and 1.14pm, second-nine of second round and final round on Sunday, from 9am and 11.45am, prizegivings on both days, inquiries to (06)8679849 or admin@gpgolfclub.co.nz.
New winter member Raukura Chesley made her first Pātutahi club event a winning one on Sunday.
Chesley slipped under the century mark to win the net with 99-27-72.
Ash Hindmarsh produced one of the nines of his golfing life in winning Division 1 of the Friday meat pack 9-hole Stableford – even-par 35 for 23 points.
SUNDAY – Net: R. Chesley 72, D. Wilson 74, T. Sharp 75, A. Hindmarsh 75, P. Hokianga 75, G. Brown 75, M. Pohatu 75.
FRIDAY – Meat pack 9-hole Stableford, Division 1: A. Hindmarsh 23, L. Anania 20. R. Mottart 18, T. Brodie 18, H. Harris 17, T. Hindmarsh 17.
Division 2: R. Evans 20, C. Harris 19, D. Tarry 18, G. Maude 18.
Twos: K. Sarich, P. Hokianga.
The top seeds and the defending champions are still in the hunt as the Kahlenberg Cup women’s pairs moves into the semi-finals stage.
Teresa Lewis and Miggles Shanks were among those who took on a heavy Poverty Bay course in classic winter weather on Monday in the quarter-finals of the handicap matchplay competition.
They saw off Janet Steele and Kay Toon to keep alive their title defence hopes.
Top seeds Sally Spence and Jean Clayton proved too good for Carnie Nelson and Odette Thompson while Janet Muir and Jaye McCafferty eased past Rochelle Taewa and Vonnie Fletcher.
Mary Allan and Rosie Spence, after a 21-hole first-round battle with Marg Colebourne and Pen Wanklyn, knocked out Peri Gayford and Birgitt Whyte.
The semis pit Sally Spence/Clayton against Allan/Rosie Spence, and Muir/McCafferty against Shanks/Lewis.
It’s the toughest format in the golf, but a lot of fun.
The Enterprise Motor Group Open Foursomes is at the Awapuni Links on Saturday, and entries are still being taken.
The alternate shot format can raise the stress level, but also the enjoyment factor when pairs get it right.
And for the big boys is the extra incentive of lifting the Bledisloe Cup-sized trophy as gross winners, which father and son David and Glenn Solomann had the pleasure of doing last year, after signing for an even-par 72.
SATURDAY – Men’s Stableford: D. Croskery 37, J. Jenner 34, S. Andreassen 34, V. Richardson 33.
Division 2: R. Richards 37, M. Lewin 37, M. Smith 37.
Twos: W. Mortleman, K. Goldsmith.
Nearest to pin: D. Patumaka.
THURSDAY (May 14) – Thursday Throne men’s par: P. Gretton +3, P. Clayton +2, G. Clapham +2, A. Meban +2, W. Mortleman +2, S. Harbottle +2, J. Rowe +1.
Twos: C. Palmer, B. Colbert.
Nearest to pin: M. Smith.
COMING UP: SATURDAY, May 23 – Enterprise Motor Group Open Foursomes, 18 holes, men’s, women’s and mixed pairs.
Hiria McClutchie doesn’t get a lot of threes, let alone twos, on the Springs’ “Swamp” hole.
So she was hooting after making birdie on the par-three 11th during round two of the Captain’s net competition.
It also played a part in her winning the round with 92-20-72.
Dick Cook won the men’s Stableford with 87-22-65.
SUNDAY – Captain’s net second round: H. McClutchie 92-20-72, I. Ngarimu 99-27-72.
LGU putting: R. Ngatai 32, H. McClutchie 35, I. Ngarimu 35.
Men’s Stableford: D. Cook 87-22-65, 37; J Forrester 79- 13-66, 36.
Twos: H. McClutchie.
SUNDAY (May 10) – Captain’s net first round, LGU: H. Miratana 97-23-74, 33 putts; A. Cook 116-42-74.
LGU putting: H. Miratana 33, A. Cook 33.
Men’s Stableford: M. Aurupa 73-9-64, 38; W. Mannering 86-21-65, 37.
Twos: M. Aurupa.
His best round on home fairways in nearly three years earned Mark Watts the victory spoils on Sunday.
Watts carded 75-12-63, for 41 points, including a two on the sixth.
It had been over 140 rounds since a 74 on May 2023.
SUNDAY – Stableford: M. Watts 41, W. Reedy 31, T. Higgs 30.
Twos: M. Watts.
Nearest to pin: P. Stevenson.