Golf is now winding down to Christmas and, last Saturday, the weather ensured that that happened a little faster than is usual. With many Carterton members competing at Martinborough's Christmas Cheer tournament there were never going to be very many players at home. But the weather forecast, and the look ofthe sky to the South, convinced quite a few that discretion was definitely the better part of valour. In the event, eleven players teed of in the bisque stableford competition of the day and driving southerly wind and rain arrived at exactly the same time. Conditions were, to say the least, very unpleasant. Of the eleven who started only two managed to complete eighteen holes and thus they shared the spoils of the day. Craig Wilson showed his tenacity to manage to score 28 points to win the competition with Brian Field, the only other finisher, scoring 24 points, as runner-up. The Marquis of Normanby Men's Nearest the Pin competition was not claimed on this occasion and nor was any player able to hit and hold the sixteenth green to claim the "All Teed Up" ball. However, in a card draw at the end of play, Brian Field claimed the Buckhorn Bar voucher, the last for this year. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The Annual General Meeting of the Carterton Golf Club was held on Monday, December 20, with a good attendance of members. Club officers for the next year elected at this meeting were: President: Russ Sadler. Club Captain: David Wills. Administration Convenor: Ray White. Course Convenor: Alistair Smith. House Convenor: Steven Larsen. Players' Representative: Ian Gordon. The Women's Captain, Marion Matheson, and the Veterans' Captain, Ray White, had been previously elected by their respective groups. A very satisfactory financial year was reported to the meeting - largely as a result of the harvesting of a large number of pine trees from the course - and the sterling effort by the group of members who went above and beyond the call in preparing for sale a large amount of firewood was noted with great appreciation. FOOTNOTE: This will be the last Carterton golf report of the year and I should like to close with the very best of wishes for the festive season, and for 2005, to readers, to the staff of the Times-Age, and to all Wairarapa golfers.
