Golf club gets its lift back

The Rangatira Golf Club's unique golfing cable car lift will be re-installed tomorrow after nearly five months off the track.

Club spokesman Warren Guiniven said an inspector from the Department of Labour had checked the 41-year-old lift in February and given it the thumbs-down. Members of the Rangatira Golf Club, 12 km north of Hunterville, have raised the $77,000 to bring their lift home. That was $17,000 more than initially quoted.

It's the world's only golfing cable car to help players get around the three-level course.

"Our lift is unique around the world," Mr Guiniven said.

The lift was closed down the same day the inspector checked it. "Our electric cable car has never been ticketed. We tried to get it certified but couldn't get an engineer to do it, even though the lift was in good condition and has been maintained regularly."

The Department of Labour had never visited the club in 40 years, probably because it was on private land, he said.

The lift is being brought up to standard by Palmerston North engineering firm Niven Engineering.

Mr Guiniven said the new lift apparatus would now have two steel cables instead of one, and a set of hooks and a lever inside.

A disc brake had also been fitted to the winch drum which meant the brake would automatically lock on if one of the ropes came off, he said.

The lift has to now be in line with world wide amusement park ride standards, he said.

Even though the lift was being installed this week it won't be open for use straight away. "Well, we're expecting a few teething problems ... it won't be straightforward. Everything needs to be totally in sync."

The club is hoping to have an official opening next month.