Mystery trip proves winner with golfers

Last Sunday a merry band of members set off about 8am on what was billed as a magical mystery bus trip, under the guidance of their driver and Master of Ceremonies, Kevin Mackay.
The trip took them first to the stunning spectacle of the Tararua Wind Farm above the Saddle Road. From there the bus somehow found its way via some bewildering back roads to the Dannevirke Golf Club. Here they were met by an elderly but spritely June Mackay, Kevin's mother, a life member of Dannevirke Golf Club. She provided them with a welcome cup of tea before the group set out to tame the course.
Unfortunately the team forgot to bring their lion-taming gear with the course clearly the winner on the day as the total of 665 stableford points for 23 golfers would show. Just work out the average score and you'll see what I mean.
Janie Buchanan did best of all but I won't give the name of the person with the poorest score but I will say that it took two chip-ins for her to achieve that.
After Dannevirke they turned off on to the back road at Oringi with Kevin able to provide much of the history of the area and the farm where he first lived. Incidentally, I must chat up some of the travellers about the stories that Kevin's mum told about his younger days.
All in all, a very entertaining trip and thanks must go to Kevin for his part in it.
Members will be saddened to hear of the death this last week of Derek Pocknall, another of the great stalwarts of the club over these last 40 years.
Originally from Wellington the Pocknall family moved to the Wairarapa in 1960 when Derek became manager of Rawhiti Station, a position he held until his retirement some 20 years later.
Derek quickly became a member at Masterton Golf Club but the nearby little Wainuioru Club at Stronvar provided ideal learning conditions for the whole Pocknall family. Derek's love of sport was reflected in the fact that he even built a squash court while living at Rawhiti.
At his best Derek got down to a 9 handicap but for much of his career he played as an Intermediate where his intensely competitive nature made him a tough man to bowl. If Derek had a fault it was that he was sometimes too hard on himself, a characteristic that may have cost him some matches but never any friends.
Apart from the golf itself Derek was a true club man, providing great service over the years. He will be best remembered as club handicapper for over a dozen years, a position which ideally suited his meticulous nature. He spent many hours every week producing the handicaps manually following the same scrupulous routine each time. One queried Derek's figures at one's peril, I found out on occasions.
Sadly Derek hasn't been able to play the game he loved these last years. However, he continued to follow the sport and delighted to be on hand when son David returned regularly from the USA to compete in the Wairarapa Open.
Our sympathy goes out to the whole family on this sad occasion.
Wellington men's interclub action entered its penultimate stage last Saturday with all three of the Masterton teams involved.
After their defeat of Miramar 8?/6? the previous week one would have expected the Division 3 team to make mincemeat of their rivals in the return match played at Lansdowne. The locals won but it was a near-run thing reflected in the 8/7 victory to Masterton.
The four-ball results went 3/2 to Miramar while in the singles it was the lower half who shone, with wins to Trevor Campbell, Ash Peterson, Phil Rutene, Herb Ruhe and Paul Fouhy, while up higher Ian Buchanan extracted revenge for last week with a very satisfying defeat of his opponent.
The win gives Masterton 66 points, nicely up the ladder but with little chance of gaining promotion next season.
Division 6 lost heavily to Judgeford last week and while they didn't quite return the compliment, they did gain an 8?/6? victory.
It was probably the 3?/1? result in the fourballs that did it because the singles contests came out 5/5. Bruce Watkins, Barry Smith, Brian Leighton, Gavin Harris and Dennis Hogg obliged for Masterton but Jeff Harrild's only return was the Rear-ender Trophy. Robin Carseldine will be regretting a lost opportunity ? all square at the last, he drove the gully but took seven more shots to get down.
Like Division 3, the Division 6 side sit well up the table but too far back to trouble the leaders.
The Division 2 team played a further round in the Dudding Shield, a round robin event for those four teams not involved in any promotion/relegation contests. It is a somewhat meaningless event but that doesn't excuse the cavalier approach shown by some members of the team in their match against Te Marua at Carterton last Saturday.
Those who played did very well with 5? points so a full team would surely have seen a comfortable victory. Ben Campbell, Simon Dew and Alan Sandford won their singles while Sandford and Brian Campbell, Dew and Courtney Gane took out their foursomes.
Also on Saturday Deidre Walker, Brenda Blatchford, Sereana Phillipps, Chris Lewis and Robyn Guildford from Masterton were part of the Wairarapa Women's team to play the Wellington Women at Featherston. For the first time since 1987 Wairarapa won the fixture 4?/3?. Anita Karaitiana (Mahunga), Lyn Andrews and Emma Wills (Carterton) were also members of the winning team.
Back at Lansdowne the rest of the tribe played in a stableford competition. Results:
Group 1: Geoff Masters 39 pts 1st
Group 2: Sofi Fanua 1st, Kieran Dougherty 2nd, Simon Lauvi 3rd.
Lusiana Williams won the women's group while nearest the pin prizes were taken at the 8th hole by Jan McLaren and Sofi Fanua, at the Fire Services 11th by Arthur Sandford, and by Ray Verhaart at the Money Managers 18th hole.
On Sunday the Women's Tilson Salver team scored a good 4/2 win over Riversdale playing at Carterton. For Masterton Lusiana Williams, Carolyn Stevenson, Lesley Roberts and Helen Newland posted victories with the result leaving Masterton 2 points clear of the field with two rounds to go.
The Vet's run with the weather continued with last Monday providing further yukky conditions forcing postponement.
Tuesday, however, saw 51 women taking advantage of a beautiful day. The competition for the day was the Coronation Medal, Aotearoa Cup, Vets Trophy, LGU, and putting. Results: Silver: Chris Lewis nett 70 1st, Carolyn Springer nett 74 2nd. Putting: Robyn Guildford (27)
Bronze A: Marilyn Kinvig nett 74 1st, Janna Blundell nett 75 2nd. Putting Ngaire Stevens (29)
Bronze B: Sue Falloon 1st, Jane Buchanan 2nd. Putting: Sue Falloon (36).
Nearest the Pin at the Write Price 18th was Liz Waddington
Off the Fairway
Don't forget the "Wine and Dine" Tournament, Monday June 6, with a meal afterwards in the club-house.