Centenary Building ProjectThe club is proposing to carry out building alterations to <strong>the</strong>clubrooms during this off season. The alterations involve:• extending <strong>the</strong> upstairs area out over <strong>the</strong> office to increase <strong>the</strong>gym area, putting in a room for team meetings, and installingtoilets and showers• removing <strong>the</strong> internal staircase in <strong>the</strong> foyer (will create morespace upstairs and downstairs)• providing separate external access to <strong>the</strong> upstairs area• redecorating <strong>the</strong> main bar area downstairs• extending <strong>the</strong> kitchen• moving <strong>the</strong> bar• creating a creche areaAn architect has prepared draft floor layout plans and elevations fordiscussion. A working party from <strong>the</strong> club committee has reviewed<strong>the</strong> proposed alterations and suggested some modifications. Thearchitect is now amending <strong>the</strong>se draft plans, and <strong>the</strong> cost of <strong>the</strong>proposed works is being estimated. A review of funding optionswill <strong>the</strong>n be undertaken, and <strong>the</strong>n more detailed architects andstructural plans will be prepared for consent. Construction is tocommence on approval of necessary consents. <strong>Club</strong> members willbe called upon to assist with <strong>the</strong> works. Subject to availability offunds, <strong>the</strong> works may need to be staged over a couple of years.Strategic PlanSteven Bruce has prepared a strategic plan to help <strong>the</strong> club reachits goals over <strong>the</strong> next few seasons. Steven presented a draft of<strong>the</strong> plan to a small number of invited club members at a breakfastat <strong>the</strong> Bellevue Hotel on Friday 28th August 2009.The invitees, selected to provide a wide variety of experience andskills, were each invited to comment briefly on <strong>the</strong> plan. Stevenis now reviewing <strong>the</strong>se comments before finalising <strong>the</strong> plan. Thenext big task for all club members is to become involved andimplement <strong>the</strong> plan to make <strong>HOBM</strong> <strong>the</strong> best club in Wellington.$100 Raffle ResultsDrawn Thursday 20 August1st - 247 2nd - 1863rd - 082 4th - 0025th - 056 6th - 0997th - 203 8th - 170A big "THANK YOU" to everyone supporting thisfundraising event, whe<strong>the</strong>r it was selling or buyingtickets and o<strong>the</strong>rs that came along to <strong>the</strong> draw.2009 <strong>Club</strong> Prize WinnersCLUB AWARD FOR RECIPENTSue Hatton Cup 7’s Player of <strong>the</strong> year Taleta TaualapiuPara Wellington U19 Player of <strong>the</strong> year Sam MansfieldPeter Lally Trophy 80/80’s Player of <strong>the</strong> year Michael Bell (Howlers)Max Parsonage Cup Best Colts grade player Samuel FaisandierPaddy Wells Plate Best U21 Player (open grade) Brad HinesMalcolm Perrett Trophy Most Promising Young Player Glen WaltersTottenham Trophy Most Improved Player Reuben ColquhounMBOB All Star Trophy Top Premier Player Steven BradshawPeter Eilers Cup Highest Points Aggregate Glen Walters - 178 pointsQuirke Family Cup Top Try Scorer Glen Walters - 15 tries<strong>Club</strong> Merit Award <strong>Club</strong> Person Jim McMenaminGraeme Coley Cup Managers Award Ross FibbesPlayers Trophy <strong>Club</strong> Player of <strong>the</strong> year Luka GibbRex Atkinson Outstanding Team U19sTEAM AWARDSPresidents85kg Restricted - Howlers85kg Restricted - RobotsSenior 2Under 19’sColtsSenior 1PremiersRECIPIENTJeremah AfoaDave McIntoshDaniel PigouHilao ManueleJames MobbsRetimana HartleyDaniel KubiackPetero SanelePage 4 - October 2009
...to <strong>the</strong> following Junior <strong>Club</strong> RepsBen PowerWellington Regional &Hutt Valley U13 OpenRepresentitveChristo PotgieterWellington Regional, HuttValley U13 Restricted &Hutt Valley U13 OpenRepresentitiveSimaota SuiLogan Ngatuere-OngleyWellington Regional U13Open RepresentitiveInoke TufeleWellington Regional &Hutt Valley U13 RestrictedRepresentitiveJordan ArmstrongHutt Valley U13 RestrictedRepresentitiveVern SosefoBen van OoyenSalesi RayasiHutt Valley U13 OpenRepresentitiveAsapho AumuaHutt Valley U12 & U13Restricted RepresentitiveNathan SterlingCaleb TashkoffLuese MoemaiNick HegartyHutt Valley U12Representitive<strong>HOBM</strong> <strong>Golf</strong> OpenFea<strong>the</strong>rston, Sunday 13th September, 2009A perfect Wairarapa spring morning laid <strong>the</strong> foundation for aperfect round of golf. Not a breath of wind, clear sunny skies.Mild to warm temperatures. A relatively small field of onlysixty starters, down from 96 <strong>the</strong> previous year, were set to beannounced by <strong>the</strong> Starter as <strong>the</strong>y stepped on to <strong>the</strong> first tee.The usual challenges to allocated golf handicaps were rife in<strong>the</strong> clubhouse before <strong>the</strong> start of play. Punters ga<strong>the</strong>red inhuddles of syndicates to sort out a likely pair of regular oronce-a-year golfers who <strong>the</strong>y hoped might combine to post<strong>the</strong> best aggregate score of <strong>the</strong> day and <strong>the</strong>reby win a cashprize of considerable size. Let’s say even considering <strong>the</strong> rateof inflation, much higher than <strong>the</strong> prize of $150 for <strong>the</strong> firsttournament at <strong>the</strong> Whiteman’s Valley <strong>Golf</strong> <strong>Club</strong> in 1977. Could afew past winners in <strong>the</strong> field like John Persico, Paddy Wells, MikeGibson, Ray Thompson or Richard McGillivray repeat <strong>the</strong> feat, orwould a new champion emerge?The day started brilliantly in <strong>the</strong> forecourt of <strong>the</strong> Hotel de Melling(aka <strong>the</strong> carpark at Melling Station) where a BBQ breakfast ofeggs, bacon, sausages on muffins was prepared on <strong>the</strong> StevensFord mobile BBQ. Morning tea in <strong>the</strong> Fea<strong>the</strong>rston <strong>Club</strong>roomswas a gaggle of voices as players reunited with ex rugby teammates.There was Chris Bryan down from Tauranga in a fourwith Stu Tutt, a mate of his since <strong>the</strong>ir primary school days at St.Michael’s Taita. Spud Murphy from Palmerston North pairing upwith John Persico, an ex team-mate of his in an under 17 teamof 1954. Russell Keown looking forward to be able to see <strong>the</strong>ball at his feet again after a successful weight loss programme.Soon after <strong>the</strong> midday start, rumours began spreading around<strong>the</strong> course that ex Hutt Old Boys lock Tua Cummings was settinga blistering pace, on his comeback after missing <strong>the</strong> 2008 eventdue to open heart surgery. Spike Reynolds ex HV Marist playerin mid-1950’s was also steadily amassing pars and birdies.Kevin Leach was using his handicap to <strong>the</strong> maximum but wasexperiencing putting problems which he put down to his new bifocals.Three putting from four feet can demoralise even <strong>HOBM</strong>life members.<strong>Club</strong> <strong>Chair</strong>man, Peter McGuinness was suffering his ownpersonal demons. A swing speed that is a blur to <strong>the</strong> nakedeye; a penchant for venison burgers and Lion Brown that sawPage 5 - October 2009him reluctant to leave <strong>the</strong> hospitality tent; playing in a four(sometimes a six) that recorded <strong>the</strong> slowest time ever recordedin a major golf event; a playing partner in ex HV Marist flankerKerry Burt who unceremoniously fell into more of a canal thana creek in an attempt to retrieve an errant golf ball, which by<strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> evening had been exaggerated into diving intoa raging torrent in an attempt to save his partner’s life. Allthis could be forgiven for Peter’s one moment of glory, when hemanaged to steer his ball off <strong>the</strong> tee, across two creeks, hit agreen and sink an impossible putt, to par a hole that would haveseen Tiger Woods quiver.Unlucky for some, but in his 13th attempt for <strong>the</strong> coveted <strong>HOBM</strong><strong>Golf</strong> Shield and <strong>the</strong> <strong>HOBM</strong> Green Jacket, Tua Cummings had apopular win with a score of 73 which is exactly half of what aginger-haired lock-cum-fullback from HV Marist’s halcyon daysof <strong>the</strong> 50’s and 60’s signed for on his card.O<strong>the</strong>r well known <strong>HOBM</strong> club members at <strong>the</strong> prize table wereCraig Bailey, Ray Janes, Mike Gibson, Russell Keown, MikeUpton, Spike Reynolds, Kevin Leach, Tony Sellars and a four ofJim McMenamin, Neville Heffernan, Clive Graham and BruceHarris who retained <strong>the</strong>ir Ambrose title for <strong>the</strong> social players –which incorrectly assumes that some of <strong>the</strong> field were seriousplayers. All in all, a great social occasion for <strong>the</strong> club and in <strong>the</strong>process, we raised a few thousand dollars which will be sharedbetween Te Omanga Hospice and to support <strong>the</strong> 2010 SpillaneEaster Tournament.Paddy WellsConvenor, <strong>Golf</strong> Committee <strong>HOBM</strong>