| 111 BUSINESS Methven Golf Club Ski Time in Methven is perfect for your next holiday, conference, wedding or just a night out with friends. Our comfortable, cosy atmosphere and warm welcome will ensure you never want to leave! Proudly supporting Methven Golf Club 03 302 8398 res@skitime.co.nz www.skitime.co.nz AIS Methven is your local Truck & Trailer workshop. We service and maintain trucks, trailers, construction equipment and more. Whether you need regular fleet servicing or have had a breakdown, we have a 24 hour callout service. We are also the only authorized CoF agent in Methven (by appointment only). Contact BarryWalker 0273061193 55LineRd,Methven T T Rosa Watson Improvements all round at growing club In April the club hosted the South Island Under 19 Championship with 120 players teeing off over four days. The Methven Golf Club is making significant improvements to its facilities and offerings as the town grows in popularity as a destination and place to live. Around $200,000 has been spent on revamping the clubrooms at the course that is experiencing steady growth in membership and green fees. “It started with some toilets, but finished up with reroofing the whole clubhouse, repainting the outside and replacing a lot of the doors,” former Club President Russell Currie says. “We also redid the whole inside, tidied it up and repainted it. It brought it a bit more up-to-date.” The roof had become degraded over the years and was well overdue for an upgrade, he says. They have also upgraded machinery over the last two years with the purchase of seven new golf carts and the replacement of greenkeeper equipment such as tractors and mowers. “The golf club is ticking along very comfortably at the moment.” There are now four employees on the golf course, including administration staff and greenkeepers. With the Methven township expanding, including a subdivision right next door to the club, golfer numbers are increasing — particularly in green fees from out-of-towners, Russell says. “People are making Methven a weekend or two- or three-day stop ... with the hot pools and other facilities and restaurants. And that’s making quite a big difference to our club.” In April the club hosted the South Island Under 19 Championship with 120 players teeing off over four days. “(It) was a real privilege to host that major event for Golf NZ. It was very intriguing to watch these really good upcoming young players in New Zealand. There was some fantastic golf played by all those people.” He says 9000 to 10,000 golf balls were driven per day on the club’s driving range over the tournament. Coming up is an annual tournament held by the Canterbury Law Society in October where lawyers and judges from around the region descend on the club for three days. There is the Methven Ladies Pink Lady Tournament on September 14 that attracts golfers from around the region including Christchurch, Timaru, and further, and a nine-holer tournament on October 16. The club hosts a two-day sponsors tournament on 21st and 22nd November, and the High Country Classic to be held on 30th and 31st January — a two-day tournament with the Saturday held at Terrace Downs Golf Resort and the Sunday at Methven Golf Club. The clubrooms have also been used for two weddings in the last year and has hosted corporate functions. “People have their corporate meetings and their meetings and that in the morning and then sometimes have nine holes of golf afterwards,” Russell says. Russell stepped down as Club President in June after two and a half years, handing it over to Ruth Smith. He says the renovations were a major highlight of his tenure. “Getting the clubhouse upgraded and the roof secured — those would be the major things.” Celebrating the centennial in 2024 was also a huge highlight, he says. “We have a lot of young junior golfers, a lot of local school pupils ... coming along and playing golf now. It’s really great to see them out there in the holidays at different times playing golf. “And just the standard of the golf course is kept up by many volunteers and staff. It’s great to see.” He says the Methven community is growing rapidly. “(There’s) a lot of younger people coming to town to live. That’s bringing more people into the golf course. But I think Methven overall is developing as a travel destination, not just a stop. And we are gaining on the back of that.” He says the ski season is also a drawcard, with Mt Hutt Ski Field only 20 minutes away. Looking ahead the club is looking to improve its driving range in the coming years, and will also spend $60,000 on a new source of water and irrigation system. “We’re waiting for the pipes to be put in. So hopefully it’ll be all in place for the start of this coming season.” Overall, things are looking bright at the club. “There’s a good golf committee there. Things are all pretty positive really.”
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