Golfer Pacific NZ - September 2020

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Popov becomes lowest ranked player to win a women’s major INSIDE // NZ OPEN OPTIONS IN PLACE // CAPITAL CITY GOLFING

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EDITORIAL

Golf is still all about feel I

NEW ZEALAND EDITORIAL Paul Gueorgieff pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz Ph: 64 4 565 0385 Mob: 64 27 227 1038

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

listened with much interest recently when an American television golf commentator said Rory McIlroy was getting away from the technical aspect of putting.

The commentator said McIlroy, recently demoted as the world’s No 1 ranked player, had dispensed with using a putting line on the golf ball and was working more on getting the feel of the putt.

I don’t use a putting line on a ball, simply because I don’t believe in it. When you are behind the ball and lining up the line with where you want the ball to go, that is relatively easy because you are behind the ball.

But when you are getting ready to make the putt, you are stand-

ing to the side of the ball and looking down on the ball. It’s not the same as crouching down behind the ball and looking at where you want to hit it. They are two completely different perspectives.

The comparison I make is aiming a rifle. When you are aiming a rifle you are looking down the gun barrel. You are not standing to the side of the gun barrel and looking down on top of the gun barrel.

I used to know a guy who used to stand astride his ball when making his putt. He was a great putter, because he was standing behind the ball and was looking down the line of putt.

I’m not sure what the golf rules were then but you are certainly not able to do that now. You are not allowed to putt by standing astride the ball or having a foot

on the line of the putt or an extension of that line.

So how do you hit a putt straight?

I don’t know, is the answer.

All I know is you need to have a reliable putting stroke and have a good feel for the putt you are about to make.

I always give the following example of how hard putting is.

If a line was painted on the green to show the exact line of a putt of moderate length and moderate break, could you keep the ball on the line every time?

The answer is clearly no because the line is painted for a certain speed of putt and getting the right speed is as hard as getting the right line.

The American golf commentator underlined the fact that feel

remains one of the most important aspects of golf. I couldn’t agree more.

How do you get feel? By looking and assessing. That’s about it. We are not robots.

Recently I played with a person who was measuring his pitch and chip shots from under 50 metres.

We all come across such people and wonder what are they actually trying to determine.

If one pitch is 43 metres long and another one is 37 metres long, what are they going to do differently? The smarty-pants answer is hit the 37-metre pitch six metres softer than the 43-metre pitch.

Please don’t tell me that the backswing would only go back to 8:30 on an imaginary clock face instead of nine o’clock, even though I know a top Wellington player who used to subscribe to exactly that theory. Far too technical for me.

For me, it’s all about feel.

Looking and assessing.

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New Zealand Open options in place

By Neville Idour

N

ew Zealand Open tournament chairman John Hart and tournament director Michael Glading are working hard to deliver next year’s event, if at all possible.

Glading has confirmed the key partners are well and truly on board with whatever form it takes. Millbrook and The Hills will again be the spectacular venues.

“Sky TV and our major sponsors are all in close communication with us as the situation with covid-19 develops,” Glading said.

“The impact of covid-19 is being widely felt throughout the event sector in New Zealand and therefore the decisions regarding the feasibility of the 2021 New Zealand Open going ahead as scheduled are largely out of our hands.

“As an international event, we are very dependent on the borders being open so players can come in and out of the country seamlessly.”

“Despite these challenges we are currently planning to hold the event as scheduled between the 25th and 28th of February to our normal high standards.

“However, as things stand, with the

current border restrictions, any players travelling internationally would have to quarantine here for 14 days prior to the event, which we think is very unlikely.”

Glading said they are looking at three likely scenarios which are: 1. All borders are open: which means we run the tournament as planned with a full international field, but we would have increased health and safety measures to minimise risks to all people involved including the public.

2. Only Australian borders open: the tournament, subject to additional financial support that we are working on, would be able to run as an Australian/ New Zealand only tournament. Again with increased health and safety measures.

3. International and Australian borders closed: The tournament would be postponed till 2022.

Glading also expressed confidence that they could still attract a very strong professional field if only the Australian borders were open.

Part of that strategy would be to reduce the field size a little to maintain the overall high quality playing

standards achieved previously. As a minimum requirement the Australian borders would have to be open in sufficient time for the go button to be pushed.

“We are currently working on timelines for final decisions to be made but we expect this to be early December at the latest,” Glading said.

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The financial injection brought by the 300 players plus many partners, family and friends, 500 volunteers and their extras, 300 caddies, many media and tournament staff, and the thousands of spectators is significant. Whatever the outcome it will not be for a lack of concerted effort.

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September 2020

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3

Popov becomes lowest ranked player to win a women’s major GOLF NEWS

S

ophia Popov had not previously won on the LPGA Tour or the Ladies European Tour.

The German-born 27-yearold had a world ranking of 304 and had recently caddied for a friend on the LPGA Tour in the United States.

Last year she had failed to gain a spot on the LPGA Tour by a single shot.

But that was all put behind Popov when she won the Women’s Open in Scotland last month and pocketed the first place prizemoney of $US675,000. That was nearly seven times her career earnings.

It was a stunning victory by Popov, who became the lowest-ranked player to win a women’s major.

She said she “almost quit playing last year” as she cradled the trophy and sobbed tears of joy. “I’m so glad I didn’t,” she added before the tears took over again.

“I got here on Tuesday and I knew my game was in really good shape. I took that belief into every round but I didn’t expect this. I was very nervous the whole round. I was glad I could get it done.”

Popov’s only other professional wins have all come on the satellite Cactus Tour in the United States earlier this year, with the last of the three being at Troon North in Arizona.

She only secured qualification for the Women’s Open with a top-10 finish at the Marathon Classic in the United States a fortnight previous. That was the tournament in which New Zealand’s Lydia Ko finished second after a meltdown on the last hole.

A week before the Women’s

Sophia Popov poses with the trophy following her win in the Women’s Open in Scotland last month. Photo credit Getty Images/R&A.

Open, Popov had played on the Symetra Tour, the feeder circuit for the LPGA Tour, and going into the week of the Open, she had earned $US108,000 in her career.

Popov, who moved to the United States with her family when she was aged four, started the final round of the Women’s Open with a threeshot lead but immediately dropped a shot after pulling her opening drive into a fairway bunker.

However, in benign conditions on the west coast of Scotland after three days of storms and blustery winds had made scoring difficult, Popov found her rhythm with birdies on the next two holes and a third of the day on the sixth.

The threat came from world No 138 Thipada Suwannapura of Thailand, who had a run of four successive birdies from the fourth as she closed the lead to one shot by the seventh but bo-

geys on the 11th and 13th holes handed the advantage back to Popov.

Suwannapura then birdied the 15th and 16th but Popov, playing in the group behind, responded with the same to set up a processional finish that even allowed her the luxury of a bogey at the last.

Even that came after a sensible decision to putt around, rather than chip over, the front-left greenside bunker.

In fact, Popov’s only real error

of the day was trying to enter the scorer’s hut without wearing a face mask.

She turned away with a huge grin on her face and then told an official, who offered her one, “I’d like to buy the whole box.”

Ko started the final round six shots adrift but a couple of birdies on the front nine briefly raised her hopes before four successive bogeys from the 10th saw her drift backwards.

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WOMEN’S OPEN LEADERBOARD & PRIZEMONEY POS 1 2 3 4 5 6 T7 T7 T7 T7 T11 T11 T11 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 T19 T19 T19 T22 T22 T22 T22 T22 T22 T22 T29 T29 T29 T32 T32 T32 T32 T32 T32 T32 T39 T39 T39 T39 T39 T39 T45 T45 T45 T45

PLAYER TO PAR Sophia Popov -7 Jasmine Suwannapura -5 Minjee Lee -3 Inbee Park -1 Austin Ernst E Momoko Ueda 1 Andrea Lee 2 In Gee Chun 2 Jennifer Song 2 Caroline Masson 2 Ashleigh Buhai 3 Kristen Gillman 3 Emily Kristine Pedersen 3 Marina Alex 4 Angela Stanford 4 Nelly Korda 4 Cydney Clanton 4 Lydia Ko 4 Lizette Salas 5 Brittany Altomare 5 Lindsey Weaver 5 Ally McDonald 6 Haru Nomura 6 Caroline Inglis 6 Alena Sharp 6 Ariya Jutanugarn 6 Megan Khang 6 Katherine Kirk 6 Alison Lee 7 Hannah Green 7 Dani Holmqvist 7 Danielle Kang 8 Mi Hyang Lee 8 Jing Yan 8 Elizabeth Szokol 8 Yealimi Noh 8 Lee-Anne Pace 8 Anna Nordqvist 8 Stephanie Meadow 9 Perrine Delacour 9 Dana Finkelstein 9 Jodi Ewart Shadoff 9 Mel Reid 9 Azahara Munoz 9 Pernilla Lindberg 10 Laura Fuenfstueck 10 Georgia Hall 10 Amy Olson 10

R1 R2 R3 R4 TOT MONEY 70 72 67 68 277 $US675,000 71 72 69 67 279 $407,926 74 69 69 69 281 $295,468 77 69 71 66 283 $228,194 72 70 72 70 284 $183,349 75 75 68 67 285 $149,712 74 73 70 69 286 $105,426 72 75 70 69 286 $105,426 74 74 68 70 286 $105,426 72 74 68 72 286 $105,426 74 73 72 68 287 $77,057 75 72 68 72 287 $77,057 71 72 72 72 287 $77,057 70 79 72 67 288 $60,240 73 74 73 68 288 $60,240 72 72 73 71 288 $60,240 74 73 69 72 288 $60,240 72 71 72 73 288 $60,240 73 74 72 70 289 $49,926 77 72 69 71 289 $49,926 71 72 71 75 289 $49,926 74 75 75 66 290 $41,276 74 70 76 70 290 $41,276 75 71 73 71 290 $41,276 71 74 73 72 290 $41,276 73 74 70 73 290 $41,276 75 70 72 73 290 $41,276 72 77 67 74 290 $41,276 72 77 72 70 291 $33,556 75 72 73 71 291 $33,556 71 70 77 73 291 $33,556 76 74 75 67 292 $27,149 76 71 77 68 292 $27,149 77 73 71 71 292 $27,149 72 74 74 72 292 $27,149 72 73 73 74 292 $27,149 71 74 73 74 292 $27,149 71 74 73 74 292 $27,149 75 75 72 71 293 $20,326 75 74 73 71 293 $20,326 77 71 72 73 293 $20,326 73 75 72 73 293 $20,326 78 73 68 74 293 $20,326 74 75 70 74 293 $20,326 75 75 74 70 294 $15,728 73 78 72 71 294 $15,728 73 76 74 71 294 $15,728 67 81 75 71

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Terrace Downs in limbo

By Neville Idour

A

s if covid-19 wasn’t enough of a challenge for Terrace Downs, the unexpected death of 59-year-old Japanese owner Hiroshi Hasegawa from the virus in April caused the Canterbury golf resort’s closedown. Apparently the owner did not leave a will, creating a delay in dealing with probate.

There was no option but to mothball the clubhouse and all accommodation, hospitality and golf operations. Only golf club members, and they number very few, have been allowed to play

golf.

Thankfully essential management staff were retained which included greenkeeping, so at least the golf course remains in good condition. Hopefully the good news is that the resort will be auctioned on September 17.

General manager Katherine Baker remains optimistic that a new owner will have necessary funds and the desire to give the resort the injection it desperately needs.

Tim Rookes, managing director of CBRE Christchurch which is marketing the property said: “We are expecting strong interest from high net worth investors and consortiums. This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a very well-known property and a championship golf course regarded as one of the best in New Zealand.”

I would not disagree with those sentiments having had close association with the resort for most of its existence.

However for it to regain its standing as an outstanding venue and destination in a beautiful part of New Zealand, any new owner must make the right decisions regarding infrastructure improvements and additions to give broader marketing appeal.

Terrace Downs’ history is a chequered one. Despite that it would be hard to find better accommodation or an environ-

Looking back from the 16th tee at Terrace Downs over the Rakaia River.

ment for golf tournaments, weddings, conferences or hosting other events. Of course the stunning scenery, peaceful and natural environment, not to mention the proximity to Mt Hutt ski field are endearing and enduring.

Unfortunately most of the promised infrastructure attractions when marketing and building the villas and chalets did not happen.

Had the swimming pool, spa pools, spa facility (just what the ladies like) and fitness centre all been in place, the resort would have been a much more attractive proposition.

Unlike Millbrook and Clearwater, which are close to Queenstown and Christchurch, Terrace Downs is a destination and needs the onsite facilities.

Instead only two spa pools and two under-used tennis courts resulted and eventually, despite the spa pools’ popularity, the changing management saw these pulled out to be replaced by a small fitness room with minimal equipment.

Significant expenditure was squandered on so-called attractions. An outdoor pizza area was created, which had a very short life with the oven cracking.

This was never needed as the restaurant

outdoor deck above catered for any outside activity.

An area behind the driving range was developed at significant cost for an outdoor skating rink. It still sits there. It was never a possibility given all the health and safety requirements and continual staffing required, not to mention at least some naturally occurring ice.

There were too many questionable decisions to detail here but suffice to say the wonderful vision of the original owner, Japanese professional golfer Shinnosuke Saito, has not been fully realised.

He acquired the land from sheep and cattle farmer Edwin Tilley in 1990. The first nine holes of the Sid Puddicombe designed golf course were opened in 1993 and the full 18 was completed in 1999.

Hasegawa purchased the resort in 2012 and made welcome investment in golf course machinery and equipment and golf carts.

So the hope is for a new owner to purge the chequered past and take the resort on a path to fulfil the original vision of Saito.

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Chinese native Yuan Liu finds success as Xinjun Zhang’s caddie Y

uan Liu doesn’t have much time to chat. He’s in a hurry to help out a friend.

Chinese player Bobby Bai had unexpectedly moved into the first alternate position for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship but was without a caddie. So, he called his good pal Liu, who was happy to oblige.

“He wasn’t expecting to play this week,” Liu said. “But I just received word this morning that he’s in the field.”

And now Liu is rushing off to the Jacksonville airport in Florida, looking to catch his flight to Newburgh, Indiana. His wife Zuya Huang is driving him while their eight kilogram dog Barclays is in the back seat.

Life has been kind lately to Liu, who has carved out a nice living these last few years caddying for Chinese golf star Xinjun Zhang.

Last month, the 33-year-old Zhang — with Liu once again on his bag — became the first player from mainland China to qualify for the playoffs of the FedExCup, which is the PGA Tour’s league table.

And though his season ended short of the BMW Championship, Zhang and his team ended the 2019-20 campaign feeling very encouraged about what was to come.

It also gave Liu at least a couple of valuable weeks off, which he ultimately decided to spend on the course with Bai at Victoria National Golf Club.

Because why stop now?

“I was kind of lost after high school and didn’t really know what to do with my life,” Liu said.

“And now here I am caddying on the PGA Tour. I never thought from a conversation at

Xinjun Zhang of China and his caddie Yuan Liu (left) wait on the tee at the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California, last month.

Photo credit: Sean M Haffey/Getty Images.

a doctor’s appointment that I would end up here.”

Before we get to that fateful doctor’s visit, let’s first rewind to how Liu wound up here.

He was born in Chengdu but moved to the United States before he was 10 years old, certainly not long enough to establish roots, but plenty of time to learn the language — an asset that one day would be critical to his ascension to life as a PGA Tour caddie Now living in Orlando, Florida, with his mother Tommie and stepdad Glenn “Spanky” Stafford, Liu got his first taste of golf.

Not only was Stafford a longtime member at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational, but his business always had a hospitality tent along the 18th hole when Liu was growing up, giving him ample exposure to the sport.

But it wouldn’t capture his interest. At least not yet.

“I would go watch the tournament a lot, and I did go to golf camps as a kid, but I just never really gravitated to the sport,” Liu said.

“It’s a hard game to pick up, obviously. I did receive some coaching when I was younger, but I never really liked the sport.”

All that changed when Liu — at the time looking to find an outlet with his future still ahead of him —headed to that doctor’s appointment. Only it wasn’t for him, but his good friend Simin Feng, who, in 2015, became just the fourth player from mainland China to earn a LPGA Tour card.

“She needed to get to a doctor’s appointment, so I picked her up and we were talking,” Liu recalled.

“She said I should get into golf and was telling me that with my personality that I would probably be a good fit. I didn’t know what I was going to do, so I just

went ahead and studied at the Golf Academy of America there in Orlando, graduated and got a job at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach working for the caddie master.”

Not long after, Feng’s family was offering up another opportunity for Liu. Their friend, Zhang, was competing in Orlando at the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying tournament and needed a bilingual host to help him get around. Zhang, who was still learning English, would require someone to help him check into the hotel and register for the tournament, among other jobs.

“We hung out for a couple days and played golf together,” Liu said.

“I told him that if he made the cut I would come back and watch him on the weekend. He ended up playing great, so we went out and celebrated.

“I remember he kept saying it was hard to get a caddie for the Korn Ferry Tour events in the Bahamas because it’s expensive to go,” he continued.

“I said, ‘heck man, if you need a caddie just hit me up and I’ll be more than happy to go.’”

Zhang would go on to make the cut, and a partnership was officially solidified. Liu has caddied for Zhang since, including through those tough moments when he first competed in America. Though he earned a tour card for 2018, Zhang would soon lose it after making just 12 cuts across 28 starts.

“I was with him for all of that,” Liu said.

“That first year on the Korn Ferry Tour was a really tough year looking back at it. Even though he got his card, we were

NEWS

missing a lot of cuts at one point.

“We would have a bad round and have to go back to the same hotel room together. It was rough. I had a lot of thoughts about quitting many times throughout that year. It was tough, I have to admit.”

But Zhang wasn’t the only one learning on the go.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time, either,” he said, laughing. “I was literally just carrying a bag and getting yardages. I would mess up a lot of yardages, too. That was a tough year. (I’m doing) a lot more now.”

Yes, he is. And Zhang is, too.

Backed by a pair of top-10s in the northern hemisphere autumn and finishes of 10th and 12th, respectively, in July at the Memorial Tournament and 3M Open, Zhang qualified for the FedExCup playoffs for the first time, a special comeback after such trying rookie struggles.

Zhang now finds himself in-between swing coaches entering the 2020-21 season, and his trainer, Chenshuo Zhu, has yet to arrive in the United States this year due to the covid-19 pandemic. That means Liu has more responsibility than ever, if even for a bit. And he’s ready for the challenge.

“We talk a lot about his swing since he doesn’t really have a coach right now,” Liu said. “It’s just me on the range telling him what I see.”

Quite the turnaround for a man who was lost, as Liu likes to put it.

“It’s crazy,” Liu said, almost in disbelief. “It’s just a stroke of luck that I got to where I am.”

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September 2020

7

GOLF NEWS

Keeping the praise of the promising younger players in perspective W

hat remains the most captivating topic on the PGA Tour is a long-running story – the well-seasoned icon named Tiger Woods.

Headed to the home stretch of his 45th birthday, Woods generates enthusiasm with fans, curiosity with colleagues and ratings for television producers.

But if you want to turn to other discussions that ignite interest with serious golf fans, a leading candidate involves a trio of youngsters who were either in nappies or not even born when Woods first turned the golf world upside down with his incomparable 12-stroke victory at the 1997 United States Masters.

Truly, we have received another generation of professional golfers when we’re talking about kids who got serious about golf when Woods was on the back nine of his brilliant career, but we can say that about a most brilliant trio – Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff.

By now, their meteoric rise on the PGA Tour has been well-documented, though you need to remind yourself of the excessive speed in which notable achievements, just to offer due respect.

Up until late spring in 2019, they were three of the best amateur golfers in the world, collegiate stars in the United States at the University of Oklahoma (Hovland and Wolff) and the University of California (Morikawa).

Before the northern hemisphere summer of 2019 would come to an end, they would become the latest hotshot collegians getting PGA Tour tee times at the back of the field as sponsor’s exemptions.

Said Hovland in March: “I think, honestly when (the three of us) were in

Collin Morikawa celebrates with caddie Jonathan Jakovac after making his final putt on the 18th green to win the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, California, last month. Photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images

college and looking forward to turning pro, that was definitely our plans, if you will, that we were obviously dreaming about (winning together).

“But for all of us to have won within a year, I mean, it’s pretty remarkable.

I don’t know how else to explain it. It’s a pretty crazy ride.”

But by autumn, they were charging up the world rankings, seizing headlines with consistent success, opening eyes, generating massive inter-

est. Then everything changed in early August, when Morikawa affirmed all of those early accolades by winning the PGA Championship. It was just his second start in a major and his final-round 64 was the best by a winner in 25 years.

Said Morikawa at the time: “I’ve believed in myself since day one. I’ve said it when we’ve sat down (before). I specifically remember at (the) Travelers (tournament) the four of us, me and

Wolff, Viktor and Justin Suh, and I just told everyone — we’ve all had some pretty good paths, Justin has struggled a little bit— but we all believed since day one that we can do this. I haven’t let up from that.”

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NEWS

under his belt, Morikawa has three wins to his name and became No 5 in the world. (For the record, that means he has passed 1034 players in just 13 months.) * Hovland, a personable young man from Norway, turned professional at 21 a week after Morikawa, made the cut, and was ranked 340th. It took him until his 12th start to post a victory and now, just 22 tournaments into his pro career, he is 30th in the world. * Wolff was 20 when he made his debut alongside Hovland in June 2019 and when that tournament was over, he sat 1641st in the world. His third start was a victory and now, just 26 tournaments in, Wolff has a ranking of 36.

Morikawa said recently: “I think we had a lot of guys watching us knowing, yeah, we could be the ‘next guys,’ and who know if we were or we weren’t. So we had that entire summer to go make something. I’ve learned a lot about myself and my golf game and everything about how to be a professional out there, and it’s been a lot of fun and I love every part of it, so I’m excited to keep this going.”

But World Golf hall of fame member Curtis Strange would also like to hand out a set of reins so people could control the enthusiasm.

“Whoa, let’s not crown them so quickly. Let’s see how they handle the stage, what continues to work for them.” (It should be noted that Strange provided these thoughts before Morikawa claimed the first major championship of his career.)

Mind you, the two-time US Open champion is not dismissing any of these three youngsters. In fact, Strange praises Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff for the way in which they’ve exploded into view. He especially loves how “they each own their swing, and that’s key for any player to perform under pressure, which is why I think they

will continue to have success.”

It’s just that Strange is not a big fan of this constant rush to anoint players, or groups of players, as “the best.”

For one, a PGA Tour career is a marathon, not a sprint, and every serious competitor is focused on being successful for 15 or 20 years, not just 10 months. And two, this fascination with constantly judging everything to be better today than yesterday is a byproduct of having very little feel for history.

For instance, Strange is like a lot of observers; he admires how quickly Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff have established a PGA Tour presence. But he cautions against calling them “the best” group of rookies arriving at the same time.

For those with short-term capabilities, Strange asks, “Wasn’t it just a few years ago we were touting a group of kids as ‘the best?’”

He is referring to a lot of attention heaped upon the high school “Class of ’11,” kids named Justin Thomas, Patrick Rodgers and Daniel Berger. They all made PGA Tour debuts in 2014-15, with Berger, who played at Florida State, eventually earning rookie of the year honours over Thomas, a standout at the University of Alabama.

What adds even more flavour to this note is that Jordan Spieth and Emiliano Grillo – others from that 2011 class – copped rookie of the year honours, in 2013 and 2016, respectively.

As much as Strange gives high marks to the four combined wins for Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff, he again emphasises the “marathon, not a sprint” mantra and points out that Thomas already owns a major championship among his 13 wins and that he has had at least one win in each of his five seasons, that Berger has won three times, and that if you extend the “group” to include Spieth, you can add three majors and 11 wins.

Indeed, Thomas, Spieth and Berger – all born in 1993 – are used by Strange to support his notion that you need to let players mature and not get overly excited by what they do right away. There was reason to be impressed with them early, but even more so by how they’ve maintained excellence.

“A lot of talented kids win early, and then hit a comfort zone,” he said. “It’s like they’ve played beyond their abilities.”

Should you feel the need to affix “greatest ever” to the trio of Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff, don’t look for Strange to back you up. He knows that the greatest triumvirate of them all – Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson – all were born in 1912 and while their full entry onto that era’s PGA Tour came in different years (Nelson, 1935; Snead, 1937; Hogan, 1938) it remains a big part of folklore how they are intertwined.

But Strange is also of another era and can speak to the grueling process of what was known as the PGA Tour qualifying tournament – several stages needed to be hurdled to get into a six-round (some years it was eight) pressure-cooker where the top finishers (the number was different, it bounced between 20 and 40) got their tour cards for the next year.

Now earning your card through Q school isn’t as glitzy when compared to the manner in which Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff did (given a series of sponsor exemptions, they piled up wins or enough money to gain full status) but if you subscribe to the theory that a golf career is a marathon, not a splashy sprint, then may we suggest a peek at some notable groups from days gone by?

For instance, November of 1971 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, when the 23 graduates included Tom Watson, Lanny Wadkins, John Mahaffey and Australian legend David Gra-

ham. Certainly their 1972 rookie seasons were successful (Wadkins and Graham won, they combined for 18 top 10s, Wadkins was 10th on the money list, Mahaffey 37th, Graham 38th, Watson 74th), but it’s the marathon results that matter most.

Each man went on to win at least one major (Watson won five claret jugs and might be the greatest Open Champion of them all) and a combined 78 PGA Tour events. Watson, Wadkins and Graham are all enshrined in the World Golf hall of fame.

The 1972 and 1973 Q schools produced a trio of great young talents – Tom Kite, Andy North and Ben Crenshaw. Among their 19 wins each, Kite captured a US Open and Crenshaw two Masters, while North twice won the US Open in a career that never got a fair chance at stardom because of injuries.

So, let the applause ring out. But, let’s not play the “best ever” game if you talk about a group of young members. It remains to be seen where the Morikawa-Hovland-Wolff entry will rank in PGA Tour history because we need to let their careers play out.

They have a long road ahead of them to match the Watson-Wadkins-Mahaffey-Graham entry from 1971 Q school.

And the Q school from the fall of 1975 was pretty good, too, with seven graduates – Andy Bean, Jerry Pate, Gary Koch, Bob Gilder, George Burns, Jim Thorpe, Don Pooley – having combined for 40 career wins.

Especially noteworthy about that group is that as rookies, Pate won twice, including the US Open, while Koch and Gilder also won. Proof positive that young kids have arrived at the same time and done impressive stuff for years on the PGA Tour.

Morikawa, Hovland and Wolff are just the latest. But we need to let them play on for years to come before we offer a complete assessment.

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September 2020

9

G O L F T R AV E L

G

Resetting golf for the new normal

olf courses should be at the heart of local communities, delivering simple, memorable experiences that enhance people’s lives.

That’s the vision of three golf industry pioneers whose thinking and business approach could shape the future of the game as it recovers from a pivotal moment in history – and resets for a new normal.

In rethinking golf, a new multi-media feature from the Syngenta growing golf programme, the three thinkers set out to consider how to reposition golf by answering simple, yet fundamental, questions relevant to all golf course businesses. The questions include:* Why are we doing this? * What is golf’s promise? * Who are we?

The feature includes video interviews with Cathy Harbin, formerly a World Golf Foundation executive who purchased her own course in Texas, aiming to elevate the town around golf.

Olympic golf course architect Gil Hanse speaks about the need to return to simplicity in golf, from

the customer experience to course maintenance – and why it makes good business sense.

And John Ashworth, golf fashion designer and entrepreneur, who is now the owner of a popular 18hole community short course in Oceanside, California, which was saved from development.

Harbin sums up some of the consistent themes when she defines the purpose of a golf course business.

“We are to be part of a community and we are here to create memorable experiences for people to enhance their lives,” Harbin said.

She goes on to describe how her course business, positioned at the heart of a community, with proactive coaching in town parks and recreation spaces, has both benefited the community and brought business back to her course.

“I know what golf does to the energy of a town,” Harbin added.

“I have seen the town elevated as a result of golf.”

The feature always draws on important research and data helping businesses understand and adapt

for the new normal, including the rise of generation Z, those born in the internet age and who will shape the next decade.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a global crisis that is likely to result in profound changes in society,” said Mark Birchmore, global head of marketing, turf and landscape at Syngenta.

“In golf, it’s possible that some of the fundamental challenges and shifts we had started to see in the industry could now be accelerated,’’ Birchmore said.

“It’s also clear – as our speakers demonstrate – that significant opportunities are opening up for golf course businesses where they are attuned to the balance of sustainability relative to customers and communities, the environment and business.”

A leading supplier of innovative turfcare solutions to courses, Syngenta is investing in golf from the ground up. Its campaign, Syngenta growing golf, is focused on the long-term business sustainability of golf courses and the economic opportunity to increase female participation, worth a potential $US35 billion a year to the global golf industry.

Teenager wins in China at first start as a professional A

Yin Ruoning with her trophy after winning a LPGA-China Tour tournament at her first start as a professional golfer. Photo credit: LPGA-China Tour.

17-year-old has won the first regular tournament of the LPGA’s China Tour since the coronavirus outbreak.

The event was the Zhuahai Hollywood Mansion Challenge which carried a purse about the equivalent of $NZ110,000 and the winner was Yin Ruoning who was having her first start as a professional golfer.

Yin finished on 11-under 133 at Orient Zhuhai Golf Club in the Guangdong province and had the distinction of completing the 36 holes without a bogey in a tournament that was reduced from 54 holes due to typhoon Higos.

With a one-stroke lead going into the final round, Yin reeled off three birdies over the front nine and another three on the back side. The win earned Yin nearly $NZ17,000.

Yin admitted expectations were not high.

“After the long lockdown, I didn’t have much expectation about winning,’’ said Yin who became the first player in the LPGA’s China Tour to win at their first start as a professional.

“But after the first round I set a goal to try and play two bogey-free rounds. I did it … and I won.

“At the last hole, I hit a poor chip because I felt nervous. But I made that bird-

ie putt.”

If all goes well, the LPGA-China Tour plans to stage nine tournaments this year, culminating with the Women’s China Open in December.

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Golf must capitalise on coronavirus situation, says R&A chief

G

olf must grasp the opportunity presented by current coronavirus circumstances by showcasing itself in a positive way, says The R&A’s chief executive Martin Slumbers.

Speaking prior to last month’s Women’s Open in Scotland, Slumbers said the covid-19 pandemic had given golf the chance to broaden its base and gain popularity.

Asked if there was evidence to back up claims that participation in golf had risen, Slumbers cited a sports marketing company’s July report.

“It shows that we are back already level with July of last year (2019), despite the fact that we had one month when the numbers went down 100 percent,’’ Slumbers said.

“I think we have done a really good job of portraying golf as good for your health, good for your mind, and a sport that you can do in a socially distant and responsible way.

“There’s always been a lot of sport lovers, but if you love team sports, whether you watch or play, that’s going to be a challenge for the foreseeable future … and they are turning to golf.

NEWS

“Our real challenge now is to make it sustainable. You have heard me talk about people will join golf clubs when golf clubs are selling the product that people want to buy. We’ve still got to do that, and we’ve still got to keep changing and we’ve still got to keep being modern and relevant.

“But this could be a real opportunity for the game, if we can grasp it and start showing the game in a positive way. I think that there’s going to be a huge amount more debate about the need for health and the need for mental well-being out of this. It’s been an extraordinary five or six months, and I think golf is right up there. I intend to use my efforts to maximise the value.”

Slumbers also addressed the state of women’s golf around the world.

“I think that women’s golf is truly a global sport. I don’t think there are many sports that are as global as women’s golf,’’ he said.

“I spent a lot of time behind the driving range (at Royal Troon) making sure it’s all working properly, and you see the breadth of cultures. It’s terrific.”

Maraenui Golf Club The Friendly Club

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The Northland Golf Club is a par 71, 18hole course set in a peaceful rural valley with many native trees and bird life.

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September 2020

11

Your Local PGA Professional is ready to get your golf game back to full swing!

We at the NZPGA know your golf has had a mandatory layoff.

WANT TO PLAY BETTER GOLF?

Many golf clubs have a Pro-shop and a Professional available to help. PGA Professionals are also available through the numerous golf driving range facilities throughout New Zealand. The cost of a session can vary depending on location and the experience of the professional. Group coaching can cost as little as $10 per session and is a great way to meet golfers at the same level as you. Long term coaching (not lessons!) can be a game changer to the enjoyment that you can experience through the game.

Only PGA Professionals have received the training necessary to improve your game – make sure you look for the PGA logo or ensure that the Professional you see is a member of the PGA of New Zealand.

www.pga.org.nz/find-a-pga-pro

NZGOLFUPDATE

golf.co.nz

Membership numbers up nearly five percent on last year

By Dean Murphy New Zealand Golf Chief Executive

W

hile the country still has many covid-19 related concerns to consider, the pandemic has given golf the opportunity to broaden its player base and increase its popularity.

Throughout the lockdown periods, golf has been able to position itself as a sport that is good for your health, good for your mind and a sport that you can do in a socially distant and responsible way.

For many, the lockdown periods of 2020 have also provided an opportunity to think about reconnecting with the game. This has led to a 4.8 percent lift in national membership numbers to the end of July against July 2019 and a whopping increase of 30 percent in rounds played in July 2020 vs July 2019.

This positive momentum builds on our work in 2019 where we saw both rounds

and membership levels grow for the first time in many years.

The challenge now is to make this positive upswing sustainable.

We know that golf plays a vital part in New Zealand golfers’ lives mentally, physically and socially. It brings people together in a safe environment, often creating a community hub at local golf clubs around the country. Post our first two lockdown periods, these qualities are now more important than ever and therein lies the opportunity for golf.

Through the work we do each day with golf clubs all over the country, we are aware of so many clubs who are harnessing the current positive momentum in golf and working on ways to sustain the current growth. This is the critical piece in front of the sector right now and where our team have their focus.

What we do know is that interest in the game is increasing and we have a chance to keep this popularity growing, even de-

spite the covid-19 pandemic.

Over the coming years we can expect to see much more public conversation on the health and wellbeing benefits of

sport – golf is ideally placed to be a central part of this conversation and, if we harness the opportunity appropriately, increase our player base.

GOLF HOLIDAY TOP OF THE SOUTH

A true links experience situated in the delightful region of sunny Nelson. A wonderful golf course, good enough to be chosen for the 2014 NZ Amateur Championships... high praise indeed. Golfers of all abilities will find a round at Nelson very rewarding enjoying simply stunning views. There is a vibrant social side to the club making new members and casual players feel welcome to enjoy camaraderie both on and off the course. There is a full bar and catering facilities, also open to non members. There

are great deals available on green fees and a wide range of memberships – contact the staff at the Nelson Golf club, who will be only too delighted to explain all the options available.

Call 03-548-5029 or email nelson@golf.co.nz Check out our website www.nelsongolf.co.nz and see what you’re missing. The site offers photos of the course plus other club information highlighting the Nelson Festival of Golf.

Check it out on www.nelsongolf. co.nz/festivalofgolf

Nelson New Zealand is a great destination for a long weekend.

Or just a break to play some amazing golf courses.

Nelson Golf Club has partnered with Motueka Golf Club and the Greens Motel to bring you an amazing package.

Stay centrally at the Greens Motel (just a putt away from the Green) Play Nelson Links.

This superbly crafted links golf course that blends seamlessly into the natural Coastal Terrain. It provides a unique “True Links Experience” The second course on your trip to the top of the South is at Motueka. Motueka Golf Club was the 2018 Holden Club of the year has been described as one of New Zealand’s hidden gems by the great Sir Bob Charles. Both courses are known for their hospitality.

Phil and Jill will plan, manage and book your Nelson Golf holiday from start to finish so all you have to do is focus on your swing!       

What’s included: 3 nights Motel accommodation at Greens Motel (1 or 2 Bedroom Apartment) 2 Rounds Championship Golf: Nelson Golf Club and Motueka Golf Club Warm up bucket of balls at Nelson Golf Course Range Light refreshment after each round at the course.

Preferential car hire rate with Hardy Rentals( Starting as low as $30 per day) Ferry excursion ride from Mapua Wharf.

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September 2020

13

GOLFCOMMENT

It looks all go for Ko

By Neville Idour

A

fter last month’s column “A Backward Step in The Right Direction”, I felt a follow-up on Lydia Ko’s progress with coach Sean Foley would be relevant.

Indications are more than positive despite her performances of contrast in the Marathon Classic in the United States, the Scottish Open and the British Open.

On the plus side she was in a position to win or challenge for a win in all three events after three rounds. It is difficult to remember the last time that happened, so it was almost like new territory. Of course that brings its own challenges.

At the other end of the spectrum she was over par in the final round each time. So it may take a little longer for those vital final round juices to flow again for the 18 holes.

The final nine in the Marathon Classic was an aberration and it was only a couple of questionable options that cost her victory.

On the 18th hole she chose a running chip for her third to the par five which was fraught with danger on the fast and slightly sloping green.

So it proved. Ironically her caddie Jason Hamilton, who

14

was with her for most of her past success, was heard to suggest she play a high shot to make sure she stayed on the green and ensure a par.

In the Scottish Open she faded with a score 74 in the last round to finish 12th but she was still just four shots from winner Stacy Lewis who had been encouraging to Ko prior to the event. After an outstanding third round 67 she could not repeat that precision in the final round.

So to the British Women’s Open. Ko was again well placed after three solid rounds, just three shots behind second place. After seven holes in the final round she was one under for the tournament and well placed. However once again the final nine holes proved to be her undoing where she had four consecutive bogeys from holes 10-13.

So with all this information why can we feel confident that Lydia may not have to wait long to find winning form?

Simply because there are so many aspects of her game that are working well. It was never a case of going back to find her old swing, it was a case of going back to find the feel and rhythm that were a hallmark of her game.

Those attributes in turn produced often pinpoint ac-

September 2020

curacy and length. It is hard not to agree with the commentators who have been saying “She looks like the Lydia of old”. Her swing looks so natural and free flowing.

The various aspects of her game that stand out are, firstly, she is obviously enjoying her golf and her infectious smile and attitude are evident at all times.

After years of looking for more length off the tee she has certainly found that with the aid of seven pounds of extra muscle and physical maturity. At the Marathon Classic her drives averaged 267 yards, an increase of more than 20 yards on her previous driving distance.

Her longest drive on the 16th hole went 306 yards and there were several others in the 280-290 yard range.

The other very noticeable aspect is that in her preshot routine, she is now much quicker to play her shot and has lost the look of someone focusing too much on technique.

She now simply addresses the ball and without undue hesitation plays the ball and the results are obvious. Her maturity when interviewed is also evident. She looks to have taken ownership of her game.

We can only look with great optimism to the future. It is such a joy to see her in contention and enjoying her golf again.

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

PGAPARS Kaikoura and PGA celebrate 20 years of an iconic event pga.org.nz

By Dominic Sainsbury New Zealand PGA General Manager

K

aikoura will this month be staging the Hunting and Fishing Kaikoura Pro-Am for the 20th year.

With more than 40 teams and PGA professionals confirmed to play the event on September 26 and 27, it is sure to be a real celebration of all that is great about our game.

The Hunting and Fishing Kaikoura ProAm is the third stop on the PGA spring pro-am festival, which kicks off with the Nelson Pro-Am on Wednesday September 23.

The following day is the Whitehaven Wines Marlborough Golf Club Pro-Am in Blenheim before heading south to Kaikoura and then onto the Jennian Homes Charles Tour event, the DVS Open at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club, north of Christchurch.

As a community Kaikoura has done it tough over the past few years with the 2016 earthquake shutting the town off to visitors for almost a year.

Kaikoura’s problems have been compounded this year with the coronavirus situation which has kept visitors away

from this amazing part of Aotearoa.

The good people from Kaikoura are resilient but even the most optimistic of us need positive events to lift our spirits and this event will certainly deliver, through bringing the community together for a weekend of fun, laughter, socialising and golf.

Kaikoura means the eating of crayfish and along with having a great time on the golf course, after the first round players are treated to a seafood feast that would

be the envy of any restaurant.

Dependent on the catch of the day, the menu could, for example, be crayfish, paua or blue cod.

While dinning out on a seafood feast, the highlights of the round are reviewed and tactics for the following day discussed with a PGA professional offering advice and insights to help the amateur players in the team in preparation for the following day.

Often PGA professionals are seen

The idyllic setting of the Kaikoura golf course at the foot of the Southern Alps

spending time with their group on the range or short game area after the round, working on a part of the game that troubled the group during the round.

People make this tournament a huge success and it is one of the reasons why so many PGA professionals make the trip.

This year 2018 New Zealand Open champion Michael Hendry will be playing, along with in-form young professionals like Luke Toomey, Luke Brown, Ryan Chisnall, Jordan Loof, Daniel Hillier, Mark Hutson, Mason Lee and our seasoned professionals like Gareth Paddison, Keiran Muir, Harry Bateman, Martin Pettigrew, Peter Fowler and Dongwoo Kang.

All players will be looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones at this year’s event.

Kaikoura is where the mountains of the Southern Alps meet the sea and the golf course is set at the base of the mountains and only a few hundred metres from the ocean right on State Highway 1. It is a truly special place and one we are looking forward to.

Follow all the progress of the PGA Spring Pro-am Festival of golf at https:// www.pga.org.nz/2019-season?ComeFromCat=873

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GOLFCOACHING

ianhardie.net

How to recover from hitting a great tee shot

By Ian Hardie NZPGA Professional

“I get upset over a bad shot just like anyone else but it’s silly to let the game get to you. When I miss a shot, I just think what a beautiful day it is and what pure fresh air I’m breathing. Then I take a deep breath, I have to do that. That’s what gives me the strength to break the club.” – Bob Hope.

Nothing is more irritating to a golfer than following a great tee shot with a poor shot.

Yet, almost all golfers have done it and some golfers do it multiple times during each game.

They can hit their best drive of the day, then completely mishit the ‘simple’ approach shot to end up missing the green.

They can play a brilliant shot that makes it over that troublesome water hazard off the tee, then hit their next shot way over onto the next fairway.

They can play a really good shot that finishes on the green of that long par three that they find difficult, only to end up three-putting for another bogey on that hole.

I could go on and on with more examples but I’m sure that if you are one of those golfers what you really want to know is: why does this happen to you and more importantly, how can you stop following great tee shots with poor shots?

The problem you are experiencing when this happens is that you are probably still thinking about how great that last tee shot was, as you are going in to play your

next one, and as a result you are not allowing yourself to focus properly on the shot you are about to play.

In other words, you probably aren’t switching your brain back onto the task at hand before hitting your next shot, which is why the mistakes turn up.

While I have to admit that it’s not easy to always catch yourself doing this during a game – as those thoughts of how great that tee shot you just hit was, easily spiral off into thoughts of having your best score ever, winning the event you’re playing in or considering if you’re now ready for the PGA Tour after that booming drive you just hit on the 6th hole – are all thoughts that your brain loves having, as they are based in the future and don’t need it to pay any real attention to what’s going on around you while you are thinking them.

You could effectively categorise them as daydreaming and as I’m sure you are aware, most people don’t get a lot accomplished when they are daydreaming, do they?

What you need to do is effectively find a way to recover from that great tee shot and focus properly on your next one.

So, how can you do that?

Recognise – it takes a bit of practice to realise that your brain has headed off somewhere else after a great tee shot but the warning signs are the sorts of things I listed earlier, like thinking of how the great tee shot you just hit should allow you to play your best round ever, beat the other players you are with or win the competition that day even though you are only on the 6th hole, or maybe it’s uncontrollable smiling when you think how

good you hit that tee shot or thoughts of when the next PGA Tour qualifying school is.

Effectively you are looking for any thoughts that are not focused on the next shot you have to play, so once you realise that your brain has headed off to the PGA Tour while you are still on the 6th hole and assuming you can catch yourself before you hit your next shot, here’s what to do.

Close everything – stand still or sit briefly, and close your eyes, mentally make the decision to shut off your mind and empty it for 15 seconds or so.

Some golfers feel a little self-conscious about doing this but I can guarantee you it’s worth doing and your playing partners aren’t likely to care as they will probably still be marvelling at that great tee shot you just hit — same as you were.

Breathe – get rid of any lingering excitement by taking in a few slow, deep breaths while your eyes are closed and then continue the same pattern, as it’s now.

Time to focus and hit the shot – at this point you need to begin your normal pre-shot routine to hit your next shot.

The four simple little things above take no more than a minute to do and are easy enough for all golfers to do after hitting a great tee shot before they blindly go ahead and mess up the next one.

It’s an incredibly powerful way to reset your brain and allow you to hit great shots one after another, instead of a few times a round from the tee.

Let’s hope you get to use the process often.

Play well.

Ian Hardie is Golfer Pacific’s Golf Professional contributor. He is Club Professional at Omanu Golf Club in Mount Maunganui. Ian’s time is split between the pro shop at the club and helping people to improve, while enjoying their golf more as a result of his golf coaching. Over the past few years, in an effort to help as many golfers as he can, Ian has been sharing his common sense golf advice with golfers around the world through his website golfhabits.com. With over 500 articles to read, it’s a great resource for any golfer looking to improve their golf game.

Dave Mangan is the general manager of championship and golf operations for

mowing around the bunkers. If this is the case then leaving the bunker rake in the flat part of the bunker would be the next best.

PRACTICE SWING IN A BUNKER New Zealand Golf. Since 2013, Dave has been New Zealand Golf’s representative on the R&A rules of golf committee and was involved in the five years of discussions on the 2019 rule changes.

Readers are invited to submit questions to Golfer Pacific editor Paul Gueorgieff by email to pgueorgieff@yahoo. co.nz. Please ensure you explain your questions and situations clearly.

BUNKER RAKE PLACEMENT Dave, Is there a rule about where bunker rakes should be placed or is it merely a recommendation?

Jennifer, Palmerston North.

Hi Jennifer No rule here, just recommendations.

When we run New Zealand Golf tournaments our guidance is that rakes should always be placed outside of bunkers. The reason for this is that if rakes are left in the bunker they can often be left on slopes which cause issues if balls rest up against them. While this is the best option for tournament golf it can be difficult for clubs to follow for day to day club play as it means the green staff have to move them when

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

Dave, Are you able to take a practice swing in a bunker? What I mean by a practice shot is actually grounding the club and exploding the sand as if a ball was there.

In other words just like you would for a practice shot in the fairway or a chip shot near the green. We are confused.

John and Andrea, Howick, Auckland Hi John and Andrea, You are not allowed to test the sand in a bunker, so this would mean that grounding the club and having a practice shot where you would be exploding the sand would incur a penalty.

Also when playing a proper doubles’ match, are partners free to give all sorts of advice such as how much a putt might break, where to aim, what to avoid or which club to hit?

Andrew and Alexander, doubles’ partners, Wellington Hi Andrew and Alexander, If you were to hit a shot and deliberately show that to your partner that would be giving advice. Your partner or any other player in the group you are in would be able to look into your golf bag to see what club you are using, however in doing this you wouldn’t be able to move a towel or something similar.

MOVING THE BALL ONTO THE GREEN Dave, When lift, clean and place is in operation are you able to move your ball from just off the green to just on the green within the allowed distance?

Stephen, Windross Farm, Auckland.

Hi Stephen No you cannot move your ball from off the green to on the green.

The best island golf course in New Zealand

GIVING ADVICE TO PLAYING PARTNERS Dave, In interclub golf in Wellington we play doubles’ and singles’ matches at the same time but we are not allowed to give advice to our playing partners because the singles’ match takes precedence (I think that’s right).

But what is giving advice? For example if I hit an eight iron on a par three and deliberately show it to my partner, is that giving advice? On the contrary if my partner looks in my bag and sees the eight iron is missing, is my partner seeking advice?

When you are playing a doubles match you are a side and are free to give each other any advice that you would like.

One of New Zealand’s GREAT GOLFING experiences Phone 03-544-6441 • www.greenacresgolfclub.co.nz

September 2020

17

F E AT U R E

CAPITAL CITY GOLFING And after golf... Learn more about New Zealand history and culture at Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum and view The Beehive, New Zealand’s iconic parliament building, before taking a stroll and a coffee in Cuba St. Lambton Quay shops are full of designer clothes and from Wellington’s CBD jump on board the cable car to Kelburn for a view of Wellington city. Alternatively climb Mount Victoria and watch the boats come into Wellington Harbour.

New Zealand’s capital is a very compact city, bound on one side by water and the other by hills, it’s possible to walk the entire central city area and still be fit for a round of golf at a high quality Wellington area golf course. If you have access to a car Wellington has some nice small towns along the Kapiti Coast including quaint examples Paekakariki and Otaki.

MANOR PARK GOLF SANCTUARY

Manor Park Golf Sanctuary, “a sanctuary for all golfers” as it is now promoted, is somewhat unique as it is a golf and birdlife park and the Club holds an internationally recognised sanctuary environmental certification from Audubon International, New York. It has an 18-hole championship par 71 golf course set in beautiful native bush and wetlands with gently rolling fairways bordered by the Hutt River on the eastern side and the Haywards Stream to the west and is home to 20 different species of bird.

Manor Park Golf Sanctuary has three new membership packages, aimed at younger players. The membership fees are $150 for a college student, $475 for an under-30 year-old and $790 for an under-40 year-old.

SHANDON GOLF CLUB

One of the finest golf courses in the region, Shandon is located on the banks of the Hutt River, 15 minutes north of Wellington city.

Founded in 1927, Shandon is noted for superb greens, treelined fairways and immaculate presentation.The course provides an excellent test for all golfers and has played host to several national tournaments.

The on site professional shop offers club and cart hire, lessons and a full range of clothing and equipment. www.shandongolf.co.nz

www.manorparkgolf.co.nz

vailing conditions in surrounding areas.

The course is set amongst rolling picturesque countryside with easy walking, tree-lined fairways. The design of the course follows natural contours and includes a meandering stream and a feature lake. The 18 hole, 5572 metre course combines a number of features that provide an interesting and challenging test for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Twelve holes are located on one side of State Highway 58, the first seven presenting more of a challenge with undulating slopes and elevated tees. A further six holes, located across the road (accessed by underground walkway) feature a flatter layout with some elevated tees.

Off course practice facilities include a four bay driving net area, practice green with bunker facility and a putting green. www.judgefordgolf.co.nz

BOULCOTT FARM GOLF CLUB

SILVERSTREAM GOLF PARK

Silverstream Golf Park features a long established driving range and 9-hole golf course, and is located off Fergusson Drive from State Highway 2.

The driving range is amongst the biggest in the lower North Island with 20 covered bays and a hitting area of up to nearly 300m. The 9-hole course is flat and easy-walking. It is ideal for those learning the game or those who do not have the time for 18 holes.

The course is affiliated to New Zealand Golf which means you can become a member and gain a handicap and therefore also receive reduced greens fees at other courses around the country. If you do not wish to become a member you can purchase concession cards which will give you a reduced rate. www.silverstreamgolfpark.co.nz

18

Set in park-like surrounds, this long Par 70 layout is a challenge for all golfers. The course is fully irrigated and intensively groomed with reasonably narrow, tree-lined fairways.

The greens are large, sand based and subtletly contoured. They run true and are generally fast. Most of the greens are guarded by sand bunkers, grass knolls and hollows which add to the challenge when your approach shots miss the target.

Both professional and leading amateur tournaments are held at the club frequently, and it is a measure of the course design that sub-par rounds are rare.

Access to both courses is from the Military Road Proshop. www.boulcottsfarmhgc.co.nz

JUDGEFORD GOLF CLUB

Judgeford is located just 25 minutes drive from the CBD, between Paremata and the Hutt Valley, on State Highway 58. We are fortunate to enjoy a unique micro-climate in terms of weather patterns where often the weather variables are subtly different from the pre-

September 2020

MIRAMAR GOLF CLUB

Miramar Golf Club is located at Wellington Airport surrounds.

In 1993 Graham Marsh Golf Design were asked to prepare a Master plan of designing a new 18-hole course within the confines of the club’s new boundary. In 1994 work commenced on the new course with members continuing to play 18-holes. This was made possible by juggling the old course and the new holes as they came on stream. Twelve months later in August 1995 Miramar was set to start another chapter in its history.

As Graham Marsh (course architect) said, “Miramar will always be remembered by me as a golf course that was redesigned for all the right reasons-a membership that bonded together to protect their love of the game”. www.miramargolfclub.co.nz

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PARAPARAUMU BEACH GOLF CLUB

The host of 12 New Zealand Opens, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course has long been regarded by many as the spiritual home of New Zealand Golf.

A regular inside the World Top 100 Golf Course lists and considered one of the best links courses in the Southern Hemisphere a pilgrimage to play is a must for all that love the game. Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll understand just why golf played at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course is golf at its purest. www.paraparaumubeachgolfclub.co.nz

CARTERTON GOLF CLUB

THE flat, easy to walk, 5612 metre Par 71 golf course presents the amateur and professional the best of Wairarapa golf in tranquil and picturesque surroundings, set against the foothills of the stunning Tararua Ranges Established in 1911, the Carterton Golf Club, Wairarapa, New Zealand – offers 18 challenging holes.

A little over an hour drive north of Wellington or an hour and a half drive south from Palmerston North, Carterton Golf Club and New Zealand’s Wairarapa region with its world acclaimed vineyards, Lord of The Rings scenery, boutique villages and stylish accommodation, offer the best excuse to stay a while and play some golf. The Club is situated just North of Carterton Town Centre on Highway two to Masterton.

Green fee players and corporate guests are always welcome. www.cartertongolfclub.co.nz

3 FANTASTIC MEMBERSHIP DEALS College Students $150 Under 30’s $475 Under 40’s $790

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Apply NOW

September 2020

t meal a Enjoy a s Cafe ' Flighty b a or gra go to coffee

19

GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND SHERWOOD MEN’S STROKEPLAY CHAMPS

Club Captain reports: August 8th and 9th saw 59 players participate in the Men’s Strokeplay Championships; with the Seniors, Intermediates and Juniors playing 27 holes each day and the D-Grade eighteen. The full round on Sunday also doubled as qualifying for the Matchplay Championships, which saw an extra 13 players “put their names in the hat”, making a total of 72 players participating.

The course was in good condition, considering the amount of rain in the last month. The weather gods were also kind, despite a showery start to Saturday with the weather improving as the day went on and a fine Sunday. The Junior and

Movie and coffee for 2 people

D-Grade divisions proved to be close contests, being won by one and two shots by Peter Harding and Greg Healey respectively. The Intermediates saw a 7-shot win by Leith Whatmough, after he shot 75 in the Sunday round, which happened to be under his age! The Senior Division saw the biggest margin with Jono Wilkie winning by 13 shots.

Men’s Strokeplay Champs Results Senior Division Winner Jono Wilkie 224 Runner up Ben Allcock 239 3rd Place Simon Ripley 240 Intermediates Winner Leith Whatmough 241 Runner up Eric Hoyle 248 3rd Place Neil Newman 249 Juniors Winner Peter Harding 288 Runner up Vince Dempster 289

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3rd Place Errol Gray 290 D Grade (36 Holes) Winner Greg Healey 208 Runner up Graeme Sellars 210 3rd Place Mark Bogle 212

SHERWOOD GOLF RESULTS

Wednesday, 5th August 2020 Wednesday Men – Gross – Vance Alison (78); Kang Hoon Lee (80); Kevin Billington (81) Stableford – Greg Healey (41); Matt Corry (39); Peter Harding (38) Twos – Sang Seok Park, Brian Boys Thursday – 6th August 2020 Mixed Vets – Net – Men – Dallas Campbell (71); John Thompson (73); Warwick Radonich (74) Ladies – Glenis Webb (72); June Song (73); Beryl MacLeod (75) 9-Hole Haggle – Men – Joseph Orbon (19); Graham Davey (17); Colin Anderson (16) Ladies – Julia Davey (18); Wilma Davis-Colley (18); Pamela Barclay (16) Twos – Glenis Webb, Beryl MacLeod Saturday, 8th August 2020 Ladies – Nil Men’s Stroke Play Champs – as above Monday, 10th August 2020 Monday Men – Malcolm Burrell (35); Colin Jack (33); Bruce Pickford (33) Twos – Nil Tuesday, 11th August 2020 9-Hole Gross - Men – Nil 9-Hole Haggle – Men – Nil 9-Hole Gross -Ladies – Nil 9-Hole Haggle Ladies – Nil

Twos – N Wednesday, 12th August 2020 Wednesday Men – Gross – Shaun O’Shea (76); Kang Hoon Lee (77); Sang Seok Park (77) Stableford – Sang Seok Park (41); Peter Harding (40); Kang Hoon Lee (39) Twos – Nil Thursday – 13th August 2020 Open Haggle – Par – Men – Patrick Buckley (2); Brian McKay (1); Jos Groot (0) Ladies – Caryl Scott (2); Ineko Nakaizumi (-1); Kerry Pevy (-2) 9-Hole Haggle – Men – John Ogden (15); Colin Anderson (14); Phil Redfern (13) Ladies – Judy Parrish (19); Pat Smith (18); Jocelyn Murray (15) Twos – Henry Hirawani Saturday, 15th August 2020 Ladies – Haggle (Net) – Jennifer Parkinson (74); Linda Garner (76); Ineko Nakaizumi (76) Men’s Club Haggle (Stableford) – Eric Hoyle (41); Neil Newman (39); Mark Gilbert (39) High Noon (Gross) – Shaun O’Shea (76); Mark Dakers (76); Eric Hoyle (76) High Noon Medal (Net) – Eric Hoyle (66); Neil Newman (68); Mark Gilbert (68) Twos – Eric Hoyle, Andrew Hogg, Sam Gearing, Jake Stenberg, Jennifer Parkinson Monday, 17th August 2020 Monday Men – Brian Boys (37); Kerry Rabe (35); Colin Jack (34) Twos – Neil Newman Tuesday, 18th August 2020 9-Hole Stableford - Men – John Ogden (20); Phil Redfern (17); Graham Davey (17) 9-Hole Stableford -Ladies – Pamela Barclay (13); Wilma Davies-Colley (12) Ladies – 4BBB – Net Pairs– Mary Couper/Coleen West (68) Robyn Mulholland/Jennifer Parkinson (72) Twos – Nil

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Not going overseas this winter? $28.00 Mon - Fri 15% off all 30% discount for a 3meals Looking for a Golfing getaway for your group night stay instead?

With Covid 19 putting an end to your overseas travel plans this year, you may find yourselves reaching for the golf clubs eager to explore a little closer to home. Thankfully New Zealand is a destination on its own and the Bay of All Day BreakfastPlenty or is one spot that's hard to turn down.

Soak, relax and Lunch Menu Mount Maunganui Unwind We've taken the hard work out of organising and including beverages Base track andyour group this year $9.00 pphave joined with afor selection of fabulous local Papamoa and Mt Maunganui 10% discount Summit walk businesses to offer some great savings when bundled together - the option groups Mon-Fri, al all your levelsneeds! Add on a 30 min to pickEnjoyable for and mix to suit fresco dining, Main of fitness massage Mount Beach Simply get in touch with us at Summerhill with your groups preferred dates and $55.00 which options below you'd like to bundle together and we will coordinate for you.

The beach right on our door step, walking trails, mountain biking, gorgeous boutique shops and some of the best local bars, restaurants and cafes around... the opportunities are endless!

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Contact Summerhill Estate for more details and information a Golf Pro at to holes & morning tea holes & lunch get your next Golfing trip underway! Summerhill Phone 021 051 8653 info@summerhillestate.co.nz www.summerhillestate.co.nz

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$150 hour for 6 players

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September 2020

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SHERWOOD PARK GOLF CLUB WILKINSON TROPHY

The final of the Wilkinson Trophy (Top Dog) has been held recently. In a closely contested game Matt Corry and Ryan Cotterill prevailed over Steve Ganley and Jon Kirby on the 19th hole. This is the third time that Matt has won this event.

He made the comment that you have to know how to pick your partner; he’s obviously worked that formula out.

Greg Healey, Peter Harding, Leith Whatmough, Jono Wilkie

NORTHLAND NOTICEBOARD 19-20 Sep

Waipu

09 432 0259

Spring Stroke Play

25 Sep

Sherwood Park

09 434 6900

9 Hole Mixed Tournament

27 Sep

Wellsford

09 423 8385

Mix Warkworth ITM Par 3 Mixed Open

NORTH HARBOUR OMAHA GOLF CLUB MEN’S AND LADIES RESULTS

Proudly Supports The 2020

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practice round on Fri 25th And a meal on Sunday after round ENTRY $60 Includes

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Gross, Nett and Stableford Prizes 2s– Optional extra $10.00 Includes buffet meal after play on Saturday Calcutta tickets on sale to be drawn at 5pm Saturday

SATURDAY 11AM Shotgun Start SUNDAY 10AM Shotgun Start

Entries close Friday 2nd October Entry fee can be paid into Bank Account: 02-0316-0522534-06 Include Code: ITM Reference: 183/220 Particulars: your name and ID

Makita Trimmer

Contact: Murray Jones (Tournament Convenor) Ph: 07 873 4841 M: 027 229 8437 Email: murray@otctimber.co.nz All entries go in the draw to win a Makita Line Trimmer. Drawn during prize giving.

21

AUCKLAND

WAIKATO

HOWICK GOLF CLUB 9TH BUNKER DEVELOPMENT

RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB WIN MEN’S HANDICAP MATCHPLAY FINAL

From Left to Right: Vincent Latham, Ray Sutton, Peter Skilton, Greg Ilton, Dean Raven and Lewis Smith

AUCKLAND NOTICEBOARD 13 Sep

Pakuranga

09 534 3818

Mens Masters Stroke Play Championship

WAIKATO 2020 MEN’S HANDICAP MATCHPLAY FINAL

On Sunday 16th August Te Awamutu faced Riverside in the Grand Final of the 2020 Men’s Handicap Matchplay at Hamilton Golf Club.

The morning rounds were played in foursomes format. Te Awamutu took an early lead after Sam Towers and Ivan Ri-

ger beat Peter Skilton and Greg Ilton.

Riverside evened things up by winning the next match but Te Awamutu would win the third to take a 2 – 1 lead heading into the afternoons singles matches.

The afternoon singles matches definitely lived up to the expectations of a grand final and both teams proved why

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HUNTLY Golf Club Inc

located at Te Ohaki, West Bank

540 Te Ohaki Rd between Huntly & Rangiriri Bridges

Phone 07 8288305 | TXT 027 311 0256 Email: huntlygolf@xtra.co.nz

KAITAKE WOMEN’S OPEN 54 HOLE FOURSOMES Do you want to come to Taranaki and mix golf with the 2020 Garden Festival?

Put these dates in your diary: Thursday 29th October 2020 Friday 30th October 2020 Stay on and visit some spectacular gardens.

An interesting exciting two-day tournament for all full playing members more details to follow with format.

For more information or expressions of interest contact Kaitake Golf Club on 06 7527665 or email kaitakegolf@xtra.co.nz.

Entry forms will be out closer to the date.

22

This picturesque, well groomed 18 hole course is on flat easy walking land and is adjacent to the Tarawera River. Mountain views and the bird life add to the enjoyment for all players. The 6th, 15th and 18th holes, make the course a true test of a golfer’s skills. We are open all year round with no tee off times needed. Visitors are always welcome to join the club haggles. The course is only 40km east of Rotorua and situated at the south end of the Kawerau township.

kaweraugolf@xtra.co.nz Cobham Dr, Kawerau 3127, New Zealand  07 323 7095 September 2020

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

they have been number 1 and 2 all season. After Ray Sutton (Riverside) beat Howard Wynyard and Steve Hudson (Te Awamutu) beat Dean Raven, it was all square at 3.5 each heading in to the last two matches.

In the final two matches, Derek Hill (Te Awamutu) beat Vincent Latham and Lewis Smith (Riverside) beat Robert Watene meaning that both teams would finish on 4.5 points each and a countback would be needed to separate them. After a countback on the margin of games won it was declared that Riverside were the 2020 Men’s Handicap Matchplay Champions.

2020 SHAYNA KUMITAU MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

On Sunday 16th August, the Shayna Kumitau Memorial Tournament was held in conjunction with the Waikato Junior Golf Society at Ngaruawahia Golf Club. This is the 8th year that the Tournament has been held in memory of Shayna Kumitau.

The event continues to be well supported each year.

Waikato representative Ben Ambler took out first place on the day with a Gross score of 68 beating Rhys Thomas by one shot. In the Net Christopher Seel shot a Net 62 to win by 2 shots over young Krinesh Singh who scored a Net 64 and a Gross 99, it was his first time breaking 100.

In the lady’s division Ing Iadpluem beat Waikato representative Jill Morgan by two shots with a round of 73. Liz Barlett won the Net competition with a Net score of 72 beating Sally Moore by one shot.

“Picturesque & Tranquil One of the finest 9 hole golf courses in the South Island”

2020 PRODRIVE HAMILTON MEN’S WAIKATO MASTERS

the top 10 in the gross competition.

In the nett competition Waikato representative player Wybo Veldman took out first place with nett scores of 71 and 72 to beat Michael Bone (Waitakere) by 2 shots.

WAIKATO NOTICEBOARD

The annual Pro-Drive Hamilton Men’s Waikato Masters were held on Saturday 8th August at the Waikare Golf Club.

The event was two rounds played over one day with morning and afternoon sessions. This year’s competition drew a record amount of interest with over 150 entries that were then cut down by lowest handicap to 96 competitors.

Rain started to fall as the first groups were teeing off but by 9am the skies had cleared, and the sun was shining.

The course was in immaculate condition however, tricky pin placements and quick greens made low scores hard to come by.

After round one Thai Leng (Remuera) was the club house leader with a score of one under par 69. Right on his heels on even par 70 was Martin Tumata (Onewhero) and Kyle Moore (Walton). Stephen O’Reilly (Muriwai), Roy Hollick (Pakuranga) and Dave Izzard (Muriwai) were all in the hunt as well after scoring one over par 71.

In the Nett Medal competition Kyle Moore took a first round lead with a nett score of 67. Closely behind him was Dave Izzard on nett 69 and both Owen Allison (Riverside) and Paul Johns (Waikare) on nett 70.

After some much-needed food and water the men were back out on the course ready for round two. Stephen O’Reilly shot another 71 to finish third with a combined score of 142. Rob Simmonds (Windross Farm) improved on his morning round of 74 by 7 shots to card a best round of the day 67 and a combined score of 141 to take second place. First place was taken out by the 2007, 2008 and 2012 winner from the Onewhero golf club, Martin Tumata. He shot a second round 68 after an albatross on the par 5 1st hole and an eagle on the par 5 3rd hole to win by 3 shots with a combined score of 138. He now becomes the only player in the events history to record four victories. Although the shield will head north for the year, it was a good day for the Waikato with six players making up

6, 13, 20, 27 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

Huntly Sunday Group Specials

7 Sep

Ngahinapouri

07 825 2898

Ladies Open Tournament

8 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

COVIC Shield Round

9 Sep

Walton

07 888 3731

Midweek Open Tournament

11-13 Sep

Cambridge

07 827 6381

Cambridge Classic

12 Sep

Pauanui

07 864 8695

DB Sponsored Open

12 Sep

Te Awamutu

07 871 5661

Maori Open Golf Tournament

12 Sep

Waitomo

07 873 7978

Waitomo Club Open

14 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

Waikato Vets Pennants Final

21 Sep

Taumarunui

07 896 7257

27 Hole Foursomes Tournament

23 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

Monthly Mixed Meatpack Open

24 Sep

Ngaruawahia

07 824 8006

6x6x6

28 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

NZVGA Combined Stableford Pairs

29 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

NZVGA Mixed Par Event (& $10 Dinner)

30 Sep

Huntly

07 828 8305

NZVGA Mixed Nett Strokeplay 3 Divisions

HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY NOTICEBOARD 7 Sep

Napier

06 844 7913

Pak ‘n’ Save 9 Hole Tournament

21-22 Sep

Poverty Bay

06 867 4402 ext1

Poverty Bay Ladies Open

21 Sep

Porangahau

06 855 5029

Porangahau Sponsored Tournament

22 Sep

Hastings

06 879 7206

Robbie Brown Open Tourament

TARANAKI TARANAKI GOLFERS FLOCK TO THE FAIRWAYS

By Will Johnston Taranaki golfers wasted no time getting back on to their courses once the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ended. In fact, figures show that participation numbers increased.

Golf courses, with their wide-open spaces, meant the sport was one of the first to be given the green light and statistics from the Taranaki Golf Association showed more people than ever took the

opportunity to play. There was an overall increase in memberships by 3% between January and July 2020 with a 40% increase in rounds played across June and July.

This was up by 16 per cent on last year.

While not every club has enjoyed a membership increase since December 2019, Taranaki Golf executive officer Nick Northam was very pleased with the overall performance.

“More noticeable is the increase in rounds played. This has been due to the combination of members playing more regularly and more casual golfers playing the game, some for the first time, and others rediscovering the sport.”

Northam said there was no doubt golf fared much better than other sports during Alert Level 3 and 2.

“It was one of the few sportspeople were able to play and numerous clubs gained new members as a result.”

The largest membership increase seen since the start of the year was seen at the Pungarehu and Fitzroy Golf Clubs with a 31 per cent and 18 per cent increase, respectively.

The Manaia Golf Club saw the biggest increase in rounds played, up by 55 per cent in June and nearly 31 percent in July.

New Plymouth had an increase of 22 per cent in June followed by nearly 40 per cent in July. Westown’s rounds grew by 14 per cent and 18 per cent across the twomonth period.

Winter is usually the quiet period for golf so Northam was hopeful the numbers would remain positive.

“With spring approaching, it will be interesting to see if the recent increase in membership and number of rounds of golf being played will be sustained or even continue to grow.”

Nationally, participation levels are also up with a 4 per cent increase of memberships and an 11 per cent increase in rounds played.

Northam said golf gave people the opportunity to get outside and enjoy all the benefits the game brought.

“Taranaki Golf is heartened by golf’s increased popularity in recent times and is confident its renaissance will continue over the coming years,” he said.

There would be trials for golf competitions scheduled for the coming weeks but if the Auckland Covid situation increased, it would have a carry-over effect, Northam said.

Book Now! www.titirangigolf.co.nz or on DotGolf

Totaradale 03 541 8030

Labour Weekend Open

October 24th & 25th 2020 36 Holes Gross, Net & Stableford

Totaradale Golf Club, Pigeon Valley Rd, Wakefield, Nelson. www.totaradalegolf.co.nz Email: info@totaradalegolf.co.nz

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September 2020

23

JOSH BAI WINS IN PLAYOFF

TARANAKI NOTICEBOARD 5-6 Sep

Fitzroy Golf Club, New Plymouth Golf Club

06 758 2574

Bunnings Taranaki Masters

13 Sep

Manukorihi

06 754 4771

Kiwi Butcher Tournament

26-27 Sep

Westown

06 758 6933

Roger Mori Memorial

MANAWATU-WHANGANUI RAJ & FINDLAY WIN 36 HOLE TITLES

Whanganui’s Tara Raj was dominant in winning the women’s section of the Manawatu Whanganui 36 Hole Open played at Marton Golf Club last month, however the men’s title playing for the Challenge Cup was a very close fought battle. Manawatu’s, Angus Findlay, claimed victory by one shot over Junior Tatana and Regan McConaghty, with Trent Munn and Rhys Harold both a further shot back.

Played in mainly fine conditions with only a gentle breeze, the Marton course proved to be a tougher test than most players were probably expecting as it demands accuracy from the tee, and the fast and true greens demanded precision with the putter.

Raj fired two rounds of 71, which was 9 shots clear of Zhouyi Hu, with a further 4 shots back to Lisa Herbert in 3rd place.

Palmerston North Junior Natalie Lyttle won the net competition, and achieved a rare albatross, on her final hole in round one, holing her second shot on the par 5, 4th hole.

Findlay had two rounds of 73, while Tatana and McConaghty both had rounds of 73 and 74. Trent Munn was in a strong position after his morning round of 2 under par 70, but could not keep it going in the afternoon shooting a 78. Rhys Harold matched Munn with the lowest individual round of the day firing a second round 70, after a morning 78. Marton Junior Fred McVerry won the net, after being the only player to match par on handicap, over the two rounds.

The event also doubled as the Age Group champs with Feilding’s Ryan Rooney winning both the U16 (Silk Cup) and U19 (Kelly Cup) boys titles. Tara Raj won the U19 girls (Eagles Cup) title, while sister Sera Raj won the U15 girls (Soma Cup) title.

Angus Findlay

Ryan Rooney

Young Aucklander Joshua Bai had a day to remember at the Feilding Open 36 hole strokeplay event in late July.

Bai is a little bit of a prodigy in NZ golf circles, and at 14 years of age proved his potential once again, winning on the first playoff hole against Manawatu Whanganui rep, and local Feilding member, Liam Finlayson. With light fading fast, Finlayson made an uncharacteristic error on the first playoff, which Bai took full advantage of. Both players finished regulation play at 2 under par over the 36 holes.

What made Bai’s day even sweeter was a hole-in-one in round one on the par 3, 4th hole.

Other players to feature well included Manawatu’s Ewan Westergaard in 3rd place at even par, followed by Todd Nicholson (ex-professional out of Whanganui), and Sam Marsters (Wellington) both at 1 over par.

In the women’s section, Manawatu’s Lisa Herbert, showed her younger rivals she is still a force to reckon with, with a comfortable 4 shot victory over highly rated teenager, Tara Raj. Herbert’s rounds were 75 and 80.

The feature of the day was the full field of 93 golfers enjoying a picture perfect winter’s day.

MANAWATU-WHANGANUI NOTICEBOARD

Tara Raj

11 Sep

Marton

06 327 6912

Marton Greensome Foursomes Women

18 Sep

Marton

06 323 4714

Women’s Spring Tournament & Denbigh Cup

18 Sep

Feilding

06 323 4553

Spring Tournament Women

Sera Raj

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WELLINGTON WELLINGTON NOTICEBOARD 4 Sep

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04 306 9076

Women’s Club Champs 9 & 18 Holers

8 Sep

Miramar

04 801 7650

Miramar Open

10 Sep

Royal Wellington

04 528 6900

Women's & Men's 9 Hole Index Field Day

12-13 Sep

Shandon

04 939 6305

WGI 72 Hole Strokeplay

12-13 Sep

Riversdale

06 372 3416

Women’s 54 Hole Open

17 Sep

Paraparaumu Beach

04 902 8200

Women’s 9 Hole Open Field Day

19 Sep

Paraparaumu Beach

04 902 8200

2020 Kitchen Creators PBGC 36 Hole Open

28 Sep

Waikanae

04 293 6399

Wgtn Strokeplay 54 Holes

5 Oct

Martinborough

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Martinborough Open

12 Oct

Paraparaumu Beach

04 902 8200

2 Days Shand Cup

TASMAN TASMAN NOTICEBOARD 12 Sep

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03 528 8998

New World Open

13 Sep

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03 570 5709

Marlborough Vets

17 Sep

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03 544 8420

Open Tournament

20 Sep

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03 526 6819

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24 Sep

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25 Sep

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03 572 2575

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30 Sep

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CANTERBURY WOODWARD AND POLLOCK CUPS

Canterbury’s premier interclub competitions, the Woodward and Pollock Cups, are well underway with last month’s play seeing round three being completed for the Woodward Cup at Russley Golf Club, and round two for the Pollock Cup being completed at Pegasus Golf Club.

Woodward Cup The host club had started their campaign with wins over Pegasus and Weedons, and did not disappoint in round three with a comprehensive 6.5-1.5 win over Waitikiri. Reid Hilton, Hiroki Miya, Ben Baker, Michael McAuley, Owen Burgess, and Andrew Dufton all had wins, while Regan Kilpatrick halved with Woo Bong Kim. Canterbury Masters rep Brett Turner was the sole victor for Waitikiri beating Taylor Hosking 4/3.

There was much interest in the Harewood v Pegasus match, particularly with

No. 1’s Matt McLean and Kazuma Kobori squaring off. On this occasion Kazuma was too strong winning 4/2, and leading his team to a 4.5-3.5 victory overall. The other wins went to Zach May, Phil Stephens, and Nathan Gilbert, while Peter Brinsdon halved with Scott Manyweathers. For Harewood the wins came at the bottom of the order to Daniel Lundt, Sam Watkinson, and Kerry Branson.

Templeton got their first win beating Bottle Lake 5.5-2.5. At the top-of-the-order Mike Berry got a good half against Canterbury rep Andrew Green, with Tom Wilson, Ryan Bellamy, Jordon Latter, Rhys Wilson, and Lance Gahan then chiming in with wins for Templeton. Kieran Sharvin and Steve Dellow won for Bottle Lake.

Hororata put up a good fight against Avondale with many close matches but eventually succumbed 5-3. The No.1’s battle between Sam Purdon and Dominic Brettkelly was of interest with Purdon prevailing 1up. Avondale also got wins from Nick Brennan, Hayden Burns, Richard Sinclair, and Daniel Vesty. For Hororata the wins came from Owen Miller, Andrew Inch, and Roy Stieller.

Christchurch celebrated 100 Woodward Cup games for John “Dutchie” Rademakers with a 7.5-0.5 win over Weedons.

Rademakers halved with Will Bastings, but all his other team-mates had good wins. For Weedons Masters rep Jonathan Stieller got closest narrowly going down on the last hole to Marcel Boet.

Russley sit at the top-of-the-table with Christchurch and Avondale a point behind. There is a weekend break for the Town v Country match, and we look forward to round four at Christchurch Golf Club.

Pollock Cup Playing on their home course, Pegasus took five out of the six matches in defeating Waitikiri, whose one win came from Jenny Clarke who played well to beat Deanna Matthews. Momoka Kobori at No.1 took control of her match early against Ginny Bolderston by going through the first 9 holes at 7 under the card, and winning 8/7. The front nine included five birdies and an eagle 2 at the 288m Par 4 sixth hole.

Russley achieved a convincing team win 4.5 to 1.5 over Harewood, with No.1 players Maddie May and Catherine Knight battling out a half but securing wins from the next four players.

Christchurch took a little longer to de-

cide the results of their match with Clearwater. Match-of-the-day was between Christchurch’s Catherine Bell and Clearwater’s Amelia Garvey. In a close match that included 11 halved holes, Amelia prevailed on the 17th with a birdie at the par 4 fourth hole to give her a 3/1 win. However wins by Olive Tapu, Melissa Newburn and Mel Brew and a half to Robyn Gillespie gave Christchurch a narrow win 3.5 to 2.5 games.

Mel Brew and Bobbi Oliver celebrated 50 Pollock Cup games.

After two rounds, Pegasus lead Christchurch on a games count-back. The next round is not until 13 September at Christchurch Golf Club.

TOBY RICHARDS TROPHY & CRESSWELL CUP

The Toby Richards Trophy and Cresswell Cup matches were played at Pegasus Golf Club last month in mild, calm conditions and the course in great order.

The Cresswell Cup match was between Bottle Lake (Winner of Metropolitan A) and Rangiora Red (Winner of Templeton Cup) with the Rangiora Red team of, from left Ross Campbell, Grant Hoben, Dave Millar, Stretch Renai, Kevin Jones, Nigel Seaton, Cliff Bishop and Murray Goodwin defeating Bottle Lake 5.5-2.5 at the end of some very close matches, with five of the eight matches being decided on the 17th and 18th holes.

The Toby Richards Trophy between Bottle Lake (Winner of Metropolitan B) and Weedons Black (Winner of Patterson Cup) also had it’s share of closely fought battles, with four matches going down to the wire and another decided on the penultimate hole before Bottle Lake’s, from left Kevin Grant, Jeff Goodman, Gordon Waugh, John Brand, Stuart Neill, Stephen Hill, Gary Newton, Mark Silcock and Stephen Fergusson triumphed, defeating Weedons Black 6-2.

CANTERBURY NOTICEBOARD 6 Sep

Akaroa

03 304 5704

Banks Peninsula Championship

7 Sep

Bottle Lake

03 383 1403

Canterbury Golf 9 Hole Tournament

7 Sep

Kaikoura

03 313 6666

Women’s 3 Day Tournament

10 Sep

Greendale

03 325 4128

Women’s & Men’s 9 Hole Tournament

11 Sep

Bottle Lake

03 383 1403

Ladies Team Stableford

Winter Golf at Tasman

Tasman Golf Club at Kina Cliffs

Where spectacular views are par for the course TEE UP THIS WINTER AT TASMAN GOLF CLUB For an unforgettable golfing experience you really will enjoy! Play 9 undulating and interesting holes with some of the most beautiful views of mountains and sea in the Nelson area. Green fees just $25 for as much golf as you want to play. Clubs and trundlers available for hire, 10-round concession books too at a great price. All players welcome. Kids under 12 play for free.

Interested? Then come on up! For more info: Call Lyndal on 03 526 6819 or check out our website.

Tasman Golf Club - 128 Cliff Road, RD1 Upper Moutere, Nelson teeup@tasmangolfclub.com | www.tasmangolfclub.com

Another of the Great Walks

Situated next to spectacular Lake Te Anau and surrounded by the Fiordland National Park, the Te Anau Golf Club is a hidden gem and one of New Zealand’s most picturesque golf courses.

Ph: +64 3 249 7474 | Email: teanaugolf@xtra.co.nz

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September 2020

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12 Sep

Hanmer Springs

03 315 7110

Men’s 54 Hole Open

14 Sep

Pegasus

03 920 3300

Ladies Team Stableford Tournament

17 Sep

Avondale

03 388 8203

Women’s Teams Tournament

18 Sep

Akaroa

03 313 6666

Rangiora Friday Tournament

21 Sep

Waimakariri

03 312 4339

Gorge 9 Hole Tournament

23 Sep

Scargill

027 369 1941

Women’s Team Stableford

25 Sep

Waimairi Beach

03 383 0307

Women’s Canadian Foursomes

26 Sep

Amuri

03 315 6036

Men’s Canadian Foursomes Tournament

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND ROXBURGH GOLF CLUB ANNUAL EVENT 99 YEARS RESULTS

The 99th Annual August Tournament of the Roxburgh Golf Club was able to go ahead even with the district at Covid level 2. Numbers allowed to play were markedly reduced from exceptionally full fields (about 112) to 76 on Friday 14 August and 83 on Saturday 15 August.

Locals were ballotted out but felt it was a small price to pay so that the two day tournament could go ahead. There were two days of brilliant typical Central Otago early spring weather. The noise in the clubhouse after the golfing was magical, everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves. There were a lot of young golfers in the field and some senior players on extremely low handicaps who commented how good the state of the course was in.

ral Livestock 36 Hole Men’s & Women’s Championship 15th August 2020 Best Gross: Matt Tautari Invercargill 6366 129 Gross Runner Up: Phil Bungard Island Park 69-62 131 on countback from Liam Hewitt Queens Park, Inia Logan Cromwell Best Nett: Liam Hewitt Queens Park 143 Nett Runner Up: Kyle Clark Cromwell 145 Intermediate Best Gross: George McDonald Wanaka 69-70 139 Gross Runner Up: Jason Peglar Chisholm Links 71-70 141 Best Nett: Gavin English Titirangi 142 on count back Nett Runner Up: Paul Hubbard Otago 142 Junior Best Gross: Josh Kahukura Cromwell 73-74 147 Gross Runner Up: Bryce Hoffman Waikaia 72-80 152 Best Nett: Peter Kane Winton 142 Nett Runner Up: Geoff Carter Millbrook 143 Best Local Nett Pissy 144 Women Best Gross: Yoonae Jeong Wakatipu Junior 77-76 153 Best Nett: Lisa Rutherford Toko 146 Hole in One Peter Devine Senior NTP 8 John McIntee Intermediate NTP 13 Richard Olsen Junior NTP 2 Peter Devine Women NTP 18 Amy Johns

The Balmacewen team of Duncan Croudis, Neil McDonald and the old hand of Trevor King combined well to win the gross stableford section with 91 points from Arrowtown, 84 points, Duncan leading the way with the best round of the day at 68.

In the nett stableford section Otago with 100 points were made to work harder playing off with newly found local rivals Island Park.

Having been in for some time and enjoying refreshments the old head of Trevor King helped his team make it a clean sweep and make for a great day for the men from Balmacewen.

An entertaining playoff for all watching.

Peter said, “Children have loved it. They can’t wait to get to the golf club and play next Thursday.”

Some of the comments the students have said were: “this is cool”; “our team wants to win!”; “I have to be patient”; “this is hard!”; and “we can’t wait til next week.”

AORANGI 9 HOLE TOURNAMENT 2020

The Aorangi 9-hole Tournament was held on Friday 14 August at the Geraldine Golf Club. There were 64 players in the field from 14 Aorangi and Canterbury clubs.

The following winners are pictured below with their trophies, from left to right: Lesley Reilly (Temuka) Women’s Best Net 70 and over (Uni Peg Tray) 57-20-37 Murray Lister (Ashburton) Men’s Best Net (Lesley Dobbs Tankard) 46-16-30 Judith Tutton (Gleniti) Best Gross over the field 43-6-37 Chris Anderson (Ashburton) 45-9-36 and Di Surridge (Timaru) absent 55-19-36 Best Net (Grade 0-38.9) Carolyn Harkness (Pleasant Point) Best Net (Grade 39-54.4) 58-26-32

2020 CHAMPIONS OF OTAGO

GOLF SOUTHLAND FOURSOMES RESULTS PLAYED 23RD AUGUST AT QUEENS PARK Golf Southland Foursomes Winners

Names left to right as follows: Junior Champion: Josh Kahukura (Cromwell), Women’s Champion: Yoonae Jeong (Wakatipu Junior), Intermediate Champion: George McDonald (Wanaka), Senior Champion: Matt Tautari (Invercargill) Results Southern Wide Real Estate and Ru-

SNAG GOLF AT FAIRLIE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Twenty-three teams were met with perfect weather and course conditions at the Balclutha Golf Course last month for the staging of the 2020 Champions of Otago.

Midweek Meat Pack Mixed Open - 24th September 4th Thursday of every month | 10:00am-11:30am | Entry $25 Visitors welcome

The Golf Professional based at the Gleniti Golf Course, Peter Hayes, said Fairlie Primary School students had a great time with golf in schools SNAG golf.

For the last three weeks, SNAG golf has been played every Thursday with over 100 students per day.

Gross Winners Olivia Frost & Helen Baird

Winter Membership Deal

Check these great membership prices out.

Membership Category

Deal Price

18 Hole Full Playing*

$695.00 +gst

9 Hole Full Playing*

$499.00 +gst

Intermediate (20 – 23 years old)*

$349.00 +gst

Junior (up to and including 19 years)* Junior Beginner

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Junior 9 & 18 Hole

$55.00 +gst

Junior Full Playing $105.00 +gst

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6 Month 18 Hole*^

$450.00 +gst

Social Member (Clubhouse Membership)

$10.00 inc gst

Offer valid from June to September 12 month memberships^

Location Address 1337 Whangaparaoa Road, Army Bay Whangaparaoa 0930 Email Address whangaparaoa@golf.co.nz Telephone Number (09) 424 5441

*Only available to players who have not held a Whangaparaoa membership within the past 2 years ^All except the 6 month 18 hole option are for 12 months from date of purchase

September 2020

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Gross Winners Matt Tautari & Tyler McLean 2020 Men’s Gross Winners P R Adams Trophies: Matt Tautari & Tyler McLean 136 Runners Up: Liam Hewitt & Connor Fowle 144 2020 Women’s Gross Winners Ester Blackly Trophies: Olivia Frost & Helen Baird 161 Runners Up: Robyn Pullar & Geraldine Todd 167

lock 142 3rd Jason Milne & Tim Mackay 143 ½ 4th Steve Kennard & Tony Manu 145 5th Nathan White & Paul White 145 2020 Women’s Nett Winners; Kate McGregor & Lyn Lindsay 149 ½ Runners-up; Josie Ladbrook & Julie Fleury 155 ½ Women’s 18 hole AM Nett; Naoko Anderson & Priscilla Riddell Men’s 18 Hole AM Nett; Brian Suddaby & Phil Van der lem Women’s PM Winners; Mary Symons & Linda Suddaby Men’s PM Winners; Daniel O’Connor & Scott Ramsay Women’s AM Stableford; Anita Fraser & Bronwyn O’Brien Men AM Stableford; Rhuebyn Prattley & Adam Newton NEAREST THE PINS Ladies No 12; Shelly Price Men No 12; Connor Fowle Ladies No 17; Olivia Frost Men No 17; Chris Sherlock Paul Adam on your Hole in One on hole No 11

MATAURA LICENSING TRUST PRESIDENT PENNANTS RESULTS 22 AUGUST

Nett Winners Rodger Stewart & Darren Miller

Nett Winners Kate McGregor & Lyn Lindsay 2020 Men’s Nett: Rodger Stewart & Darren Miller 141 Runners Up Kyle Dobbie & Chris Sher-

Results from Golf Southland Mataura Licensing Trust sponsored Presidents Pennants played on 22nd August at Greenacres Golf Club.

Section 1 Invercargill A 4 Invercargill C 0 Liam Hewitt beat Brad Harper 4/2, Liam Balneaves beat Mark Horgan 3/2, Craig O’Rorke beat Daniel O’Connor 5/4, Paul; Adams beat Scott Ramsay 2up Greenacres Bye Section 2 Invercargill B 2 ½ Winton 1 ½ Matt Tautari lost Simon Boland 1 down, Tyler McLean beat Peter Buckley 3/2, Rob Mainland beat Ewan Clark 4/3, Doug Carmichael square Jason Unahi Gore Bye

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAMS RESULTS

National Teams Results played at Winton Golf Club 6th August

Vice Presidents Section Winners 2020 Vice Presidents ; Winton Team; Simon Boland, Ewan Clark, Jason Unahi, Barry McAlister, John Hay, Geoff Carleton 4th Placing: Invercargill 3rd Placing: Queens Park Runners Up: Hedgehope Handicap Section Individual Winners: Division 1: Tegan Proudfoot (Hedgehope) Division 2: Geoff Pullar (Winton) Division 3: Ross Mangels (Nightcaps) Division Prizes: Division 1: Hedgehope (1), Gore (2), Wyndham Division 2: Riversdale 2), Hedgehope (2), Winton Division 3: Riversdale (1), Mataura (C) Nightcaps Overall: 4th; Riversdale 223 3rd; Winton 222 2nd; Hedgehope (2) 220

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND NOTICEBOARD Aorangi

MATAURA LICENSING TRUST VICE PRESIDENT & HANDICAP PENNANT FINALS RESULTS

2020 Golf Southland Mataura Licensing Trust Vice President & Handicap Pennants Results Played 16th August

WINNERS: Waikaka 128 Dianne Cleland, Kate Cross 66 Janis Steel, Deryn Cullen 62 RUNNER UPS: Tuatapere 140 Lynette Chambers, Christene O’Brien 74 Fiona Gray, Sharon Hampton 66 3RD PLACE Greenacres 143 Kathryn McEwing, Wendy Wahren 70 Tracey McLeod, Judy Lloyd 73 4th Gore 144 5th = Drummond 145, Invercargill 145 7th Mataura 146 8th = Riversdale 149, Riverton 149 10th = Wyndham 152, Dipton 152 12th Winton 153 13th Te Anau 156 14th Queens Park 160 Two’s; J Wadworth K McEwing Nearest Pins: Silver; G Todd Bronze; A Carran Longest Putt Silver; G Todd Bronze; F Dudfield

Winner 2020 Handicap Pennants; Mataura (A) 220 Team Adam de Pass, Bert McNoe, Adam Newton, Rhuebyn Prattley

9 Sep

North Otago

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North Otago 2BBB

12 Sep

Timaru

03 688 2012

Spring Tournament

14 Sep

Methven

03 302 8438

Pink Lady Tournament

17 Sep

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021 363 956

Mackenzie Ladies Championships

18 Sep

Geraldine

027 842 2332

9 Hole Tournament

19 Sep

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Team Stableford Tournament

21 Sep

Waitoa Park

03 434 6659

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24 Sep

Pleasant Point

03 614 7304

Halberg Women’s Tournament

26 Sep

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021 0265 9493

Highfield 2 Day Tournament

7-8 Sep

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03 443 7888

Wanaka 0 – 33.5 Stableford Tournament

9 Sep

Tarras

022 463 1691

John Annan Memorial Strokeplay

11-12 Sep

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ANZ Private Tournament Series

12 Sep

Lower Waitaki

03 431 3800

North Otago Motor Group Ambrose

17 Sep

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03 465 1448

Ardleigh Open 4BBB Tournament

17 Sep

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21 Sep

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26 Sep

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September 2020

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