Golfer Pacific NZ – October 2021

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Ryder Cup embarrassment for Europe PAGE 4 INSIDE // FEDEX CUP // ROYAL MELBOURNE: NO JAB, NO PLAY

EDITORIAL

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

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

So the main reason I play golf is …

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By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

hat’s the main reason we play golf?

The answer to that question dawned on me while in coronavirus lockdown.

Under alert level four we were allowed to play golf but had to remain within our bubble. That basically meant only playing with members of my household.

I am the only member of my household that plays golf. So I could only play golf by myself.

In addition the cups of the holes were raised above the ground and all you had to do was hit the raised cup with the golf ball. That was deemed as having holed out.

But scores didn’t matter anyhow. Golf New Zealand was not

accepting any scores for handicap purposes during that time.

Because I would have had to play on my own, I couldn’t be bothered playing. Instead I went to the golf course driving range and I practised. Sorry for using that rude P word.

But it got me thinking. If I had had someone to play with I would have played, even though it was somewhat pointless.

And it also made me come to conclusion of the main reason I play golf. Camaraderie.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy the game, I enjoy the competition, I enjoy the challenge of trying to hit a good shot, I enjoy the exercise and I enjoy the fresh air.

But in the end it’s camaraderie that ranks as No 1.

I love the banter between players, I enjoy the conversation on

the golf course and I enjoy taking money off my mates when scores are tallied at the end of the round — although the latter is only occasional.

When an opposition player three-putts to lose the hole, I enjoy comforting them by saying if it’s any consolation that third putt looked good all the way.

When an opposition player has to step away from their shot because I am talking to my playing partner, I enjoy saying can you please not play until we have finished talking.

On the rare occasion when I hit my drive one foot further than any of the others in my group, I enjoy telling them they must be pleased with their drives.

I enjoy the drink after golf. I enjoy the wine and cheese we have after golf on a Thursday.

I enjoy the comments about the person who lost $100 for the racing syndicate the previous Saturday.

I enjoy the comments about the person who won $500 for the racing syndicate the previous Saturday — although the latter is only occasional.

I enjoy the planning of our next golf trip. When should we go, where should we go, what courses should we play?

We have had a number of golf trips planned in the last couple of years but the actual occurrence has only been occasional.

Covid-19 has been the culprit.

Golf lends itself to camaraderie. There is lots of time between shots and good conversation helps pass that time.

SALES & CLUB PACKAGE GOLF TRAILS & NOTICEBOARDS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 7 5504 6334 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 LAYOUT & DESIGN layout.golferpacificnz@gmail.com PUBLISHER Golfer Pacific NZ LTD PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand ACCOUNTS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com SUBSCRIPTION $60.00 per annum including GST smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 5575 7444 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 NEW ZEALAND MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand AUSTRALIAN MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 264 Chevron Island QLD 4217, Australia COVER PHOTO: United States captain Steve Stricker proudly poses with the Ryder Cup following his team’s win at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in the United States. Photo credit: Patrick Smith/ Getty Images.

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October 2021

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oyal Melbourne Golf Club’s reputation for leading the way on being covid-safe on the fairways has been firmly reinforced.

In what is believed to be a first in golf, Royal Melbourne, a two-time Presidents’ Cup venue and former host to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, has confirmed a no jab, no play policy.

The club’s 2000 members and staff have been told that players will need to show proof of at least one shot of a covid-19 vaccination to take to the course, whenever the state government’s on-going golf ban

is lifted.

In a report in Golf Industry Central, club captain Andrew Kirby made it clear there would be exemptions for those whose medical conditions ruled out a jab, but declared zero tolerance for anti-vaxxers.

“A legitimate medical reason will not be: I am waiting for Pfizer; I could not get a vaccination appointment yet; I don’t trust the vaccines, the vaccines are a conspiracy to embed us with 5G network tracking devices ecetera,” Kirby said.

Kirby added that like last year’s covid-safe stance,

the policy has been a winner with the rank-and-file at Royal Melbourne where anti-vaxxers don’t appear to be an issue.

He said: “We got incredibly strong support from the members, an amazing number of notes and passionate support from staff and from other clubs.

“We’ve got lots of rules in golf and here’s another one. If you want to play, you’ll have to be vaccinated.

At least one jab, then two and of course there’ll be a system of registration.”

GOLF NEWS

Royal Melbourne: No jab, no play

Major New Zealand golf conference planned for next year

By Neville Idour

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recent press release revealed an exciting event being planned for next August.

The New Zealand Golf Industry Council (NZGIC) reported on progress for the Golf Matters’ New Zealand Golf Conference.

This will be the first conference of its kind in New Zealand, even possibly the world.

Par NZ Corporate Events was engaged in May to deliver the conference. It is an exciting prospect and Denise Langdon of Par NZ said: “It is early stages yet but

we hope to name the venue in October along with the facilities and venue partners.”

Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown are thought to have the front running as hosts.

Langdon added: “The conference will have several components such as key speakers, forum time, workshop sessions and expo aspects.”

NZGIC chairman Sam Sullivan explained: “We are bringing everyone together for what we have all been missing, a face to face collaborative and informative

three days, effectively the whole industry in one location.

“Key areas will be the presentation and engagement of industry leaders, golfing legends, plus thought provoking and engaging speakers from around the world, either in person or virtually.”

NZGIC is in discussions with all areas of the industry such as golf clubs, retail, equipment, green keeping suppliers and equipment, media, travel and tourism, web design, social media as well as areas like human resources, accounting,

business planning and general management to produce an array of exhibitors. The aim is to attract all involved in golf.

In fact this will be the first time that all sectors of the golf industry have come together for a joint conference and trade show.

Clearly it has the potential to provide a wonderful opportunity for networking, sharing information about new initiatives, concepts, research and best practices happening within the golf industry.

It is the intention that this event will incorporate the New

Zealand Professional Golfers’ Association, New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents’ Association and Golf Managers’ Association of New Zealand annual conferences.

The expo element with what is described as a plethora of exhibitors will be an exciting part of the overall event. All that is required for this to happen and be a success is for buy-in from all involved in golf which includes the golf equipment and apparel industries.

Registration for the conference opens on January 1.

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October 2021

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Ryder Cup embarrassment for Europe GOLF NEWS

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t was Europe’s worst defeat in the Ryder Cup. United States last month demolished Europe by a score of 19-9 which is the biggest win since Europe began competing in the Ryder Cup in 1979.

The tournament had previously been contested between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland.

The previous biggest margin between the US and Europe had been nine points when a score of 18.5 to 9.5 points was posted. That score had been recorded three times when the US won in 1981 and when Europe won in both 2004 and 2006.

The Ryder Cup, from an American viewpoint was, presumably, compelling watching.

From a European viewpoint it was painful.

Europe was just never in contention. It lost the first session on Friday morning (US time) 3-1. It lost the Friday afternoon session 3-1, the Saturday morning session 3-1 and tied the Saturday afternoon session 2-2.

Europe needed to win the singles matches on Sunday by at least 9-3 but almost achieved the opposite, going down 4-8.

The Ryder Cup result was perhaps best summed up before a ball was hit when it was pointed out the United States had nine of the world’s top 11 ranked players. Europe had one — John Rahm.

Because the Americans kept winning, perhaps more interesting was the venue of the Whistling Straits golf course in Wisconsin.

The United States team is all smiles following its trouncing of Europe by 19-9 in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, in the United States last month.

Photo credit: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

The crowd around the first hole on the second day of the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, in the United States.

It was the first time the Ryder Cup had been held at a public course on US soil in 30 years.

The previous time had been in 1991 when it was held at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina.

Whistling Straits is well known to many. It has hosted the PGA Championship three times in 2004, 2010 and 2015 but it was good to see it again.

It has more than 1000 bunkers — some as small as a table top — and nine of the holes run along the shore of the massive Lake Michigan. As a consequence the course gives the appearance of a links course that might be often seen in Britain for such an event.

Green fees for the public vary during the year but the peak rate is $US485 which is up with the likes of other bucket-list public options such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst No 2, TPC Sawgrass and Shadow Creek.

Apologies. We should get back to the Ryder Cup. Ah, um, oh yes. The next Ryder Cup. It will be held in 2023 in the Italian capital of Rome at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. Marco Simone has just hosted the Italian Open and is 30 minutes from the centre of Rome, with views of the city from the course.

Also don’t forget the Presidents’ Cup in North Carolina in September of next year. That’s when non-European countries get together to play the United States in a Ryder Cup format.

Who won the last Ryder Cup? Can’t remember.

United States 19, Europe 9 Scores from the Ryder Cup held at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, in the United States last month were:--

SINGLES

Xander Schauffele (USA) v Rory McIlroy (Europe): Europe wins 3&2.

Patrick Cantlay (USA) v. Shane Lowry (Europe): USA wins 4&2.

Scottie Scheffler (USA) v. Jon Rahm (Europe): USA wins 4&3.

Bryson DeChambeau (USA) v Sergio Garcia (Europe): USA wins 3&2.

Collin Morikawa (USA) v Viktor Hovland (Europe): Tied.

Dustin Johnson (USA) finishes 1 up v Paul Casey (Europe).

Brooks Koepka (USA) v Bernd Wiesberger (Europe): USA wins 2&1.

Tony Finau (USA) v Ian Poulter (Europe): Europe wins 3&2.

Justin Thomas (USA) v Tyrrell Hatton

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(Europe): USA wins 4&3.

Lee Westwood (Europe) finishes 1 up on Harris English (USA).

Jordan Spieth (USA) v Tommy Fleetwood (Europe): Tied.

Daniel Berger (USA) finishes 1 up on Matt Fitzpatrick (Europe).

SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOURBALL SCORES

Shane Lowry & Tyrrell Hatton finish 1 up on Tony Finau & Harris English.

Brooks Koepka & Jordan Spieth v Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia: Europe wins 2&1.

Scottie Scheffler & Bryson DeChambeau v Tommy Fleetwood & Viktor Hovland: USA wins 3&1.

Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa v Ian Poulter & Rory McIlroy: USA wins 4&3.

SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES SCORES

Brooks Koepka & Daniel Berger v Sergio Garcia & Jon Rahm: Europe wins 3&1.

Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa v Paul Casey & Tyrrell Hatton: USA wins 2&1.

Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth finish 2 up on Viktor Hovland & Bernd Wiesberger.

Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele v Lee Westwood & Matt Fitzpatrick: USA wins 2&1.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOURBALL SCORES

Dustin Johnson & Xander Schauffele v Paul Casey & Bernd Wiesberger: USA wins 2&1.

Bryson DeChambeau & Scottie Schef-

October 2021

fler v Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton: Tied.

Tony Finau & Harris English v Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry: USA wins 4&3.

Justin Thomas & Patrick Cantlay v Tommy Fleetwood & Viktor Hovland: Tied.

FRIDAY MORNING FOURSOMES SCORES

Jordan Spieth & Justin Thomas v Jon Rahm & Sergio Garcia: Europe wins 3&1.

Dustin Johnson & Collin Morikawa v Viktor Hovland & Paul Casey: USA wins 3&2.

Daniel Berger & Brooks Koepka v Matt Fitzpatrick & Lee Westwood: USA wins 2&1.

Xander Schauffele & Patrick Cantlay v Rory McIlroy & Ian Poulter: USA wins 5&3.

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Fedex Cup: Who really won?

By Neville Idour

GOLF NEWS

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hich major world sporting event can you win when you finish fourth?

Answer: Golf’s combined Fedex Cup and Tour Championship. Surely the crazy unfair format has to change.

It is 15 years since the PGA Tour playoffs began and the brains trust still hasn’t got it right. The last two years of combining the two titles simply hasn’t worked.

Compared to the breathtaking battle between Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau in the penultimate event at Baltimore in Maryland, the finale at East Lake Golf Club in Georgia was like a damp artificial squid. Money was not the driving force for DeChambeau and Cantlay. In fact, I’m sure their endeavour would have been no different if there was no money at the end.

So for the record let us first look at who really won, bearing in mind that to make the final 30 all had to have played well in the first two events.

Any player who made the 145 for the first event then played his way into the 70 for the second tournament at Baltimore. Then the top 30 had earned their stripes and the right to compete

on an even playing field to go for the Tour Championship/ Fedex Cup title.

Instead it was a reverse handicap event, hardly befitting a race between the world’s best.

Jon Rahm was always ahead being two shots up on Cantlay after round one, three after round two, two after round three and three ahead at 14 under par after the final round. Kevin Na was also rock solid and would finish strongly to tie for the win at 14 under par. Xander Schauffele, last year’s winner, had 64, one of the rounds of the day to finish third just a shot adrift.

Cantlay managed tied fourth. The real final placings were Rahm and Na (-14), Schauffele (-12), Thomas, Hovland and Cantlay (-11), Horschel (-10), Johnson and Berger (-8), DeChambeau and Ancer (-6). Shame there couldn’t be a playoff between Rahm and Na, a more exciting prospect than we saw.

The contrived format ensured those players ranked from 20 to 30 had virtually no chance of victory and even those from 11 to 19 had little chance.

The finale was really reduced to money making as American golf reporter John Hawkins suggested: “The season finale has been reduced to a pie slicing contest with each of the 30 pastry

chefs given four days to cut themselves as large a piece of the $US60 million dessert as their 14 clubs will allow.”

No one would deny that the 30 are all financially absurdly rich. Some might say “obscenely” rich. I certainly haven’t read or heard any player complain about the prizemoney offered weekly and lobbying for a US$60 million prize pool in the season finale.

Many of the players are clearly unhappy with the format. The “official” winner Cantlay said: “Frankly it is not a good format. It is criminal that (good friend) Xander Schauffele didn’t win the 2020 Tour Championship despite shooting the lowest score. There has to be a better solution.” He actually shot seven shots better than Dustin Johnson but lost to him by three shots.

Rahm offered: “I don’t like it. I don’t think it is fair.” Justin Thomas, who won in 2017 after finishing second to Schauffele, called it “a nice consolation prize.”

One of the main concerns has always been that a player can have a great season and be clear going into the finale yet finish as an also ran in that one event. This was a main reason why the PGA opted for the current format to reward the points’ leaders. But it is not

real, it is contrived.

So what is the answer?

Well how about we draw an analogy. How would people feel if the Super Rugby leading team at the end of the round robin was given a 10 point start on their playoff opposition and the second team an eight point start? I think you would need to emphasise this is a G rated publication.

Maybe the PGA need to bite the bullet and just accept that the Fedex Cup is a season long points race that is all about qualification for the Tour Championship 30-strong finale where the players also earn points to decide the Fedex Cup winner. The Tour Championship will then be a genuine battle between the top 30 for the season with the winner having earned the title after three events, likened to a quarter final, semi-final and final.

As for the prizemoney, if the PGA Tour still feel the need for $60 million in prizemoney it should be split, say, $40 million for the Tour Championship and $20 million for the Fedex Cup. This would then ensure the year long successes would be well rewarded if a player fell short in the finale.

On that note I rest my case. What do you think?

TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD & PRIZEMONEY POS PLAYER 1 Patrick Cantlay 2 Jon Rahm 3 Kevin Na 4 Justin Thomas T5 Xander Schauffele T5 Viktor Hovland 7 Bryson DeChambeau 8 Dustin Johnson T9 Abraham Ancer T9 Billy Horschel T11 Daniel Berger T11 Tony Finau T11 Jason Kokrak T14 Rory McIlroy T14 Sergio Garcia T14 Cameron Smith T14 Louis Oosthuizen T18 Harris English T18 Sam Burns T20 Sungjae Im T20 Jordan Spieth T22 Erik van Rooyen T22 Corey Conners T22 Scottie Scheffler 25 Patrick Reed T26 Hideki Matsuyama T26 Stewart Cink T26 Collin Morikawa 29 Joaquin Niemann

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TO PAR HCP 72H R1 R2 R3 R4 TOTAL MONEY -21 -10 -11 67 66 67 69 269 $15,000,000 -20 -6 -14 65 65 68 68 266 $5,000,000 -16 -2 -14 66 67 66 67 266 $4,000,000 -15 -4 -11 67 67 65 70 269 $3,000,000 -14 -2 -12 68 69 67 64 268 $2,200,000 -14 -3 -11 66 68 70 65 269 $2,200,000 -13 -7 -6 69 67 72 66 274 $1,300,000 -11 -3 -8 68 69 68 67 272 $1,100,000 -10 -4 -6 69 70 65 70 274 $890,000 -10 0 -10 65 68 67 70 270 $890,000 -8 0 -8 72 69 67 64 272 $705,000 -8 -8 0 72 67 73 68 280 $705,000 -8 -2 -6 67 68 72 67 274 $705,000 -7 -2 -5 68 66 74 67 275 $583,750 -7 0 -7 68 70 66 69 273 $583,750 -7 -5 -2 68 68 73 69 278 $583,750 -7 -3 -4 68 67 71 70 276 $583,750 -6 -4 -2 66 69 75 68 278 $527,500 -6 -4 -2 71 70 69 68 278 $527,500 -4 -3 -1 71 70 70 68 279 $497,500 -4 -4 0 69 67 70 74 280 $497,500 -3 0 -3 69 73 68 67 277 $466,667 -3 -1 -2 67 72 70 69 278 $466,667 -3 -1 -2 67 72 68 71 278 $466,667 -2 0 -2 72 69 66 71 278 $445,000 E -1 1 77 65 69 70 281 $425,000 E -1 1 72 68 71 70 281 $425,000 E -3 3 70 73 68 72 283 $425,000 4 -1 5 72 71 70 72 285 $405,000

October 2021

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New Zealand Open put back a month

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ext year’s New Zealand Open has been postponed by just over a month.

The tournament was scheduled for February in 2022 but has been put back to March 31-April 3.

Tournament organisers, in conjunction with Golf New Zealand, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, said the date change had been made to allow for the best possible field and give the tournament the best chance of being staged in covid-19 pandemic times. The tournament was not held this year.

With the two major Australasian tournaments, the Australian Open and the Australian PGA Championship, being re-scheduled from November/December this year to January/February next year, it was essential to reduce any potential conflicts for players travelling between Australia and New Zealand, said tournament chairman John Hart.

“This new date avoids any tournament conflict for players,’’ Hart said.

“Whilst we have no certainty at present, we are hopeful that travel and quarantine restrictions and alert levels by that time will allow more freedom of travel be-

tween Australia and New Zealand, and hopefully even further afield.

“We are fully committed to holding the New Zealand Open next year at whatever level is possible, subject to covid restrictions allowing. Our team is currently in the planning phase to once again deliver a world class event.

“At a time when event after event is being cancelled, the tournament underwriters Millbrook Resort are determined to do everything possible to stage the New Zealand Open in 2022, hopefully giving Queenstown and the greater Otago region, which has suffered severely during this covid pandemic, a much-needed economic boost.”

The New Zealand Open, which will be played across 36 holes at Millbrook Resort (including the new nine holes opening shortly), will be broadcast by Sky Sport in New Zealand and through various networks internationally, showcasing the best of Queenstown and New Zealand to the world.

This date change will apply to the 2022 event only, with the intention that the 103rd New Zealand Open be held in February 2023.

NEWS

Brad Kennedy, winner of the last New Zealand Open which was held at Millbrook and The Hills in 2020. The win was the Australian’s second in the tournament, having also won in 2011. Photo credit: Photosport.nz.

Garvey has second stage of Q-school this month

Amelia Garvey - LPGA Tour aspirations. Credit: Getty Images.

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anterbury golfer Amelia Garvey is preparing for her chance to move a step closer to achieving her childhood dream of playing professionally on the LPGA Tour.

After blitzing her way through the first stage of LPGA Tour qualifying school, where she finished in a tie for fourth at 12 under par, Garvey is preparing for second stage from October 18-24 at Plantation Golf and Coun-

try Club in Florida.

The top 70 will progress to the Q-Series in December to compete for LPGA Tour cards.

Garvey turned professional in time for the United States Open in June, where she made her professional debut. The 21-year-old has since played in various mini-tour events while working with her new coach, fellow Kiwi Grant Waite, in the lead-up to both stages of Q-school.

Speaking on Senz Radio, Garvey said life was currently a rollercoaster.

“It’s a little bit hectic,” Garvey said.

“Obviously, it’s been something I’ve worked towards my whole life.

“Now, getting the opportunity to make my mark out here and try and play on tour; it’s definitely a bit stressful but exciting at the same time.”

While playing for her 2022 playing future might seem like a daunting task, Garvey still manages to have perspective.

“I’m just trying to treat it like another tournament at the end of the day.

“I still know that it’s all or nothing, it’s pretty cut-throat out here, and this is my one and only chance to get on tour this year.

“Whatever I attach to it is just going to add more pressure, so I’m just going to go ahead and play the next stage as if it’s any other tournament just as I did at first stage, which worked out pretty well.”

Garvey said she had learned plenty in her short time as a professional and is lucky enough to gain some helpful information many good people and golfers around her, including world No 6, Lydia Ko. With Ko residing in the same city as Grant Waite, Garvey often tries to line up a game of golf when their schedules align.

She said Ko had been a big help.

“I played practice rounds with her at both US Opens.

She also lives in Orlando, where Grant is based, so I’ve been going back and forth from California and Orlando, and I always try to get a round with Lydia where I can.

“Hopefully, down the road, we’ll be playing a few more tournaments together. She’s amazing.

“Obviously, when we played practice rounds together I’m not trying to distract her too much. She’s always there to give a helping hand.”

“Being a recipient of the Lydia Ko scholarship a few years ago, I think she’s happy to see another Kiwi golfer trying to get out there on tour as well.”

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. The course is only 40km east of Rotorua and situated at the south end of the Kawerau township.

kaweraugolfclub@gmail.com Cobham Dr, Kawerau 3127, New Zealand  07 323 7095

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October 2021

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Gleniti stalwart a driving force behind the club’s resurgence GOLF NEWS Peter Hayes from Gleniti Golf Club in Timaru. He’s been with the club for 40 years and is now one of the driving forces at the club.

By Neville Idour

T

imaru golf club Gleniti is one those humble clubs that tends to fly under the radar.

But not any longer.

In August the club celebrated the opening of a classy driving range and café which has given it greater accessibility and profile in the community.

Gleniti was founded in 1928 as a 12hole course on land within Pages and Gleniti Roads.

In 1965 the club bought the Burns property which had boundaries on Pages and Oakwood Roads and was able to extend the course to 18 holes.

The property had a stately old homestead which eventually became the current clubhouse. With improvements, by way of extensions and modifications, the clubhouse is a popular venue for weddings and other functions.

The club’s professional golfer Peter Hayes has been a huge driving force since taking up the position in June, 2019. His journey there is well worth exploring.

He has been a member for 40 years and has won the club championships on 20 occasions from the 1980s until the last one in 2010 when he turned professional.

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Since the arrival of covid-19 there has been growth in membership and in the first year in the position he signed up about 70 new members across all categories.

Hayes said: “For the last two years I have run beginners’ ladies groups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

“It is very popular with an hour’s coaching followed by nibbles and wine enabling friendships to be made.

“A couple of lady volunteers help and in winter we try to run them twice a month on Sundays. Usually around 30 attend and about 50 percent join the club.

“We also do junior clinics on Mondays during daylight saving for youngsters from five years up to high schoolers and we have gained members from that.

“I would like the club to appoint a junior convenor so we can do Sundays as well, to keep the children motivated. A junior tournament between two high schools during the January school holidays was very popular and we will continue with that.”

Hayes began playing golf when he was a 12-year-old.

“During the school holidays I lived at the Highfield Golf Club for two weeks. I biked down every morning and didn’t

come home until it was practically dark.

“Dad had made me a carrier to help. It kept me off the street I suppose. Many good golfers came out of the junior programme at Highfield such as John Lister, Jim Lapsley and others.”

“I stayed at Highfield and also played rugby for the first 15. However I got the bug for golf and chucked rugby.

“I got into golf seriously and at 15 years of age I was on a five handicap.

I was picked for a South Island coaching school in Timaru which was one the hardest weeks of golf I have experienced.

“Early starts, hitting balls but not playing at all. Alex Mercer would give us a report at the end of each day. He honed my iron play as I hit a 3 iron for a week and blisters resulted. I was like a sponge at that stage but I will never forget that tough week.”

Hayes played for his province for the first time at the 1982 Interprovincials at Balmacewen in Dunedin. He played 106 games for the Aorangi district with good success and also played 75 games in the Masters.

He was asked to be a Golf New Zealand selector around 2000.

“I was a councillor for Aorangi at the time. They needed a selector in the South Island and that was a huge privilege.

“I was involved with junior, age group and Eisenhour teams. Players to be picked included Danny Lee, Ryan Fox and Lydia Ko as a youngster.

“I spent 13 years as a coach and selector until 2009. I enjoyed the privilege of taking a couple of teams away. One to China for an Aaron Baddeley Invitational with three boys and two girls.

“I also took a team to Houston (in the United States) along with Shelley Duncan for a huge event with two men and two ladies where many future big names played. Thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.”

Hayes decided at age 50 he was “over playing for toasters’’ and looked to a professional career.

“I felt I had done all I wanted to do as an amateur and it was time to do something for myself so I talked to my wife

October 2021

Margaret.

“We decided I would have a go at the Legends Tour in Australia so at age 58 I put a programme in place to work on my prep and fitness.

“I had a week at The Hills (in Queenstown) before I went to the Q school where 16 players were competing for four cards. I finished third, got my card and playing rights. But I had to play a minimum of 20 tournaments a year and finish top 50 which I had to do for five years to get a lifetime card.”

Hayes got his card and played for 10 years and won nine times in Australia and New Zealand. Some of the players involved were Peter Senior and Ian Baker-Finch and the standard was high.

“At first some players looked at me sideways as if to say who is this and didn’t like me taking prizemoney.

“Once I got to know them friendships formed. In 2016 Margaret and I had a gap year and brought a Land Cruiser and 23-foot caravan and drove around Australia following the tour for 14 months. So we lived and breathed golf and met some wonderful people.

“We got with a group doing the same thing and would stop at golf clubs for a night or two or meet somewhere. We had a wonderful time so it was very hard leaving that and coming back to New Zealand.

“I have to admit I have missed that the last couple of years. I had a shoulder injury in Australia and had an operation. I was told I may not be able to play golf again but fortunately I can.”

Hayes worked for two years as an insurance advisor on his return.

“In 2019 Margaret and I approached the Gleniti Golf Club to see if they were interested in having a pro at the golf shop as they didn’t have one.

They thought it was a great idea so we did the catering as well.”

So after a 10-year hiatus they reopened the club’s pro shop and coaching was available.

At the time the only driving range in Timaru at the showgrounds was closed. Hayes saw the potential and after agreeable discussions the Gleniti club leased the land on which Hayes

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NEWS

has built the driving range, café and shop. succession. Hayes feels if he does it for Hayes paid for and owns the building. three years or so he will be ready for reHe said it was something of a leap of faith tirement and it will be a great opportunito fund the facility himself. ty for a young professional to take over “When I took the pro job, I thought a successful lifestyle business with two what else can I do to promote golf and clubs to look after. the club. The driving range also gives me Hayes looks upon Gleniti as a second a place to coach under cover during the home having represented it over 40 winter months.” years. Now having opened the café and Hayes drew up the plans a little over a driving range it has been the culmination year ago but it took longer than he envisaged to get resource consent and get it built. However, as he said: “It has worked out very well. The range needs to be affordable as well as having flexible hours and being open every day.”

Lights have also been erected for the winter evenings with heaters above each of the six hitting bays. The café is open to the public and with no cafes in the vicinity, Hayes expects people in the area will welcome the opportunity to enjoy a coffee and maybe spark an interest in golf.

Hayes, who is full of ideas, added: “My time in Australia gave me plenty of ideas of how to keep a small club going. The only idea I haven’t been able to sell to the club committee is turning the upstairs area of the clubhouse into Airbnb accommodation.

“Hopefully I am setting us up for retirement. Interestingly the Timaru club recently asked me to take over their pro shop and some coaching.”

The reason he took it on was all about The new golf shop at Gleniti

of two and a half challenging, yet very rewarding, years.

Gleniti is a good walk with its undulating terrain but offers spectacular views, from both the course and the clubhouse, of the Canterbury plains, Southern Alps and the sea.

Hayes said it is like two different courses. In summer, because there is no fairway watering, it is hard and fast. In win-

ter, being clay based, it gets heavy and plays much longer.

It is a tight course with boundaries on 10 of the holes either left or right. Out of bounds is often a consideration.

“Gleniti is where I learned to be straight off the tee and become a good short to mid-iron player. I had the course record of 62. Currently my handicap is plus one which is hard work with the amount of golf I’m playing.”

The first hole is a tough one with a hill to clear plus a shot to a raised green which slopes back to front and is not difficult to three-putt.

There are two signature holes. The 17th is a par five. It requires an accurate drive and a good layup as there is a pond on the left. The 18th is a 157-metre par three is slightly uphill with a conifer tree left and a deep bunker right with a sloping green back to front.

There is a lot of character with the rolling conditions and smallish greens and picturesque fairways. Hayes said many who play the course, which is not overlong, for the first time walk off shaking their heads saying what happened there?

This writer can attest to all of that. The course is no pushover and any wayward shots will damage the card.

It has been time well spent with Hayes who is a loyal and inspirational character.

For the Gleniti club he is a driving force anyone would want to join for the ride.

SUMMER IN THE PARK!

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October 2021

9

Kaikoura Pro-Am 21 years young

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T

he 2021 Hunting and Fishing Kaikoura Pro-Am will be the 21st edition and has of necessity, because of covid-19 restrictions, been postponed until November 5-7.

However this too is dependent on the country being in level one by then.

So, no doubt, there will be a lot of bated breath over the next few weeks.

As promised we will run a bird’s eye view over the history of the 20 events to date.

On October 12 and 13 of 2001, 124 players, including 29 professionals, teed off in windy conditions. Richard Best with a 70 and outstanding 64 (10 under par) was four shots clear of Grant Moorhead and Peter Giles who finished tied for second.

The iconic Lobster Inn was sponsor in the early years and was a popular watering hole.

In 2002 Michael Duncumb (136) headed Richard Best on 139.

A large field of 156 (39 pros) found wet conditions the following year when Tony Christie and Stuart Malcomson tied for first.

Record numbers, 168 (42 pros ) fronted in 2004 when Nicholas Davey recorded his first win as a pro with 69 and 66, one shot ahead of Richard Best who again showed his love affair with the course.

The year 2005 featured another record with 57 pros and 50 teams. Grant Moorhead got the win this time with 137, a shot better than S Gordon.

Sunny conditions and strong winds were challenging for the strong field of 188 in 2006. Mark Brown (136) just edged Michael Hendry (137).

In 2007 Tony Christie repeated his earlier effort in 2003, this time tying with Brad Shilton. In 2008 it was Andy Gang with a four shot margin over Garth Domigan and Marcus Wheelhouse.

The 2009 edition brought much drama for the 47 teams. Richard Lee who had the ability to go really low on occasions shot a brilliant 62 in fine conditions. Another highlight was local player Chris Cumpstone’s hole in one. On Saturday night a wet and blustery southerly arrived forcing the cancellation of the teams’ event.

With the weather forecast to improve in the afternoon the Kaikoura Volunteer Fire Brigade came to the rescue to help sweep water off the greens so play could start.

The pros played in groups of three and while conditions were not ideal it was

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dry. Michael Hendry was too good winning by five shots from Alex Tait.

The following year Leighton James won his first tournament as a pro with a one shot margin over Anthony Doyle.

Less than perfect weather greeted the 2011 field and Richard Lee clinched the deal this time with 67 and 69.

The field in 2012 featured 188 players (48 pros) with Troy Ropiha 137 a twoshot winner. However the best scores over the weekend belonged to the local club champion Aaron Reid with 68, 67, an outstanding achievement.

Richard Lee with 68 and 62 scored his second win in 2013. He enjoyed the excellent conditions and his 62 took him to a three shot win from Craig Hamilton.

In 2014 Sean Riordan won a play-off from Jared Pender and Shaun Jones.

Jared Pender won in 2015 by two shots from Blair Riordan. Weather reduced 2016 to one round and Hamish Campbell’s 65 was one shot better than Kieran Muir and Brad Haywood.

In 2017 there were 37 teams which enjoyed fine weather with northerners Dongwoo Kang and Pieter Zwart tying ahead of third placed Luke Toomey.

There was another tie in 2018 between Victor Janin and regular Jared Pender, with Hamish Campbell third.

Fine weather again prevailed the following year with yet another tie for first between Blair Riordan and Sam An, with Mason Lee third.

Despite the covid pandemic, timing was ideal for the 2020 event to go ahead with a strong field of 59 pros and 47 teams. Yet again there was a tie for first.

This time Dongwoo Kang and Kieran Muir took the spoils with Tae Koh third.

It is easy to see that despite only mentioning the first two or three placegetters, that this event is popular and draws players from all over the country year after year.

The 2021 version, covid permitting, already has 38 pros registered. Many of our best are among them including Michael Hendry, Gareth Paddison, Luke Toomey, Harry Bateman, Dongwoo Kang, Ryan Chisnall, Jordan Loof, Kerry Mountcastle, Troy Ropiha and the outstanding female Momoka Kobori.

This tournament heralds the start of a run of nine events culminating in The Hills Invitation Pro-Am on December 18. No doubt a majority of New Zealand’s pros will have the dates firmly in their diaries.

October 2021

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Auckland golfer James Hydes wins Welsh Open

James Hydes from Auckland who won the Welsh Strokeplay Open for amateur golfers in August.

J

ames Hydes of Auckland has won the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship for amateur golfers.

Hydes, 22, from the Gulf Harbour Country Club, won by two shots at the Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club in August.

He finished 10-under par after shooting 69, 71, 69, and 69.

Hydes said it was most pleasing to win outside New Zealand.

“It’s a great feeling. Knowing that I can compete overseas and not just in New Zealand is hugely satisfying,” Hydes said.

Although he finished with back-to-back birdies to seal the win, it didn’t come without pressure.

“The 16th was a par four that was playing like a par five all week,’’ he said.

“I had a full hybrid into the green in the final round, and I unfortunately missed the

green and didn’t make up and down to put me one shot clear with two holes to play.’’

Hydes said his main opponent put on the pressure at the 17th hole when he hit a great tee shot.

“It was his honour on the tough par three 17th, and he hit it to about 20 feet,’’ Hydes recalled.

“I started to feel like it was all getting real, and things were starting to get tight.

“I hit my tee shot about 10 feet and he missed while I made mine to go two shots clear going down the last hole.

“That was a pretty good feeling as literally, anything could happen down that final hole, it’s a par five that was playing straight downwind, and he (the main opponent) definitely had the length to get there in two.

“We both hit good tee shots, and he

knocked it in there to 30 feet for eagle, which made my job that little bit harder.

“I figured if I could hit my second shot somewhere up there near the green, even if it’s in a bunker, I’d be okay.

“It just so happened I hit my second shot into a bunker, but the ball rolled all the way up against the lip. I was shocked and I thought to myself is this really happening,” he added with a laugh.

“There was another bunker in between myself and the green as well, and that was when all the practice from around Gulf Harbour kicked in and I just hit it with a square face and it popped out to about 15 feet. I was stoked with that.

“He missed his eagle putt which left me two putts for the win. It was straight downhill, downwind, and I rolled it beautifully. About three feet out, I knew it was in, and I took a massive sigh of relief as I realised what I had just achieved.”

Hydes is looking at turning professional and his current northern hemisphere campaign has been great about learning about life on the road as a golfer.

“Firstly, from my first event at Walton Heath and I hadn’t been there a week yet. I didn’t realise how much of a toll the travel had taken on my body and my golf game.

“I went into a heatwave when I arrived over there and I fatigued, I would never have learned that if I didn’t get this travel.

That was a great learning.

“I got to watch The Open with Foxy (Ryan Fox) and Dan (Hillier). It was really cool to see people from home trying to

NEWS do well overseas. I didn’t feel like I was stranded by myself for the whole trip.

There were Kiwis trying to do the same thing which I found quite inspiring.

“This is a huge learning experience for me. This is where I want to play my golf on the European Tour. I just feel like when I do this all again next year, I’ll know what to expect, I’ll know how to prepare, it just feels like I’ve taken that one step closer to my future over here.”

Hydes said the playing opportunities in New Zealand and the experience he had gained from Charles Tour events had been vital for his development and performing on bigger stages.

Hydes had a hot run of form in 2020 and so far in 2021, featuring in many events on the final day as well as winning the Muriwai Open in Auckland.

He said he can’t overstate how valuable those experiences were for his development.

“I realise how big of a deal I thought previous tournaments I played were.

Coming over here put a lot in perspective for me. Possibly, coming home after this, I won’t be as nervous at certain events?

Everything just feels a bit bigger here.

“On the other hand, playing on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour and having that awesome run of events that I did gave me huge confidence as there aren’t many guys who have won a professional event which prepared me really well.”

Hydes is scheduled to return home in October.

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October 2021

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Royal Wellington wins environmental award

John Spraggs (right) and Dylan Lindstrom from the Royal Wellington Golf Club which won an environmental award.

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oyal Wellington Golf Club doesn’t consider itself just a golf course, but a wildlife sanctuary too.

The club’s course has become eco-friendly through years of hard work and it now plays home to native birdlife, clean waterways, trees, and fauna. The club’s work earned them the Environmental Club of the Year at the 2020 National Golf Awards, an award it is incredibly proud of.

At the beginning of 2011, the club renovated, and realised it had a special piece of land and wanted it to thrive as much as possible.

It since cleared three waterways of

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any pollution, and they’re chemical-free.

The golf course has strong birdlife and a pest-control programme.

Course manager and passionate Royal Wellington member John Spraggs said it was an honour to be the 2020 Environmental Club of the Year.

“We are absolutely thrilled,” Spraggs said.

“You keep doing these things and putting your hand up, and to get the recognition against other clubs and peers is very rewarding. We’re very, very pleased.

“We had to ensure what we were doing wasn’t harming the environment and the sustainability of the place.

“We are pretty proud of our streams, there are three of them throughout the property. The water quality is monitored yearly to ensure no contamination from what we are putting on our course might be harmful to the waterway.

“We created buffer zones and no mow areas bordering them and there is absolutely no sign from any of the testing we do of any bleaching other than the stormwater that comes off the road from time to time.”

Even though Royal Wellington is already making a difference, it is not stopping there.

Spraggs is excited about what the club is currently doing and its future plans in this space.

“We’ve ramped it up again over the past two years. We’ve gone away from using any synthetic fertilisers, we use organic based nutrients, and we limit the use of agrichemical use.

“It took a little while for us to wrap our heads around the organic model but it works -- we are using a lot of fish emulsions and worm juice. It’s going very well.”

The club changed from poa annua grass after it died in the summer of 2018.

January was hot and humid, so the club saw this as an opportunity to seed their course with something different.

With the environment and sustainability at the forefront of their minds, they went with New Zealand brown top on their fairways and a three-way blend of fescues in the rough.

“We are 70 percent of the way to being finished, something the self-proclaimed golf nut is happy about.

NEWS

“We’re trying to change the grasses in our rough to reduce the mowing frequencies and we’re very conscious that we can’t keep burning fuels all the time.

“The change to the fescue grass has reduced our mowing of the rough from around 32 mows a year to under 20, which is hugely significant.

“The change has given us better and firmer surfaces for our membership.”

“The club’s work in this space couldn’t happen without a supportive membership. We have a pest-control programme in which some of the members are heavily involved in. We have more than 70 stoat traps on course and are also getting rid of the rabbit population, meaning the birdlife is thriving.”

Spraggs is proud to be working for a club that is so passionate about the environment.

“I’ve been at Royal Wellington for almost 17 years now.

“I’m pleased with all the support we get from the membership, committees, and captains from over the years for me to drive a lot of our environmental work.

It’s not me paying for it; they’re paying for it. They’re allowing us to do what we propose, and it’s a really nice touch.”

Spraggs said he has a special affinity with the place.

“I love the property. I love the diversity of the place. It’s not just a golf course; it’s a wildlife haven; it has everything going for it, we are working on getting trout introduced to our streams, getting rid of the predators, re-grassing the course and we see a fair bit of golf out here as well.

“There is no where else I’d rather be.”

Golf NZ backs women’s leadership award

olf New Zealand is supporting the Susie Simcock Leadership Award -- a scholarship for women who wish to pursue their dreams and ambitions on a leadership pathway in sport.

The inaugural award will see the successful recipients supported on a 12-month leadership journey to attend the World

Conference on Women & Sport in Auckland in next May. The Susie Simcock Leadership Award will include support and mentoring, participation in a global community of action committed to gender equity, creation of a personal development plan and attendance at the world conference.

This learning opportunity will further support women in developing confidence and leadership experience and impacting the sports sector.

Funding is included in the scholarship, which includes fees and expenses.

Susie Simcock was one of New Zealand’s most influential sports

leaders. She was a pioneer and trailblazer in women and sport and paved the way for many young women, providing advice and guidance as they made their way into leadership and governance roles.

She worked and played in squash for a long time before finding her love for golf. She was

a New Zealand Women’s Golf Association board member and was later on New Zealand Golf’s board.

She also played at the World Masters Games, winning a silver medal.

Susie unfortunately passed away in 2020 following a brave battle with cancer. Through the scholarship, her legacy and work live on.

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

Try out our Monday special: $20 for 18 holes, $12 for 9 holes, if you’re looking for a way to iron out the wrinkles in your game, or just want to have a get-together with your mates.

You just need to turn up, and the Golf Shop team will look after you. Please contact us first if you require a golf cart.

160 Pipiwai Rd, Whangarei | 09 435 0042 | facebook.com/northlandgolfclubinc

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October 2021

13

New Zealand golf numbers continue to grow

GOLF NEWS

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olf New Zealand’s love golf futures’ programme has continued to grow the love of golf and inspire participation from young people for the last year and a half.

Prior to the programme launching in 2018, membership statistics of young people had been declining five percent every year for the previous eight years.

However, the collaborative effort from the golf sector has reversed this trend, and growth has accelerated since January 2020.

Golf New Zealand has released a futures impact report outlining the positive impact the programme has had on young people’s participation in golf.

The report recognises the impact created by New Zealand’s local, regional, and national workforce in working toward a vision of enriching the lives of young people by creating experiences that inspire a lifelong love of golf.

The report includes the futures approach, progress from January 2020 to June 2021, impact stories from futures’ hubs, clubs and national initiatives and key learning points.

The futures approach was created with the following outcomes: * Change the perception and grow the positive profile of golf as a sport for young people and families.

* Create opportunities for young people to participate either recreationally or competitively in a way that meets their level of aspiration. * Empower young people to play their version of golf. * Provide a nationwide network of facilities that are welcoming and safe with a club culture that caters to young people and families. * Develop a skilled and passionate workforce of coaches, administrators and volunteers who understand the wants and needs of young people. * Lead, invest and align partnerships.

Key learning points from the last year and a half is having people who are invested in the outcomes of young people, the value of participation hubs, having a calendar of playing experiences and consistent event delivery, having a coordinated approach to parent information, as well as being innovative and forward thinking.

Golf New Zealand is working in partnership with districts and clubs to provide quality golf experiences for young people.

If you would like to join the futures community please contact your regional participation manager or Maddi McLean, participation programmes coordinator, at maddi.mclean@golfnz.org for more information.

Three tournaments postponed

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hree Charles Tours events have been postponed because of the covid-19 situation.

The three tournaments are the Mount Open in Mount Maunganui, the Pegasus Open in North Canterbury

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and the Taranaki Open in New Plymouth.

The tournaments will be played at a later date yet to be decided.

The Carrus Open in Tauranga will proceed as planned from October 21-24.

The Open returning to Northern Ireland in 2025

he Open is set to make a triumphant return to Royal Portrush in 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in the history of golf’s original championship and providing another outstanding showcase for golf in Northern Ireland.

Following the success of The 148th Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, it has been announced the renowned links on the Antrim coast will again host the championship in 2025.

The Open generated more than £100 million for the economy of Northern Ireland two years ago, attracting a record attendance for the championship, outside of St Andrews, of 237,750 fans throughout the week.

More than 5400 hours of television coverage were broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers globally as Irishman Shane Lowry lifted the famous Claret Jug. The return of the championship to Royal Portrush for only the third time in

74 years has been whole-heartedly supported by The R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers.

“We could not be more thrilled to be bringing The Open back to Royal Portrush in 2025,’’ Slumbers said.

“There will be huge excitement among golf fans around the world to see the best men’s players facing the challenge of this magnificent links once again.

“The Open in 2019 was a massive success and showed just how much collective enthusiasm, passion and commitment there is to make Royal Portrush one of the leading venues for the championship and to build a distinctive golf tourism brand for Northern Ireland.

Royal Portrush joins a formidable lineup of venues for The Open in the coming years with The 150th Open being played at St Andrews in 2022 and then Royal Liverpool and Royal Troon hosting the championship in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Abu Dhabi added to Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific calendar

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ext year’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be staged at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates from November 10-13.

Developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the championship is returning to the international golf schedule for the first time since the global pandemic interrupted golf championships around the world.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive at The R&A, said: “After the disruption caused by the pandemic over the last 18 months we are excited to be staging the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship at such a fantastic venue.

“It is more important than ever to provide opportunities for elite women amateurs to compete in Asia-Pacific and we look forward to another thrilling championship in November.”

Taimur Hassan Amin, chairman of the APGC, said: “The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship has been a wonderful addition to the APGC’s golfing calendar and we very much look forward to welcoming it back to the schedule following last year’s postponement due to covid-19. Not only does the WAAP present our leading female players the

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chance to compete against their peers but it also acts as an inspiration for all up-and-coming golfers.

“This year’s historic win at the US Women’s Open by Yuka Saso, joint runner-up in the inaugural WAAP, served to underline the importance of this championship as a platform for the game’s development and rising talent in the region.”

Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation (EGF), said: “As a member of the APGC we are delighted to welcome this prestigious championship to the UAE for the first time. It has given us great joy to see two major winners emerge from this championship and we look forward to hosting these talented amateurs at one of our finest courses. It is an honour to support the APGC and The R&A to advance our shared mission of driving golf’s growth and development.”

The Peter Harradine-designed course opened in 1998, complete with saltwater lakes, ornamental trees and palms along with lush playing surfaces, bold strategic bunkering and large greens.

Just three years after the inaugural WAAP, two players from that first field have gone on to the highest echelons

of the sport by becoming major champions – 21-year-old Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand claimed victory at the ANA Inspiration in April and 19-year-old Yuka Saso won the US Women’s Open in June to become the first player from the Philippines, male or female, to win a major.

The WAAP was developed by The R&A and APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a pathway for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international

October 2021

stage. The winner earns invitations to play in the Women’s Open in Britain and The Evian Championship in France, as well as an invitation to participate in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The 2021 WAAP will follow on from the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which is scheduled to take place at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club from November 3-6.

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NEWS

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Australian Peak Golf bodies commit to a new golf strategy by the end of the year

F

ollowing an historic gathering of more than 250 people across the Australian golf industry, the key bodies –the PGA of Australia, the WPGA Tour and Golf Australia – have committed to publishing a new Australian golf strategy by the end of the year.

This follows an exhaustive consultation process and a two-day conference held online last week.

Speakers included US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and a range of industry figures, club managers and broader sports consultants along with former AFL Commissioner Colin Carter.

The chief executives of the three main bodies – Karen Lunn (WPGA), Gavin Kirkman (PGA) and James Sutherland (Golf Australia) – also made impassioned speeches.

The strategy will be an all-of-golf document and a blueprint for the future.

Kirkman noted the significance of the timing. “With a career spanning more than 35 years across all areas of golf I believe this is the most critical time as we experience a resurgence due to Covid, an industry-wide appetite for co-operation and collaboration, and leadership that is intent on driving change and growth”, he

olf Club

The Star

21 January 2021

Tracy

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EVERGLADES TR

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said.

The PGA head said the alignment was ‘overdue’ but exciting. He said golf needed to change and modernise while respecting the history and traditions of our sport.

He said: “We need to create great experiences at all facilities – golf courses, driving ranges, golf shops, mini golf and indoor simulator golf.

Everglades Country Golf Club

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“Whether the experience is social, competition, retail, coaching, food and beverage, or events, many experiences start from the digital connection prior to getting to the facility and then it starts again at the facility entrance.

“We need everyone to feel welcome, that anyone can play, that there is no fixed format. Our sport needs to be ‘cool and fun’ – whatever that means to the individual.”

Sutherland told the virtual conference that it was imperative that the game grew to survive. As such, he said golf needed to find ways to talk to the disengaged, rather than living in an echo chamber.

Sutherland quoted research from the Nature consultancy group which showed that the core constituency of the game in Australia – the 380,000 club members – represented less than five per cent of Australians who are positively disposed to golf.

“Our sport’s potential is bigger than most realise – and a large chunk of our golf market has historically been somewhat neglected,” said Sutherland.

Lunn said the sport was only now beginning to acknowledge its problem with female engagement.

“The reality is that not enough Austra-

lian women and girls play golf,” she said.

“We need to understand why, and make sure that our sport caters for them.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, and we don’t have enough female coaches, administrators and leaders within our industry – nowhere near enough.”

Lunn said the game was already changing, as it needed to do. “I, like so many of you, have at times been incredibly frustrated and often angry, as both a golfer and an administrator, especially when it came to the lack of opportunities and consideration afforded to women and girls.

“Fortunately, and thankfully, these times are changing and there is a beacon of light now at the end of what has, at times, been a very dark tunnel.”

Kirkman said the way ahead was clear, and would require courage. “We are all here to grow participation and grow the business of golf. Change is imperative.

We need to do things differently and we need to have a stronger voice; and to build this strategy we need to work together.”

Sutherland said the game needed to move quickly to address its issues, noting an approximate one per cent per annum decline in member numbers over the past 20 years, at a time when Australia’s population had grown by 35 per cent.

“While the global pandemic has seen a recent uptick in golf participation – we need to make sure this is maintained when we return to some sort of normality. Recognising that the mental health benefits, the socially distant and the social connection golf offers in its many formats have become evident through the pandemic, there’s no time for complacency.”

The governing bodies will gather feedback via forums across Australia over the coming months with the aim of launching the new strategy for golf by year’s end.

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PGAPARS

pga.org.nz

What did we learn from the Ryder Cup?

By Dominic Sainsbury New Zealand PGA General Manager

O

ther than this being a spectacle of golfing brilliance, especially on a course that is described as having 10 hard holes and eight impossible holes, my take from the Ryder Cup was how much the players loved the team format, with Jon Rahm quoting that this was the most fun he had ever had on the golf course.

If golf is a game and games are supposed to be enjoyed then how do we implement more of what people want into our game at club level.

We know the physical and mental health benefits of golf with most of us being able to relieve those moments of brilliance experienced when we hole a great putt or bomb the perfect drive down the middle.

So this has me reflecting on why we play golf? We hit far more poor shots than good shots, even the best players in the world only hit about 8 to 10 shots per round, just the way they intended.

My takeaway from the Ryder Cup is:-

1. Enjoy the moments of perfection and keep a record of them, it is easy to focus on the “if only” aspects of a round but no one but you cares about that, so focus on the special moments and shots.

2. Golf is hard. Accept you will hit more poor shots than good ones, but work on making your poor shots better.

Work with your PGA professional to help with this. Even the top players have a coach. There are so many facets to this game with so much to learn.

The best person to help you learn is your dedicated PGA professional.

3. Even the best players in the world love the social aspects of golf. Focus on the social aspects and the friendships you make through playing our game. Mix up the formats you play, try foursomes (it is a great test of character and develops patience) and get involved in a teams’ aspect such as PGA scramble or interclub which is especially designed for this.

4. Walk if you can, golfers that walk live longer due to the low impact physical

exercise involved in getting around a course (about 8 kilometres, lots more if your miss is a slice and a hook). Exercise releases endorphins which keep us happy and healthy.

Golf does not develop character but brings it out and the Ryder Cup showed

us the real side of the world’s best American and European players with the players relishing in competing in an event that has more meaning than just them playing as individuals.

Enjoy your golf and remember it is just a game so have fun.

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2022 XDL Regional Championships

I

GANZ is getting set to launch its national plan to grow the sport of Long Drive and the professional sector of Xtreme Drivers. The XDL Regional Champs will start 2022 in full swing with events opening up with venue partners. New Zealand Long Drive is owned by IGANZ which was recognised as National Sports Organisation in 2020 for both the Amatuer and Professional League for Long Drive.

Owner and CEO, Olna Ford, is seeking Regional Managers for both (New Zealand and Australia) and interested/qualified parties can register their interest on the IGANZ website from November 2021. The emerging sport of Long Drive is gaining tremendous interest with the demand for events expanding from a national level to a global plan spanning over 20 countries. The 3 year growth plan is expected to invest millions of dollars into growing the sport nationally with a larger investment for the IGANZ Collective Global Project. New Inhouse products and services will be announced this November along with the biggest touring

event for IGANZ (Dubai) scheduled for November 2022.

New Horizon Construction is proud to be the brand that will be seen in the national growth project.Both New Zealand and Australia will be at the forefront of discussions with Regional Councils and Government Agencies so that proper governance in the sport is implemented via the IGANZ Collective companies investing in the sport.

Regional Managers are going to be important to the success of the growth plan and will be fully supported by the NSO. IGANZ Collective has land-marked sports history in 5 countries already with 26 events and two National Teams established.Proud to be the company supporting Golf whilstgrowing the high-performance sector of Long Drive/Xtreme Drivers. IGANZ Collective has kept the ball rolling in the global pandemic with announcements of developments soon to be seen in commercial activities. Regional Manager positions will be uploaded in November via www.iganz.co.nz

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ENTRY FEE: $25.00 per person Contacts: Judy Paterson 0211279757 | Wendy Bowden 0272729944 or email kaweraugolf@gmail.com

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ntries are now open for the seventh running of this popular event consisting of three different pairs competition to be held on 16th and 17th October, at the Waihi Golf Course.

The programme is Canadian Foursomes on Saturday morning, and fol-

lowing a provided light lunch, Scottish Foursomes in the afternoon. On Sunday morning the competition is Four Ball Best Ball followed by prize giving which is planned to be completed by mid-afternoon to allow visiting team’s ample time to travel home. There are

two divisions: Men and Mixed.

The tournament has continued to be well supported with a group of loyal sponsors, with our major sponsors being Apata Group Limited and Avoco.

With this support we have a total prize pool in excess of $10,000, and in addi-

Canadian Foursomes

tion Expol are offering $1,000 for the first hole-n-one on the sixth hole for the whole tournament.

The entry fee is $120.00 per team.

For further information contact: The manager, Waihi Golf Club, 07 863 8678 or wahi@golf.co.nz

GOLF EVENT

Waihi Pairs Triple Challenge 16th-17th October 2021 E

$120/Pair includes Saturday lunch

Scottish Foursomes Four Ball-Best Ball

Entries Close Friday 8th Oct.

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GOLF EVENT

NZVGA Huntly visit a great success as Benjamin Shim takes the honours

By Russ Ford Huntly Manager

T

here is an old adage that sometimes ‘small is beautiful’, and that well sums up our 2021 COVID entry hampered event held at Huntly Golf Club, with many anticipated and booked Auckland and Northlanders unable to escape across the Bombay’s border check point.

On day one of the three day event, Huntly Manager Russ Ford welcomed the dozen NZVGA members representing eight clubs, with the statement “While cancellation was probably the easiest option (as some other clubs have taken) sometimes it is the hard option that is needed during times of adversity. We are few but we are still going to play some worthwhile golf in keeping with our club’s ‘Fun, Friendly & Affordable’ slogan.”

So with an eventual 3-day field of 12 players, 2 extra on day three and some locals joining in daily, we proceeded to have some fun on the fairways, determined to find an event champion for 2021. On day one we saw the 2020 defending champion Jerry Kuggeleign and wife Julia from Cambridge dominate the combined stableford event with 61 points, four clear of Paeroa’s Rachel You and Benjamin Shim (57), then came Manukorihi’s Phil Daley (NZ) and Huntly’s Russ Ford (56), Paraparaumu Beach’s Jon and Agnes Han (52), Tauranga’s Eli and Grace Yoo (50) and Ngahinepouri’s Laurie Fogg and her indefatigable partner from Avondale GC in Christchurch Eddie the Tulip Ganzevles (46).

Day two was a Par event with all off the shorter yellow course and once the rules were clear the battle begun. Results were: John Han (Par 0); Phil Daley

(0); Bruce Shead (-1); Jerry Kuggeleign (-1); Benjamin Shim (-2); Agnes Han (-2); Kevin Ellery (-3); Russ Ford (-5); Julie Kuggeleign (-5); Laurie Fogg (-6); Rachel Yoo (-6); Eli Yoo (-9); Grace Yoo (-9); Eddie Ganzevles (-10). Going into the final day we saw Jerry Kuggeleign leading with 4 combined placing points, John Han and Pil Daley second equal on 5-points, and Ben Shim in fourth with 6-points. Could Jerry defend his crown?

Day three saw our visitors join in the Huntly last Wednesday of the month Monthly Mixed Open and the overall day was won by Benjamin Shim with a splendid net 69, one ahead of local Paul Heath and Tahuna’s Barry Laurence. Second NZVGA place-getter was John Han (72); followed by Rachel Yoo (76), Cambridge’s Don Campbell (77); Grace Yoo 79); Agnes Han (79); Jerry Kuggeleign (80); Russ Ford (83);

Julia Kuggeleign (85); Eli Yoo (87); Eddie Ganzevles (89) and Phil Daley (90).

So the final 3-day event placings were: 1st Ben Shim (7), on a count back from 2nd placed John Han (7), with Jerry Kuggeleign 3rd (12) and Rachel Yoo, our first lady on 14 points from Agnes Han (16) and Julia Kuggeleign (18). The others were commended on their attending and being the necessary also rans for a successful leaderboard. Eddie (the Tulip) Ganzevles was nominated by the Manager as the personality of the tournament, for having traveled the furthest and having the most golf.

We look forward to seeing Huntly return to a 60+ field in 2022, to be held on September 26th, 27th, 28th September. Please make your dairies and note that it will take more than COVID to see this event cancelled.

14th Hole at Huntly Golf Club

24

October 2021

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GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND WHANGAROA GOLF CLUB - NEWS AND RESULTS

Celebrating 50 years of great links golf!

Next month we celebrate our 50th anniversary and welcome all members, past and present, to join us from Friday 26th - Saturday 27th November for celebratory events and a tournament.

Call us on 07 312 4486 or you can find the registration form on our website www.ohope@golf.co.nz

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ

October 2021

25

THE CATER PLUS NORTHLAND WOMEN’S STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The CATER PLUS Northland Women’s Strokeplay Championships were held at the Northland Golf Club recently. * Silver Gross 36 Holes and winner of the Mary Rishworth tray - Kylie Jacoby (Waipu) R/U Jenny Peters (Northland * Silver Stableford 36 Holes - Ella Gunson (Sherwood Park) R/U Sophie Burke (Northern Wairoa) * Silver Gross 18 holes - Roz Fitzpatrick (Northland R/U Sian Jackson (Northland) * Silver Stableford 18 holes - In Hee Kim (Sherwood Park) R/U Shona Work (BOI) * Bronze Gross 18 holes and winner of the Mary Rishworth tray Cheryll Pitman (Northland) R/U Pauline Pullman (Ngunguru)

Above: Cheryll Pitman and Kylie Jacoby with the Mary Rishworth trays

WELLINGTON CAERWYN ROSS WINS KITCHEN CREATORS PBGC OPEN

Caerwyn Ross has won the Kitchen Creators, PBGC 36 Hole Open on countback from Darae Chung after the two youngsters were tied at the end of play, Ross winning courtesy of a lower final round (71 to 73) Three years ago Kitchen Creators, the event sponsor and prominent Kapiti business, and long time corporate partner with PBGC, in discussion with the club looked at how to grow the event.

The two parties changed the format to 36 hole and 18 hole competitions within the same tournament. A hugely successful move that sees upwards of 110 competitors competing on the famous links.

To 2021 and another innovative by bPBGC, to provide the opportunity for both male and female players to win the 36 hole open title. Aligning strongly with Sport NZ, Golf NZ and Golf Wellington’s support of the “Womens and Girls Ambition for Sport” a direction that more than 100 organisations have signed onto nationally - providing real opportunities at all levels for Women and Girls, walking the talk so to speak.

Following on from Golf NZ’s lead in providing this level playing field in their Charles Tour events, this opportunity is created by the science of either equalizing the relative course length at approx.

85% or using the difference in course ratings as an adjustment.

So at the end of regulation play around a challenging layout, a light southerly and strong course set, Caerwyn posted 70, 71, matched by Darae’s 71, 73 less ad-

justment, 141 totals for both. These two headed off Jonno Cane on 143, Matt Morris on 144, EJ Nicholson on 146 and Sam Marsters and David Zohrab on 147.

The event was run under Level 2 guidelines, significant planning between Kitchen Creators and PBGC ensuring the tournament was able to be held - triple registration through QR code scanning, tournament entry and DotGolf, sanitising, lunch packs collected by a single player, just a winners presentation - no larger prizegiving, and ticketed entry for just 50 people, the championship winners, key corporate partners, guests - an important component of sponsored events.

2021 WELLINGTON 72 HOLE STROKEPLAY

2021 Wellington 72 Hole Strokeplay was played recently at Waikanae GC. to Tara Raj prevailed holding off a fast finishing Darae Chung, with Erika Cui in 3rd.

Jonno Cane added another title to his resume with a 2 shot win over Jayden Ford 2nd on c/b, Tyler Hodge 3rd on countback.

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TASMAN WESTRUPP CUP AT WESTPORT GOLF CLUB

ladies also winning the Women’s National Teams District Final in April and both Helen and Emma were members of that successful team.

Sue Murray Gaye Mumerley Reserve: Natalie Reed Manager: Amanda Minhinnick

BOYLE CUP - CANTERBURY

CANTERBURY CANTERBURY NORTH WOMEN’S INTERCLUB

Recently the top female golfers in the Tasman Region competed for the Westrupp Cup at Westport Golf Club.

Team Eastern showed their class from start to finish amounting an impressive 30 points to win by 13 points. Central fought off Northern in the battle for second place finishing with 17 and 15 points respectively. Western finished last with 10 points.

Concluding the event the Tasman Women’s side was selected to compete at the Women’s South Island Interprovincials in Timaru on the 30/31st October!

The side is as follows: Lizzie Neale (captain) Aroha Minhinnick Tracy Bary Emily Stenhouse Andrea Thomas Lee Willets

The Final round of Canterbury North Women’s Interclub was played at Amberley recently in fine conditions and the course in great order.

With the host club Amberley on top of the table but having the bye, Scargill sitting in second place had everything to play for against Hanmer Springs and delivered the result they desperately wanted, winning 3.5-.5 to win the 2021 competition. Other results on the day saw Amuri defeat Culverden 2.5-1.5 and Hawarden and Cheviot drawing 2-2.

Pictured left is the 2021 Champion Scargill team of, from left Helen Lang, Jan Moir, Nic Fairbairn and Emma MacFarlane.

It’s been a stellar season for the Scargill

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND WAIKAKA RETAIN GILMOUR ROSEBOWL - SOUTHLAND GOLF

The fourth Boyle Cup challenge for 2021 was played at the home course of the current Boyle Cup holders, Charteris Bay in sunny, fine conditions.

The Waikaka ladies have retained the Gilmour Rosebowl defeating their neighbours Waikaia 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 on Tuesday 21st September.

The home team of, from left Denise Whitbread, Julie Sims, Alice Lewis, Carole Steele and Chris Brodie holding the trophy, have defeated Christchurch and Everglades 3-2 earlier in the year, and been dominant in the past two defences beating both Rangiora and Coringa 5-0. Yesterday’s win against Coringa was Charteris Bay’s fifteenth consecutive defence of the Boyle Cup since May 2018. Their final two challenges for the season are against Russley and Waimakariri Gorge.

Individual results Waikaka names first Dianne Cleland lost Anita Fraser 1down Deryn Cullen beat Pam Macleod 4/2 Sue Stewart beat Vanessa Clark 5/4 Sharon Irwin beat Rose Wilson 3/2 Lynne Hall square Colleen Morton

KAITAKE WOMENS OPEN 54 HOLE FOURSOMES

Do you want to come to Taranaki and mix golf with the 2021 Garden Festival?

Put these dates in your diary: Thursday Friday

28th October 2021 29th October 2021

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 contact Kaitake Golf Club on 06 7527665 or email kaitakegolf@xtra.co.nz. or go to our web site www.kaitakegolf.co.nz for entry form.

28

October 2021

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THORBURN Builders Ambrose Open Huntly Golf Club 10am SGS Sun 12 Dec 2021

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2021 COUNTIES-MANUKAU VETERANS INTER-CLUB COMMUNITY 2021 Round

Club Venue®

SGS

Date

Cup Challenger

Host Convenor

VVV CUP WAITERIMU*

9.30 Mon 15 FEB^ Alternate Shot Pairs Paul Heath

Qualify 1 AWHITU*

9.30 Tue 2 MAR^

Qualify 2 CLARKS BEACH 9.30 Tue 30 MAR Qualify 3 ONEWHERO†

9.30 Fri 23 APR

Qualify 4 WAIUKU

9.30 Tue 18 MAY^

Qualify 5 WAIKARE

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MARAMARUA Club Venue®

Phone

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027 2911125

pgheath@xtra.co.nz

Bruce Wilson

09 2351299

awhitugolf@xtra.co.nz

Nev McSweney

021 869 434

nevillejud@xtra.co.nz

Les Johns

021 565411

lesleoniejohns@gmail.com

Waiuku

Tim Howard

021 155 4113 alhaurintim@yahoo.co.uk

Waikare

Noel Steele

021 155 4113 waikaregolf@xtra.co.nz

3-Person Ambrose

Steve Ryan

021 294 8580 s.j.ryan@hotmail.com

Awhitu Clarks Beach Onewhero

2021 COUNTIES-MANUKAU VETERANS INTER-CLUB 2021 Final 1 HAURAKI† 9.30 Wed 1 SEPT Hauraki SteveCrooymans 027 467COMMUNITY 3209 crooymansfamily@xtra.co.nz

Auckland Ann Mn 28/1 Waitangi Th 6/2 School Hol 28/3-14/4 Easter Fr 2-Mn 5/4 Anzac St 24-Mn 26/4 Queens B’Day Mn 1/6 School Hols 4-19/7

Public MonthlyHolidays 5th Th 30/7

9.30 ThuDate 30 SEPT SGS

AndreRuiterman 0513 Host Convenor 09 236 Phone

FinalCUP 3 HUNTLY VVV WAITERIMU*

9.30

Murray Liddle Paul Heath

813 6000 pgheath@xtra.co.nz mrrayntl@hotmail.com 027 2911125

Labour Day Auckland AnnMn Mn26/10 28/1

Final 4 1 PUKEKOHE Qualify AWHITU*

9.00 9.30

David Bruce Gardiner Wilson

027 280 0515 gpesl@xtra.co.nz 09 2351299 awhitugolf@xtra.co.nz

Monthly 5th ThTh 29/10 Waitangi 6/2

Tim Howard Nev McSweney

021 869 155 434 4113 nevillejud@xtra.co.nz alhaurintim@yahoo.co.uk 021

CCC CUP2 CLARKS WAIUKU† 9.30 Qualify BEACH 9.30

Maramarua Cup Challenger Huntly/Waiterimu Tue 12 Mon 15 OCT FEB^ Alternate Shot Pairs Mon 8 NOV Pukekohe Tue 2 MAR^ Awhitu Tue 30 23 MAR NOV^ Nett Strokeplay Tue Clarks Beach

Public Holidays

acsr@actrix.gen.nz Hol W1/1-M 26/9-11/10 Email: Entry or Enquiry School New Year 6/1

Qualify 3 ONEWHERO† 9.30 Fri 23 APR Les84; Johns 021 565411 lesleoniejohns@gmail.com * 9-HOLE COURSE PLAYER LIMITS: BB Stroke PlayOnewhero 72; AS Pairs Play 3-Person Ambrose 96.

Waiuku Qualify 4 WAIUKU 9.30Pukekohe Tue 18 MAY^ Tim Howard 021 155 4113 alhaurintim@yahoo.co.uk ® FEES: Q&F Rounds $20pp; F4, VVV, JJJ, CCC = $25pp.

Note: Clubs may vary rate.

Qualify 5 WAIKARE 16 JUNE 90-Mins Waikare Steele event 021 155 4113 waikaregolf@xtra.co.nz † CONVENORS MEETING:9.30 Held Wed in Clubrooms before Start Noel | ^ Changed dates.

JJJ CUP WATTLE DWNS* 9.30 Thu 29 JULY 3-Person Ambrose Steve Ryan 021 294 8580 s.j.ryan@hotmail.com Final 1

HAURAKI†

9.30 Wed 1 SEPT

WWW.GOLFERPACIFIC.CO.NZ Final 2 MARAMARUA 9.30 Thu 30 SEPT Final 3

HUNTLY

9.30 Tue 12 OCT

Hauraki Maramarua Huntly/Waiterimu

SteveCrooymans 027 467 3209 crooymansfamily@xtra.co.nz

October 2021

AndreRuiterman 09 236 0513 Murray Liddle

acsr@actrix.gen.nz

027 813 6000 mrrayntl@hotmail.com

School SchoolHol Hol17/12-22/1 28/3-14/4 Easter Fr 2-Mn YOUR LATEST COVIC5/4 & GOLFING NEWS FROM Anzac St 24-Mn 26/4 ACROSS NZ AND Queens B’Day Mn 1/6 AROUND THE WORLD School Hols 4-19/7

Monthly 5th Th 30/7

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School Hol 26/9-11/10

Labour Day Mn 26/10

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