New golf course mower steps up to tee

The new mower at Waikaka Golf Club. PHOTO: GEMMA SINCLAIR
The new mower at Waikaka Golf Club. PHOTO: GEMMA SINCLAIR
A shiny new rotary mower has arrived at the Waikaka Golf Club to replace one nearly passed its use-by date, thanks to a community fundraiser that raked in thousands of dollars.

On Friday, the club welcomed a race-car red Trimax Snake mower to its 36-acre course, worth about $50,000.

Volunteers have used mowers attached to club-owned tractors to trim the different parts of the nine-hole course in Wylam St, including the fairways, greens and rough. In the summer, the grass on the hilly grounds have to be tended to once a week.

Club captain Faye-Anne Lamb said the club’s last fairway mower had a long life.

‘‘We’ve had a an old ... second-hand one for 19 years, and we needed to update it ... it was starting to get run down.’’

The club held a stock drive earlier this month and raised about $25,000. The club was overwhelmed by the response from the community and grateful for the support, Mrs Lamb said.

The club covered the remainder of the cost.