The Rarotonga Golf Club’s nine hole course can be confusing on a quiet day. But when 58 golfers all tee-off at once from every tee all at the same time, there is the potential for chaos.
However, yesterday’s two rounds of play went relatively smoothly and, apart from an incident at practice last week, there have been no reports of players being hit by flying golf balls.
Tournament organisers were forced to put two rounds under shotgun starts yesterday after the threat of lightning strikes halted proceedings on Wednesday. A shotgun start is when players all tee-off at the same time form every tee on the course.
The Rarotonga course has been cleverly laid out in a very small area of land to provide 2281 metres of nine hole enjoyment made up of four par 4s, three par threes and two par 5s.
The potential for trouble starts at the par 4 first, an outgoing fairway which bisects two incoming par 4s. On a busy day there can be twelve golfers hitting balls to a common catchment.
To add a little more spice there is a short dog leg par 4 that cuts across the other three. Add to the mix the three huge radio transmission aerials which dominate the centre of the course.
French speaking referee Jacques Thillier from New Caledonia says there were few incidents yesterday due to the congestion apart from two players who played wrong balls in the central area. Such an error incurs a penalty of two strokes.
Tournament starter Bruce Graham says the tournament has so far gone smoothly despite the pressure put on the organisers due to the thunderstorm causing a day to be lost on Wednesday. - Gray Clapham: Cook Islands News
Last Modified on 26/09/2009 07:30