City golfer relives moment Christchurch quake struck

AN Edinburgh golfer has recalled how he was thrown to the ground on the first tee and then watched the clubhouse walls collapse during last week's earthquake in New Zealand.

Alf Cattanach, a member at Bruntsfield Links and Council member on the Lothians Golf Association, and his wife Merryl, had a lucky escape but were still badly shaken by the horrific events in Christchurch.

"We were standing on the first tee at Christchurch GC, otherwise known as Shirley GC, when the quake occurred," he told the Edinburgh Evening News.

"A horrendous shaking of the ground felled us to the grass with the the surface of the ground moving all ways. It lasted probably 15 seconds followed by a further quake.

"With the surge of the second quake, the clubhouse received noticeable damage with walls falling down, exposing the interior of the clubhouse.

"We became extremely emotional and very, very scared. Then over most of the course stretching out in front of us water surged through the grass and much of the course before us resembled a lake.

"We were bemused not knowing what to do. On noticing nearby roads flooding, from emerging waters through cracks on the road and land, we elected to get out, leaving our hosts.

"Our first two roads were impassable but luckily we found a route, very much covered in water and liquefaction but with uneven surface.

"Progress was very, very slow but the Christchurch emergency personnel were on top of the job and we headed out of town to our cottage in the country some 20km away."

The Cattanachs were visiting New Zealand on holiday. Their son Kevin, a well-known Lothians golfer, and his wife, Jaslin, were in Queenstown when the quake occurred and their planned visit to Christchurch was cancelled.

"Had the morning been wet we would most certainly been in downtown Christchurch," added Alf, a member of the R&A. "The whole experience shook us, with emotion striking us on viewing what had happened on TV.

"We had been enjoying a snack in the clubhouse some ten minutes before the quake hit and with some walls collapsing and the interior of the clubhouse clearly visible from the first tee, who knows?"

Alf and Merryl have been regular visitors to New Zeland in recent years. "It is the most beautiful of countries where we have many good friends to play golf and enjoy the weather. The golf is high on the agenda," he commented.