Golfer Pacific NZ – July 2022

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Fitzgerald’s remarkable bunker shot to secure US Open PAGE 5 INSIDE // MOMOKA KOBORI’S GREAT START TO EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN

EDITORIAL

pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz

Covid and crows from the blue tees in Townsville A

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

group of us went on a golf trip to Australia last month.

The trip started swimmingly but halfway through the 10-day trip covid struck.

There was nine of us on the trip and we had ventured to Townsville in north Queensland.

I hadn’t been that far north in Australia before and didn’t really understand how far north Townsville is.

For starters it is a two-hour plane ride from Brisbane and it was hard to comprehend the temperatures considering it was June. For the beginning of our trip the temperatures were 27-30C, although things did cool off to the lower 20s afterwards.

But as the temperatures eased, covid turned up the heat.

Of the nine of us, six ended up getting covid. This was calamitous.

It meant the six all had to isolate for seven days, which meant most had to extend the trip by about seven days because of the covid travel rules.

We also could no longer mix with each other which is the main reason you go away together.

I, fortunately, was not one of the six but I felt sick for the six.

The hotel we were staying at could not extend accommodation for the six as it

was booked out.

So they had to find alternative accommodation at short notice and the day they should have been heading to the airport to go home, they were instead moving across town.

To rub salt into the wound, the New Zealand government changed the rules about the need to test negative to covid about a day after most finally got home.

I think most had insurance to cover much of the cost of the extra accommodation and a change of flights but it underlined the risk of international travel in these covid days.

And to add to the covid numbers, a seventh person tested positive a day or two after arriving home.

The tournament was held at the Townsville Golf Club. This is a championship course that abounds with massive bunkers, large and undulating greens and there is water on many holes.

Unfortunately they played us off the blue tees which was far too difficult for the type of golfer playing the tournament.

I have been assured next year’s tournament at Curlewis Golf Club, near Geelong in Victoria, will be from white tees.

There was a bizarre happening while we played Townsville. On the first two days we played practice rounds, one of our group lost seven balls.

Bad shots, you are thinking. No. In all cases the seven balls were stolen by

crows. I repeat, stolen by crows.

The situation worsened during the week and almost every player in the tournament had a ball or two snapped up by a crow.

Initially the rule was that you had to see a crow take the ball to replay the shot without penalty. But that rule was relaxed as ball after ball kept disappearing. I played in a group of three one day and we all lost a ball to a crow on the same hole.

As you moved around the course you could hear golfers shouting out in an effort to shoo away the crows. We were told the crows had not been around for months but for some reason they turned up for the week we were there.

Crows are apparently attracted to shiny objects and it is fallacy that they think the balls are eggs. They simply take the golf balls because they can. Crows are protected birds in Australia.

This was the first time for me to share the world handicapping system with Australians. We simply gave our handicap index to the tournament organisers and a course handicap was generated.

However scores could not be automatically recorded. I later found out that you could supply your home New Zealand club with an adjusted total score along with the slope and course ratings and par and your score would be recorded. I now have three Townsville scores against my name.

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July 2022

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By Neville Idour

C

Canterbury golfer Momoka Kobori who is already a winner in Europe.

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anterbury golfer Momoka Kobori’s decision to play on the secondary circuit of the Ladies’ European Tour (LET) paid off big time with a win first up last month.

Playing in the Montauban Ladies’ Open in France, she led all the way for a three-shot win. The tournament carried prizemoney of 42,500 euros which is more than $NZ70,000.

It was a convincing performance that confirmed her outstanding talent and maturity.

Her score of 10 under par left her comfortably clear of England’s Hannah McCook on seven under.

The next best was way back on three under.

Kobori, 23, was exceptionally consistent in the three-round event with her only bogeys coming on the ninth and 11th holes in the first round. Her scores of 69, 69 and 68 for 206 reflected that consistency.

Kobori said: “I was nervous starting the final round and coming down the last few holes. But I just tried to focus on each shot and tell myself I’ve been hitting it well. I enjoyed the crowd and tried to enjoy the last few holes.”

The win secured her a full season on the tour which is known as the LET Access Series.

A week later she finished seventh at the Smorum Ladies’ Open in Denmark with rounds of 74, 72 and 69.

Following this excellent second-up effort Kobori

July 2022

said: “At this stage I am planning on playing out most, if not all of the season here in Europe.”

The top six finishers on the LETAS order of merit gain a full card on the Ladies’ European Tour next year.

After the Smorum she had raced up to sixth place on the order of merit table.

It was off to Belgium for her third event the Vlaanderen Trophy, with another 40,000 euros at stake. In another outstanding performance she came up just a shot short of a playoff. A one under par first round of 71 saw her in sixth place but a one over par 73 in the second round saw her tumble down to 20th, five shots behind leader Kristalle Blum (Australia).

A strong front nine in the third round saw her score birdies on three, five and seven then with two more birdies on 12 and 15 the lead was beckoning. However bogeys on 16 and 17 did the damage. Despite the Australian bogeying 17 and Kobori’s birdie on18, for an equal best round of the day of 68, Kobori would have to settle for a tie for second.

With a run of first, seventh and second in her first three outings in Europe, Kobori’s future looks promising, to say the least.

Kobori: “It has been an amazing experience competing in Europe so far and I’m really looking forward to the events coming up.”

No wonder, because after the third event she is already second on the order of merit.

GOLF NEWS

Momoka Kobori’s great start to European campaign

3

Fitzgerald’s remarkable bunker shot to secure US Open

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

GOLF NEWS 4

W

ill Zalatoris all but wrote off Matt Fitzpatrick when he saw Fitzpatrick’s ball in a bunker on the last hole of the United States Open.

Television commentators had said before Fitzpatrick teed off at the 18th not to go left, towards the bunkers. Fitzpatrick went left, into one of the bunkers.

Zalatoris was one shot behind Fitzpatrick and as he walked past Fitzpatrick’s ball he thought this would be a golden chance to level the scores.

Fitzpatrick’s ball was near a grass island within the bunker, 145 metres from the pin and with a greenside bunker to carry.

He smashed a nine iron with a towering shot that saw the ball finish in the heart of the green, as if he had played from the middle of the fairway.

Zalatoris afterwards recalled: “Matt’s shot on 18 is going to be shown probably for the rest of US Open history ... I walked by it and I thought, that going for it, was going to be ballsy.

“But the fact that he pulled it off, and even had a birdie look, was just incredible.”

Fitzpatrick felt he had to go for the shot, rather than taking a backward step.

“I just felt I had to hit the green,” Fitzpatrick said.

“If I could hit the green, if I made par, it puts pressure on Will.

“I knew full well Will was going to hit it close. He’s one of the best approach players on tour.”

Zalatoris did have a good chance at birdie but the putt slid past and victory was Fitzpatrick’s.

His win at The Country Club in Massachusetts completed a rare double.

Fitzpatrick, 27, had won the US Amateur nine years earlier in 2013 at the same course and he is now the second male golfer to win a US Amateur and a US Open at the same venue.

The other male player to achieve the same feat is Jack Nicklaus whose same-course double was at Pebble Beach in California in 1961 and 1972.

On the women’s side of the ledger, Juli Inkster won the US Women’s Amateur and US Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes in Kansas in 1980 and 2002.

Fitzpatrick, from England, picked up first prizemoney of $US3.15 million. That’s nearly $NZ5 million.

It was his eighth win as a professional, but his first win in the United States, and took his world ranking from 18 to 10.

Fitzpatrick, well known as one of the few professional players to not have the pin removed when putting, said to win the 122nd US Open was the proudest moment of his golfing career.

“Unbelievable,” Fitzpatrick said.

“The feeling is out of this world. It is so cliche but it’s stuff you dream of as a kid. To achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow.”

Another huge turning point in the last round came on the 13th when Fitzpatrick holed a 48-foot birdie putt to tie Zalatoris, who made a clutch par save from 12 feet.

Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, was always lurking, but the final pair looked determined that one of them would become the 14th firsttime major winner to lift the US Open trophy in the past 18 years - it was just a case of who would land that knockout

blow.

On the 15th, Fitzpatrick moved two clear when he made a birdie and Zalatoris a bogey. But the American cut that advantage in half with a birdie on 17 after yet another laser of an iron shot.

It was more major agony for Zalatoris though, who finished as runner-up for the second major in a row after losing to Justin Thomas in a play-off at the US PGA Championship.

Fitzpatrick hit 17 of 18 green in regulation in a stunning display of control and consistency, but the shot he will be remembered for is his remarkable recovery shot from the bunker on 18, which ironically enough was just the shot he did not want to face.

“If there’s one shot I just did not want this year it’s a fairway bunker shot,” said Fitzpatrick.

“When I saw it leave the sand I couldn’t have been be happier.”

Fitzpatrick and his family have stayed with the same American family in Boston that hosted him for his 2013 US Amateur victory — with the familiarity of the situation having a positive impact throughout the week.

“It’s meant the world,” Fitzpatrick added.

“I’ve obviously won here twice now. I’m trying to get every tour event round here. To stay with them this week has made it so much more relaxing. There’s no pressure and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Among the scenes of unbridled joy on the 18th green, Fitzpatrick’s veteran caddie Billy Foster was arguably more emotional than his boss as he finally enjoyed a major victory after 40 years of carrying the bags of some of the sport’s biggest stars.

Foster has been on the bag of the likes of Seve Ball-

July 2022

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates with caddie Billy Foster after winning the US Open Championship in Massachusetts last month. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

esteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke and never won a major, and the usually stoic Yorkshireman was overcome with emotion.

“It’s unbelievably emotional,” Foster told Sky Sports. “I’m glad someone has got that giant monkey off my back “It means a lot. Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Seve, they’ve had their chances over the years and (Thomas) Bjorn.

“I was caddying for him that day when he left it in the

bunker at Sandwich [in 2003] and that really hurt. I thought about it for six months and it broke my heart. That has put a lot of bad memories to bed.

It means everything.

“I knew he was good enough to win a major and this week he has played unbelievable and he’s not putted his best which is incredible really.

“He did my head in missing a few short putts,” he laughed.

“He didn’t need to win by four.

One was enough.”

Matthew Fitzpatrick on the 18th green in the final round of the US Open Championship in Massachusetts last month. (Photo by Warren Little/ Getty Images)

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US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD POS 1 T2 T2 4 T5 T5 T7 T7 T7 T10 T10 T12 T12 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 T14 23 T24 T24 T24 T27 T27 T27 T27 T31 T31 T31 T31 T31 T31 T37 T37 T37 T37 T37 T37 T43 T43 T43 T43 T47 T47 T49 T49 T49 T49 T53 T53 55 T56 T56 T56 T56 60 T61 T61 63 64

PLAYER Matt Fitzpatrick Scottie Scheffler Will Zalatoris Hideki Matsuyama Collin Morikawa Rory McIlroy Denny McCarthy Adam Hadwin Keegan Bradley Gary Woodland Joel Dahmen Séamus Power Jon Rahm Guido Migliozzi Xander Schauffele Marc Leishman Adam Scott Cameron Tringale Patrick Cantlay Sebastián Muñoz Hayden Buckley Nick Hardy Joohyung Kim Mackenzie Hughes Adam Schenk Dustin Johnson Thomas Pieters Min Woo Lee Aaron Wise Sam Burns MJ Daffue Callum Tarren Todd Sinnott Andrew Putnam Patrick Rodgers Davis Riley K.H. Lee Justin Rose Joseph Bramlett Justin Thomas Jordan Spieth Matthew NeSmith Chris Gotterup Travis Vick (a) Richard Bland Brian Harman Joaquin Niemann Max Homa Sam Bennett (a) Patrick Reed Sam Stevens David Lingmerth Sebastian Söderberg Beau Hossler Brooks Koepka Wil Besseling Chris Naegel Tyrrell Hatton Bryson DeChambeau Brandon Matthews Harris English Austin Greaser (a) Grayson Murray Stewart Hagestad (a)

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TO PAR -6 -5 -5 -3 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 E E 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 13 13 13 13 16 17 17 18 19

R1 68 70 69 70 69 67 73 66 70 69 67 71 69 72 70 70 69 71 72 74 68 69 72 72 70 68 72 73 68 71 67 67 71 72 69 72 71 68 71 69 72 68 73 70 70 68 71 69 70 70 71 67 71 69 73 71 73 72 71 71 73 72 75 73

R2 70 67 70 70 66 69 70 72 69 73 68 70 67 70 69 71 73 71 71 69 68 68 68 69 70 73 68 70 68 67 72 72 71 68 68 67 72 73 72 72 70 69 69 69 72 69 70 73 73 71 72 72 70 67 67 71 69 71 71 69 69 70 67 70

R3 68 71 67 72 77 73 68 70 69 69 74 70 71 74 75 73 72 71 70 69 75 73 73 73 73 71 73 69 75 71 78 78 74 74 75 73 73 74 72 72 71 74 75 76 72 75 76 75 74 75 72 74 78 78 75 77 77 76 76 79 78 76 76 79

R4 68 67 69 65 66 69 68 71 71 69 71 70 74 66 68 68 68 69 69 70 71 72 70 70 71 72 72 73 74 76 69 69 70 72 74 74 71 72 72 74 74 76 71 73 74 76 72 72 73 74 75 77 72 77 77 74 74 74 75 77 77 79 80 77

TOTAL 274 275 275 277 278 278 279 279 279 280 280 281 281 282 282 282 282 282 282 282 282 282 283 284 284 284 285 285 285 285 286 286 286 286 286 286 287 287 287 287 287 287 288 288 288 288 289 289 290 290 290 290 291 291 292 293 293 293 293 296 297 297 298 299

July 2022

MONEY (US) $3,150,000 $1,557,687 $1,557,687 $859,032 $674,953 $674,953 $515,934 $515,934 $515,934 $407,219 $407,219 $347,058 $347,058 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $241,302 $171,732 $150,849 $150,849 $150,849 $127,002 $127,002 $127,002 $127,002 $100,330 $100,330 $100,330 $100,330 $100,330 $100,330 $75,916 $75,916 $75,916 $75,916 $75,916 $75,916 $59,332 $0 $59,332 $59,332 $50,671 $50,671 $0 $44,038 $44,038 $44,038 $40,629 $40,629 $39,432 $38,510 $38,510 $38,510 $38,510 $37,589 $37,221 $0 $36,852 $0

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July 2022

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By Neville Idour

T

he 2022 New Zealand Golf Matters Conference and Expo should be a must for all involved in the various sectors of the golf industry.

It is a three day affair from August 8-10 and the Christchurch venue could not be more exciting for attendees.

Make no mistake this is an international event of significance for New Zealand.

The new $475 million Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, which opened last December, is quite stunning and is a world class facility located on the banks of the Avon River in the heart of the city. The centre has a 1400 seat auditorium, 24 meeting rooms and banquet areas for 1800 people.

Delegates are going to be more than impressed by the reception area which has a two tonne marble reception desk, timber columns and an illuminated artwork called Hana designed by sculptor Loni Hutchinson.

Delegates and attendees will be greeted with a full programme of events including keynote speakers, forums and sessions covering every aspect of the golf industry. The expo and trade show will include industry innovation, golf product and equipment to tempt buyers.

Sessions will include technology, participation and what is next for golf post covid. Golf operations retail and merchandising will be included plus health and fitness workshops. Management, employment changes and regulations, staff retention and maximising the club house and all facilities will receive attention.

All aspects of a golf course will re-

Greg Ramsay

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ceive scrutiny such as sustainability, the environment, community impact, water conservation, pest destruction and latest product releases including machinery and equipment.

The lineup of confirmed speakers from around the world is going to be enthralling.

Possibly headlining the names is world renowned course designer Tom Doak, responsible for 42 golf courses in his 35-year career. Seven of them currently rate in the world’s top 100.

These include Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay and Tara Iti in Northland which has garnered praise to exceed Doak’s wildest dreams. It has resulted in him returning to New Zealand to work on the neighbouring Te Arai north course which will open in 2023.

All up he has now spent 222 days in New Zealand during 31 trips. He will video conference in from his home in Michigan.

Karen Lunn, a former professional golfer, is chief executive of the Women’s Professional Golfers’ Association of Australasia. She played all the major women’s tours from 1985 to 2013.

She won 14 international tournaments including the 1993 Women’s British Open. She has extensive experience as a chairperson on the European Tour board and the Players’ Council. She also has considerable experience as a TV commentator in the UK and Germany.

Kereyn Smith, MNZM, who recently retired after 11 years as chief executive of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, will no doubt have much to say about her sporting experiences. She has also held many posts in New Zealand Sport including general manager

of the Hillary Commission. Now a keen golfer she is still active in international sports administration.

Shona McRae, The R&A assistant director-rules, has banked a lot of experience from her time in golf operations at Gleneagles Hotel and seven years with Dubai Golf, before joining the rules’ team at The R&A in early 2007.

She is assistant to the chief referee at The Open Championship and plays golf at St Andrews with a six handicap.

Kyle Phillips, a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, has over 30 years experience designing golf courses in more than 30 countries. His presentation should have much to offer.

Greg Ramsay, a bachelor in international business, graduated from the University of Tasmania. He explored golf courses around the world. At 23 years of age he returned to Australia, found and drove his first local golf and tourism project Barnbougle Dunes. He has a passion for Australia, all things golf and whisky, having founded the NZ Whisky Collection in Dunedin and Oamaru. He is an inspirational and charismatic speaker.

Michael Glading, the New Zealand Golf Open tournament director, has a rich background in the music industry and sport. After 30 years in music he then took on the position of New Zealand Football chief executive until the NZ Golf Open beckoned in 2012. He is the son of one of golf’s true gentlemen, NZ Open and NZPGA champion Bob Glading. Michael caddied for Sir Bob Charles back in his university days and carried it on professionally for 35 years. He is a more than useful single figure golfer who plays at Muriwai and

Mangawhai Golf Clubs in Auckland and Northland.

The latest addition to the lineup is Lisa Cornwall who had a long history in golf before her seven years at Golf Channel as an on-air host and reporter. She was primary reporter for the LPGA and PGA Tours and studio host for Golf Central. She will be familiar to many. Cornwall is working on a newly signed book deal of her memoir titled “Troublemaker” which details the ongoing legal battles of retaliation and discrimination with Golf Channel. It is set for release next year. Should be an interesting listen.

Finally Kay Gregory, a professional journalist and presenter, who is a relative newcomer to golf, will be the conference master of ceremonies. She is a member at Ngaruawahia Golf Club in Waikato. She loves the game and says: “Golf is about the places you go and the people you meet.”

The conference will clearly have many highlights. In addition to the previously outlined, will be the entertainment highlight, the Golf Matters gala dinner on Monday, August 8 when various industry body awards will be given to recipients from the golf managers, NZPGA, NZ course superintendents and Golf New Zealand.

In excess of 300 delegates are expected to attend plus-40 trade show exhibitors. This writer expects that should be a conservative estimate.

Golf is on a roll. Club membership numbers in New Zealand are in excess of 130,000, which is up almost 30,000 on pre-covid numbers. If golf matters, attendance at this milestone event is a must.

Lisa Cornwall who is familiar to television viewers as reporter and commentator.

Kyle Phillips, a long-time golf course designer.

Karen Lunn, chief executive of the Women’s PGA of Australasia.

July 2022

GOLF NEWS

Golf Matters conference and expo will excite

7

GOLF NEWS

Luke Toomey beats Josh Geary in Fiji

By Neville Idour

T

auranga golfer Luke Toomey scored his first international win at the $100,000 Sheraton Golf Classic in Fiji after a pulsating final round battle with experienced European Tour player, and fellow Kiwi, Josh Geary.

For Toomey it was a sweet win against a strong field of 56 players after starting the final round tied with

the more credentialled Geary. It was five years since he last played the event.

After the first round, when Toomey trailed Geary by four shots, a win looked a real challenge. However, he cut that lead to two in the second round and pulled back another two shots to head into the final round all tied up.

The final round was a shot for shot battle with it going down to the last before Toomey won by one

shot.

Said Toomey: “Playing the last three days against Josh has been an absolute pleasure as I have looked to Josh and learned so much from him.

“My passion for the game hasn’t left me and I feel privileged to still love the game as a 29-year-old.

Scores; Toomey 70, 65, 64, 68 = 267. Geary 66, 67, 66, 69 = 268. Kit Bittle 273. Michael Wright 274.

Ben Taylor keeping it tip top at The Hills

Ben Taylor, greenkeeper at The Hills golf course

By Neville Idour

B

en Taylor has slipped in nicely in the months since the previous course superintendent, then general manager Brendan Allen, needed a change in life. During his many years at The Hills, Allen had overseen a course which year round matches any course for overall condition.

Taylor had been his assistant for many years so the transition has proven to be seamless given the ongoing pristine condition of the course. Since taking over, Taylor has also managed some of the course improvements that Darius Oliver recommended.

Although Taylor had been the assistant greenkeeper, he is highly qualified and experienced in his own right. So it was good to sit down with Taylor and ask him how his life course led him to this position at The Hills in Arrowtown.

“I was born in Auckland and went to Orewa College, north of Auckland,’’ Taylor started.

“Halfway through my schooling I was looking for part-time work and ended up on the golf course at Gulf Harbour (in north Auckland). I was 15 years old and was working on the driving range and wanted to get out onto the golf course.

So I enquired about an apprenticeship and was told to go back to school for one last year, do horticulture and botany papers, mature up and start the following year. “ Taylor wanted to be a greenkeeper from the day he first set foot on a golf course when he was nine. He played on

8

the Peninsula Golf Club course then and when his mother joined Gulf Harbour he played weekly. In 1998 he was at Gulf Harbour to watch the World Cup. “I was on the course and manning the range at that tournament and in 1999 I started my apprenticeship when I was 16 years old. The attraction was being outdoors and my love of the game. It didn’t feel that it would be your everyday job but would have a lot of diversity with every day being different. In a couple of years I became a spray technician before I qualified.

“Once I qualified I had big plans to go to America and do the Ohio State internship programme. I did get into golf course construction for a year before going, just to get some experience in a different side of greenkeeping. I was involved in some re-modelling work at Remuera, Manukau and Peninsula. I worked with Adam Jones who owns Grass Ltd.” That company was involved in the construction of Gulf Harbour, Pegasus and Waimairi Beach courses amongst many.

When 19 years old he went to the United States and worked at Kingsmill in Virginia where they had the Michelob LPGA event.

“There were three courses there and we did two and a half months at each course under different superintendents in the organisation. A huge hurricane hit the golf course and they lost thousands of trees. So there were about six weeks of tidying up before we could get the courses back in play.”

At that time the interns were sent south for winter as the courses get shut down as the cold is a bit like Queenstown in winter. It was 2003 and Taylor then ended up at Augusta National for the winter. In March they had the preparations for the Masters and Taylor turned 21 in Masters week. Working there as a qualified intern for experience Taylor revealed that the way New Zealanders do their qualifications they come out very skilled in comparison to other countries.

“There they do two or three years schooling then when they come out they don’t actually know how to operate machinery. There is a lot of bookwork whereas we are on the job learning and studying.

“After the Masters the course shuts over summer and that is when they re-

develop the course, resurface greens and upgrade systems. So we got a lot of exposure to construction on an extremely high end scale. With only a three or four month window to get it all done before winter it was speedy work.”

While in the USA he got to play many courses with Augusta, unsurprisingly, his number one all time favourite.

Following Augusta and his 18 month internship Taylor returned to New Zealand and worked for his previous boss Adam Jones in Auckland.

“Following some construction work I had itchy feet again so headed for Melbourne where my sister was living and worked on a couple of courses on the sandbelt. After that I felt like I had accomplished quite a bit for a 21-year-old. (That seemed like something of an understatement).

“I had a few things I wanted to achieve as a youngster so I decided to go and work on super yachts in Europe and the Caribbean for four years.”

As if his life couldn’t get more fascinating he said his time on the super yachts covered the whole spectrum of deckhand, cleaning, driving the boats including chase boats and tenders and looking after the guests. The first boat was based in Monaco followed by work on a Malta-based boat. He didn’t play any golf while living in Europe.

Then it was back to New Zealand and recovering from knee surgery and meeting his wife to be, Carina. So he decided working on super yachts was not the right way to start a relationship and got back into the turf industry.

What caused the knee surgery?

“I was in Malta on the boat and went out on a wakeboard one afternoon for a bit of fun and ruptured my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), so came back home for surgery rather than in Europe.”

At age 26 by this stage he still had contacts in the industry and loved construction so got a five month contract to build some courses in Canada. He had one of the lead roles in a nine-hole build and also completing an 18-hole build.

“Then I came back home and saw a position available at Manly Golf Club in Sydney. So we packed up again and moved to Sydney for two and a half years. I was foreman in the redevelopment of the course.

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“Ten holes had been constructed so we did eight more to finish the project. While I was there my father passed away which was a blow. I felt I needed to look for a superintendent position and this took us to Adelaide at The Grange where I worked as the assistant. We were expecting our first child so were only there for six months as the position of assistant superintendent at Jacks Point (in Queenstown) became available.”

That got them home where their eldest son Christian was born. He is now eight while younger brother Campbell is five.

Taylor was at Jacks Point for 18 months and then The Hills assistant position became available and the idea of having New Zealand Opens there and being a member-based golf course was exciting.

“Much as I liked Jacks Point, it was quite a different feel there, not having the continuous faces always present, I learned a lot but there was something missing for me. I have been at The Hills ever since (six years) working under Brendan Allen.

He is a very experienced and talented greenkeeper and I learned a lot from him which made the transition from when he left to this role (course superintendent) not overly daunting. It’s been a case of trying a few things to see what works and looking ahead to the next challenge.”

There is the plan to keep working with Darius Oliver over the coming years and choosing which ideas will benefit the golf course.

What have been your highlights so far?

“The Opens were exciting, and being there for the 100th New Zealand Open was pretty cool. The redevelopments, striving for excellence, how to improve on what is already very good. We are interacting with the members a lot more and learning what they want from a golf course, finding a balance between making it user friendly but being difficult enough for those who want a challenge.”

So what does the future hold?

“We are very happy here living at Lake Hayes Estate. The children are happy in school and love their skiing and being outdoors.’’

Taylor’s favourite outdoor activities are skiing, mountain biking and working on his 11.1 golf handicap. Add to this Taylor’s wife Carina works alongside him as financial controller at The Hills. As Taylor says: “You can’t beat it.”

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By Neville Idour

W

here to now for LIV Golf?

Despite the recent banning of players by the two big boys of world golf, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, plus the hefty 100,000 pound fines by the DP Tour, it appears LIV Golf isn’t going anywhere.

Neither has it stopped the player drain with more just announced. Also not surprisingly LIV Golf is paying the fines of 17 players.

Matthew Wolff, Carlos Ortiz and the world No 2 ranked amateur Eugenio Chacarra have made the move.

Wolff and Chacarra are young with very promising careers in prospect.

The latest two players to be linked are Henrik Stenson and Tommy Fleetwood. Stenson’s management team is thought to have been in talks with LIV while Fleetwood’s wife and manager Clare Craig was at the Centurion Club where the first LIV Golf tournament was played last month. A move by Ryder Cup captain Stenson would be huge — and the end of his captaincy.

Every day that passes seems to drive the wedge even further into the widening gap between them and us. Clearly the impasse is the most serious issue to face golf, certainly for as long as I can remember. Yet when you think what is it all about, one is left wondering where does the truth lie. We are talking about a variety of options for professional golfers to play and ply their trade.

From the first emergence of LIV, the PGA Tour chief executive Jay Monahan has labelled it as the arch enemy and from day one, acrimony, initially from both sides has been an ongoing scenario. Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman early on inflamed matters with statements they probably now wish they had moderated.

As time has gone on LIV has gone about its business despite all the threats and has attracted many more players than thought possible. They now have nine of the last 21 major championship

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winners, four former world No 1s and almost half of their field for the Portland event in the United States are top 100 ranked players. Definitely more than a trifling annoyance.

We have heard much from administrators and players about history, legacy, integrity and obscene money and no one will deny all have an important part to play. The game of golf has been built on history, legacy and integrity and for a long time no obscene money. Just run through the names who are etched in history and the minds of golf fans. Too many to name but we know them.

LIV Golf has simply made a play to offer a different version of the game which will appeal to many, as it has.

But as a long term version that could build a history like traditional golf I cannot see that happening.

Personally, in its current format, it has as much appeal as 20/20 and one day cricket … seen and immediately forgotten. Cricket has made room for the shorter versions and it has been financially beneficial for the players. LIV Golf could easily fill a similar role with a short season of eight to 10 events.

Greg Norman has for many years tried to convince the PGA Tour to instigate a world golf tour that plays around the world and not almost solely in the US. With the latest changes announced by the PGA Tour, it seems Norman has achieved that aim but not in the manner he intended.

Also, some are saying Mickelson’s comments have also been proven by the sudden avalanche of money the PGA Tour has somehow found to match LIV prizemoney for many events. So accusing LIV of obscene money is a little hollow as the PGA Tour is now in the same boat. Another point Norman made was that several PGA Tour sponsors are heavily involved with billions of dollar in Saudi Arabia, which is backing LIV Golf.

Where is the moral high ground?

I would not be surprised if the DP World Tour is having nervous thoughts about being under the PGA Tour wing despite it being called a partnership.

The fear is many of their players will now focus on playing the PGA Tour as the DP World Tour events mainly offer peanuts (1.5-2 million euros) compared to mostly $US10-$25 million events now on the PGA Tour. Where will it end unless common sense enters the scene.

So let’s wind the clock back to when the LIV Golf series was first mooted.

What might the situation be now had Monahan and DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley got together and thought let’s talk to these people and see how we can work together for the best outcome for all the players and our tours.

With all the money they have available let us not compete with them but accommodate them so that their big money becomes a welcome bonus for players. Similar to the bonus money cricketers earn in the 20/20 slog fest series around the world. Communication, communication, communication.

Currently the LIV eight-event series is pretty much monthly until the last three events, not overly intrusive. Given what the PGA Tour changes for 2023 have revealed, a LIV Golf series of eight events could have been accommodated at the end of the Fedex Cup which will finish in August. It could have had entry restrictions of say 10 of the top 50 ranked players, 15 from 51 to 100, and 25 from below that. Strong fields but not taking too many away from the important northern hemisphere autumn events when fringe players are battling to keep their cards in the top 125 or from any DP World Tour end of season events.

Of course this would have saved the PGA Tour mega millions not having to try and outdo LIV Golf with it’s own “series” after the Fedex Cup. Copying LIV Golf is a divisive move and simply confirms the criticisms that the PGA Tour wants to control and own golf and its members. It is all very sad for the image of golf. Knee jerk reactions rarely work and it is time some of the PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy

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and Justin Thomas who have been outspoken about their fellow players who have made the move used the off button. They don’t know what lies ahead and their words could come back to bite them if golf is unified again and they share the tee with the very players they have criticised.

Ironically legends of the game such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have not bad-mouthed LIV Golf or players joining them. Player, in fact, said good on them if that is what they want to do, and to earn a better income than they will ever do as an average PGA or DP Tour player. Jack Nicklaus was offered huge money to be the chief executive but simply said no because he was one of the instigators of the PGA Tour and felt he had to continue to support it.

The time has certainly come for the various parties to swallow their unbridled pride and get together and sort out the mess. On that note we will leave the last words to a very common sense and respected Martin Kaymer. Interviewed on Sky Sports he said: “I find it very difficult to believe that they can’t find a solution together. I fail to see why LIV Golf is seen as damaging as it is just another option to play golf. We are not going to resign from other tours. We want to play other events and tours.

“The main thing is that nobody is against each other yet that is the way it seems. Some say LIV is against the PGA and European Tours but I have never heard that from anyone at LIV. I am worried about the Ryder Cup as there are a lot of emotions involved for players, the tour and sponsors.”

“There is no reason why you should be against each other, because there is no tour who owns golf. We should all be working together for the big picture. I made my choice and I can live with anything that comes my way. I’m happy to support any tour because I believe in all tours. If I am not allowed to play any tournaments then that’s what it is.”

“And this is the bottom line, you need to speak.”

Hear, hear, Martin Kaymer.

GOLF NEWS

LIV Golf — where to now?

9

A course with many signature holes

GOLF NEWS 10

M

y wife and I recently enjoyed a four-week road trip from Dunedin, travelling in the North Island playing several golf courses as part of a great holiday. What more could one want?

Over the next few issues we will focus on one of the gems we played on our travels.

First up we will focus on an unheralded jewel of a course we first played eight years ago, situated halfway between its illustrious neighbours Whangamata and Whitianga on the Cormandel Peninsula in Bay of Plenty.

We found it a standout then and wanted to re-visit this wonderful layout at Tairua, a lovely seaside holiday spot with a resident population of around 1600.

On arrival we were greeted by Jan Stanley, the nine-hole convenor, and Hannah McGuire an enthusiastic newer member. Both waxed enthusiastically about the club. A recent nine-hole mixed tournament drew 80 players from 15 different clubs.

The weekly mixed scramble can see 20 turn up. A coaching clinic in June with former New Zealand touring professional Marnie McGuire was fully booked.

The Tairua Golf and Country Club has about 210 golf members, approximately 70 women and 140 men, plus bowling club and croquet members.

The golf club has a significant number of country members, many of whom holiday in Tairua or regularly travel to play there in preference to their home towns such as Auckland. It is easy to see why.

An impressive and very detailed pictorial history of the club was published in 2010. It reveals modest beginnings in 1966 in Hikuai as a nine-holer on a farm paddock that was provided free of charge by the Lands and Survey Department. This farmland course did have its draw-

backs though. The greens were the favourite resting place for the permanent residents – the sheep. Therefore putting usually required the removal of their droppings from the line before playing.

So a search for more suitable land began and the existing site just off the main road at the north end of Tairua was found. The 120 acres bounding the Pepe estuary were purchased from Derek Cory-Wright for the princely sum of 10 pounds per acre. Work on the original nine holes began in 1970. The farmland course had its closing day on November 28, 1970. The new nine-hole layout was designed by five locals with the guidance of architect Harry P Dale. This course was laid out by former Akarana greenkeeper Frank Hazelden so it has impressive credentials. Opening day was in March, 1971.

In 1973 the Golf and Country Club name was born. The clubhouse, a fine facility, was finished in 1976. Work to complete 18 holes began in the early 1990s and was ready for play in 1994 — and so the course has principally remained until the massive project a few years ago to raise the level of the flood plain that housed fairways 1, 17, and 18 by between one and one and a half metres. The waste dredgings from the new marina were transported to the course and laid by the marina contractors. The fairways were shaped and grassed by them, all at no cost to the club. Now the former drainage problems after rain are history.

We were privileged to enjoy the company of greenkeeper Geoff Cambie for our round eight years ago on this delightful course and he was a fund of knowledge and anecdotes. Geoff is the only paid employee to this day and he is assisted in his massive task by many willing volunteers who he appreciates very much.

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During this visit we chatted with Geoff beside the seventh green which was being completely relayed, a massive task. He explained: “Because of covid last year and this year we have tripled our green fees take, so we have the money to do a bit more work on the course and improving it.

“The greens have no drainage. They were built pretty much with clay under just six inches of topsoil. So we have removed it all and dug down and put drains in, filled it with sand and added fine topsoil with sand on top for seeding.”

Geoff was accompanied by three other willing men. “Yep,” said Geoff.

“Three or four volunteers every day of the week when I need them. They do all the rough mowing and most of them have got knowledge of some sort. For example John is a drainlayer so he can drive the digger.”

For such a small club it is admirable that they have their own digger and green mowers. This year they bought a new rough mower.

As an overview, the course can be described as of modest length, gently undulating, easy walking and ex-

tremely picturesque with lovely bush and water views. The male golfers face a 5211-metre challenge, the ladies 4645 metres. Before you say that sounds easy let us have a closer look at what is a journey of unfolding surprises.

As with any good course the first, a par four, allows a comfortable start to the round. Not too many worries here.

The second, a 162m par three for the men and 152m for women, requires an accurate tee shot. The third is a pleasant 321m gentle dogleg right, again an accurate tee shot the main requirement as I found out.

Our first taste of elevation comes at the fourth, ‘Wilson’s Pond’, as we reach the tee on this knockout 118m par three. Must be the signature hole?

The glorious view reveals a pond meandering on the left to swallow a pull shot and a tree that guards the shallow, wide green with gentle borrow. Designed by Alan Wilson, an original club member, this is the first of a number of holes that truly excite at first glimpse.

A well elevated wedge or nine iron will clear the tree but do not overhit.

Wilson’s Pond, which is the fourth hole at Tairua.

The ninth green, known as Amen Corner, at Tairua Golf Club.

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On to the fifth, a 324m par four which, from an elevated tee plays over an exquisite variety of bush, where an errant fade will bring out of bounds right into play.

Number six, ‘Blacklers’, offers a dogleg left to the green with Mt Paku in the background and water left approaching the green. The seventh is only 295m but doglegs left nearing the green. The right placement and length of drive is essential before a tricky shot through a narrow entry to the green.

The eighth is a challenging 475m par five. The first two shots are key here.

The second shot must stay a little right and long enough otherwise the late dogleg left could prevent a clear shot to the green, as I would experience.

Each hole seems to be providing it’s own unique character now and the ninth is quite breathtaking at just 244m — a real teaser. Again, I was sure this was the signature hole — but was it? From the tee the fairway gently slopes to a beautifully bush surrounded green. However there appears to be a tree close to and guarding the green.

On the right there is a lateral hazard,

The Pond which is the 13th hole at Tairua.

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on the left out of bounds. Mmmmm.

It is here that Geoff regales us about the big hitters from Auckland who think they will blast their way round but find that the big off line shots on this hole and many others leave them with a lost ball and their tail between their legs. We tee off and find as we walk to our balls that the tree is actually 80 metres short of the green and not the obstacle as first thought. But there is a creek in front of the green 20 metres out. A superb green greets us sloping right to left with gentle undulations. The setting is idyllic. Surely this is our own Amen Corner.

The 10th grabs the attention with its pretty outlook but don’t be deceived.

It’s 333m of lurking danger for the errant shot, trees and hazard left, hazard and bush right to intimidate those big hitters from the elevated tee. But there’s more. The fairway narrows towards the green meaning a somewhat precise second shot is called for.

A longish 378m 11th hole is difficult into the wind with out of bounds right and an elevated green. The 12th, ‘Duffer’, a short 109m par three, is well named as it is easy to misjudge length

to a generous green. It may be generous, but with its deceptive slopes a tee shot that ends above the cup will leave a very tricky downhill putt. Overhit and it’s Goodbye Charlie and a lengthy uphill putt for par.

The 13th, The Pond, a short 223m par four is another ‘signature hole’.

Very pretty outlook, it plays across a lovely wet lands pond to an incline to the green with a false front. Easy to misjudge if you try to drive the green which has subtle breaks. A standout hole indeed.

The 14th is an incline, side sloping in places, that doglegs left to a green protected by a bunker. Geoff explained that over the years the original bunkers were allowed to grow over because of the cost of upkeep and insufficient manpower. However there are now three bunkers on the course again.

Moving to the upper reaches of the bush clad part of the course we reach Psycho, a superb 145m par three. so named because of its intimidation factor. Geoff related that many a time in a match one player might ask if his opponent has enough balls in his bag or is he taking an extra couple of balls up to the tee just in case.

Out of bounds right and a slope left of the green play on the mind as you play across a steep gully. A short shot will roll back down the steepish slope leaving a nasty chip to the green. Likewise missing left.

Number 16 is a spectacular, if shortish par five, which doglegs right past trouble left and right before facing a very tricky shot to an elevated green round two huge pine trees from a side sloping fairway. Enough said.

The 17th is the stroke hole one and at 502m is appropriately named The Wrecker. This dogleg right has out of bounds and wetlands right.

Number 18 is a nice finishing hole.

Not too difficult at 310m, it plays to an elevated green by the clubhouse. The

approach shot needs enough length or it will roll 20 or so metres back down the slope. A satisfying conclusion to this jewel on the Coromandel.

So what of the future? This active country club survives and thrives on the back of a hard working board, committee and volunteer members.

Of course greenkeeper Geoff Cambie does a marvellous job keeping the course in pristine condition. Geoff in fact was a big city dweller who felt attracted to the lifestyle he could enjoy in Tairua many years ago. This job is perfect for Geoff and his work is indeed a labour of love.

Volunteers sell firewood every winter to raise thousands of dollars. Holiday makers provide the bulk of green fee revenue. The club has a full variety of memberships. Full membership is $705 and country membership $518.

The club’s 50th jubilee was celebrated during Easter weekend of 2015.

The club is a pivotal part of the Tairua community and is an ideal venue for functions. Something the township lacks at present. Visit the clubhouse on a Friday or Saturday evening and you may enjoy a hearty meal and a great friendly atmosphere.

As a final thought, this course will delight the golfer who wants a fair challenge, the opportunity to use a variety of clubs and shots and enjoys constant variety and attractive surroundings.

So next time you are driving through Tairua, don’t. Stop and play this friendly hospitable jewel.

GOLF NEWS

Club profile: Tairua Golf and Country Club

TAIRUA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

283 Main Road North, P.O.Box 53, TAIRUA 3544 Ph 07 8648416 Fax 07 864 8410 www.tairuacountryclub.co.nz Men. Par 71. 5211m. Ladies. Par 72. 4645m Men’s Day-Sat. Ladies-Tues.

Mixed-Thurs.

The 15th hole at Tairua which is named Psycho — and for good reason.

July 2022

11

Linn Grant a rising star GOLF NEWS Linn Grant of Sweden in action during the Scandinavian Mixed Open at Halmstad Golf Club in Sweden last month. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

By Neville Idour

S

weden’s 22-year-old Linn Grant’s stunning nine shot whitewash at the Scandinavian Mixed DP World Tour event on home soil confirmed her star quality.

Her win made history as the first female winner on the DP World Tour and also was her fifth title this season, an achievement in itself.

Her eight under par final round was virtually flawless and at no stage did she look vulnerable.

She began the final round two shots ahead of Australian Jason Scrivener. A stunning run of five birdies in the first six holes stretched her lead to seven and barring a complete meltdown it looked all over.

Two more birdies on 10 and 11 and it was a nine shot lead which she maintained, including another birdie on the par five 14th.

Only on the 18th did she look like dropping a shot when her tee shot ended behind a tree and only an outlandish shot a possibility, other than a chip on to the fairway.

With her big lead, she proceeded to play a sensational low hook around the tree that ended an amazing 10 feet

12

from the flag. She just missed the putt but the par ensured a bogey-free card.

She said later: “I didn’t realise till the 13th I was eight shots ahead. This is a huge win for me with the home crowds, family here and my boyfriend on my bag.”

Forty percent of the field was female but she was the only female inside the top 15, although a couple of others were prominent in the first two rounds before fading.

At her next outing in the Aramco Team Series, Grant needed two rounds to get rid of what looked like a hangover from her win. So in the third round she raced up the leaderboard with six birdies on the back nine then had a strong final round to finish at seven under par in third place behind the highly credentialed Bronte Law and Georgia Hall and ahead of Charley Hull.

Grant now leads the Race To Costa Del Sol Tour Finale for the Ladies European Tour (LET) having played less events than the next eight players.

She has only been professional since August, 2021, and already has eight wins under her belt. Two seconds in her first month on the LET heralded what was to follow. Her first win was

July 2022

on the LET Access Tour before three wins in South Africa then more wins in Europe culminating in the Scandinavian Mixed. Many of her wins have been decisive with leads of seven, five, five and four shots in addition to her latest of nine shots.

She is the grand-daughter of Scottish golf professional James Grant who won the Scottish Boys’ Championship on the same course as Linn won the British Amateur Strokeplay 49 years later.

Her father John played the Swedish Golf Tour and has seven wins on the Swedish Senior Tour and is club pro at Swedish National.

With that pedigree her amateur career suggested a stellar career when she turned professional. From the age of 16 she joined the Swedish national team and many team successes followed.

Individual titles were many in Europe before she headed to Arizona State University as a freshman in 2019-20.

She won for the first time there in March, 2020, then in the summer was a winner on the Nordic Golf Tour. Returning to Arizona she scored three consecutive wins in spring 2021 before turning professional when the

fourth ranked world amateur.

As an amateur she had some major experience. In 2018 she missed the cut at the British Open then at the US Open her first two rounds of 67, 70 had her on the leaderboard before eventually fading to finish 57th. In 2020 she finished an outstanding 23rd at the US Open.

Interesting to note she gained her LPGA Tour card in December, 2021, so the question is why isn’t she playing there now?

Her response: “I am going to play the European Tour exclusively this year although I intend to play the final two majors.”

Grant is clearly in no hurry to tackle the toughest tour for women with the world still struggling with pandemic issues.

So far Grant has plotted a very steady path up each rung of the golf ladder very successfully. Who is to argue with such a mature approach. Nevertheless we will eagerly look forward to seeing her in action at the Evian Championship in France, beginning July 21, and the Women’s Open on August 4 and maybe watching this star rise even further.

Linn Grant, third from the left, poses with the tournament hosts Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam and the amateur player with the lowest round, Carolina Melgrati (second from the left), following the Scandinavian Mixed Open in Halmstad, Sweden, last month. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

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13

Tickets for next year’s open available now GOLF NEWS

T

he R&A has announced that the ballot for tickets for The Open at Royal Liverpool in England next year has opened and will run until after the conclusion of this year’s 150th championship at St Andrews in Scotland.

Following the success of the ballot for this month’s open, The R&A decided to retain the process to try to ensure as many fans as possible have the chance to attend when the championship returns to the historic Wirral links from July 16-23 of 2023.

The ballot will close on Wednesday, July 20 with the results being announced by the end of September. It will only be open to members of The One Club, the free-to-join membership programme. Fans can sign up to The One Club any time at www.TheOpen.com.

This follows the unprecedented demand to attend The 150th Open this month. More than 1.3 million applications were received for tickets and this led to the highest-ever number of general admission tick-

ets being issued to fans from across the world, with a record-breaking 290,000 fans set to attend the milestone championship.

The 151st Open will be played at Royal Liverpool for the 13th time and the first since 2014, when Rory McIlroy lifted the famous Claret Jug. The R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “We introduced a ticket ballot for the first time in the history of The Open for St Andrews to give as many people as possible the chance to attend the championship and it proved to be very successful.

“We know the demand is growing and that the ballot is the fairest and most equitable way to give fans around the world the chance to secure tickets. We greatly appreciate the enthusiasm that fans have for The Open and look forward to welcoming as many of them as we can to Royal Liverpool next year.”

Ticket prices for The 151st Open will start from

£95 ($NZ185) for an adult on championship days and from £25 on practice days. The R&A reinvests the revenues generated by The Open in growing golf around the world and is currently investing £200 million ($NZ389 million) over a 10-year period.

The R&A is fully committed to encouraging more children and young people to attend The Open and free tickets will be available, through the ballot, to children as part of the successful and long-running kids go free programme, with half-price youth tickets also available for 16 to 24-year-olds.

The 150th Open saw 20 percent of the general admission tickets going to people aged under 25, while 20,000 kids will gain free entry to the event.

Fans can also guarantee their place at The 151st Open by choosing from a variety of fully inclusive, premium experiences. Visit www.TheOpen.com/ Hospitality2023 for further details.

Japan’s first win in Queen Sirikit Cup in 20 years J

apan ended its 20-year Queen Sirikit Cup title drought on the back of a brilliant team performance.

In sweltering conditions at Singapore’s Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Mizuki Hashimoto, Miku Ueta and Ayaka Tezuka gelled perfectly to secure their country’s first Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies’ Team Championship crown since 2002.

Beginning the final day with a onestroke advantage, the Japanese posted a last-round score of five-under 139 thanks to a 68 from Ueta and a 71 from Tezuka.

That gave them a 72-hole aggregate of

20-under par 556 and a seven-shot victory over New Zealand.

The Kiwi side of Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange), Fiona Xu (Titirangi), and Eunseo Choi (Takapuna) were looking to get their hands on a trophy that hasn’t been on New Zealand shores since 1999.

Individual glory went to Hashimoto, the reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion. Testament to the strength of the Japan team.

Not one of the winning trio was born when Japan last hoisted the trophy at Ma-

laysia’s A’Famosa Resort, the 2002 team made up of Ai Miyazato, Kyoko Furuya and Ayako Uehara.

“As a team we tried a new emphasis this week on recovery,” said 19-year-old Hashimoto, who has two more years of college ahead of her before she contemplates turning professional.

“We usually practice in the afternoon after we finish our round. But because of the heat here we had a new plan – swim, relax and going to the gym to help our bodies recover.”

“This win is very special as we have managed to win the Queen Sirikit Cup again after 20 years. It’s a surreal feeling.

I’m so happy. There were lots of expectations on me after I won the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, and I’m pleased I was able to handle that pressure well and do well in Singapore,” added Hashimoto.

Japan won the first two editions of the Queen Sirikit Cup in 1979 and 1980. They also triumphed in 1987, 1993, 1997 and 2002.

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15

International Series gathering momentum

GOLF NEWS

T

he ground-breaking International Series will gather momentum with two events added to the Asian Tour schedule in consecutive weeks next month.

From August 11-14, the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore will play host to the International Series.

Afterwards, it’s then onto Korea’s Jeju Island at Lotte SkyHill from August 1821.

Both tournaments will offer $US1.5 million in prizemoney.

“We’re delighted to confirm the dates and venues for what will be the third and fourth legs of the inaugural International Series in 2022,” said Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive of the Asian Tour.

“The first two events, in Thailand in March and in England last week, have

been resounding successes. Not only have they signified the beginning of our relationship with our strategic partner LIV Golf Investments, but they’ve also marked the start of what promises to be a phenomenal period of growth for the Asian Tour,” added Cho. Further International Series events are planned to take place this year in south-east Asia, north Asia and the Middle East.

The International Series Singapore will see the Asian Tour paying a second visit in 2022 to Tanah Merah.

The club’s Tampines Course played host to the penultimate event of the Asian Tour’s covid-hit 2020-21 season in January which was won by Korean teenager Kim Joo-hyung, who went on to clinch the Asian Tour’s order of merit title.

The Asian Tour will then move on to

Jeju Island, a familiar destination for the tour. Owned and operated by Lotte, one of Korea’s largest conglomerates, Lotte SkyHill has 36 holes sculpted by Robert Trent Jones junior.

Opened in 2005, some of the holes feature distinctive ancient rock formations and old stone walls. The club has staged multiple professional male and female events over the past decade.

The inaugural International Series event was staged at Thailand’s Black Mountain Golf Club at the start of March. Kim Sih-wan marked the momentous week by emerging triumphant in the $US1.5 million International Series Thailand.

Offering a prize fund of $US2 million, the International Series England, the second event in the 2022 Series, concluded last month at Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in the northern En-

glish city of Newcastle and was won by Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe.

The International Series has added to the Asian Tour’s backbone of established events to comprise an estimated 25-event season, expected to represent a record-breaking combined prize fund. Each of the events is being broadcast live across the globe.

Cho said: “These events are a massive boost for the Asian Tour. The International Series will set new standards for the Asian Tour in terms of prize purses, staging, player and fan experience and destinations.

“We have seen the competition instantly become a lot stronger with players from all over the world taking note of our transformation.”

Golf NZ names team for Espirito Santo Trophy T

he New Zealand team which finished second in the Queen Sirikit Cup will also fly the country’s flag at the World Amateur Teams’ Championship in France next month.

The Queen Sirikit Cup, an Asia-Pacific version of the World Championship, was held in Singapore in May and the Auckland trio of Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland & Grange), Fiona Xu (Titirangi) and Eunseo Choi (Takapuna) beat all but the Japan team.

The 29th World Amateur Teams’ Championship, also known as the Espirito Santo Trophy, will be held at Le Golf National and Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Brèteche from August 24-27.

New Zealand has twice finished runner-up in the tournament. The first occasion was in 1982 and the second when New Zealand hosted the tournament at Russley Golf Club in Christchurch in 1990.

Lu was in the hunt for the individual honours in Singapore after three rounds, ultimately finishing 13th. She’s been in formidable form in 2022, becoming the

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first woman in 27 years to defend her New Zealand Women’s Strokeplay Championship.

Her Auckland teammate Fiona Xu has also been in some career-best form, finishing 10th at the Queen Sirikit Cup. Earlier in the year, she followed in her idol Lydia Ko’s footsteps by winning the Australian Women’s Amateur by three shots at 11-under-par at Cranbourne Golf Club in Victoria.

Choi will wear the fern for a second time after a solid debut at the Queen Sirikit Cup, where she finished 18th. This year she’s had victories at the Danny Lee Springfield Open, North Island Age Groups, Lydia Ko Age Groups and a second-place at the New Zealand Strokeplay.

The World Amateur Teams’ Championship will be contested over 72-holes of strokeplay, with the best two of three individual scores counting toward the team score.

The 2020 World Amateur Teams’ Championship was cancelled due to covid-19.

July 2022

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Camera ready on the green LONG DRIVE

G

rowing an international platform for XDL players whilst expanding the sports associations, was a challenge that Olna Inc Agency who was assigned the role since 2016.

Fast track to 2020 and in the height of XDL activity, the announcement of a global pandemic placed the agency’s task master on pause mode. All International plans went on hold over night and this shifting a more local and creative approach to our day to day thinking and restructure of plans taking us beyond the tee. XDL players are constantly in front of the cameras as they are positioned at the tee for each round making it a reason to keep our athletes not only performing at their optimum, but looking their best. With a more local focus, Olna Inc decided to connect with a BEAUTY specialist with the mission to provide services for our athletes, and helpful education on keeping our champions looking their best for that winning moment in front

Senior Beauty Therapist & Owner of Mabin House - Tina

Daughter and Senior Beauty Therapist - Jess

of the cameras that lasts forever.

Introducing the BEST in Beauty - Mabin House (Our local beauty experts in beautiful, sunny Nelson) Celebrating 3 fabulous years, Mabin House is known for being a private sanctuary to relax,and rejuvenate. Offering a whole menu to unwind the mind and body, this ultimate day-spa for both men and women is welcomed

by Olna Inc and the athletes to XDL. Mabin House owner, Tina Van’t slot, is a qualified Beauty Therapist and Nail Technician, who has the most vivacious personality. Tina works with her daughter Jess and together they are focused on making every client look

an feel their very best and that starts upon entering the doors of Mabin House.

The XDL South Island Championship 2022 looks forward to Mabin House being at the tee and a few lucky locals attending will get spot prizes (vouchers for treatments at Mabin House).

Our local players are going to benefit from regular trips to see Tina and Jess with the idea we get looking our best not only for the cameras but also knowledgeable that it should be part of our self care plan. Being out on the Golf course and teeing up at XDL competitions is aging on the skin and tiring on the body so having a BEAU-

TY associate to our local Home of the South Club was a given. With a focus on growing our Women’s league introducing BEAUTY brands and companies to the tee as Sponsors and Business Associates just makes sense. Looking forward to bring a glow to our events with Mabin House, thanks to Tina and Jess.

A thirst for business at the tee

T

he sport of Xtreme Drivers brings a heavy thirst for the only beverage that makes sense at the height of competition (water). With the sport still NEW to most it’s been a hard task getting traction with sponsors especially during the pandemic. The idea to celebrate our sport and our National Champions on custom branded water seems the obvious choice when every single player and by stander needs a bottle or two.

Aquaplus Custom Branded Water, has been part of our journey since 2019 when our 2 x New Zealand Champion and New Zealand Long Black, Thomas Woods and Captain of the New Zealand Long Blacks, Paul West, was featured on the first labels. Fans wanted to keep the

Captain of New Zealand Long Blacks - Paul West & Thomas Woods - 2 x National Champion and New Zealand Long Black

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bottle and not open it making me realise how this was both an essential product and a PERFECT media platform. Fast forward to 2022 and we are already hooked on using Aquaplus as part of our media/marketing campaign for all our major events. I also discovered that on event days how many people take interest in our labels and that having players on the bottles provides kids and adults a ready to autograph product. I absolutely recommend this fabulous concept for any business. Advertising is powerful done right and with water being the most essential of daily intakes, Aquaplus Custom Branded Water is the one thing we can’t do without.

AquaPlus has been providing custom branded water to New Zealand for over 18 years. We bottle fresh NZ spring water from a spring called Te Waireka, add your customised label and deliver it straight to your door.

Having been used for centuries by Te Arawa Iwi, Te Waireka Spring which translates directly to “Sweet Water” was believed by the hapū to have special healing properties and after fierce battle the wounded would be brought to Te Waireka to drink and begin the healing process.

Our water comes in 3 different sizes; 750mL, 500mL and 350mL and made from 100% Recycled Plastic with options of having flat or sipper caps added. Our mission is to reduce the carbon footprint of bottled beverages, whilst providing New Zealand with fresh sweet water!

Visit - https://aquaplus.co.nz and get YOURS!

July 2022

Aquaplus XDL Champions Water

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M

aking the team to represent New Zealand and Australia for the 2022 season and beyond will represent history made so the process will be very different from the past years. The first teams founded by IGANZ owner Olna Ford in 2017 with the mission to showcase the high-performance sport to the world and put

NZ & AU on the sport of Long Drives map has been a journey of great moments for the sport and two countries.

With greater intention to get the Long Drive officially recognised as a stand alone from Golf and then rebrand it, was accomplished in the heat of the global pandemic. In 2020, Government and sports authorities congratulated Olna for her investment and hard work, listing her as National Sports Organisation, and from this the mission has broadened with a new outlook for the sports expansion. The teams will go from a travelling team of 12 to a team of 6. The naming of the top 6 will be done in July for the uniform reveal and both teams will have a 12 man squad which means the competition to make top six starts inhouse. The training and high-perfomance expectations to make the team has risen since the first events. The XDL TTC expects the best drivers in the nations so the heat down under is on.

We know the venue and have set the dates for the back-to-back TTC 2022.

The important date 4th July reveals a first for the teams and the sport so excitement is running high to reveal our world first news.

With 30 events completed in 7 coun-

tries, the biggest event accomplished and the largest purse paid out, Olna is setting her sights on taking more of a back seat approach with appoint staff in every country to hold the fought.

Contractors working to build the brand, sport and opportunities for the players all around the world and it all starts down under in New Zealand and Australia.

The year 2022 represents NEW beginnings for the teams as we are col-

laborated with the Asian Long Drive series which allows the big hitters of our countries to compete and vice versa. Thailand is up next so our focus is to name the teams in time for this event in which many hands are raised wanting the spot to represent our nations. The feeling New Zealand and Australia are as one has never felt as strong since the pandemic hit. I think we have always been closer than what most make out and it’s brilliant to see we are supporting each other through these hard times. Getting ready to push refresh on all social media platforms and list the best to represent New Zealand and Australia on the International Stage.

LONG DRIVE

XDL Trans Tasman Clash 2022

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Women in Golf I’ll be delivering 3 golf specific workouts per week - all done live on Facebook - if you can’t make it live - that’s fine! The workouts will live in our private Facebook community and you can do them in your own time.

I’ll be doing these workouts in my lounge with minimal equipment - to make it as easy and accessible as possible for you to join in.

The membership will cost $20 NZD per month - and if you find that it’s not for you, you can cancel at any time.

If you are not already in my free Facebook community you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ befitandstrongforgolf Hopefully you are all warming up before you play golf, but if not - you can download my warm up guide here: https://fionadonald.click/guide You can also find out more about me and what I do here: www.elevatewellness.co.nz/elevateyourgolfformula Happy Golfing!!

Fiona Donald +64 21 662 702 www.elevatewellness.co.nz

By Fiona Donald

WOMEN IN GOLF 20

I

used to hit the ball so well! Now I’m lucky if I hit it onto the fairway!”

That’s the number one issue I hear from the ladies I work with. They’re so frustrated that their golf swing and therefore their game has deteriorated over the years.

And the fact is we do slow down as we get older, and our ability to move well can decrease too…. BUT! It doesn’t have to be that way.

How many of us are guilty of turning up to the golf course, standing on the first tee, swinging at the ball and hoping for the best? Without warming up. Without preparing ourselves physically or mentally for the game we’re about to play.

GOLF IS A SPORT! And as with all sports, we get the most out of it when we are FIT! I’ve spent the last year or so learning and teaching some of our local women how to get themselves fit for golf, and I am now offering a monthly membership - I take all the guesswork out - all you need to do is turn up and follow along!

July 2022

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July 2022

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Jaws Raw brings raw scoring performance to your wedge game. Legendary wedge designer Roger Cleveland has created a new line that combines artistry and craftsmanship with cutting edge innovation .Jaws Raw features the most aggressive grooves in golf, now with a raw face that promotes maximums spin. For the first time ever, Callaway is bringing tungsten technology to wedged for a weight balanced club that offers both feel and control.

These new technologies are balanced with the craftsmanship honed from Roger’s 40+ years of designing some of the most sought-after wedges in golf.

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July 2022

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GOLF TRAILS

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

NORTHLAND WHANGAROA GOLF CLUB - NEWS AND RESULTS

A challenging links course that is playable all year round!

We love having groups come and play our course and offer a discount for 12 players or more. Give us a call to enquire about bringing your golfing buddies, or a ladies golf group, to Ohope Beach Golf Links ... and think about combining it with a round at one of our neighbours; Whakatane, Opotiki, Kawerau or Te Teko.

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July 2022

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Come and enjoy our beautiful and highly regarded Tarrangower course, you will not be disappointed!

Group bookings welcome, please email taumarunuigolfclub@xtra.co.nz or call 07 896 7257 165 Golf Rd, Taumarunui www.taumarunuigolfclub.co.nz

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July 2022

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BAY OF ISLANDS/KERIKERI WON THE 2022 WEEKDAY 18 HOLE PENNANTS

WAIKATO MCKINNON BOYS BATTLE OUT HUNTLY’S JUNIOR FUTURES FINAL

Bay of Islands/Kerikeri won the 2022 Weekday 18 hole pennants final play off recently at Sherwood Park.

Bay of Islands 76 points.

In running their first Junior Boys Matchplay Championship for well over a quarter of a century, Huntly Golf Club saw a Junior Futures field of eight come down to an 18 hole final between ten year old Buster Jnr McKinnon and Lerome McKinnon. Their clash was a result of respective semi final wins over teens Charlie Heta Jnr and Isaac Graham. The final proved a tight battle with Lerome taking an early lead after winning the long par 4 2nd hole, the shorter par four 3rd and then the par four road hole 6th. Then Buster started his fight back scoring good wins on the par three 7th and par five 8th before placing a sweet tee shot to within 8 feet on the 133m par 3 tenth.

This started a three hole winning stretch that left him 2 up. Although Lerome continued to fight along the river holes stretch, Buster held strong leaving Lerome with too much to do, before he conceded a 2/1 victory on the 17th green. Golf was the winner on the day as was the after match meal and family gathering. Well done to all our Raahui Pookeka (Huntly) Futures lads, who can now look forward to competing in the springtime WGA Junior Pennants play.

Team consisted of Pamela Waters, Wendy Neil, Yvonne Whittaker, and Karen Matthews.

Waipu 68 points.

AUCKLAND

Team of Diane Wright, Catherine Jenkins, Sally Oosterman, and Paea Paki.

AUCKLAND GOLF - THE SUPER CITY CUP WINNERS The Super City Cup winners have been

ON TOUR WITH MARNIE MCGUIRE! 1/2 DAY CLINICS TE AWAMUTU GOLF CLUB AUGUST 7, 8, 9 2022 SEPTEMBER CENTRAL OTAGO & INVERCARGILL WATCH THIS SPACE!

found for another year. Congratulations Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Course on an incredibly close win, beating Mangawhai Golf Club 4.5-3.5.

Akarana Golf Club for provided the tee times and a course in excellent condition.

Lerome chips close to the 6th hole for a par win after Buster had chipped in for five.

WANT TO REALLY IMPROVE YOUR GOLF?

Sign up for an immersive golfing experience with Marnie McGuire and her team as she takes you through all aspects of your golf game: swing analysis pitching & chipping putting course management TESTIMONIALS "I have been enjoying my golf thanks to you, Marnie, my game has improved so much!" Nicola -Te Awamutu “I found the boot camp to be the single best thing I’ve ever done to improve my golf. I now love going into bunkers, fully confident I’ll be out and close. And I’m draining medium length putts frequently, instead of very rarely in the past. I know they say ‘you can’t buy a lower handicap’, but this is one way that you actually can!

Thanks Marnie! Greg- Auckland For more information contact: marnie@mmgolf.co.nz www.mmgolf.co.nz

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July 2022

Marnie McGuire was New Zealand's most successful female golf professional and played on the Japanese, Australian and US tours before her retirement in 2005.

Rated as one of the best short game specialists of all time, Marnie has now discovered a special talent and passion for coaching all facets of the game with men and women of all abilities.

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July 2022

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in 8 games. As is always the case for good teams, Boulcott’s Fam, the round robin Otaki Cup champs and top qualifier, dug in around Royal Wellington’s back 9 and made in roads at the bottom of the order.

With the match poised at 7.5 - 6.5 in Shandon’s favour it was left to Alastair Sidford and Matthew Lane to decide the outcome.

With Siddy needing to win the 18th, lined with more than a hundred spectators, and ensure a playoff, his 10 footer slipped past by mm’s, the game halved and the match and title Shandons, 8 -7.

A maginificent occassion played in wonderful spirits on a superb Royal Wellington course, topped off with a perfect Wellington autumn day - the great game aptly named.

SHANDON RETAINS PREMIER WOMEN’S TITLE

WELLINGTON SHANDON GOLF CLUB - ARTHUR DUNCAN CUP WINNERS

Shandon have doubled down on their Women’s team’s success in late May , by winning the 75th anniversay edition of the ADS, Arthur Duncan Cup, a rare dou-

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As the 2022 Interclub season comes to a close, having started away on Jan 29th and with many postponemenst due to Covid along the way, the regions champion teams/clubs are being decided.

Shandon and Royal Wellington met in the Women’s Premier final, a repeat of the 2021 contest., which was played in late May. As the games progressed, Shandon established leads in the 3 teamball points and would go to win these 3 points, crucial in the end result as the 6 singles points were shared, Shandon coming home 6 - 3 winners.

Also at Boulcott’s Farm Heritage GC, the Presidents Salver final was playing out between the Judgeford and Masterton Premier Men’s team, the Judgeford

ble for a Wellington club.

In a final for the ages, also played in late May Boulcott’s Farm trailled for a large part of the morning foursomes, but came home 3 - 2 to the good, often a key lead in finals past.

In the afternoon singles, Shandon compiled a strong lead through 9 holes, ahead

July 2022

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team proving too good winning 10.5 - 4.5.

Elsewhere in the district BFHGC 1 and PBGC Yellow were securing wins against PBGC Blue and Judgeford respectively, to secure their place in next weeks Mary Alward Tuakana final, while the Shandon Premier Men’s team won a close battle against PBGC, a rematch match of the 2021 Duncan Cup final, to secure a place in this years Duncan Cup decider against BFHGC.

Junior Nett: Lewis Wilson 151 Junior R/u Nett: Greg Topp 156 Junior Stableford: Dave Mammock 64 Junior R/u Stableford: Rickard Davison 60 Ladies Gross: Lizzie Neale 141 Ladies R/u Gross: Margaret Robertson 178 Ladies Nett: Pat Simpson 151 Ladies R/u Nett: Viv Wright 155 Ladies Stableford: Julie Cockrell 62 Ladies R/u Stableford: Nicola Peat 59

TASMAN 2022 REEFTON QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY PRIZE LIST

CANTERBURY AMBERLEY WIN BOYLE CUP

Best Gross Over the Field: Sean Riordan 140 Best Net Over the Field: Kimberley Minogue 142 Senior Gross: Jason Sincock 144 b/c Senior R/u Gross: Shaun Allan 144 Senior Nett: Mike Osborne 146 Senior R/u Nett: James Cadenhead 148 Senior Stableford: Zach Norton 68 Senior R/u Stableford: Alisdair Read 66 Intermediate Gross: Justin Peat 159 Interediate R/u Gross: Dean Cameron 160 Intermediate Nett: Jason Blair 146 Intermediate R/u Nett: Todd Blair 149 Intermediate Stableford: Tom Grimshaw 70 Intermediate R/u Stableford: Jeff Riordan 66 Junior Gross: Des McKenzie 182 Junior R/u Gross: Matt Rockhouse 188

Charteris Bay’s long reign as Boyle Cup Champions came to an end recently in their 21st defence when they were defeated 3-2 by Amberley in a very close affair with two matches going to the 17th and another to the 18th. Charteris Bay had held the Boyle Cup since defeating Greendale on 13th April 2018 so it will leave a big gap in the club’s trophy cabinet.

Amberley will now contact Canterbury clubs to request expressions of interest to challenge for the Boyle Cup and conduct a ballot of those interested.

The winning team, who will be looking forward to defending their first Boyle Cup challenge on their home course is, from left Jan Bishop, Lyn Roberston, Susie Lee and front Barb Pettigrew and Kate Percy.

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• NON Golfer Substitute: A selection from Health-Herbal-body treatments • No refund for unused services • Rain check available due weather within validity • Based on two persons - share Twin or Double Occupancy • Air and land transportation not included • Prices are GST inclusive • Golf carts not included

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CANTERBURY MEN’S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

The Canterbury Men’s Champion of Champions Tournament was held at Waimairi Beach Golf Club recently in strong winds and wintery conditions with the course in great order.

25 clubs were represented at the event where Senior, Intermediate and Junior Champions from their respective clubs compete in an individual and team gross and net stableford competition.

The results were as follows: Team Gross Stableford Champions Coringa (John Rademakers, Albert Yee, Chris Choie), 90 pts

Runner Up - Templeton (Tom Wilson, Desmond Gong, Martin Kinsella), 85 pts Team Net Stableford Champions Waimairi Beach (Ron Seel, Fraser Mearns, Mike Irving), 107 pts (Pictured left to right) Runner Up - Pegasus (Shaun Allan, Mike Clapham, Steve Beale), 93 pts Individual Gross Stableford Champions: Senior - Fraser Mearns, 36 pts Intermediate - Desmond Gong, 32 pts Junior - Chris Choie, 30 pts Individual Net Stableford Champions: Senior - John Rademakers, 33 pts Intermediate - Yash Naicker (Russley), 36 pts Junior - David Arnold (Rawhiti), 39 pts

CANTERBURY GOLF-WOMEN’S 18 HOLE 4’S & 6’S INTERCLUB FINALS

The Finals of Women’s 18 Hole 4’s and 6’s Interclub were hosted at the Hororata Golf course recently in fine, cool conditions which players and officials would have welcomed after early morning rain was persistent elsewhere in Canterbury.

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The 4’s Final between Bottle Lake and Christchurch was always going to be a tight match after the teams couldn’t be separated in their round robin match in April.

Bottle Lake’s team of, from left Erin Hensley, Kathleen Thomson, Sarah Sherwood and Anna Webster were unbeaten in round robin play and extended that form into the final, winning some key matches and defeating a gallant Christchurch team of Luna Lee, Jackie Henley, Janet Christie-Anderson and Jacqui Lowe 2.5-1.5.

Carolyn Thomas beat Karen Young 1 up Fourball: Radburnd and Martin lost to Bruhns and Harris 1 down Allnutt and Thomas halved with Cochrane and Young Congratulations to the Waimate ladies for their excellent season and victory on Sunday. Waimate used a fair few players throughout the season, but ultimately this didn’t prove an obstacle as they came out in the final all guns balzing to take the title.

The 6’s Final between Kaiapoi and Russley 2, first and second respectively in Zone 2 round robin play, was also a very close match up with Russley 2 the only team to have beaten Kaiapoi in round robin play.

With two matches decided on the 18th the result could have gone ether way, but it was Russley 2’s team of, from left Maryanne Williamson, Sarah Gerard, Joanne Nuttall, Janette Hall, Helen Lim and Geum Lee who got the upper hand defeating Kaiapoi’s Sharon Worrell, Janine Hosking, Di Smith, Trish Taylor, Amanda Woodfield and Lois Farrier in a tense final.

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND THE AORANGI VETERANS PENNANT FINALS

The Aorangi Veterans pennant finals were played at Temuka Golf Course on Monday 13 June, in very cold and wintery conditions. There were some very good matches with most of the games going to the last couple of holes.

Veterans: Waimate beat Tinwald 7.5/2.5 Singles: Margaret Radburnd beat June Bruhns 3/2 Faye Martin halved with Barb Harris Jeanette Allnutt beat Barb Cochrane 5/4

Photo: Left to right: Waimate Faye Martin, Carolyn Thomas, Margie Radburnd, Jeanette Allnutt Others that played: H Dickson, S Wilson, S Mackenzie, A Cameron, M Horler, S Brandreth

THE AORANGI OPEN PENNANT FINALS

The Aorangi Open pennant finals were played at Temuka Golf Course on Monday 13 June, in very cold and wintery conditions. There were some very good matches with most of the games going to the last couple of holes, however the Mayfield girls showed their class coming to the top at the end. Results as follows: Open Pennants - Mayfield 1 beat Geraldine 2 8/2 Singles: Christine Ross beat Denise Kenny 3/1 Judy Webb lost to Shona Bensemann 1 down Lynley Mackenzie beat Susan Dwyer 2/1 Marilyn Cross beat Cheryl Jopp 3/1 Fourball: Ross and Webb beat Kenny and Bensemann 2/1 MacKenzie and Cross beat Dwyer and Jopp 2 up A huge congratulations goes out to the Mayfield 1 ladies on their excellent performance! Very well deserved champions for 2022 and awesome to see the Mayfield 1 team back up their title two years in a row. Dominant stuff.

Photo: Left to right: Mayfield 1

Judith Webb, Marilyn Cross, Lynley MacKenzie, Christine Ross Others that played: M Read, L Mulligan, J Lake

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