The Club
The Future
Two years before its 40th anniversary the Pauatahanui Golf Club became mortgage-free for the first time in the Club's history, due to initiatives taken to sub-divide two plots amid native bush and sell them privately.
Membership is steady but the absence of juniors is latent, however recent new memberships have given the Club confidence that we may be on an upward trend.
The most significant boost to the Club will come if Transmission Gully gets off the ground.
Apart from the selling of the two plots of land and a slight increase in membership, the Wellington Regional Council Report of May 1989 is still applicable; it is reproduced here verbatim with the addition of more recent notes in square brackets.
“Pauatahanui Golf Course was developed in 1967.
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Members are drawn as far afield as Miramar and Otaki.
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They have approximately 200 members. Most come from Johnsonville, Tawa, the Hutt Valley, and the Porirua Basin.
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The attractive features of this course are:
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privacy,
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quietness and the rural nature of the setting,
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the temperature/climate is better than in other parts of the Wellington Region. They feel little effect from southerlies and only very rarely do they have to stop a day of golf due to the weather.
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Trees have recently been planted on the hill behind the golf course and in the next twenty years they will provide excellent shelter and contribute to the feeling of seclusion. (At the time of writing some of these trees have been felled to allow regrowth in some shaded areas.)
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The Club's income comes from green fees, membership fees, bar takings, and corporate events.
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The course appears to be well used. Interclub competitions are held both on the weekends and during the week.
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The golf course is hired out regularly and the club rooms patronised.
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The land occupied by the Club, some 92 acres, holds considerable potential for development.
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Behind the clubhouse is sufficient land to develop a further 9 holes [the lots sold have negated this].
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The main concerns of the Pauatahanui Golf Club in relation to the construction of Transmission Gully were:
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The Club intends to develop their number 6 green [done] and their number 7 tee [done] sometime in the future. The site set aside for the tee and the green is located close to the proposed Transmission Gully route.
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The only supply of water for the Club is located to the east of the proposed Transmission Gully route. They were concerned that the construction of the road would interfere with this supply. Water is tantamount to the irrigation of the whole course.
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Should the apron of the proposed road interfere with the boundary of the golf course, then their number 6/15 fairway would be affected.
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While Transmission Gully is actually being constructed, it is likely that the Club's existing tees will be affected. The amount of earthworks required, associated dust, noise, etc., may mean that the course cannot be used at all during the construction period or at certain times only.
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This in turn will mean a loss of revenue for the Club, in particular from green-fee players. Green fees make up a significant proportion of the Club's income. Given that the Club only purchased the land they are on 3 years ago and that they are paying back the loan raised over a period of 15 years, it is important that they retain their current level of income [not an issue now].
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The Club is in a position of uncertainty regarding the development of their 6th green and 7th tee [done as much as we can do].
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Pauatahanui Golf Club has considerable potential for further development. The opportunity to develop facilities must not be interfered with by the proposed Transmission Gully route.
Compensation is an important issue for the Club. -
One of the positive impacts of Transmission Gully on the Club could be that more people become aware of the golf course's existence. This may mean an increase in green-fee players.
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The Club are very concerned about the possibility of the Transmission Gully route being constructed but they are not opposed to it.
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They suggested that a toll gate be placed on the road, once constructed, to assist with paying for it.
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It was noted that they were ‘environmentally concerned’."
Truly the growth/future of the Club rests in three areas:
1. The advent of Transmission Gully opens up huge growth potential, particularly from a point of view from course development and extension.
2. The generosity of the landholder next to number 2 fairway to consider selling us the land [note: if (1) transpires, the landholder will be obliged to give way to Transit New Zealand and some land concession?]
3. The determination / luck of the current membership to obtain the best for the Club somehow!
My thanks go to Alwyn Atkinson for taking the time to speak about the Club.
It is appropriate that the closing lines come from the 25th celebratory pamphlet:
“Remember the dozens and dozens of people who voluntarily gave of their time, to attend working bees, belong to committees, play interclub golf and the many other behind the scenes activities that go towards running a golf club. And remember finally those who have passed on, unfortunately too numerous to mention here. However, let it be said that we enjoyed their company."