Golfer Pacific NZ – January 2023

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

Do you use an alignment mark on your golf ball for putting?

I don’t and don’t know why others do.

I presume they do so because they have been advised to do so or have seen professional golfers do so.

To be frank I cannot see the logic of it. I also find it a huge time waster.

I see guys line up their putt, carefully place the ball on the ground, carefully line up the alignment line, step back, carefully re-align the ball by 0.01 millimetres, step back, carefully re-align the ball back

by 0.1 millimetres, take three practice swings, hit the ball and the three-footer slides past the hole.

So what went wrong? Did the alignment mark help or was it a distraction?

What probably went wrong was the ball was either hit too hard or too soft for the break, the putt was misread or the the putter head was not square at impact which either hit the ball left or right of the target.

I think an alignment mark can be a distraction. I think it becomes an object when the actual object is to hit the ball in the hole.

I believe golfers concentrate so much on the alignment mark that they forget about

pace which is 50 percent of how to get the ball in the hole. The other 50 percent is hitting it on the correct line. Choosing the correct line is very hard because it all depends on how hard you hit the ball.

If you hit the ball a little hard it takes less break. If you hit the ball a little soft it takes more break. What help is an alignment mark if you hit it too hard or too soft?.

Another problem I see with an alignment mark is that we are standing alongside the ball when putting. How can an alignment mark be helpful when standing alongside the ball, I always ask myself.

An alignment mark might be helpful if you could get down

behind the ball and hit it with a snooker cue. But we are not allowed to stand behind the ball.

Putting is all about feel. You have to get a feel for the break and get a feel of how hard the ball needs to be hit.

I sometimes think some people totally misread putts too. Sometimes I will see a player hit a putt four or five feet wide and they say out aloud that they thought it would have broken more than that. My immediate thought is how could you have misread a putt by so much?

Putting is hard. You are trying to get a ball that is 1.6 inches in diameter into a hole that is 4.25 inches in diameter and all you are putting on is grass.

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

SOUTH ISLAND EDITORIAL Neville Idour 0274771423 pmidour@hotmail.co.nz

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COVER PHOTO: Auckland team from left to right: Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, Chloe So, Caryn Khoo (captain with trophy), Vivian Lu, Grace Zhan. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand. The Bay of Plenty team from left to right: Hayden White, Mike Campbell (manager), Mitchell Kale, Jordan Golding (captain with trophy), Shaun Campbell, Nathan Clark, Wilson Simmonds. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

COPYRIGHT All material published in Golfer Pacific NZ is subject to all forms of copyright. Contents of this newspaper cannot be reproduced in any way, shape, or form without the permission of the editor. Views expressed in editorial contributions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper, its management. New Zealand Golfer Pacific is published Golfer Pacific NZ Limited. The company’s registered office is unit 10/7 Aruma St Chevron Island QLD 4217.

A record sixth win in a row for Auckland women Bay of Plenty thrills home town support in men’s Interprovincials

Bay of Plenty won its first New Zealand men’s Interprovincial title in a decade in front of hundreds of its home supporters at Omanu Golf Club in Tauranga last month.

Auckland has become the first district to win six New Zealand women’s Interprovincials in a row, defeating North Harbour at Omanu Golf Club in Tauranga.

Auckland had twice previously won five consecutive titles but never won a sixth until last month. Auckland didn’t play in last year’s event due to the covid-19 pandemic but had won the five previous district matchplay events.

After comfortably defeating Bay of Plenty in the semi-final in the morning, Auckland lined up against North Harbour for a classic battle of the bridge clash, which it won by a narrow margin of 3-2.

Auckland’s middle order got the job done as No 4 Grace Zhan and No 3 Caryn Khoo both won 4 & 3, while the winning point came from No 2, Rebekah Blackwell-Chin, who defeated Amy Im 2 & 1.  Auckland co-captains Caryn Khoo and Vivian Lu said it was amazing to get across the line again, especially without one of their star players, Fiona Xu.

“We’re super relieved,’’ Caryn Khoo said.

“It’s been such a stressful week play-

ing all the great teams here without our number two, Fiona Xu, who had to go home at the start of the week because of illness. We’re just all so proud of the way we came together as a team to get the job done.”

Lu said it was a credit to the association and all the supporters that gave so much time to the women’s game in Auckland.

“We’ve all been performing at a high level for a long time, and it’s nice to get back into the win column after missing out on the event last year. We’re all really good friends, so it was nice to win together as a team and prove Auckland is still a force to be reckoned with.

“This will also be my last interprovincial as I head to college next year, so it’s nice to finish on a high and get another victory for the province that I love.”

Caryn Khoo locked up the player of the tournament, winning eight out of eight at No 1. The record of the tournament went to North Harbour’s No 1 Eunseo Choi, who went undefeated.

Next year’s event will be staged at Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae in Wellington.

The last time a Bay of Plenty side won the national matchplay competition was in 2012 at Otago Golf Club. Since then, it has developed a brand new team and returned to their winning ways at home, defeating Auckland in a tense final that came down to the wire.

Bay of Plenty won 3.5-1.5, but the match was decided on the final hole between the number one’s Mitchell Kale of Bay of Plenty and Auckland’s Joshua Bai. Bay of Plenty had already locked up 2.5 points following 4 & 3 victories from its captain and No 5, Jordan Golding, and No 4, Hayden White, while No 2 Shaun Campbell secured a vital half. Kale needed a half against Bai to secure a victory but went one better, winning the final hole and secure an emotional victory for one of the most successful teams in the competition’s history.

Golding said it was an incredible feeling to win in front of its home crowd.

“We are absolutely stoked,’’ Golding said. “It was amazing to see all the support out there, and it’s probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen around Omanu. It feels amazing to do it in front of them.

“It’s different playing in front of your home supporters. We felt an extra bit of

pressure all week, which we tried to convert into positive energy. I think that certainly helped us get over the line today. It was tight, and thankfully, we were able to do it for them.”

The past decade has been tough for Bay of Plenty which hadn’t made a final since 2013.

Golding hopes the victory repaid all those who have helped the province get back to its winning ways.

“It’s been a long ten years for the district,’’ Golding added.

“We were dominant in this event for several years and since then, we have been rebuilding. Over the last couple of years, we felt we’d finally got a group of guys that would be around for a little while. It’s awesome to get over the line and pay back what a lot of people in the district have done for us over the many years, and it was extra special that we were able to do it at home.”

The player of the tournament went to Shaun Campbell, who went through the tournament undefeated at No 2 for Bay of Plenty, winning seven and a half out of eight matches. The record of the tournament went to Mitchell Kale who won seven out of eight at No 1 for Bay of Plenty.

The New Zealand men’s and women’s Interprovincials returns to Wellington next year, with the two events being staged at Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae.

Rebekah Blackwell-Chin who played at No 2 for the Auckland team which racked up a record sixth win in succession in the women’s Interprovincials in Tauranga in December. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Shaun Campbell who played at No 2 for the Bay of Plenty team which won the men’s Interprovincials at Tauranga in December. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Voke goes back to back at The Hills

By Neville Idour

Nick Voke confirmed his liking for The Hills golf course by not only being the first player to defend his title but the first to win the pro-am twice.

The 2022 The Hills Invitational, presented by Rolls Royce, saw most of the cream rise to the top on the second of two contrasting days weather-wise.

The first day was mostly fine and warm and Sunday was mainly cold and wet. However, for the most part, the leading eight after round one still filled the top eight after day two.

Voke, with a fine six under par 66, led by two shots from Jordan Zunic after the first round. Josh Geary, Kerry Mountcastle and Harry Bateman were tied for third a shot back.

Voke retained his lead on the second day not missing a single green in regulation for a four under 68 and a two shot win from Josh Geary, who had the day’s best round with 67.

Zunic (70) slipped a place to tie for third while one of the favourites, Daniel Hillier, with a 68, climbed into third with Zunic.

Queenstowner Ben Campbell, in his first outing for four months after an injury, was  consistent with 71, 68 to finish fifth. He said: “I only missed one green over the two days and would have expected better but the putts were just missing.”

This observer saw several miss by millimetres on the first day.

After it was over Voke said: “I am relieved. I was more nervous about the speech but I was pleased to stay there under the gun and do the business al-

though the putter was not at its best.

“It was pleasing after playing quite well in Australia.’’

Were there any pivotal moments?

“Yes. I was quite nervous after a poor stretch from 13 to 15 and figured I may only be one ahead. The par three 16th was 182 yards to the back right pin into the breeze. I flushed it to the pin and made birdie on probably the hardest hole. Then I birdied 17 (par five) and finished with a stress free par on 18.”

Voke pocketed $12,136 while Geary took home $7980.

In the teams’ event, where three members partnered with a pro, Ben Campbell along with his team of Andrew Blair, Jamie McIsaac and myself won on a countback with 241 points from former pro-am winner Dongwoo Kang and Jonathan Gurnsey, Mark Martin and Robert Ferguson.

This event enjoys a unique feel with its conviviality amongst the professionals and amateurs. Some of the pros always bring their family or girlfriends with them.

It is unusual to see two of the pros wandering out after a long day’s golf and a meal with their partners to play more golf. Daniel Hillier and Ryan Chisnall played the Farm par three course on Saturday evening and amongst the fun Hillier scored a hole in one. Dongwoo Kang loves bringing his family with him and making a holiday of his time in Queenstown and it is delightful watching his little girls frolicking around.

Nick Voke upbeat about 2023

We spoke to Nick Voke after his successful title defence at The Hills Invitation Pro-Am. Understandably, he was upbeat about his game and what lies ahead in 2023.

“I played solid today and didn’t miss a single green in regulation,’’ Voke said.

“If the putter had co-operated I could have shot 10 under. The game has been good for a while and I played well in Australia.

“I just have to keep knocking on the door. I have played in three of these events at The Hills and with a second and two wins, there must be something I like about the place.”

How do you look back on 2022 including your time on the Korn Ferry Tour in the United States?

“It was a year of very close calls. I missed a bunch of cuts by between one and three shots. Although my game was

decent it is very difficult over there.

“I just have to figure out how to score better.”

Voke was 88th in scoring average for the year. Had he been one shot better each round he would have been 17th and with a PGA Tour card to boot. So the margins are fine.

“I have to figure out how to manage the big moments. I played five events in Australia recently and managed three

top 20s which was nice.” So what about 2023?

“I will play a little to start the year and then I will head off to play the Asian Tour Q-school and hopefully join Ben Campbell on the tour. The tour is growing, especially with the LIV Tour’s involvement. Maybe I can make some money and pay a few bills.”

Nick Voke after his win in The Hills Pro-Am in Arrowtown.

SEE THE WORLD ONE GOLF COURSE AT A TIME IN 2023

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Our fully hosted packages ensure you have a hasslefree, fun and relaxed time when travelling with us. You’ll find all the details of all these and other tours on our website, including convenient online booking.

Auckland trio selected for Queen Sirikit Cup

Aproven side has been named to represent New Zealand at the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup in the Philippines in 2023.

The Auckland trio of Fiona Xu (Titirangi), Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland & Grange) and Eunseo Choi (Takapuna) is looking to go one better than their runner-up finish in Singapore in May and capture a trophy that hasn’t been on New Zealand’s shores since 1999.

The event is being staged at the Masters Course at Manila Southwood Golf and Country Club from February 21-24, the same course the New Zealand men’s Nomura Cup team played in November.

Xu, Lu and Choi are representing New Zealand together for a third time, having played the Espirito Santo Trophy and the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2022.

Xu has risen to 35th in the world amateur rankings after some impressive international results. She won the Australian Women’s Amateur Championship, finished runner-up at the Riversdale Cup and Rene Erichsen Salver, made the US Junior Amateur quarterfinals and finished 10th at the Australian Women’s Open in December.

Lu  also boasted some solid form in 2022. She became the first woman

to defend the New Zealand Women’s Strokeplay in 27 years and has been growing in confidence throughout her 2022 international campaigns.

Golf New Zealand high performance manager Gregg Thorpe said the three players had been making their mark on the international scene.

“Fiona, Vivian, and Eunseo have all gained immeasurable experience this year, in particular from their second place in Singapore,’’ Thorpe said.

“They’ve shown they gel well as a team and I know they will be looking forward to the challenge the likes of Japan, Australia and Korea pose to their goal of bringing home the trophy. We look forward to following their progress in the Philippines.”

Thorpe added this New Zealand side has every chance of recreating our 1999 success at Paraparaumu Beach.

The Queen Sirikit Cup is a 15-nation event that’s played annually over three rounds. The top two of three scores after each day count toward the team score.

Japan beat the Kiwis by seven at Laguna National Golf Resort, finishing 20-under-par earlier in 2022.

The New Zealand team (from left to right) of Fiona Xu, Vivian Lu and Eunseo Choi who have been chosen for the Queen Sirikit Cup in the Philippines in February. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

Nightcaps dynasty survives and thrives

By Neville Idour

The Nightcaps Golf Club’s story of survival, growth and triumph is a remarkable one.

The town of Nightcaps is deep in the bowels of salt of the earth Southland with a population of around 350.

It is nestled under the Takitimu Mountains in western Southland with the name Nightcaps because the snow-tipped mountains were often commented on as wearing their nightcaps. Well, that is how the story goes.

The golf club is 100 years old yet just six years ago possible closure was a looming reality.

With just seven members remaining, they talked about leasing the land for farming. The town itself was struggling with the numbers working in the coal industry having declined. Club captain Stuart Dobbie has always lived in Nightcaps and has seen first hand all the challenges the town and the golf club have faced.

“We were down to seven members and only getting two or three out on club day so I joined Winton just to get enough golf,’’ Dobbie recalled.

“However, just as we were considering closure,  there was a special moment in August 2016 when it was Nightcaps’ turn to challenge for the Laing Shield.”

This shield, presented by J H Laing in 1909, is Southland’s equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield, representing golfing supremacy for Southland’s male players.

Golf clubs throughout Southland challenge, with one club each month, except for December, having that privilege. Sixman teams compete in matchplay over 18 holes.

So at that pivotal time it was Nightcaps turn to challenge holders Winton and  challenge they did. With a membership of seven, scrambling a team together was a task in itself but they did. Heading to the 18th hole the final pairing needed to win it to claim the shield. They did and so, in a way, that vi-

tal moment changed the thinking from closure to how do we defend the shield in September.

Dobbie said no one had played on the course for the six months prior to the win.  What has transpired since then is quite awe inspiring.

It may be hard to believe but since that fateful day in August 2016 Nightcaps has defended the shield on 65 consecutive occasions beating the previous record of 61. Dobbie is quite sure the Laing Shield fairytale saved the club because of the interest it created.

Fourteen players have been used through the reign and Dobbie and son Brett have played in most of them. Brett, although based in Invercargill,  travels to Nightcaps to play for his club.

“It has been beyond our hopes to keep it so long,’’  Dobbie said. So what is the secret to the success?

“It is not an easy (nine-hole) course. It is a wee bit hilly. We don’t have water for our greens so in summer they get hard and brown, and being smallish many

players struggle on them.

“About 20 percent of our players are on single figures so we have some very good players. The challengers send us their six man team list and I pick a team to beat them,” Dobbie said with a chuckle.

The course itself is picturesque with a number of undulating contours which provide for an interesting layout. It is a par 72 with two tees at 5413 metres and 4896 metres. While it is nine holes there are 18 tees to provide variety for the second nine. The course is tidy thanks to three volunteers.

Membership has grown nicely to 40 with 26 playing, including five women. They only had one woman for a long time. They get a healthy turnout of 15 to 20 for Sunday club day.

The golf clubrooms are also home to the Nightcaps Bowling Club. A real community club which will no doubt continue to flourish.

The entrance to the Nightcaps Golf Club.

The Nightcaps Golf Club.

St Clair making great strides

so they can work together to protect native wildlife on the course.

Humane kill traps will be installed to target possums, rodents and stoats living in the area. The traps are safe to be used around pets and no toxins are used. It is part of predator control work across the city to keep possum numbers low in St Clair and prevent Otago Peninsula from reinvasion by them, as well as protect native bush and birds in the area.

By Neville Idour

Success breeds success and good leadership breeds ongoing growth and improvement.

For the St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin this may well be the secret to its burgeoning growth in all aspects of the club.

The club has developed many strategies, particularly since covid arrived that has seen it flourish. At board level the thinking is progressive and the various committees overseeing different aspects of the club operations are proving valuable.

So it was good to chat with general manager Annette Godman about the club’s current growth. Godman has a strong background in sports management having been general manager for Netball Otago and the Rebels’ team for a number of years.

Godman said:  “The club now has three full time paid greenskeepers and two full time volunteers which is vital with the course being so busy and the various planting programmes and ecological work in train.”

The course superintendent, Chris Murphy, is overseeing the work which includes the club joining the predator free Dunedin city sanctuary project

The club has also been busy with many new plantings and the course management group has been looking at a couple of potential new bunkers. Any changes would be discussed with a course architect. The pro shop area is also to undergo alterations to allow for a golf simulator which allows indoor practice and measures ball flight. It will be a significant addition to the facilities and be a great help for pro Patrick Moore in assisting players testing clubs.

As for the clubhouse Reignite Physiotherapy Ltd will in the new year move in to space previously used as an office and junior room. Also there will be a small fitness centre. The clubhouse and facilities’ focus group is also busy developing a strategic plan for replacing or upgrading the clubhouse and other facilities over the next 10 plus years.

While one might think it will be very long term looking at the clubhouse, Godman explains: “It may not be as the building needs ongoing repairs and the focus group has done a stocktake of all facilities and buildings to look at what needs to be done year by year. Long term we would like to build a new clubhouse.”

As for the membership, the numbers have hit 800, up hugely on a year ago.

Godman enthuses: “The membership increase is amazing. It just keeps on climbing. It’s great. The vibe here is amazing. Tee off times on Saturday are work-

ing well now. Implementing our five and six day memberships has been a success. At the last AGM (annual general meeting) we did away with the three day membership so now the categories are more clear.”

So where are the numbers coming from?

“Everywhere. A lot of them are just new, not necessarily from other clubs, and they are not students, just age group members. Or they may be people who played many years ago and want to come back into the game. Golf has just taken off. We have so many members and that doesn’t include all of our corporate associates.”

For whatever reason other Dunedin clubs have not seen similar increases. Otago has 583, Taieri 401, Chisholm Park 390, Island Park 248 and Port Chalmers 122.

The club will also re-enter the pro-am ranks in the new year with a legends’ event on Friday, February  10. This should be a drawcard for amateurs who have been starved of these opportunities for far too long.

Nestled atop the hills overlooking a 360 degree panorama of ocean, harbour, southern coastlines, Saddle Hill and surrounds, St Clair Golf Club should be enjoying its current situation.

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.

A challenging links course that is playable all year round!

One of the stunning views from the St Clair golf course in Dunedin.

Another stunning view from the St Clair golf course.

Annette Godman, general manager of the St Clair Golf Club.

Chris Murphy: St Clair’s new course superintendent

By Neville Idour

Chris Murphy, the St Clair Golf Club’s new course superintendent, has wasted no time in making his impact on the course.

Arriving in early September he brings a wealth of experience to the club. He is a qualified turf manager and has worked in the industry for the last 20 years.

For six years he was second in charge at Clearwater in Christchurch then, following that, 14 years as superintendent at Pleasant Point in South Canterbury. He has a sound knowledge of irrigation systems, changing greens from soil to a sand base, and machinery maintenance.

Murphy was raised in Otago on a large farm near Dunback. He attended Otago Boys’ High School then completed a turf management course at Cromwell.

Why that career path?

“Sport. I enjoy sport. But it is also kind of close to farming. I would have been quite happy to go farming, but I couldn’t afford to buy a farm. At Clearwater I started as irrigation technician then became 2IC (second in command). It was different having 11 staff but that was never enough.”

At Pleasant Point he enjoyed the assistance of many volunteers. Murphy is extremely passionate about vol-

unteers having previously built up an extensive volunteer base and enjoyed the camaraderie and help he received. He is also planning to build a great volunteer team at St Clair. That is already bearing fruit with two almost full time volunteer greenskeepers adding plenty of assistance to his team of three.

So how is he finding St Clair?

“I’m loving it. Good to be back in Otago. I spent too long in Canterbury. The club has been very welcoming. This is an awesome place. Sometimes we get told we are doing a great job but really we aren’t doing anything different to formerly,’’ he said modestly.

A current project is a mound of dirt formed on the 18th where the pine trees were removed. It has native plantings on it and will form a protective bank along the left of the fairway.

Murphy’s huge passion for sport and the outdoors includes cricket where he helped resurrect a local cricket club and then served on the South Canterbury cricket board.

Chris is married to Megan and has two young children. They are embracing this new adventure and if the current condition of the course is any indication Murphy will be a vital cog in the wheel that is St Clair golf course.

Chris Murphy who is St Clair Golf Club’s new course superintendent.

Asian Tour encompassing the Middle East in 2023

The Asian Tour has unveiled its 2023 schedule through to May, for what promises to be the finest start to a season the tour has ever enjoyed.

The new season will commence in Saudi Arabia, at the most lucrative event of the year, before being followed by an exciting blend of established and new tournaments, including four International Series events.

The schedule through to May boasts a total of 11 tournaments contested over 14 weeks, starting with the $US5 million Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, near Jeddah, from February 2-5.

In the ensuing two weeks, the tour will journey to two inaugural International Series tournaments in Oman and then Qatar – marking the first time the International Series will have visited the Middle East. Al Mouj Golf will host the former event, while Doha Golf Club will stage the latter.

These will be the first of 10 International Series events in 2023, with International Series stops to follow in Thailand in March and  Vietnam the following month.

The International Series Thailand launched the International Series in 2022 and saw American Kim Sih-wan triumph at Black Mountain Golf Club, while the tour visits the spectacular KN Golf Links for the first edition of the Vietnam event. It will be the first time

the Asian Tour has returned to Vietnam in seven years.

The New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, makes a popular return to the calendar following a two-year covid-19 enforced break in the first week of March at Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown – the tournament’s home since 2014.

The DGC Open, inaugurated in the 2022 season, will also be staged in March at the historic Delhi Golf Club, as well as the tour’s long-awaited return to Hong Kong with a new event at one of the region’s most iconic golfing venues, the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Details of this event will be released soon, along with information on back-to-back tournaments in Thailand in April and a Korean event in May.

Asian Tour commissioner and chief executive Cho Minn Thant said: “We are very proud to announce the start of the 2023 season, hot off the heels of a tremendous 2022. It is fantastic to see us carry the momentum of the season we have just completed and start the new season at full pace.

“The Asian Tour is thrilled with how the schedule looks. It reaches a wide range of exciting destinations, offers extremely lucrative purses, world class venues, and a great balance of established and new events.

“The Saudi International, a truly global golfing event, is the perfect way to start the

season and sets the tone for what will be, unquestionably, the strongest season in the history of the Asian Tour.”

The 2022 season, which saw 20 tournaments staged, came to a dramatic conclusion in December in Indonesia where

Oman tournament added to Asian Tour schedule

Helping to whet the appetite for the 2023 season, the Asian Tour has announced the addition of a new, exciting event to its schedule, the International Series Oman.

With event details having been finalised and ahead of an imminent fuller schedule announcement, the Asian Tour has confirmed that the Oman tournament will be held at Al Mouj Golf in Muscat from February 9-12 and boast prizemoney of $US2 million.

In addition, the tour revealed that a total of 10 International Series events will be held next season, each with prize money of at least $US2 million – helping to build on the momentum gained this season, which saw seven of the upper-tier events positioned on the schedule, which features a total of 20 tournaments.

Asian Tour chief executive Cho Minn Thant last month said: “On the back of two outstanding weeks at International Series events in Morocco and Egypt, and this week’s season-ending Indonesian

Masters, also part of the International Series, the Asian Tour is excited to announce we will return to the Middle East early in the new season for the International Series Oman.

“The 2022 campaign was a highly successful one for us and it is great to see the profile of the Asian Tour being raised. Next year promises more of the same with today’s news further enhancing this, even before we have announced our 2023 schedule – one that promises to be the biggest and best in the history of the tour.

“We are extremely grateful to the Oman Golf Association for being the conduit in helping to launch this pioneering new event in such an important golfing region. And, of course, we thank Al Mouj Golf for their commitment and support in this process. We have every confidence that the event will be a resounding success.”

With one season drawing to a conclusion – which has also seen International

Series events played in Thailand, England, Singapore, and Korea – attention is quickly starting to turn to the next one.

Mundhir Al Barwani, chairman of the Oman Golf Association, said: “We are excited to be the first Asian Tour International Series event in the Middle East and to be able to share the beauty of the Sultanate with the players and officials, as well as a wider audience through television.

“Al Mouj Golf is a tour-proven course and coupled with the proximity to the airport and the official hotel we are certain that the players will have an enjoyable and memorable week with us.

“We commend the work that the Asian Tour have done in developing their international schedule and also in strengthening the Asian Development Tour, which will certainly have a positive impact on the growth of the elite amateur game within the region.

“We look forward to working closely with the key stakeholders and sponsors

to deliver this event and to once again use the game of golf to showcase the investment and tourism opportunities that exist within Oman.”

The International Series was launched in 2022, through a partnership between the Asian Tour and LIV Golf, with the aim of invigorating the game of golf in Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

Al Mouj Golf will offer the Asian Tour membership an outstanding opportunity to play on one of the finest golf courses in the Middle East.

The 18-hole layout is the first linksstyle golf course to be created in Oman and was designed by two-time major champion winner Greg Norman. Built on a two-kilometre stretch of pristine coastline, it is flanked by the Indian Ocean with the stunning Hajjar mountain range in the background. Natural dunes, striking oasis of lush green grass, accented with bunkers, and water hazards are also features.

Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut stormed to victory, while Kim Sih-wan secured the Asian Tour order of merit title.

Gaming trust thanked for its support to golf

One of New Zealand’s largest gaming trusts –and a leading funder of amateur sport in the country - has been warmly thanked for its support of golf, after allocating generous funding to the leadership body for golf in New Zealand.

Grants from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) have been used to underpin the employment of multiple golf development personnel throughout New Zealand.

Golf New Zealand’s participation programmes include the futures’ programme for young people, the she loves golf programme for women and girls and the all abilities programme for disabled players.

All Golf New Zealand’s participation initiatives are designed around not only growing the number of new players in the sport, but also developing coaching and volunteer networks – highlighting the physical and mental benefits of involvement with the sport at a social level.

Golf New Zealand chief executive Dean Murphy said the continued development of regional golf across New Zealand had seen the sport’s participation numbers mushroom over the past three years – attracting new players to all parts of the sport.

“Golf New Zealand thanks the NZCT for its significant support of golf at a national and regional level,”

Murphy said.

“The NZCT funding for golf development is contributing to golf membership in New Zealand being at an all-time high – with over 134,000 registered club members,

“Over the past year, the total number of rounds of golf played in New Zealand rose by 9.9 percent compared to the same time last year - now sitting at

4.734 million rounds. And importantly, reflecting the support of our funders such as NZCT.

“The number of junior rounds of golf played in the 12 months to November rose 30.6 percent – up from 97,014 to 126,675 individual bookings.

“Golf is the most played sport in New Zealand – with more than 500,000 Kiwis playing each year at one of the 390 clubs or courses throughout the country. As a sector, golf employs more than 2000 personnel.

“Because of NZCT’s support, Golf New Zealand can continue to improve the opportunities and experiences of those participating in the sport, and for that, we are truly grateful.”

NZCT chief executive Mike Knell said the trust was pleased that its contribution – generated through administration of its loyal gaming venues – had enabled Golf New Zealand to deliver such services to the wider community.

Knell said: “Through the substantially increased number of golfers who have taken up the sport over the past few years, Golf New Zealand has shown that golf delivers huge benefits to hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders - and is very much a valued recreational and sporting outlet for people of all ages striving to stay active. NZCT is proud to have been able to help facilitate this.”

Charitable trust has backed golf in New Zealand

nificant funding to Golf New Zealand, the leadership body for golf in New Zealand.

The Lion Foundation, one of New Zealand’s oldest charitable trusts, has invested significantly to support golf participation coordinators across the Bay of Plenty, Aorangi, Southland, Manawatu Whanganui and Tasman regions.

The funding from The Lion Foundation has helped this network of participation coordinators strengthen Golf New Zealand’s futures programme for young people getting into golf, the she loves golf programme for women and girls taking up the sport and continue growing playing numbers among Māori.

grateful to The Lion Foundation for their ongoing support of golf at its very grassroots level, and for enabling Golf New Zealand to enrich the lives of New Zealanders through golf participation activities -- many at an entry level.

“Golf membership in New Zealand is at an all-time high – with over 134,000 registered club members,” said Murphy.

Growing

All of Golf New Zealand’s participation initiatives are designed around growing the number of new players in the sport and developing coaching and volunteer networks – highlighting the physical and mental benefits of involvement with the sport at a social level.

Golf New Zealand chief executive Dean Murphy said Golf New Zealand was truly

“Over the past year, the total number of rounds of golf played in New Zealand rose by 9.9 percent compared to the same time last year - now sitting at 4.734 million rounds. And importantly, reflecting the support of our funders, the number of junior rounds of golf played in the 12 months to November rose 30.6 percent – up from 97,014 to 126,675 individual bookings.

“Golf New Zealand sincerely thanks The Lion Foundation for its continued support, which enables us to continue to grow the love of golf and inspire participation across New Zealand. We look forward to building on this momentum into 2023.”

The New Zealand Community Trust has been given the thumbs up by Golf New Zealand for its support of golf in New Zealand.

the popularity of golf across a diverse range of demographic groups and ability levels

throughout New Zealand has been made possible this year by generous funding from The Lion Foundation, allocating sig-

The future of golf in New Zealand has been supported by the New Zealand Lion Trust.

Headlines or not — good for a giggle

By Neville Idour

Virtually every day I have headline golf stories come across my laptop and desk.

I look at them and decide which to read, scan quickly or ignore. Overall I probably read or scan 20 percent at most.  Many are simply not headline stories or even stories for that matter. Of course many stories now are prompted by the PGA Tour’s war on the LIV Tour. Here is a selection of recent headlines  — newsworthy or otherwise — and several good for a giggle.

“Gary Player-Flag in Worst Rule ever Invented” – This has to be one of the worst non stories. Player should know better. It is a choice not a rule …and a welcome one at that for so many reasons. Player’s opinion is irrelevant. Just like any opinion, that is all it is.

“Justin Thomas says LIV Golfers to Blame for World Ranking Points Issue”. One of the most noisy about LIV players it has been noticeable how quiet he has been recently since sitting down one on one with Greg Norman and discussing the whole LIV setup.

“Davis Love III Says GET RID OF THEM”- (World Rankings). Probably not silly since they no longer include all pros.

“Chubby Chandler Unsurprised ‘Past It’ Players Joined LIV”. What about the 13 players who qualify for the US Masters despite no ranking points for many months. How many others may have qualified had they been able to earn points?

“It’s Non Stop – Tiger Woods continually Teaching Son Charlie About Mind Games.” Spare me. He is a child.

“Tiger Woods Hosts PGA Tour Meeting at Hero World

Challenge”. Is he now the de facto chief executive while Jay Monahan continues his war on LIV.

“Cameron Smith Defends Norman After Woods and McIlroy Call for him to Go.” Hardly surprising given Norman’s ongoing encouragement and support for young Aussie golfers.

“Adam Scott – LIV and PGA should Get on with what They are Both doing.” The voice of reason says LIV is not evil and has a place.

“Tiger Woods Reveals His Dream 3 Ball.”- Sorry can’t tell because I didn’t read it.

“Unbelievably Flattering-McIlroy on Tiger telling son Charlie to copy his (McIlroy’s) swing. The love affair is in full bloom.

“Tiger Woods Making a Golf Ball Switch For Upcoming Events.” Spare me. Is he receiving $$$$$$$ for that Earth

shattering news?

“McIlroy Reveals ‘Brainwash’ Comment Started Norman Rift.” Of course McIlroy said nothing before that.

“Why are Golfers Wearing Shorts on the DP World Tour this week? (Dunhill links in South Africa.) Maybe they got the idea from LIV or was it because it was 41 degrees and steamy. Someone made a lengthy story out of that.

“Disgusting- Ian Poulter Rips into Joke BBC Sports Personality Awards” — this after Matthew Fitzpatrick’s omission. Many others backed that opinion. Also nice to see a LIV golfer supporting a fellow pro who has been outspoken in his disdain for LIV players being allowed to play in DP World Tour events.

“9/11 Families Set for Masters Protest after LIV Decision.” Oh dear.

“Why the Masters Was Right

to Allow LIV Golfers to play.” I can hear the sigh of relief from many fans who just want to see the best golfers on the planet.

“Dustin Johnson Among LIV golfers left out of TAYLORMADE Christmas Advert.” What next?  I’m sure Dustin will be heartbroken.

“I Needed Something New -Martin Kaymer on LIV move.” He says it is fun, more inspiring and Motivating Again. “LIV popped up and I thought that’s me.”

“Anirban Lahiri says LIV Golfers feel Ostracised.” Hardly surprising.

“Tiger Woods Congratulates Ex Wife Elen on birth of New Baby.”

“I’ve Hit 15 Million Golf Balls Over my Career.” – Gary Player.  Who else could come up with that?

We will end on that note of a little light relief.

Momoka Kobori ends 2022 a winner

By Neville Idour

Momoka Kobori ended 2022 in spectacular fashion with a stunning win in the women’s professional section of the combined Geoff Ogilvy Sandbelt Invitational in Melbourne.

In a very strong field she finished just a shot behind overall winner Cam Davis who was a PGA Tour winner in 2022.

More to the point she completely shredded the women’s field, finishing a staggering 20 shots ahead of second placed woman Cassie Porter after rounds of 71, 67, 68 and 70 which left her at 15 under par.

The rest of the women struggled on the sandbelt courses whereas Kobori revelled in the opportunity to play Kingston Heath, Yarra Yarra, Peninsula Kingswood and Royal Melbourne.

This was the second staging of this event which is now one of Australia’s most important golf tournaments. It is

part of the Geoff Ogilvy Foundation’s vision of gathering the best players from across the country on elite venues mixing men and women, pros, amateurs, seniors and juniors.

The success of Ogilvy’s event is well reflected in Kobori’s comments after the event.

“I would like to thank the Sandbelt Invitational and the Geoff Ogilvy Foundation for my final event of 2022,’’ Kobori said.

“It is a huge honour to have recorded two course records during the event, one at Royal Melbourne and one at Yarra Yarra. I am so happy to have capped off the year with this win and finishing just a shot behind Cam Davis.

“As I reflect on my year it has been quite a journey on and off the course. I have been fortunate to compete across multiple continents and secure my LET (Ladies European Tour) card for 2023. I look forward to the next step in my journey.”

New Zealand golfer Momoka Kobori who ended the year with victory in Melbourne.

Prestigious Country Club

Prestigious Country Club Living From $1,034,000

Living From $1,034,000

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at The Greens, Fairview Estate over the winter months. Earthworks were completed in April and our Civil Works are now well underway.

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Living From $1,034,000

We have made great progress at The Greens, Fairview Estate over the winter months. Earthworks were completed in April and our Civil Works are now well underway.

We have made great progress at The Greens, Fairview Estate over the winter months. Earthworks were completed in April and our Civil Works are now well underway.

We have made great progress at The Greens, Fairview Estate over the winter months. Earthworks were completed in April and our Civil Works are now well underway.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

Fairview Estate has an outstanding café/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

Fairview Estate has an outstanding café/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

The Greens is the latest residential subdivision at Fairview Estate and features architecturally designed, freehold, townhouses with off-street parking – perfect for motorhomes or caravans –making it an ideal base for lifestyle and retirement adventures.

Fairview Estate has an outstanding café/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

Fairview Estate has an outstanding café/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

Centrally located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Katikati is a thriving hub with supermarkets, a medical center, library, and all levels of schooling.

Centrally located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Katikati is a thriving hub with supermarkets, a medical center, library, and all levels of schooling.

Fairview Estate has an outstanding café/restaurant with indoor and outdoor bars, as well as a Country Club which boasts a wealth of facilities that currently includes a health studio, tennis courts, golf course, and an indoor pool and spa complex for sport, tness, and socialising. This is community living at its best.

Centrally located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Katikati is a thriving hub with supermarkets, a medical center, library, and all levels of schooling.

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Centrally located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Katikati is a thriving hub with supermarkets, a medical center, library, and all levels of schooling.

Centrally located in the sunny Bay of Plenty, Katikati is a thriving hub with supermarkets, a medical center, library, and all levels of schooling.

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Karlene Blair

Karlene Blair

Pelley becomes chairman of International Golf Federation

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has been elected as chairman of the International Golf Federation’s (IGF).

At the IGF’s December board meeting, World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sörenstam was re-elected as IGF president.

IGF executive director Antony Scanlon said: “We are grateful for the leadership of Keith Pelley and Annika Sörenstam as we continue to encourage the international development of the sport of golf.

“As two prominent members in the international golf landscape, Keith and Annika will bring extensive experience and knowledge to our overall strategy and we are thrilled to have them in these key roles.

“I also want to thank PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan for his tenure as the IGF chairman and we’re delighted to have him continue on the board moving forward.”

Pelley, from Canada, became the fourth chief executive in the DP World Tour’s history in 2015, will

serve as the chairman of the IGF from 2023-2027.

Prior to joining the DP World Tour, Pelley was president of Rogers Media in Toronto. Before that, he was executive vice president of strategic planning at CTVglobemedia, president of Canada’s Olympic broadcast media consortium, president and chief executive of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club and president of The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada.

Sörenstam, who has 97 worldwide professional victories during her play-

ing career, was re-elected for a second two-year term as IGF president, which she’ll serve from 2023-2024.

Founded in 1958, the IGF is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for golf.

Its objectives are to encourage the international development of golf. It also organises biennial amateur team championships for the Eisenhower Trophy (for men) and the Espirito Santo Trophy (for women).

BBC sport awards shun golf

By Neville Idour

The BBC’s (British Broadcasting Corporation) personality of the year awards have shunned golf yet again.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, the winner of the United States Open, was not among the six nominees.

However this should not be a surprise as Georgia Hall, the stunning winner of the 2018 Women’s British Open, was also snubbed despite being just the fourth English female to win a major championship. Her achievement got just 10 seconds at the 2018 cer-

emony.

This year the show blasted 135 minutes and golf featured for 64 seconds. 64 seconds to cover the 150th Open, an English US Open champion and an Irish world No 1.

No wonder it has produced an outcry from all quarters, media and players. LIV Tour member Ian Poulter, despite being on the receiving end of Fitzpatrick’s somewhat nasty comments against allowing LIV players to play on the DP World Tour, despite being entitled to, pulled no punches.

He called the awards a joke and an insult to golf.

Justin Rose was another to question “what about Fitzpatrick.” Georgia Hall said “It is such a shame golf doesn’t get the recognition it deserved yet again. I’m just speechless.”

It is worth noting only two golfers have won the award, the last Nick Faldo way back in 1989. Also golf is one of the fastest growing sports now. The figures in the United Kingdom are staggering. Since 2016 the numbers have skyrocketed from 3.6 million to 5.7 million, an increase of around 60 percent. Enough said.

Fundraising appeal launched to support Ukrainian golfers

The second phase of project Ukraine, an initiative to support young Ukrainian golfers displaced by war, is now underway with the launch of a “gofundme” internet page aimed at providing scholarships for those affected by the ongoing hostilities.

Project Ukraine was founded earlier in 2022 by nine women from across the golf industry who took part in The R&A’s women in golf leadership development programme.

The women were inspired by their colleague, Ukrainian Veronika Rastvortseva, after hearing her emotional experiences of the Russian invasion of her country and the devastating impact it had on young athletes.

Project Ukraine’s first act was to reunite seven young golfers and their families at a training camp in Scotland in October.

Now the project Ukraine group aims to raise £170,000 and help support post-secondary education scholarships for 17 talented Ukrainian golfers and their families.

The funds raised via the gofundme page will be administered and distributed by The R&A. Funds will assist these individuals in their pursuit of post-secondary education in a golf-related management programme, pursuing a career in golf, or continuing to play golf competitively.

Rastvortseva said: “The way the golfing community has rallied behind project Ukraine in recent months has been overwhelming and truly humbling.

“The impact of war on all Ukrainians has been shocking but it’s especially difficult for youngsters who have had opportunities snatched from them in the most harrowing of circumstances.

“All we want to do is make sure that, while many

people have been driven beyond Ukraine’s borders, the pathways to their dreams remain free of obstacles.

“By donating to this gofundme page you will be helping talented young Ukrainian golfers take the next step on their golfing journeys – a route many of them thought had been blocked by the onset of war and the fact they had to flee their homes.

“Golf participation in Ukraine was growing before the war and I am determined to do all I can, with the support of the project Ukraine team, to make sure that the sporting ambition of our young people is not another casualty of this horrible war.”

This follows the successful training camp in November where seven Ukrainian golfers from the nation’s junior golf programme were reunited for the first time since February at the Macdonald Cardrona

Golf Resort in Peebles, Scotland.

During the six-day camp, the youngsters – now scattered across Europe as the war continues – were able to get back together on the tee and continue their golfing education.

The boys and girls benefited from high quality coaching and clinics, health and nutrition sessions, mental skills and rules of golf workshops.

The camp in Scotland also coincided with the staging of the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

During a visit to the home of golf, the Ukrainian delegation got close to the action and enjoyed a meeting with world number one Rory McIlroy.

Now the team behind project Ukraine is aiming to step up its efforts and focus on those older Ukrainian teenagers who have had their world turned upside down by conflict.

Rastvortseva sought sanctuary in Belgium after the war began and attended the golf camp along with her two daughters.

She added: “To see the pure joy on the faces of the youngsters involved in the training camp in Scotland was special.

“If we can now add our support to those teenagers wanting to spread their wings and further their career with a scholarship then it will be another truly wonderful contribution to the story of Ukraine’s resilience and fightback.”

Donations to the project Ukraine scholarship fund cause can be made via the gofundme page.

If individuals or companies would like to make a donation of more than £5000, they should contact Jennifer Hedge, Philanthropy Manager, at The R&A directly. Further questions can also be answered via The R&A Philanthropy Support website.

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox poses with the Ukraine golf team on the Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews in Scotland after his win in the Dunhill Links Championship.

Golf visionary Sandy Jones dies at age 75

The world of golf has paid tribute to Sandy Jones, a golfing visionary, key architect in the evolution of The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, the Ryder Cup and growth of the game worldwide, who has passed away last month following a short illness.

Jones, who was 75, joined the PGA of GB&I in 1980 and served it until his retirement in 2017 after a stellar career that saw him become one of golf’s most influential and respected administrators.

His first role with The PGA was the Scottish region’s secretary and his compatriot and the association’s current chairman Alan White, recalled: “He did the job from home in those early days as there was no office. The region was also fragmented, but Sandy united it during the time he worked there and the headquarters is now at Gleneagles.

“He followed suit as the association’s chief executive and in doing so raised its profile, developed the PGA brand and made us one of the most highly respected organisations in sport. We owe him a massive vote of thanks.”

Jones was succeeded as chief executive by Robert Maxfield, who, paying tribute, said: “Sandy led The PGA for more than 25 years, instigating significant change and improvement to the way the association was run.

“Through his work with the Ryder Cup, the PGA World Alliance, and PGAs of Europe, he was a significant figure in the world of golf as well as in Great Britain and Ireland. He was respected and admired by many. This is a sad day for the association and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

Guy Kinnings, DP World Tour deputy chief executive,

added: “Over the last 40 years, Sandy made a huge contribution to golf at all levels of the game, from the grassroots right through to the Ryder Cup. He was hugely respected and his passion for our sport was obvious to all of us who were fortunate to meet him and work closely with him.

“In terms of the Ryder Cup, he played an integral role in helping it become the global sporting occasion it is today. Everyone associated with Ryder Cup Europe and the European Tour Group is deeply saddened to learn of his passing, and our thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time.”

Jones also had many dealings with The R&A and Peter Dawson, its former chief executive, who said: “Our time overlapped for a lot of years. Sandy was very experienced and always had a level head in a crisis, although there weren’t too many of those, thankfully. He was a delight to work with and always acted in the best interests of golf.”

Jones was also president of the Golf Foundation, the charitable organisation co-founded by three-time Open Championship winner and former PGA captain Sir Henry Cotton that introduces youngsters from all backgrounds to golf.

The seeds of Jones’s interest in golf that would see him become an accomplished player and morph into a career in the game were sown in 1959. Indeed, two events occurred during that year which were to prove pivotal to what followed. One saw him take up golf after discovering the clubs his mother used to play with in a cupboard at his home in the Scottish village of Gartcosh. The oth-

er, much to his mother’s fury, was his failure to pass the 11-plus examination.

Jones cited indolence as opposed to inability for the setback and, suitably chastened, responded with nine O levels and three A levels and was offered a place at two nearby universities – Glasgow and Strathclyde. However, mindful of the financial sacrifices his parents would have to make, he opted to train as a structural engineer and earn his living rather than spend another three years in full-time education.

By now Jones had become a member of the nearby Mount Ellen Golf Club, a membership he maintained for the rest of his life, albeit in an honorary capacity. It was his work there as a committee member, which began during his 20s, that helped him make a rapid ascent of the golfing ladder; a rise that saw him appointed president of the Lanarkshire Golf Association in 1978 at the age of 32, the youngest ever to hold such a position in Scotland.

That burgeoning reputation for excellence off the course as well as on it – thanks to a handicap of two –was matched by his progress at work, especially in the brave new world of computers as a systems analyst. All of which made him perfect to assume the role of The Professional Golfers’ Association’s Scottish region secretary in 1980.

Jones spent 11 years in the role during which time he quadrupled the Tartan Tour’s prize money to just shy of £1 million and developed the growth of The PGA in Scotland. Come 1991, he was tasked with leading all seven PGA regions as its chief executive as opposed to one.

Smashing finish for a Back to Back Season

LONG DRIVE

The year 2022 can only be described as BOLD for the XDL crew who hammered out two years of events in one calendar year. The extended Auckland lockdown in 2021 was a major blow to many and for the sport of XDL (Xtreme Drivers League) it meant a major sponsorship loss and all events from the 2021 whirlwind of COVID being pushed out in to you guessed it, 2022. The year started with a flurry of excitement and a great determination to go above and beyond for our athletes. With 6 back to back championships, 3 major sponsorships, 2 international events, plus 3 supporting events, one could say the XDL crew were DRIVEN to the XTREMES. Founder and owner of XDL, Olna Ford says, “there was one financial pillar of support in our corner from the get go and that is thanks to the one and only, Mr. JP Liebenberg of New Horizon Construction”. “I truly couldn’t have done this year without JP, he is a blessing to our sport and definitely a God sent”, says Olna.

A reminder of our 2021 New Zealand title holders winners who are also New Zealand Long Blacks; Mens Open - Mr. Sam Jones, Masters - Mr. Paul West

The North Island 2022 Championship held on 16th October at Pupuke Golf Club was a day full of action and plenty of #RedBulls. Titles went to New Zealand Long Blacks; Mens Open Winner - Mr. Grieg Mooney who drove a massive (368m) and Masters Winner - Mr.Paul West cutting the grass with a fast and furious (354m) drive. The womens series is pushed into 2023 calendar with great ambition to grow our sport for the ladies.

The South Island Champs went smoothly with Sunny Nelson putting on perfect wether conditions yet again. The heat was rising from the tee and the atmosphere was uplifting. The South Island Championship titles going to New Zealand Long Blacks - Mr. George Wardell for the Mens Open Win and the Masters Win going to Mr. Paul West. These incredible athletes certainly deserve another round of applauds as they took out the North vs South shootout for New Zealand title (in their division). Mr. George Wardell driving (306m) and Mr. Paul West (265m).

With the New Zealand Long Blacks taking the win in our back to back season, it’s definitely a great way to say goodbye to a year that has tested us all. The NEW year ahead represents inclusion and growth for the sport of XDL and our athletes. Our first year of regional expansion and with this new opportunities to collaborate with clubs and communities around NZ to grow the sport of XDL for all. Check in at www.iganz.co.nz for our season calendar and more.

NZ Grocery Charity Ball

As the saying goes “good things take time” – and this certainly proved the case with the NZ Grocery Charity Ball.

With the initial 2021 date being postponed twice due to Covid, the Trustees, guests, and organisers were all looking forward to the ball going ahead on the 29th October at the Cordis in Auckland.

680 guests filled The Great Room to capacity, and were welcomed by MC and CatWalk Patron, Toni Street, who had so generously given her time to officiate. The evening programme began with CatWalk Chairman, David Pretorius, who gave an overview of CatWalk, and the current projects we are funding.

After dining on delicious fare from the Cordis, the guests were entertained by the incredible Marcus Winter https://thesandman.co.nz/ who told a story through sand art. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on a wide variety of items on the silent auction which ran throughout the night.

The live auction attracted strong bidding under the hammer of auctioneer Morgan Carter with great support from Toni as his “bid spotter”!

Brad Smeele then took to the stage, and the audience was mesmerised as Brad spoke of his life as a tetraplegic following a wakeboard accident. To be able to help those such as Brad to get an im-

provement in functionality was at front of mind as was evident by the overwhelming generosity of the guests who pledged donations direct to spinal cord injury research.

Guests danced the night away and each left with a goodie bag packed with treats that had been generously donated by so many businesses.

It was an overwhelmingly successful night, and we were all ecstatic with the resulting donation to CatWalk of $306,000 which was beyond all expectations.

Our sincere thanks to the NZ Grocery Charity Trustees, their sponsors, and guests for supporting CatWalk.

We also thank our wonderful CatWalk-

ers who so generously donated prizes for the silent and live auctions. We were proud to be able to present such an array of items and experiences from the CatWalk family.

West Coast Challenge 2023 Course Review

GOLF EVENT

MARCH

To enter: www.westcoastgolfchallenge.com hampy@reefton.nz

The West Coast has a long golfing history and is proud to offer the West Coast Golf Challenge, a great experience for both local golfers and friends from ‘away’ – which is every part of the world that is not on ‘The Coast’.

March 7th – March 10th 2023 will be the 10th edition of the West Coast Golf Challenge.

It is a great opportunity to combine four rounds of golf on four quite different courses with the chance to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

The four hosting clubs are Westport on their Kawatiri links at Carters’ Beach, Reefton on their Glenburnie course, Hokitika on their links course at Mahinapua, and Greymouth on their course at Kaiata.

GREYMOUTH GOLF CLUB

The Greymouth Golf Club is located on Golf Links Road approximately 6km east of Greymouth town centre.

The course is acknowledged as having the best manicured fairways of the 18 hole courses on the West Coast, and while not long at about 5600 metres it provides an interesting test of golf.

The Club’s main tournaments are held from January to March with the Coastwide Honda West land Classic in mid February and one leg of the four course challenge early March.

Hole No 8 is the club’s signature hole. While not long, the 329 metre par 4 dog-leg left has an out-of -bounds on the left. There are also two strategically positioned mature kahikatea to manoeuvre past in the fairway. Sir Bob Charles has described this hole as one of his top 18 holes of golf in New Zealand.

Greymouth’s Kaiata links course really is a gem in the crown of local sporting facilities in Greymouth. Green fees are a competitive $30 per round.

on this unique links are a modest $25 for all players except students under 18 for which the green fee is $5. If you have not come prepared, hire clubs are

high standard of the course is completely achieved through voluntary contributions of time. We have two main tournaments each year, the first at Queen’s Birthday weekend and the second being the Inangahua open which is held in November each year and over 2 days, each of 18 holes. Club members are proud to be part of the West Coast Golf challenge. Golf Course is set on the banks of the Inangahua River and is the centre for farming, gold, coal and forestry. The town of Reefton has a population of about 1000 people, with some very good accommodation in hotels and motels. Any more info on Reefton golf please contact the club on 03 7328 575 (clubhouse) or 0273100500 Murray Rennie); or email reeftongolf@ gmail.com as clubhouse is only manned on Sundays.

WESTPORT GOLF CLUB

The club began playing on this course, the Glenburnie course, in 1960, having been previously sited at Waitahu and prior to that, in the centre of the Reefton Race Course. The course has twelve holes, with holes 1-6 also being holes 13-18, although with different tees. Course is a par 72 and 5511 meters. Green fee players and visitors most welcome to play and enjoy the views. Green fees are set at $20/ day. Club days are Sundays. The course is open all day, every day, with the greens mown twice weekly. Although there is a small club membership of 40 the

The Westport Golf Club – is a beautiful seaside “links with trees” course of some 5600 metres. Near the village of Carters Beach some 4km only from Westport, this 18 hole gem is a pitching wedge, maybe 9 iron from the Tasman Sea.All the while surrounded by the Paparoa Mountain Range and National Park. An overview of the course can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWt7SQ7J_0&feature=youtu.be

HOKITIKA GOLF CLUB

Pland. Just 3 minutes south of Hokitika, (first turn right over the Hokitika River bridge), Mahinapua Links is the only golf course in New Zealand with outstand ing views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mt Tasman and the majestic Southern Alps.

If you are staying in Hokitika, or just passing through, enjoy our legendary hospitality and join us during our weekend club days, or if you prefer, simply play at a time to suit yourself.

The links are open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year and bookings are not required. Greens fees

Slick and firm greens await visitors who can join club day matches – Tuesday vets (no restriction on age), Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. Green fees are only $30 and group discount by arrangement. All club day matches tee off at 11.30am, followed by hospitality hour. For further information please email our Secretary at joyboy6@hotmail.com.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

WHANGAROA GOLF CLUB

NORTHLAND

AUCKLAND AUCKLAND GOLF MEN’S CHAMP OF CHAMPS

The Mens Champ of Champs was held recently at Pakuranga Golf Club. The course was in pristine condition and some quick greens and challenging pin placings kept the players honest.

The Senior Championship was won Josh Leitch Maungakiekie Golf Club who now has his name on the trophy 5 times!!!

Chris Kolose Chamberlain Park Public Golf Course won the junior grade and Greg Limond Whitford Park Golf Club was the intermediate champion.

The Ron Lay Rosebowl team event was this year taken out by Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Course with a total stableford score of 193.

CANTERBURY

WEEDONS RETAIN WOODWARD CUP STATUS

The Woodward Cup Promotion / Relegation match between the highest placed Blank Cup club without a team in Woodward Cup and the team that finished last in Woodward Cup this year faced-off at Christchurch Golf Club recently.

In very warm conditions and the course in great order the stakes were high for the winner, with Waimairi Beach and Weedons again competing for the opportunity to play in the 2023 Woodward Cup Interclub competition in a repeat of last year’s Promotion / Relegation match.

It was always going to be a tight match and so it played out with the a 4-4 result at the end of regulation 18 holes (Marcel Boet bt Sam Allen 6/5; Ash Watts lost to Anuresh Chandra 2 down; Ollie Partridge lost to Brad Nightingale 2/1; Chadol Han bt Devon Nightingale 6/5; Fraser Mearns lost to Jonathan Stieller 3/2; Ben Williamson bt Bryden Grant 2/1; Taylor Reid bt Hayden Clinton 4/3; Lachie Mackay lost to Max Edwards 5/4.

Weedon’s Jonathan Stieller and Waimairi Beach’s Marcel Boet then went head-tohead in a sudden death play-off, before Weedons stalwart Stieller got Weedons over the line at the second play-off hole to ensure Weedons take their place in the 2023 Woodward Cup.

CANTERBURY WOMEN’S

CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT

The Annual Canterbury Women’s Christmas Tournament was played at Weedons Country Club recently initially in light drizzle for the first nine, then cloudy and cool afterwards with the course in great condition.

The Heather Harvey Salver for Best Silver Gross was won by Margaret Langan Weedons with 82.

Margaret Langan Weedons with 82.

The CDLGA Salver for Best Bronze Gross was won by Paulette Jager, Ellesmere with 96.

Grade 1 Best Net was won by Liz Reed, Tai Tapu with 73 and Grade 2 Best Net was won by Anne Siave, Tai Tapu with 75.

Age Group Gross Trophies: 50-59 ... Lyn Robertson, Amberley 86 (L V Gates Candelabra) 60-69 ... Margaret Langan 82 (Belle Collins Salver) 70+ ... June Edwards, Christchurch (Belle Collins Dish)

The CDLGA Salver for Best Bronze Gross was won by Paulette Jager Ellesmere with 96.

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND

THE SOUTHLAND STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Southland Stroke Play Championship will join the Canterbury, Taranaki, Otago and Hastings Stroke Play Championships as the fifth tournament that offers spots for Final Qualifying for the New Zealand Open.

The event is being staged at the Invercargill Golf Club on the 14th and 15th of January, and the leading three players and ties will qualify for the Final Stage of the New Zealand Open qualifying at the Cromwell Golf Club on Monday, 27 February.

The leading six players at Final Qualifying at Cromwell Golf Club will qualify for the New Zealand Open to be played at the Millbrook Resort from March 2-5.

TOM LEE (OTAGO GOLF CLUB)VARDON TROPHY 2022

By Mahal Pearce

Tom Lee (Otago Golf Club) has once again had a very impressive year taking out the Vardon Trophy as the leading

Otago player for 2022.

Tom played 10 Otago Order of Merit events, which included 8 top 5 finishes.

Tom started the year off well finishing as the 2nd Otago player in the Southland Stroke Play, followed up by 4th at the Otago Stroke Play before going on to be the leading Otago player at both the Canterbury Stroke Play and Taieri Classic. Tom came 3rd equal at the Dunedin Stroke

Play at St Clair Golf Club, just 1 shot behind winner Phil Bungard. Tom finished as the leading Otago player at the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship held at Christchurch Golf Club.

Coming out of winter, Tom played in the Queensland Championship at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Course on the Gold Coast, after which he flew back into Christchurch and on the same night drove back to Dunedin to play in the Chisholm Links Open that morning where he finished tied 2nd just 2 shots behind winner Inia Logan.

Tom made it through to the quarter finals of the New Zealand Amateur held at the Otago Golf Club where he narrowly lost on the last hole to the eventual winner Jasper Stubbs of Australia.

Tom also finished 9th in the New Zealand Order of Merit show casing his skill at national level events.

A very impressive year for Tom as he also looked to finish Med School and graduated as a doctor.

Lee adds his name to an impressive list of players that have won the Vardon the likes of Clark, Conlon, Kennelly, Giles and McEwean.

Final top 10 Order of Merit Standings for 2022

1. Tom Lee

2. Phil Bungard

3. Parker Aluesi

4. Brandon Hodgson

5. Inia Logan

6. Benjamin Patston

7. William Mclauchlan

8. Hamish Ireland

9. Ryan Shuttleworth

10. Jacob Bellamy

SOUTHLAND GOLF - GREENACRES GOLF

Forty-five pairings from across the district battled it out in perfect conditions at the Greenacres Country Club recently.

Fiona Gray and Christine O’Brien representing Tuatapere Golf Club amassed 48 stableford points to take out the Bowmont Meats sponsored event for 2022.

Scoring was tight for the minor placings with Mataura’s Julie Braithwaite and Allison Jackson edging out Sandra Spedan and Brenda Duncan from Gore on countback for runner up on a score of 46 points.

Waihi Golf Course February 11-12th,