September 27, 2024 • 7 mins
What’s the best country golf club in Canterbury?
Scargill Golf Club is a contender for the title, and President Dave Inkson joined Lesley Murdoch to argue for his club, in association with Elmwood Trading Company.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's go out to the charm of the Scargill Golf Club.
The president Dave ands and joins us. Dave, good morning, Leslie,
how are you good things? How's it looking this morning
out there? Is it as nice as christ Church?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A little bit of cloud hanging around, but it looks
like it's going to be quite a nice day.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So yeah, they tell us that this is the best
country golf course in Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well it will be up there definitely.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah. Oh god, Well you've got to sell it to
us because you know it's eighty k's away from christ Church,
isn't it. Do you get many christ Church people coming.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
To you here? We do. I guess most of out
our grain Flee players come out from christ Church and
a few of the surrounding areas, so we always enjoy
having them out and hopefully giving them a good experience.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Oh, I'm sure you do. So tell us about your membership.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I guess we've only got about sixty full paid members,
so we don't have a lot. And yeah, whether or
about thirty six men and twenty two women, I think
it is. So we're always looking for new members, but
they will come from well, basically from Ambley North so Ambley,
(01:08):
whitber Omheath, Gritta Valley, mart Now Beach and Scargo itself.
So call a large catchment.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
What's the golf course itself?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Like, it's an undulating course. We have about six sort
of flatholes and we got three of the holes are
which go down some hills, so about a twenty meter
drop which brings in some nice sort of bistas and
makes it quite a challenge.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
So it is an eighteen nine right, Okay, We've.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Got some of the Teff's change on the back nine,
just to make things a bit more interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
One of the interesting parts about golf clubs, I think
a lot of the ones in the city, because they
have higher membership obviously can pay for greenkeepers and whatnot.
How does Gargle keep afloat?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah, good, good question. We only have one paid staff member.
He just mows the greens probably three times a week
and the rest of the morning, and of course maintenance
is done by volunteer labor. Generally, most most of the
members have been retired farmers over the years, so the
(02:24):
are the ones who are first to put up their
hands to help out.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And I would imagine that something like the golf club
would be vital in terms of farmers just getting a
bit of release back out of the farm and go
and have our hat.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Oh, most definitely it's a great, great way to get
out there and have your arms here mates and check
in the sea if everyone's doing a rite in there
with a mental health and and everything like that. So
there's nothing better than going for a good four hour
walk playing playing on a nice day and perhaps sharing
(02:59):
a few beers after. So it's you know, it's a good,
good response from the pressures of work and family commitments and.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Apart from yourself, what are other notable members that have
been part of your club?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
You know? I guess Moe Pollock was probably most notable
golfer over the years. She started out as a teenager.
I think that's skaggle, But when she moved down to
Ambley and I think she's one about thirty championships down
there so and representive Canterbury over the years. So I
guess she's our most notable member.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
And in terms of the course record, do you know
what that is?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
That's sixty five?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Oh, okay, that would be going good, wouldn't it. You've
got to sixty anywhere near that?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it's quite a challenge at times. So yeah, sixty
five was quite a good score.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So Green fees guests are welcome anytime you would.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Do so Green flees a twenty dollars, which is pretty
good value for money. And as a general, the course
is open seven days a week. We have a number
of tournaments throughout the year, so sometimes the course to
be closed on those days. But but yeah, as a
general it's open the rest of the time.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We I'll tell you what I think. You know, if
you didn't have the volunteers, it's a miracle that Skargo
Golf Club and others like it available to the community.
I think it's just amazing that it's volunteer based.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely correct about that. There's two other
courses around here in the same boat. So and that's
how we operate, and it's you know, I think everyone
appreciates see if that goes into doing these sorts of things.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And Dave, how did you get to be the president?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I guess it was my n is that what it is? Yeah,
as a general people have a a year term. So
I've been a member of the club since I was
a teenager, and it was it's a good thirty years ago.
I suppose I joined and it was my turn to
step up and take the reins.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Oh good man, what's your handicap?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I'm currently on about two or three at the moment. Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
That must be a lot of golf you have to
play to keep it well.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It used to be a lot of golf I played,
but I don't play as much as I'd like to,
but it's definitely hard to play to that.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Do you get any of the former Canterbury rugby players
from up north Canoby a way playing at Skargo?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Just one currently, Stulo plays a bit. He was the
president five years ago as well, so he's done us
a nice job within the course and he still puts
in a few hours looking after some of the water
watering on the course, so we definitely appreciate them.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Oh fantastic around. Yeah, it just sounds like such a
good place to go to just for community if nothing
else and release time.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Oh exactly. And the course is said on an accouncil
reserve and it also includes the Crosit ground and Keen
of Scores and squash court and bowling green, so it's
it's a menificent asset for the community and still has
to be maintained.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So yeah, you'll get out there today. Will you have
a hit around?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
That's the plan. Yeah, I've got a few other jobs
to do first, and yeah I look forward to getting
out there and chasing it a little white ball around.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Have you had a hole in one?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I haven't, right, Well, something to look forward to then, possibly.
Oh fantastic. Well, Davidson, thanks so much, first of all
for helping keeping Skaggo Golf Club alive, but for coming
on here with us this morning. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, not a problem, every master chat.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Good job, good luck with the hole on one.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
No, thanks very much. Okay, so yep. For more from
News Talk st B, listen live on air or online,
and
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Let's go out to the charm of the Scargill Golf Club.
The president Dave ands and joins us. Dave, good morning, Leslie,
how are you good things? How's it looking this morning
out there? Is it as nice as christ Church?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
A little bit of cloud hanging around, but it looks
like it's going to be quite a nice day.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
So yeah, they tell us that this is the best
country golf course in Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Well it will be up there definitely.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah. Oh god, Well you've got to sell it to
us because you know it's eighty k's away from christ Church,
isn't it. Do you get many christ Church people coming.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
To you here? We do. I guess most of out
our grain Flee players come out from christ Church and
a few of the surrounding areas, so we always enjoy
having them out and hopefully giving them a good experience.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Oh, I'm sure you do. So tell us about your membership.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I guess we've only got about sixty full paid members,
so we don't have a lot. And yeah, whether or
about thirty six men and twenty two women, I think
it is. So we're always looking for new members, but
they will come from well, basically from Ambley North so Ambley,
(01:08):
whitber Omheath, Gritta Valley, mart Now Beach and Scargo itself.
So call a large catchment.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
What's the golf course itself?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Like, it's an undulating course. We have about six sort
of flatholes and we got three of the holes are
which go down some hills, so about a twenty meter
drop which brings in some nice sort of bistas and
makes it quite a challenge.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
So it is an eighteen nine right, Okay, We've.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Got some of the Teff's change on the back nine,
just to make things a bit more interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
One of the interesting parts about golf clubs, I think
a lot of the ones in the city, because they
have higher membership obviously can pay for greenkeepers and whatnot.
How does Gargle keep afloat?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah, good, good question. We only have one paid staff member.
He just mows the greens probably three times a week
and the rest of the morning, and of course maintenance
is done by volunteer labor. Generally, most most of the
members have been retired farmers over the years, so the
(02:24):
are the ones who are first to put up their
hands to help out.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And I would imagine that something like the golf club
would be vital in terms of farmers just getting a
bit of release back out of the farm and go
and have our hat.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Oh, most definitely it's a great, great way to get
out there and have your arms here mates and check
in the sea if everyone's doing a rite in there
with a mental health and and everything like that. So
there's nothing better than going for a good four hour
walk playing playing on a nice day and perhaps sharing
(02:59):
a few beers after. So it's you know, it's a good,
good response from the pressures of work and family commitments and.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Apart from yourself, what are other notable members that have
been part of your club?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
You know? I guess Moe Pollock was probably most notable
golfer over the years. She started out as a teenager.
I think that's skaggle, But when she moved down to
Ambley and I think she's one about thirty championships down
there so and representive Canterbury over the years. So I
guess she's our most notable member.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
And in terms of the course record, do you know
what that is?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
That's sixty five?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Oh, okay, that would be going good, wouldn't it. You've
got to sixty anywhere near that?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it's quite a challenge at times. So yeah, sixty
five was quite a good score.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
So Green fees guests are welcome anytime you would.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Do so Green flees a twenty dollars, which is pretty
good value for money. And as a general, the course
is open seven days a week. We have a number
of tournaments throughout the year, so sometimes the course to
be closed on those days. But but yeah, as a
general it's open the rest of the time.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We I'll tell you what I think. You know, if
you didn't have the volunteers, it's a miracle that Skargo
Golf Club and others like it available to the community.
I think it's just amazing that it's volunteer based.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Yeah, yeah, it's definitely correct about that. There's two other
courses around here in the same boat. So and that's
how we operate, and it's you know, I think everyone
appreciates see if that goes into doing these sorts of things.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
And Dave, how did you get to be the president?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
I guess it was my n is that what it is? Yeah,
as a general people have a a year term. So
I've been a member of the club since I was
a teenager, and it was it's a good thirty years ago.
I suppose I joined and it was my turn to
step up and take the reins.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Oh good man, what's your handicap?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I'm currently on about two or three at the moment. Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
That must be a lot of golf you have to
play to keep it well.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
It used to be a lot of golf I played,
but I don't play as much as I'd like to,
but it's definitely hard to play to that.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Do you get any of the former Canterbury rugby players
from up north Canoby a way playing at Skargo?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Just one currently, Stulo plays a bit. He was the
president five years ago as well, so he's done us
a nice job within the course and he still puts
in a few hours looking after some of the water
watering on the course, so we definitely appreciate them.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Oh fantastic around. Yeah, it just sounds like such a
good place to go to just for community if nothing
else and release time.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Oh exactly. And the course is said on an accouncil
reserve and it also includes the Crosit ground and Keen
of Scores and squash court and bowling green, so it's
it's a menificent asset for the community and still has
to be maintained.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So yeah, you'll get out there today. Will you have
a hit around?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
That's the plan. Yeah, I've got a few other jobs
to do first, and yeah I look forward to getting
out there and chasing it a little white ball around.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Have you had a hole in one?
Speaker 2 (06:40):
No?
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I haven't, right, Well, something to look forward to then, possibly.
Oh fantastic. Well, Davidson, thanks so much, first of all
for helping keeping Skaggo Golf Club alive, but for coming
on here with us this morning. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, not a problem, every master chat.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Good job, good luck with the hole on one.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
No, thanks very much. Okay, so yep. For more from
News Talk st B, listen live on air or online,
and
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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