Is the end of LIV Golf nigh?
The fact that LIV Golf has signed up out-of-form New Zealand player Danny Lee makes me wonder just what its future is.
Lee has played 10 tournaments on the PGA Tour for the 2022-23 season and missed the cut five times.
The previous season, 2021-22, Lee missed the cut or withdrew eight times from just 13 starts.
There is no question in my mind Lee signed up for LIV simply for the money —nothing else other than perhaps being able to perform in much less competitive company.
But does it mean the end of Lee’s golf career as far as really competitive golf at the top level goes? He now faces the distinct possibility of being banned from the PGA Tour in the United States and the DP World Tour, previously known as the European Tour.
But what got me thinking about LIV’s future was a newspaper column by Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post.
Jenkins was named the United States’ top sports columnist in 2001, 2003, 2010 and 2011 by the Associated Press sports editors. She is the author of 12 books, four of which were New
York Times’ bestsellers.
In other words she can string a sentence or two together.
Jenkins wrote: “The failures are piling up so fast that the PGA Tour may not even need lawyers to beat LIV. It’s going to beat itself with its own sour-smelling hustle, its jinks-on-the links-forclinks gutter golf.’’
Jenkins took full-blooded blows at one of LIV’s biggest signings Phil Mickelson and its chief Greg Norman.
She wrote: “The news value of its debut last year, championed with patent unease by Phil Mickelson, has long faded. What’s left is just the militant fruitcakery of Greg Norman, whose emanations from his empty luminescent head never quite form into actual substance.’’
Jenkins did not fail to mention the name of Lee and one of the other new signings, Dean Burmester.
“To hear Norman tell it, LIV 2023 would begin with a “momentous” TV deal and seven more top 20 player signees.
“As the second season opens this week (at the end of last month) in Mayakoba, Mexico, it’s got a laughably desperate TV pact with the CW Network … and no new big names. It was just more blow-harding that evaporated into a few lower-level defections such as Dean Bur-
mester and Danny Lee.”
Jenkins kept the punches coming as she referred to the likes of Brooks Koepka and Mickelson.
“Golf, but loud, is one of LIV’s slogans,’’ Jenkins wrote.
“But all that apparently refers to is Ian Poulter’s pants by Pixar. Poulter is at least a likeable star, more audience-friendly than laconic burnout cases such as Brooks Koepka or that aging inveterate scrounger Mickelson …
“Starting Friday (at the end of last month) in Mexico, all of them will resume crapping around in an incoherent, non-competitive, no-cut, drama-repellant 54-hole format with locked-in appearance fees.’’
The comparison between LIV and the PGA Tour was inevitable by Jenkins.
“The supposed duel between LIV and the PGA Tour for the soul of the game is already over. Which entertainment product is better?
“Richard Bland and Pat Perez jacking around at places such as Crooked Cat in Orlando, a course that the PGA Tour used for Q school events? Or the winsome Max Homa weeping with competitive agony as he chases mighty young Jon Rahm across layouts such as grand old Riviera?’’
Jenkins did not hold back when referring to LIV Golf being
financially backed by Saudi Arabia.
“From the outset, LIV was a home for buttercup-bellied moral cowards clutching at cash from a murderous regime, but it quickly has evolved into a refuge for guys who have lost their taste for competition.
“Who cares who “wins” more money among such a scrabbling bunch? Only the torrent of blood-spattered Saudi coin made Norman’s follies viable in the first place, and now the best young guys are turning down the money. LIV’s incursion is failing, and eventually all that will be left is the unpleasant smell of its corruptions.”
I have not previously read such a damning report of LIV Golf and it certainly got me thinking.
What worries me is the future of Lee. Even though he had not been playing well he had still been earning a reasonable income.
His 10 starts on this season’s PGA Tour had earned him $US320,000.
The season before he included a second in the Bermuda Classic which saw him take home $US578,000 and his earnings for that season were $US966,000. When was the last time you earned nearly $US1 million in a year having not per
formed very well?
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Michael Hendry with his Victoria Open trophy.
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Michael Hendry might be 43 years old but he continues to perform.
The Auckland golfer is a regular on the Japan Tour, has won eight times on the Charles Tour in New Zealand and in 2017 he won the New Zealand Open.
Last month he added to his achievements when taking out the Victorian Open by a comfortable margin of four shots at the 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads, south of Melbourne.
Hendry went into the final round with a three-shot advantage but that margin quickly blew out to seven as he made a birdie on the opening hole, while his overnight nearest rival Justin Warren made a triple bogey.
That early twist gave Hendry valuable breathing space to play risk averse golf for the remainder of the day in the very blustery conditions but it was not all smooth sailing.
Hendry made a birdie at the second but he received a lucky break at the par three third when he made par after his tee shot hit a spectator and rolled onto the green when it was headed deep into the shrub.
“If you’re going to win golf tournaments, you’re going to get a bit of luck at some stage,” Hendry said afterwards.
“Golf is one of those games where you have to accept that luck is part of the game. It went my way today and I’m obviously very happy about that.”
Back-to-back bogeys at the seventh and eighth provided a glimmer of hope to his rivals but a steadying par at the ninth meant Hendry’s lead at the turn
was still six shots.
Four straight pars to start the back nine protected that margin before a birdie at 14 all but killed off any potential contest.
“I thought 72 was going to be pretty hard to beat,” Hendry said.
“Someone was going to have to play unbelievable golf out there today. It was so tricky.
“Trying to judge the clubs into the green was just about impossible at times.”
Hendry’s win was set up earlier in the week with a first round 64 before he captured the lead with a barnstorming second round 62.
From then on, he would not move from the top of the leaderboard with a third round 69 setting up his victory-clinching final round and a shot at further opportunities overseas via the order of merit.
“Now that I’ve given myself a decent chance to have a good finish on this tour, it’d be really great to finish off the season well and push for a really good finish on the order of merit,’’ he said.
“That would allow me some stuff overseas that I haven’t really thought too much about.
“At least now I’ve got the opportunity. The other goal would be to finish off my covid starts in Japan well, retain that card and get back to doing what I do.”
Hendry was delighted to add another title to his name on the Australasian Tour after battling a recent shoulder injury.
“It’s been a while. The last time I won on the Aussie Tour was the 2017 New Zealand Open so it was nice to get across the line again.
“It’s just nice to be feeling fit and proving to myself that I’ve still got it.”
Runner-up was the Australasian Tour order of merit leader David Micheluzzi who continued his sensational summer that started with victory in the first event of the season at the Western Australia PGA and now consists of seven top 10 finishes from nine starts.
The Victorian strung together rounds of 67, 66, 69 and 69 to boost his hopes of securing one of the DP World Tour cards available to the top three eligible players on the order of merit at season’s end.
Four starts are required to be eligible and Micheluzzi is currently in second place behind Australian PGA Championship winner Cameron Smith who has only played two events.
Lydia Ko continues to marvel.
Last November she won the biggest prize in women’s golf when taking out the Tour Championship in the United States for a first prize of $US2 million which took her world ranking back to No 1.
The following month she got married and last month, at her first start for this year, she won the Saudi Ladies’ International in Saudi Arabia. The tournament carried a first prize of 701,000 euros which converts to $NZ1.19 million.
Ko had won the same tournament in 2021 and the latest win was the 26th of the 26-year-old’s career.
The New Zealand star fired a final round of four under par 68 to record a one-shot victory. Ko headed into the final day in second place, just one shot off the lead, having shot rounds of 64, 69 and 66 on the first three days.
It was a good start for Ko in the final round with a birdie on the first, before a dropped shot on the second but she soon picked up another birdie on the sixth.
Three more birdies on her back nine was enough for Ko to seal victory with a total of 21-under-par.
“I’m two for two on this golf course,” said Ko afterwards.
“Clearly something is going for me. This
is a golf course where, in the last few days and when I played in 2021, there were a few players that went from the back that would shoot low scores, so I just wanted to focus on my game.
“I don’t think I was setting myself up for a lot of birdie opportunities on the front
nine, but I knew that every hole could be a birdie opportunity, so it was that mindset and I wanted to be aggressive.
“The 18th hole was a lot uglier than I would have liked to picture, but in the end it’s definitely nice to get the win this week.”
It wasn’t until her birdie on No 17 that the two-time major championship winner went into the outright lead and held on to win.
“The scoreboard is right behind the green, so it was really hard to miss,” Ko explained. “I was more curious coming down the last because you could make eagle like Lilia [Vu] did yesterday, and so did Em [Pedersen].
“With this pin position I knew it would be tricky, but I just wanted to hit a couple of good shots. I had a really good second shot to set myself up for a wedge coming in. It was a little bit more stressful than I would’ve liked, but it doesn’t matter how you get it done.
“I’ve just been very grateful. A lot of great things happening, especially in the last few months again and again. You don’t know if this is real or not, but I’ve been trying to enjoy being out on the golf course.
“I’m playing with the world’s best. The field this week was really good, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. The first one of the year is really hard because you don’t have anything to base yourself off. You don’t know if you’re going to play well or badly. The start definitely helped, I stayed really patient and I was not as nervous as I thought I would be.”
Charles Tour events and I’ve missed a few key putts when it mattered most.
“To see a couple of them slide early was a little daunting, but I couldn’t be happier to see one of them drop when it mattered.”
Loof has been in a playoff before, losing to James Hydes at the 2020 Muriwai Open in Auckland.
He said there were plenty of lessons to call on to help him get over the line.
“I kept reminding myself that I’d been here before,’’ Loof said.
“I’ve been in the final group on Sunday a couple of times and trying to manage the nerves is difficult. I felt sick to my stomach out there today,” Loof added with a laugh.
“It’s important to acknowledge it’s okay to feel like that. It just means you care and that I’m doing all the right things.
“There were definitely some experiences to draw on for sure.”
Amazingly, the Super 6 format wasn’t the short format he expected, playing well more than the required number of holes to get the job done.
Loof said there was a point in the playoff where he knew he needed to make something happen, and he was able to do it on his fourth try.
“I saw on my watch that I had 170 zone minutes, and the last time I had something like that, I ran a half marathon.
“Playoff holes are hard. I think going second in every one of them is really hard too, especially trying to follow some of the great shots Jared was hitting.
Jordan Loof survived a marathon day of golf to win the Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6s in Palmerston North.
The Aucklander did it the hard way, playing 35 holes in the shortened Super 6 Sunday shootout format, beating Jared Edwards in a tense final at Manawatu Golf Club on the fourth playoff hole last month.
After 54 holes of strokeplay to decide the seeds heading into the medal matchplay on the final day, Loof qualified 10th meaning he would not get a bye in the first round in the morning.
On his way to the finals in the afternoon, he managed to beat Jake Meenhorst, Sam An, and Junhyong Lim to reach a semi-final, where he met Sung Jin Yeo.
After six holes, the pair couldn’t be separated and needed extra holes to see who would progress to the final against Auckland amateur Jared Edwards.
Loof stepped up, hitting an aggressive shot to the short 97-metre playoff hole, which was played from the third
tee to the 18th green, and rolled in a six foot birdie putt to book his place in the final.
Edwards and Loof went shot for shot early in the final until Loof birdied the fifth to lead by one going into the final hole of regular play.
However, Edwards wasn’t done with that easily. He produced a magnificent birdie of his own to force extra holes again. The pair shaved the hole countless times in the sudden-death playoff, making pars the first three times.
Loof took the initiative and went straight at the flag again, hitting his approach to around the same distance he did in the semi-final but from the other side of the hole.
He rolled in the winning putt and let out all his emotions as he realised he’d just won his first New Zealand Charles Tour event, sponsored by Jennian Homes.
“It feels really special. I’m still trying to process it,’’ were Loof’s opening words afterwards.
“I can’t express how happy I am. I’ve had a few close calls on Jennian Homes
“What I tried to bring this time was some intensity, and I’m not sure if swagger is the right word, but I believed that this was my tournament and I’m going to go out there and win it.
“In the end, I thought one of us has got to seize the moment and try and make something happen. Thankfully, I was the one to do that.”
Edwards, besides being the runner-up, finished as the leading amateur after an outstanding week of golf that included an albatross in the first round.
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Sir Bob Charles’ comeback in the Legends Pro-Am at St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin last month was a roaring success.
Okay he didn’t win or shoot the lights out but he had no problem beating his age and many others in the field with a score of 78. Conditions were testing with wind and colder temperatures.
His bogeys tended to come on the more difficult and, in some cases, longer holes. For instance hole No 3 is a long undulating par four which for shorter hitters plays like a par five, as does No 12, which in this writer’s opinion is the most difficult on the course with a long uphill climb.
However, his birdie on the par five 10th would have been satisfying playing to a shallow green. He admitted the conditions were testing and his four three putts were uncharacteristic. It was his first competitive tournament for 10 years and he still enjoys just be-
ing out there.
Harewood professional Craig Mitchell fired a 66 to win by one shot from highly rated Australians Brad Burns and Andre Stolz while another Australian, Paul Powell, with 69 was fourth. There was little sign Mitchell would win after pars on the first six holes. He then took off with birdies on 7, 9, 11, a bogey on 12, eagle on 14 a par 5 which plays short, a birdie on 15, a bogey on 16, then the winning birdie on 18.
Speaking with tournament director, St Clair professional Patrick Moore, revealed a delighted host.
“I am really chuffed. Having Bob was amazing in every way. We had a full field and at least 200 spectators on course,’’ Moore said.
“The 44 man field contained 22 Australians, two Canadians and one from the USA showing the popularity of the New Zealand legends tour with overseas players. The Q and A we had with Bob in the packed clubhouse after-
wards was just brilliant and he was so obliging with everything.”
One of the highlights was when he had a chipping and putting session with several juniors who were in awe of Charles.
Charles was thoroughly pleased with the day.
“It was a successful day and I think everyone there enjoyed themselves,’’ Charles said.
“I believe all the sponsors were pleased and are on board for next year. The course looks great, especially now with the trees that were removed opening up the course and the magnificent views even further than previously. As for the greens they were in excellent condition and well paced.’’
So where to next year? Moore said they would like to consolidate with another similar event.
“It has been so long since Dunedin hosted a PGA event, let’s get this in place. We learned a few things but
maybe we can look at a two-dayer in 2025.”
Just quietly Moore left the impression a Charles Tour event would be the ultimate. That is another story.
Having been a supporter of not only the New Zealand Open for many years, but also golf across the country through their support of Golf New Zealand, tournament organisers are delighted to announce that global automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor have extended its commitment to the tournament for a further three years.
The premier event on the New Zealand golfing calendar has been in partnership with Hyundai New Zealand since 2018 and has provided a great opportunity to connect with not only fans of golf within New Zealand, but also the next generation of golfers through the Hyundai Futures’ Festival of Golf. And now the New Zealand Open have the support of Hyundai in both New Zealand and also from Hyundai Motor Company in Korea.
Tournament chairman John Hart believes that the New Zealand Open’s
partnership with a major international company like Hyundai Motor shows not only the global reach of the tournament but the pro-am format of the tournament is really attractive to global brands and fans alike.
“We are really pleased to have the support of Hyundai Motor,’’ Hart said.
“They have been a big part of the tournament’s family and having such a quality brand as Hyundai sitting alongside New Zealand’s premier golfing event illustrates the belief in the world class event we have built.”
Speaking on behalf of Hyundai New Zealand, chief executive Andy Sinclair spoke about the great connection Hyundai has built with the tournament and golfers throughout the country thanks to the partnership.
“Firstly, we are really excited to continue the relationship with the New
Zealand Open,’’ Sinclair said.
“The alignment between our brand and the premier golf tournament in New Zealand is a great fit.
“The New Zealand Open is a world class event for players, sponsors and fans, and Hyundai are proud to be associated with this event. After two years of hiatus, we’re looking forward to activating this sponsorship through digital channels and at the event itself.”
As part of the partnership, Hyundai vehicle owners will have access to a special VIP treatment at Millbrook resort and young golfers will enjoy the Hyundai Futures’ Festival of Golf in conjunction with Golf New Zealand where they will have the opportunity to meet players, participate in free golfing games and activities, before taking in the final days play and watching the next champion crowned.
As part of Hyundai New Zealand’s relationship with Golf New Zealand, all eligible members throughout New Zealand were able to enter to win an unforgettable golfing experience, a spot in the New Zealand Open Pro-Am Championship to play alongside a competing professional in Queenstown. Turangi local, John Solly was drawn as the lucky winner and is looking forward to what will be a once-in-a-life-time experience thanks to Hyundai New Zealand.
The New Zealand Open, is scheduled to be played from March 2-5 across 36 holes at Millbrook Resort. The tournament will be broadcast live by Sky Sport in New Zealand and through various networks internationally, showcasing the best of Queenstown and New Zealand to the world.
The 102nd New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, is one of the most wide open fields for many years.
Set to thrill spectators at Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown from March 2-5, picking a winner is like a shot in the dark. The field is packed with former winners, close contenders, experienced tour players and up and coming young guns.
Possibly headlining the field is fivetime PGA Tour Champions’ star, New Zealand’s Steve Alker, who would dearly love to add the New Zealand Open to his record.
He has a fitness programme which sees him in top shape and feeling great about his game.
“All my stats are very good, but they need to be if I am going to win,’’ Alker said.
“I feel I am a more complete and consistent player than I was in my younger days on tour.”
One setback was the death from cancer on February 6 of his caddie and close friend of the last four years Sam Workman. Alker’s wife Tanya will caddie for him at Millbrook.
Former winner in 2017, Kiwi Michael Hendry, is in with a strong challenge after his recent decisive four shot win at the Victorian Open.
“It was great to get across the line again and just nice to be feeling fit and proving to myself that I’ve still got it. The New Zealand Open is my favourite event.”
Several other Kiwis will be looking to contend on the final day. Daniel Hillier, after earning his place on the DP World Tour, will be keen to impress while Josh Geary continues to show the form needed to contend after some solid efforts in Australia.
Queenstowner Ben Campbell is fit again and will look to go one better than his runner-up to Hendry in 2017. James Anstiss also has the local knowledge to surprise, as does Nick Voke the winner of The Hills Pro-Am in December. Denzel Ieremia’s and Luke Toomey’s games should be sharp after their
stints in Australia while it will be nice to see popular, experienced left hander Gareth Paddison in action again. A long shot who could feature is Gulf Harbour professional Dongwoo Kang who is regularly on the leaderboard on the Charles Tour.
As usual the Australian prescence and challenge will be strong. Dimi Papadatos is looking to capitalise on memories of his win in 2014 while Rhein Gibson is looking forward to his return to Queenstown after his recent win on the Korn Ferry Tour in the United States. Zach Murray is eyeing a repeat of his 2019 win while 2015 champion Jordan Zunic is likewise looking to repeat his winning shot to the 18th green at The Hills. The experienced Scott Strange is another with a shot at glory while 2018 winner Daniel Nisbet will also fancy his chances.
Born in South Africa, but raised in Western Australia, Jason Scrivener will be one to watch. After a hugely successful amateur career he turned professional in 2010 and played various tours before his first win at the New South Wales Open in 2017. He has played well on the DP World Tour and is currently 17th ranked.
Vastly experienced Scott Hend loves coming to the New Zealand Open. A professional since 1997, he has played the PGA and DP World Tours and currently is on the Asian Tour. David Micheluzzi, another recent winner could well be in the mix. It would be remiss not to mention defending two-time champion Brad Kennedy who is keen for a third title.
From the United States, Turk Pettit the 2021 National Athletics’ Association Champion, could impress while the name of 29-year-old Davis Love IV, the son of Davis Love III, is an intriguing entry. Turned professional in 2017, he has made three cuts in 19 events on the PGA Tour for meagre returns. He managed to gain his Asian Tour card in January and is looking for better things.
Tournament director Michael Glading is enthusiastic about the many
young guns in the field.
“In recent years the New Zealand Open has featured some of the best rising stars from around the world including Tom Kim, Sungjae Im, Cameron Davis, Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert,’’ Glading said.
“In 2020 I predicted big things for Tom Kim who led for three rounds as a 17-year-old. This year spectators should watch Riki Kawamoto. Only 21, he was the longest hitter on the Japan Tour last year.
“Japan’s Mikumu Horikawa returns for the fifth time. A star in Japan he has won four times. Also watch out for Yuto Katsuragawa who ranks 141st after a fine 2022.”
Todd Baek, a Korean who plays on the Japan Tour where he ranks 30th, spent many of his young years in New Zealand and is hoping that connection will give him the winning edge.
As for the amateur ambassadors the lineup will attract interest although sadly the much loved name missing is Shane Warne whose untimely death left a big hole in the sporting world. Brendon McCullum, on a nine handicap, is sure to excite. Hockey’s Ella Gunson, on a six, hits a long ball. Many regulars are back singing the praises of the New Zealand Open format. Israel Dagg, Jeff Wilson, Sean Fitzpatrick, Sir Ian Botham, Stephen Fleming and
newcomer World Rally driver Hayden Paddon will add their own flavour to the event.
Millbrook will also celebrate it’s 30th anniversary with a sensational hole in one prize. Any professional or amateur who cards a hole in one on the Remarkables 18th hole during the first two days or on the Coronet course in the final two rounds will win a week’s holiday at Millbrook for the next 30 years.
Millbrook Resort director of operations Brian Howie said the anniversary was a “major milestone for the resort.” The prize is five nights bed and breakfast for two people for a 30 year consecutive period, two 18-hole rounds with cart and a $1000 resort credit which expires at the end of the accommodation booking each year. Should more than one player make a hole in one, the prize will be shared equally between all players who will take turns to claim their weeks at the resort.
Tournament chairman John Hart said: “I’m sure the watching galleries will be cheering on their favourites as they approach the 18th each day, and there is nothing like a prize of this magnitude to raise the stakes and increase the nerves.
Let the show begin. Spectators roll up, as admission is free for all four days.
The Hikurangi Golf Course is a well maintained 18-hole course of 5246m par 70 with two par 5s and four par 3s and with some very interesting and challenging holes. The greens are irrigated with defined fairways bordered by light controlled rough. The course is elevated with rolling contours offering outstanding 360° scenic views to distant ranges. Situated only 10 minutes’ drive north of Whangarei City, Hikurangi Golf Club enjoys a warm and friendly country atmosphere where visitors are always welcome and the tee is readily available with little or no waiting time (bookings not required). Golf carts are available for hire but bookings are essential for these. Club days are Wednesdays and Sundays. Tee off is usually about 9am and visitors are welcome to join in our daily haggles. The clubhouse is open on these days and light refreshments and golf requirements are available. Green fees are $30 per round. Full membership is $450 per person with summer and mid-week subs available.
$100
06 344 4554
Email: admin@castlecliffgolf.co.nz Visit: www.castlecliffgolfclub.org.nz
Arecent first visit to the highly regarded Amberley golf course did not disappoint.
I was fortunate to be able to speak with Kathy Pepper who volunteers in the office. As it happened we felt we knew each other somehow. The penny dropped as we realised we dated back to the 1980s when squash rackets was our sport in Christchurch and we hadn’t seen each other since.
That is by the by and Pepper said Amberley was rated the best club in North Canterbury with 230 members.
“We have a good number of nine hole players. Men’s day is Wednesday but they also play on Fridays and about 30 turn up. Women play on a Thursday. We have equal rights for men and women so on Saturdays it is mixed. It is wonderful for couples who can enjoy apres golf together.”
The club has one full time greenkeeper and one part-timer who is paid for 20 hours but does “a hell of a lot more.”
“The rest of the work at the club is done by volunteers like myself collecting the green fees.”
The club has cracked 100 years?
“We were 100 years old in 2022 but we weren’t able to celebrate as the sea came over our road and blocked access,’’ Pepper said.
“With global warming and all the wonderful things happening we couldn’t get in. So when the road was a bit clearer we still couldn’t get in because of boulders and stuff. So we used to park before the bridge (about 250 metres away) and walk in, which we did for about three or four months. So now we are just waiting for the sea to come over and we will have to do it all again.”
No question global warming is a big problem?
“Both the council and a group from the club are working very hard on finding a short term solution to the road problem.”
One can only hope they are successful as the road in is very much off road.
A brief look at the club’s 100 years is worthwhile. Founded in 1922, a block of land was leased from Harry James south of the township on state highway one. Nine holes were formed in the sheep paddocks, a gully that resembled the Grand Canyon, with a par three over a steep bank and a long par five to finish. Apparently, sometimes after playing their tee shots on the par three and scrambling down the bank, some small boys would appear from the river bed grab their balls and disappear. Another classic tale is of a member who was frequently “helped” to get a hole in one.
Men wore plus fours, hats and always a tie while ladies wore long skirts, tie and a hat. A hand mower was used to mow a patch for the greens and a horse fitted with special rubber shoes so as not to mark the greens was used to pull a roller and spread seed or fertilizer.
By 1942 there were 63 members but the club went into recess in 1942 although six holes were formed on Amberley domain for social golf. New links were formed
on land four kilometres west of the township with magnificent views of the sea and Mt Grey and opening day was in July, 1947.
In August, 1954, enthusiastic members were looking to the future and a special general meeting was called to discuss proposed links at Amberley Beach. It received a favourable response from local authorities but the first task was to form about 800 metres of road to give cars and machinery access to the area. A visit today reveals the work involved. Thirteen holes were developed and the course opened on April 23, 1955. Trees were needed for shelter from the easterly winds. Lupins were planted along the eastern boundary which allowed pine trees to get established and grow.
Two more holes were added in 1957 and in 1959 a new clubhouse was built and the course was extended to 18 holes. A full time greenkeeper was employed in 1963 and membership was growing fast. In 1970 the clubhouse was extended with an upstairs area of 2500 square feet including bar and toilet facilities.
A major move in 1974 saw excavation to form a pond on the 17th hole take place. This would be the answer to their watering problems. In the same year a very bad flood affected the whole course and washed out part of the access road. In 1975 they were back on track and by 1978 reached a membership high of 382.
The club can boast a very efficient computerised watering system which is some achievement for this progressive club. The excellent facilities mean they can cater for groups of up to 300 people while the clubhouse itself can cater for 150.
So what about the course playing wise? My partner and I were pleasantly surprised to find the course in excellent condition despite being the middle of summer with hot dry conditions. In particular the greens were pristine and a credit to the greenkeeper. The pace was
very playable and even.
The first hole at 350 metres from the white tees was a not too testing introduction being straight and relatively wide. The second is a dogleg left par five while the par three third is a long testing 186 metres with trees to avoid. There are some bunkers on the course such as on the sixth, a par three.
The 11th, a par five, sports a big bunker short and left of the green while Nos 12 and 13 sport greenside bunkers. The 16th is a short 278 metres but a tee shot with trees to negotiate makes accuracy a challenge. The 17th, a 132 metre par three, is arguably the most attractive hole with that pond mentioned earlier and a tree or two to avoid providing a genuine challenge. The 18th, Journeys End a par four of 364 metres, provides a pleasant end to an enjoyable round.
Amberley is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area and better still the green fees will not leave a hole in your pocket.
World golf governing body The R&A has confirmed the schedule of events that will make up The Open qualifying series for this year and the exemption categories for The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool in England from July 16-23.
Golfers aiming to book their place in The Open will have opportunities at 15 professional events in nine countries.
A total of 34 places are available through events being played around the world on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. The number of places at final qualifying has been increased by four to provide a minimum of 16 places through events being held in the United Kingdom at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire on July 4.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director – championships at The R&A, said, “We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool.
We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year.”
Three PGA Tour events in the United States are included in the schedule, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Wells Fargo Championship and the Memorial Tournament. Each event will offer three qualifying places.
In Asia, a total of 10 places will be available through the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club on the Asian Tour, the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour and the Korea Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Korean Golf Association and the Asian Tour.
On the DP World Tour, three places will be awarded at the British Masters, Made in HimmerLand and Scottish Open.
Six golfers have already earned places through the Joburg Open in South Africa and the Australian Open which were played at the end of last year.
In a change to previous criteria, qualifying places
will now be awarded to the leading players who make the cut and are not already exempt as of the closing date of entries for The Open on June 1.
Any golfer earning a qualifying place who then becomes exempt under one or more categories before the closing date of entries will result in that place being awarded to the next non-exempt golfer, which will determined by a reserve list for each event played before June 1.
The R&A has also confirmed the exemption categories for The 151st Open.
A new exemption has been added for elite amateur golfers in which the player who accumulates the most points awarded by the world amateur golf ranking in the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship will earn a place in The Open.
The Ryder Cup and Presidents’ Cup exemption, which rotated each year, has been removed while the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup exemption is not included for 2023 as the event will not be played this year.
Afast-finishing Fiona Xu led New Zealand to fifth place in the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup in the Philippines last month.
Xu finished in a share of second in the individual standings after shooting rounds of 68, 73, 72, and 69.
The Auckland trio of herself, Vivian Lu, and Eunseo Choi combined for a team score of two under par which was 10 shots behind South Korea which stormed home to a five-shot victory.
Xu finished as the leading Kiwi at six-under par while Lu finished four over
par with rounds of 72, 77, 71, and 72 for 12th. Choi finished 32nd with scores of 82, 80, 73, and 73.
Xu led the way for the Kiwis all week and continued firing at flags in the final round. She was even par through her opening 10 holes after an eagle and a couple of bogeys. She found her rhythm with her putter, draining three nice birdie putts in her closing side to climb two places in the individual standings.
She was pleased with her finish.
“I finished with a birdie which was a great way to finish the tournament,’’ Xu said.
“A highlight was an eagle at the fourth and a couple more birdies on the 14th and 15th, as well as the birdie on the 18th.
“I hit a few of my approach shots nice and close, but I seemed to capitalise with the putter a little more. My goal today was to go out, play my own game, and not think too much. I wanted to hit fairways, greens, and hole some putts. The eagle on the fourth was a good confidence boost early, especially after an early bogey on two.”
Despite the strong end to her round, the 18-year-old didn’t think she’d done
enough to sneak a podium place.
“I didn’t think that I’d played well enough to finish inside the top three, so finishing in a tie for second was a really nice surprise.
“The course was really challenging this week. The grass is completely different to New Zealand — it’s a lot harder to hit off and it’s much harder to control your spin around the greens. I found a lot of my approach shots were going long into the rough, and chipping from the rough was tough.’’
No one can question Tiger Woods’ ability when it comes to striking a golf ball and getting it into a hole on a green in the least number of shots. But is that where it ends?
He has built an ongoing and unenviable record off the golf course in his dealings with women and in other areas of life which don’t need detailing here. However, his recent immature and pathetic “fun and games” with his ``close friend’’ Justin Thomas at the Genesis Invitational in the United States have rightly drawn scathing reactions from far and wide.
It is difficult to comprehend the mindset of any male golfer, or anyone else for that matter, thinking that having a tampon at the ready to hand to a playing partner after outdriving him as if to
say “you play like a girl” is funny. Surely Woods would know the cameras would pick it up.
What made it more sad was the reaction of Thomas which tells something about him as well. I would like to think most golfers with any moral fortitude would have politely told Woods it was a pathetic and demeaning joke.
Perhaps Woods always carries tampons just in case? So it was not surprising that his “hugely funny’’, so he and Thomas thought joke, drew many blunt reactions.
Leading the charge was Olympic legend Michael Johnson whose comments were right on the money. “He has never been a leader and continues to make mistakes. He is like Teflon as he is still heralded after all his mistakes.”
Johnson then went on to slam Tiger for his limp apology which went like this. “It
was supposed to be all fun and games but obviously it hasn’t turned out that way.’’
The following sentence was where it became more than limp.
“If I offended anyone in any shape or form I’m sorry. We play pranks on one another all the time.”
Haha.
Unsurprisingly he has come under fire from many women’s groups. Golf presenter Sarah Stirk blasted him. She said: “Completely surprised and really disappointed. His crass actions show that women are seen as inferior to men in the sport’s battle for equality, suggesting Thomas plays like a woman.”
Let’s be frank. In many ways the women’s game is a better watch than the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with their superb shotmaking and camaraderie.
Wouldn’t you just know it.
Tiger Woods has announced he is designing a monster new golf course in Utah in the United States.
If he reads this, I can hear Sir Bob Charles and other like
minded golfers grinding their teeth.
The course will have nice views but here is the not surprising rub. It will measure over 8000 yards (7400 metres) from the championship tees. That is an average of 411 metres per
hole.
But wait there is more. There are five par fives each over 575 metres. The 10th hole is, would you believe, over 650 metres. Even Bryson De Chambeau would blink more than once at the prospect.
When Thomas threw the tampon on the ground, Woods burst into hysterics so pleased with his joke.
One person who thought it was funny was golf glamour girl Paige Spiranac who brushed it off as boys’ fun as did, surprisingly, Solheim Cup captain Suzann Pettersen who described it as “a boyish joke.” Isn’t that simply saying he hasn’t grown up?
One must ask is that the point? Just because something may be funny for some, doesn’t necessarily make it right. These were supposedly two mature adult men in a world view forum indulging in immature crude behaviour. Women have been the butt of demeaning humour for ever and a day from a segment of men. Surely it is time for a change of mindset especially from high profile sportsmen who should know better.
The first hole is a welcoming 610 metres. Despite the brutal length, Woods said the course would provide an excellent experience for every ability with its generous landing areas providing opportunities for strategic choices.
According to Woods, the contoured greens of varying sizes will offer players who miss them the chance to make some interesting recoveries. Players who fancy their chances from the back tees might be advised to do some body building first.
The decision by Mayakoba in Mexico to host the first LIV event for 2023 did not surprise given the various factors at play. However, being a regular venue for the PGA Tour’s Mayakoba Classic meant that decision would bring a reaction from the PGA Tour.
So again, not surprisingly, the PGA Tour’s reaction was not to renew the 2023 event although Mayakoba’s chief executive Borja Escalada made it clear to PGA Tour chief executive Jay Monahan they would be happy to host both tours.
When asked if the PGA would be happy to share the venue with LIV the reply was “That’s a great question.” At last report the question had not been answered. When asked why they didn’t renew, a tour spokesper-
son declined to comment.
Escalada’s team had been in consultation with LIV for more than two years. Greg Norman had designed the El Camelion course so had a long association with Mayakoba. Escalada was also close to many LIV players such as Graeme McDowell, Pat Perez and Mexico’s biggest stars Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz.
Add to that, Escalado’s fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia is designing a course at Mayakoba that opens in 2024.
Escalada did his homework. He invited several players to his home for dinner and sounded them out about LIV Golf when it was just blowing in the wind. In the following months he had many conversations with Greg Norman and other LIV people and players, as well as PGA Tour executives .
His team considered all the various factors and decided to sign with LIV partly because they felt it would
open a huge window to the world. Also a big factor was the PGA Tour could not offer Mexico’s Ancer and Ortiz who the young golfers look up to.
Add to that the new elevated PGA schedule that the top 70 ranked players are expected to play in has effectively relegated the nine autumn events to little more than a qualifying school where players ranked 71 to 125 in the FedEx Cup will battle for their cards for the next season. Not great for the sponsors knowing the top 70 don’t have to play and likely won’t. This leads to thinking what could have been. Had the PGA Tour at least sat down with Norman and LIV rather than not even acknowledge their several approaches the autumn season could have been achieving it’s purpose while LIV provided the icing on the financial cake for the top players who wanted to play the LIV schedule.
One of the nicest professional golfers, Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, has become a victim of the rampant hypocrisy surrounding the Saudi involvement in golf.
She has been an ambassador for the lucrative five event Aramco Team Series for the last two years. It has increased the level of prizemoney for women as part of the Ladies’ European Tour and lifted the profile of women’s golf significantly.
Lydia Ko was a recent beneficiary win-
ning the Saudi Ladies’ International and the largest winner’s purse to date. Sadly, Nordqvist has felt she had no option but to part ways as an ambassador after being unfairly targeted.
She has in her words received “hatred and mean comments from people.”
The ongoing negative comments and criticism affected her deeply and it all became too much for this humble low profile lady.
However, as a mark of the respect and regard she attracts, the parting was on
very good terms.
Nordqvist released a statement in regard to the Aramco Team Series as follows. “I owe so much to the game of golf.
“It has given me opportunities and experiences I could never have dreamed of. I want to do everything I can to inspire others to believe they can also dream big, and to give back to the game.
“As an ambassador for the Aramco Team Series I was given the chance to be a part of creating positive impact all over the world, and show support for an initiative I believe is doing great things for women’s golf.
“But the negative comments and criticism have affected me and I hope my decision will allow me to focus on being at my best on and off the course. Aramco are fully supportive of this decision. I will always fight for women’s golf.
“This decision does not change the respect I have for what the Aramco Team Series has done for the women’s game. Their worldwide events have made a great difference to the Ladies’ European Tour.”
Aramco replied to her statement thanking her for her service saying “Anna, you are an incredible figurehead for women’s golf and we have been fortunate to work with you over the past two years.”
Thankfully, Nordqvist has still played in recent events and one can only hope
Anna Nordqvistthe haters can slink back into their sewers and allow Nordqvist to do what she wants to do without hassle.
As she said: “I will continue to chase my dreams and be the best ambassador I can be for the game of golf all over the world, playing on the LPGA and European Tours with hopes of inspiring others to chase their dreams too.”
The words of one classy lady indeed.
The re-opening of Hong Kong to international travellers will be celebrated with the staging of the World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club.
To be held over the tournament composite course at the Hong Kong Golf Club’s (HKGC) world-acclaimed Fanling venue from March 23-26, the event will
act as the seventh leg of the 2023 Asian Tour and carry a prize pot of $US1 million.
It will be the first international golf tournament in the Special Administrative Region of China for 38 months.
It was in the second week of January 2020 that Australian Wade Ormsby triumphed in the Hong Kong Open. Within
two months the spread of Covid-19 prompted the imposition of travel bans and the cessation of sporting gatherings.
However, with the widespread recent lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, Hong Kong is once more ready to showcase itself as Asia’s world city and a hub for major sporting events.
Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour commissioner and chief executive, said: “We’re all excited to be able to return to Hong Kong and the iconic Hong Kong Golf Club, one of the world’s most historic golfing establishments and a perennial favourite among Asian Tour members.”
Hong Kong Golf Club captain Andy Kwok said: “Staging international events is very much part of the club’s fabric and history, so to welcome back world-class golfers and spectators to the fairways of Fanling after three long years is something we are all very excited about.
“Through the inaugural World City Championship, the club is putting Hong Kong firmly back on the international golfing map, whilst at the same time providing a platform for talented young Hong Kong players to showcase their skills in front of a global audience.
“We definitely believe that Hong Kong
golfers have what it takes to compete at the highest level and their confidence and development will only grow from experiences such as this. The club has long been the training ground to nurture local golfing talent and we cannot wait to get the event underway.”
Founded in 1889, the HKGC inaugurated the Hong Kong Open in 1959 and has hosted every edition since. In addition, the club staged the inaugural Johnnie Walker Classic in 1990, won by then world No 1 Sir Nick Faldo, the Alfred Dunhill Masters, the Alfred Dunhill Cup Asia-Pacific qualifying and the Hong Kong Ladies Open.
The World Amateur Team Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy (men) and Espirito Santo Trophy (women) took place at the HKGC in 1984 while the Queen Sirikit Cup Asia-Pacific Ladies’ Invitational Team Championship has been held at the club on three occasions (1990, 2001 and 2015).
The World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club will take place the week before the Hong Kong rugby sevens – making it a great time for sports
Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club has been confirmed as the sole Asian venue on LIV Golf’s 2023 schedule. Of the 14 events on the calendar for league play this year, eight are in the United States, two in Europe and one each in Asia, Australia, North America and the Middle East.
“To be officially announced as a LIV Golf venue is exciting for everyone associated with Sentosa Golf Club,” said Andrew Johnston, general manager and director of agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club.
Following on from the Australian event at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, the $US25 million Singapore event from April 28-30 will be the fifth leg on the 2023 schedule.
The three-day tournament will feature shotgun starts and individual and team competitions.
Johnston added: “We are proud to have the opportunity to welcome 48 of the world’s best players to battle it out across The Serapong, for what will be the biggest prize purse and event in the history of golf in Singapore.
“We cannot wait to host the event and showcase to millions of people why Sentosa Golf Club is renowned for being one of the world’s best golf clubs.”
Kwee Eng Thien, Sentosa development corporation chief executive, said: “Together with Sentosa Golf Club, we are elated to host LIV Golf’s Singapore debut, and are confident that we can provide a top-of-class experience for golfers and fans alike.
“As tourism regains momentum and Sentosa continues to gear up and welcome world-class events, we remain committed to our sustainability goals
and are proud that Sentosa Golf Club has received recognition for their steadfast efforts in sustainability.”
Five of the venues for this year hosted tournaments as part of the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series.
They are:-
Centurion Club outside London, England (July 7-9).
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, New Jersey (August 11-13).
Rich Harvest Farms outside Chicago, Illinois (September 22-24).
Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, Florida (October 20-22).
Royal Greens Golf & Country Club near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (November 3-5).
In addition, fans in the US will see LIV Golf’s innovative league at Orange County National in Orlando, Florida (March 31-April 2) and at Trump Na-
Golf New Zealand, in consultation with the Hastings Golf Club, has postponed the Renaissance Brewing New Zealand Strokeplay Championship because of the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in
the Hawke’s Bay area.
The tournament was scheduled for March 16-19 but with such widespread damage to infrastructure, houses and people’s lives it was considered inappropriate at
tional Golf Club, Washington DC (May 26-28).
These seven venues, alongside the seven previously announced dates and locations complete the 2023 LIV Golf League schedule.
The others are:-
Mayakoba’s El Camaleón Golf Course on Mexico’s Riviera Maya (February 2426).
The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona (March 17-19). The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia (April 21-23).
The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore (April 28-30).
Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma (May 12-14). Real Club Valderrama in Andalucía, Spain (June 30-July 2).
The Greenbrier in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia (August 4-6).
this time to bring people into the region for a golf event. Both parties will be assessing the situation and taking feedback from a range of parties before deciding if and when new dates will be confirmed.
Golf Datatech, LLC, and Yano Research Institute Ltd, two of the golf industry’s leading independent research and data firms, have introduced the World Golf Report 2023, the industry’s only global golf retail study.
The 2023 edition of the report, the fifth edition since 2015, provides an in-depth global retail market summary based upon geography, size and economic significance of the now $US20 billion worldwide golf equipment and apparel market, which encompass the $US11.1 billion equipment and the $US8.9 billion apparel sectors, respectively.
Among the key highlights of the study, worldwide golf equipment and apparel sales exploded to all-time highs in 2021 following the covid pandemic, surging more than $US5 billon.
“The main question we get from throughout the industry is how much did the golf business grow after the pandemic and what did we give back in 2022?” said John Krzynowek, partner, Golf Datatech.
“In 2021, we reached all-time high sales levels around the world, eclipsing $US20 billion in annual sales, with $US11.1 billion in golf equipment and $US9 billion in golf apparel.
“Strong consumer demand for golf products continued into 2022, however, several factors constrained the manufacturers’ ability to meet orders during the first three quarters, and then economic woes dragged down the market in Q4 (fourth quarter),” added Krzynowek.
Even though the golf business was very healthy over the past two years, the data shows it could have been even better except for:
* Supply chain issues hampered the ability to make enough products to meet demand.
* Manufacturing and shipping were constrained by covid restrictions and capacity.
* The strengthening United States dollar frequently negated positive sales trends within local markets.
“Despite near record levels, worldwide equipment and apparel sales could have been substantially higher if not for these market disruptions,” said Krzynowek.
The US and Korea were the primary drivers of much of the world’s equipment and apparel sales growth since 2019, with Korean equipment sales +93% (+$US549 million) while US sales were +43% (+$US1.6 billion).
Some additional findings of the 2023 World Golf Report include:
* The top five world golf markets were: United States (No 1); Japan (2), South Korea (3), United Kingdom (4) and Canada (5).
* The US and Japan combine to represent over 66 percent of the world golf equipment market.
* Korean golfers spend more per capita on their golf equipment and apparel than any other country.
In 2015, Golf Datatech and Yano Research collaborated to introduce the golf industry’s first-ever worldwide market report, a benchmark study designed to capture the true size and scope of the global golf retail market.
Now in 2023, the new updated study features eight years of sales history by product category, including specific estimates for golf balls, clubs, other golf equipment, and golf apparel.
“The alliance between Golf Datatech and Yano Research Institute continues to yield new data that speaks not only to the state of the worldwide equipment and apparel markets, but also provides trends and insights that can help companies better react to changes across worldwide marketplaces and adjust their business strategies,” said Krzynowek.
“The 2023 World Golf Report analyses all countries that have a significant golf footprint, providing a wealth of key information, including insights into the top 10 golf markets and a deep dive into the US, UK and Japan markets,” he added.
Shigeki Mitsuishi, senior executive researcher, Yano Research Institute, said: “The World Golf Report remains an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the golf business around the world.
“Having accurate estimates of the various worlds’ golf economies is critical to managing and developing business plans across the globe. We believe the World Golf Report provides our customers with great insights which they can use to better run their businesses, regardless of where they are or what products they sell.”
The spectacular St Clair Golf Club is nestled on the cliffs above Dunedin’s beautiful St Clair Beach. The course offers world class views of the Pacific Ocean, its beaches and the beautiful city of Dunedin often regarded as the Edinburgh of the south.
Host to numerous International and National Events come and play one of the most challenging club courses in New Zealand where International golfing stars like Sir Bob Charles, Seve Ballesteros, Johnny Miller and many more have graced our fairways.
admin@stclairgolf.co.nz | 03 4877076
KemperSports, a leading golf, sports, entertainment and hospitality company, has unveiled new data from its latest golf survey that speaks to the make-up of current players and their evolving preferences that are driving the golf industry forward.
Teeing Up the Future of Golf: The 2023 KemperSports Golfer Insight Survey, queried roughly 16,000 golfers of varying levels and ages in the United States to learn more about what motivates them to hit the links, and how courses can adapt to meet their needs.
As a follow up to the 2021 KemperSports Golfer Insights Survey that focused largely on the so-called pandemic player, this round of insights supports those initial findings, reiterating that players are looking for a social, more inclusive approach to the game.
This survey also confirmed that golfers of all ages and levels, especially those that started or returned to the game during the covid pandemic, are continuing to play just as much now, if not more.
“When we first conducted this survey in 2021, our focus was to gain a better understanding of both the lifelong golfer as well as those who picked up the game
as a result of the pandemic,” said Keith Karem, senior vice president of marketing at KemperSports.
“With these new insights, we are able to take a deeper look at why these new golfers stuck with the game as well as the changing expectations of players across the board.
“As leaders in the golf industry, this data will help us understand how our properties can continue evolving our oncourse experience to keep these players of all ages and levels coming back for more as we explore new and innovative ways to grow the game,” he added.
The key findings from the 2023 survey are as follows:
1. People are playing more golf. 89 percent of respondents said they played the same amount or more golf in 2022 compared to the height of the pandemic, with 78 percent playing 16 or more rounds in the year. But what is motivating them? For Gen Z (age 16-25), golf presents an ideal setting to de-stress and disconnect, with 70 percent saying they play golf to relieve stress and 54 percent looking to unplug. In older generations, exercising and enjoying the outdoors are the key motivators.
2. Regardless of age or level, players are craving more tech-forward options in all aspects of the game. While the desire to disconnect may be true for some out on the course, that doesn’t mean they aren’t searching for tech that supports or improves their game. 75 percent of surveyed players said they are interested in a golf cart GPS, while 50 percent are interested in driving range ball tracking and simulator tech. It’s not just on-course tech-forward enhancements they want – 54 percent of players are anxious for new ways to search for and book tee times online.
3. Non-traditional golf formats (including shorter rounds and shorter courses) are rising in popularity, especially among newer players who started playing in the last three years. When asked to envision their ideal year of golf, 85 percent of new players still want to play the traditional 18 holes for at least half their rounds or more. That said, they do prefer shorter formats for the remaining half, including: nine holes (70 percent), short courses (47 percent), par three courses (44 percent).
4. Not only is Gen Z here to stay, but they are learning, improving and playing
more than ever. 55 percent of these younger players say they are hitting the links more after experiencing lower scores and overall improvement in their game. How do we keep them engaged on the greens? The ‘fun factor’ is important to Gen Z, with 81 percent saying that the social aspect of the sport attracts them to play more. However, social golf opportunities targeted at this generation might be lacking, as 83 percent currently don’t play in a league, yet 70 percent say they are interested in social events and leagues.
“The fact that 89 percent of golfers said they played the same amount or more in 2022 compared to the height of the pandemic is truly telling of the state of the golf industry,” said Steve Skinner, chief executive of KemperSports.
“There’s no denying the game has grown, but it has also changed. At KemperSports, we are committed to pioneering that continued positive change and using important insights like these to push the envelope at our properties while taking this next generation of interested golfers and converting them into lifelong players,” he added.
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Major champion Michelle Wie West will align with The R&A to expand her golf career off the course and into the global development of the sport.
One of the most recognised figures in women’s golf, Wie West made history at 12 years of age by becoming the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA Tour championship and the youngest to make a cut at a major championship before going on to establish a highly successful career, winning the 2014 US Women’s Open and a further four titles on the LPGA Tour.
Wie West has demonstrated a strong desire to elevate the visibility of women’s golf as well as foster an inclusive and diverse future for the sport. This is evident through her philanthropic endeavour #HoodieForGolf which harnesses the power of social media to drive awareness of women’s golf whilst selling tie-dyed hoodies to benefit selected charities.
Through their alignment, The R&A
and Wie West will work together across a broad spectrum of areas including women and girls’ initiatives with Wie West helping to drive participation, particularly in Asian markets as well as providing her unique knowledge to advise on elite performance and development.
Phil Anderton, chief development officer at The R&A, said: “Michelle Wie West is undoubtably an icon of women’s sport and we are delighted that in her post-playing career she has decided to work alongside The R&A to achieve its global development initiatives.
“She brings to the role her star power, broad audience but also a vast wealth of knowledge and experience which can be harnessed to help develop the future stars of golf.”
Wie West said: “Golf is an incredible sport which has given so much to me throughout my career. I now want to use my platform and knowledge to contribute to golf away from the course. I
am excited to be able to help shape the future players, both those who like to enjoy golf recreationally and the young talent who aspire to a playing career.”
* Aramco Team Series will return in 2023 with five events in five different countries
* Will head to Singapore for opening event of the year
* Tournament will take place at Laguna National Golf Resort Club from 16-18 March
* World number one Lydia Ko is first big-name player confirmed to appear in Singapore
* Events will once again have US$1 million prize funds, split equally between the individual winner and team winners.
The Aramco Team Series will return in 2023 on the Ladies European Tour with Singapore its first stop, as an array of the world’s best players are set the feature once again.
2022 saw the Aramco Team Series go to new heights and this year’s edition will begin in a similar fashion as world number one Lydia Ko has confirmed her attendance at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
The New Zealander was the youngest player to be ranked number one in golf when she reached the top of golf’s standings in 2017 – at just 17-years-old. She returned to the top of the pile in De-
cember eclipsing Nelly Korda as the No 1 player in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. This is the third time Ko, who notched three
LPGA Tour victories and nine other topfive finishes in 2022, has been the best player on the planet.
Ko will appear in her first ever Aramco Team Series event at Laguna National Golf Resort Club and is excited to tee it up in such a unique and innovative format. The 25-year-old commented: “I am really looking forward to playing my first Aramco Team Series event in Singapore after hearing such good things from players on both the LPGA and LET.
“From the outside it seems like a really fun week to be a part of with both the team and individual elements to play for and the set up both on and off the golf course being outstanding.
“I am looking forward to teeing it up at Laguna National in March and being a part of a golf tournament that offers something completely different to the norm.”
Noah Ali Reza, newly appointed CEO of Golf Saudi is thrilled by the return of the Aramco Team Series and excited to be taking the tournament to a completely new venue.
He added: “The Aramco Team Series events have gone from strength to strength since their inception and provide an exceptional experience both on and off the golf course for the best fe-
male golfers in the world.
“It is exciting to be heading to a new venue in Laguna National Golf Resort Club, it looks an incredible venue, definitely befitting of an Aramco Team Series event and I hope that players and supporters alike have a great week.”
Kevin Kwee, Executive Director of Laguna National Golf Resort Club concluded: “We are absolutely delighted to be holding such a prestigious tournament at our fabulous golf course.
“To have a player of Lydia Ko’s calibre confirmed as the first player that will be appearing shows how strong an event it is going to be and excites everyone here at the golf course, and beyond. The talent arriving for this event will be sure to inspire our future local and regional champions.
“As the host venue, we will ensure we provide all players, caddies, sponsors and fans with an unforgettable experience so they leave Laguna National Golf Resort Club with only incredible memories from the week.”
the win against the Aussie Long Ballers for the 3rd consecutive time. The famous Darren Wise -Stringray remaining on home turf for another year. Highlighting the winners from the 2022 championship at Hawera Golf Club:
The over 50 division is set to grow this year with the Masters Division is set at 45 +.
our club events and there’s great motivation to organise special events for our future generation of New Zealand Long Blacks.
Youngest member K Chand taking the win last year and certainly a natural talent.
It’s that time again, the locals of South Taranaki are about to show us how to make some noise as they gear up to bring the heat with our first XDL qualifier in the North Island. The fabulous Hawera Golf Club is host to this regional event and is appointed to grow the game of big hitters with New Zealand Long Drive and XDL as their raw passion for the sport is obvious. Hawera Golf Club had a star sudded line up with two New Zealand Long Blacks George Wardell and Sam Jones who are both National Champions. George Wardell took the win and set the bench mark for this year and certainly left 2022 with national pride elected as Captain of the New Zealand Long Blacks (Trans Tasman Clash - Travelling team) taking
The wait is over! XDL software is officially ready to drive the sport of Longest and Fastest hitters to a Golf Ball (but this ain’t Golf). The motivation to grow the game has been a tough one for Olna Ford who set out in 2016 to grow the sport and opportunities for the players. Olna is the designer of the XDL Grid and the idea to have a virtual platform seemed more obvious during the global pandemic which is when Olna decided to partner with OPTISHOT. XDL Software
Theres a push Women to compete this year with Ladies Champion Eshter White eager to retain her title. The XDL crew are preparing to develop a Ladies on the Tee Series of events around NZ from July 2023.
Our Youth are really delivering at
2023 expects to draw a big crowd with some New Zealand Long Blacks taking to the tee including defending champion George Wardell and Sam Jones - 1st NZ Long Drive Champ and 1st New Zealand Long Black named. It will be a day to remember so get practicing for the 1st club qualifier in the North and contact Chad at Hawera Golf Club to register.
will a training tool, one that will be used to increase participation for our sport globally and used as an essential educational platform. XDL Software trailers are available for purchase. Our first trailer is purchased and will be on the road in NZ with a media event already scheduled.
The XDL Software trailer is set to entertain, grow the sport and do good in the community. As XDL is the NSO for the sport, there is 128 trailers expected to be on road throughout New Zealand, an allocation of 8 trailers per region. XDL Australia will mimic NZ with the two national teams (New Zealand Long Blacks and Aussie Long Ballers) at the forefront of media activity. Media realeased on the 02.12.22 in Port Douglas during the Trans Tasman Clash got people excited about the developments in the sport and the opportunities for the players.
The year 2023 represents NEW growth in the sports business for both New Zealand, Australia and over 40 countries which XDL will be affiliated. The sport of BIG HITTERS got officially listed as high-performance sport in 2020, thanks to the dedication, investment and the tunnel-vision mentality of founder and NSO Olna Ford, who gives thanks to the New Zealand Prime Minister, Sports Minister and Sports Authorities for ap-
proving the sport of XDL. With Intellectual Property Ownership around many of the NEW business products, and sports league, Olna is motivated to make 2023 one of the most rewarding for business and therefore for the players. This sport is only going to grow and XDL is focused on the foundation work for the NEXT GENERATION of players.
XDL values the relationships with Golf Clubs and the Golf Industry as a whole so engagement with the wider community of Golf is essential for the sport of Long Drive and Xtreme Drivers League. All clubs, golf enthusiast and sports industry executives are welcome to get intouch regarding the trailers so lets get the ball rolling...go to www.xdlworldwide.com to keep connected.
WAIKATO
NGARUAWAHIA GOLF CLUB.
THE WINNERS OF THE 2022 GOLF NZ NATIONAL ROSEBOWL COMPETITION
and Robyn Pellow (Silver) have together won the recently played New Zealand Golf 2022 NATIONAL Rosebowl Competition.
These ladies successfully beat out 12 other Waikato District teams when they played at Walton Golf Club back in November, 2022. Their scores then went up against the participating regions across NZ. With a combined adjusted gross stableford score of 136.4, this put Waikato firmly on top of with Auckland coming in 2nd with 132.2 points followed by 3rd place Hawkes Bay/Poverty Bay.
BAY OF PLENTY
THE 2023 METLIFECARE 54H STROKEPLAY VETS TOURNAMENT
The 2023 MetLifecare 54H Strokeplay Vets Tournament was played at Mount
Maunganui Golf Club recently mostly in BOP sunshine although a few drops of liquid sunshine were felt throughout the final day.
The trophy winners are shown here with Nina Roos from headline sponsor, Metlifecare Retirement Villages.
L-R: Ladies Overall Best Nett (213) - Judi Colman (Omanu), Men’s Overall Best Nett (206) - Brian Peters (Omanu), Nina Roos, Men’s Overall Best Gross (216) - Ken Meaden (Muriwai), Ladies Overall Best Gross (262) - Carron Thompson (Wanganui).
EVENT CALENDAR
29th March 2023
19th April (3rd Wed)
31st May
28th June
26th July - Mid Winter
30th August
27th September
25th October
29th Nov Xmas Open
27th Dec NYear Pairs
31st January 2024
28th February
“Fun Friendly & Affordable Midweek Open Golf!”
• 10am MULTI TEE SHOT GUN STARTS SO PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 9.45am
• MEMBERS, GUESTS & VISITORS ALL WELCOME Men White Tees Women Yellow
Jackpot sponsoredHoleby:
• PRIZE TABLE Two divisions (Men and Women) with prize table divided proportionally based on the number men and women entries. If less than four women entered only one division will apply. Affiliated with Handicap entries only.
•$20 ENTRY for GROSS and NET SCRAMBLE PRIZES and TWO’S
•$10 JACKPOT 14th River Hole Challenge - hold the green in two
•HIRE CARTS & CLUBS SUBJECT PRIOR BOOKING AND AVAILABILITY
SMITHS GOLF Hamilton NZ
540 Te Ohaki Rd RD1 Huntly 3771 between Rangiriri & Huntly Bridges 07 828 8305 huntlygolf@xtra.co.nz 027 311 0256 www.huntlygolf.co.nz
HAWKES BAY GOLF CLUB FLOODS AND DAMAGE - CYCLONE GABRIELLE
Recent photos from Napier Golf club showing flood damage of Cyclone Gabrielle and the aftermath of silt and debris. Hawkes Bay Golf clubs’ bore the brunt of the cyclone. Events and pennants are on hold due to course clean up. All the best to our Hawkes Bay Golf club colleagues.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Wednesday 8th February - Competition
Stableford:
Alan Wix 40pts, Richard Norton, Garry Edwards & Russell Kane 37pts, Noel Crocker & Ken Bayne 36pts, Neville Berendt & Clive Robinson 35pts, Pat McCarthy, Chris Duffy, Dion Hawkins & Keith Hickman 34pts, Stew de Burgh 33pts, Lynne McDonald & Geoff Ingram 32pts.
Twos: Alan Wix - 3rd.
Best Stableford on 9, 10 & 11: Neville Berendt with 7pts.
Lucky Draw: Stella Berendt.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club: Saturday 11th February - Medal & Put-
ting:
Seniors:
Kevin Smith nett 70, Sean Khov & Ian Harvey nett 71, Kelvin Burt nett 72,
Karen Yorke & Deb Ward nett 73, Alan Wix nett 74 & Jay Jay Thompson nett 75.
Juniors:
Joseph Tapper nett 63, John Luckham nett 65, Stew de Burgh nett 67, Joe Yorke nett 68, Neville Berendt nett 69, Bronwyn Ewens & Cynthia Luckham nett 7o, Joe Ferrier nett 73.
Twos: Bill Ward - 3rd.
Nearest Pin on 16th: Alan Wix
Helen Giles Best Putting Comp: Kelvin Burt & Ian Harvey 21puts.
Lucky Draw: Dan Scotson
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club:
Wednesday 1st February - Competition
Stableford:
Kevin Taylor 40pts, Stew de Burgh, Michelle Mossop & Stella Berendt 38pts, Russell Jones 36pts, Noel Crocker 35pts, Neville Berendt, Lynne McDonald, Wallace Miller & Bryan Northcott 34pts.
Best Stableford on 9, 10 & 11. - Stephen Ryan.
Lucky Draw: Neil Atkins.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club:
Saturday 4th February - Competition
Medal:
Course:- Hidden Gem:
Seniors:
Alan Wix - nett 69, Graeme Stephens nett 72, Dan Scotson, & Ron Harris nett 74, Marty Field & Geoff Ingram nett 76, Peter Thompson nett 78 [by lot]
Juniors:
Karen Yorke nett 74, Neville Berendt & Derek Philipps nett 75, Bronwyn Ewens, Noel Crocker & Clive Robinson Nett 77, Michelle Mossop nett 78, Ian Mackay &
Cynthia Luckham nett 79.
Twos: Ron Harris 3rd & 5th.
Lucky Draw: Wendal Masters.
Nearest Pin on 12th: Edith Leary.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club:
Wednesday 8th February - Competition
Stableford:
Alan Wix 40pts, Richard Norton, Garry Edwards & Russell Kane 37pts, Noel Crocker & Ken Bayne 36pts, Neville Berendt & Clive Robinson 35pts, Pat McCarthy, Chris Duffy, Dion Hawkins & Keith Hickman 34pts, Stew de Burgh 33pts, Lynne McDonald & Geoff Ingram 32pts.
Twos: Alan Wix - 3rd.
Best Stableford on 9, 10 & 11: Neville Berendt with 7pts.
Lucky Draw: Stella Berendt.
Results from Rangitikei Golf Club:
Saturday 11th February - Medal & Putting:
Seniors:
Kevin Smith nett 70, Sean Khov & Ian Harvey nett 71, Kelvin Burt nett 72, Karen Yorke & Deb Ward nett 73, Alan Wix nett 74 & Jay Jay Thompson nett 75.
Juniors:
Joseph Tapper nett 63, John Luckham nett 65, Stew de Burgh nett 67, Joe Yorke nett 68, Neville Berendt nett 69, Bronwyn Ewens & Cynthia Luckham nett 7o, Joe Ferrier nett 73.
Twos: Bill Ward - 3rd.
Nearest Pin on 16th: Alan Wix
Helen Giles Best Putting Comp: Kelvin Burt & Ian Harvey 21puts.
Lucky Draw: Dan Scotson Play
The 65 par, 18 hole course, with 8 par 3’s challenges established golfers whilst providing fun and enjoyment for beginners and social groups. Our course is an easy 3 hours walking if time is a factor.
Use our club house for your next sale, conference or seminar combined with a round of golf and an evening barbecue. A great venue for social clubs, inter-branch events and get-togethers.
In the heart of the Waikato it’s only a short drive in any direction to Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Taupo, Hamilton, Tauranga or even Mt Ruapehu. Cart hire available ($40).
30th April-5th May 2023
Nelson Golf Club Greenacres Golf Club, Best Island, Richmond Motueka Golf
CANTERBURY
2023 CANTERBURY STROKE PLAY RESULTS
Dominic Brettkelly (Clearwater) wins the Canterbury Stroke Play at Waimairi Beach by 4 shots from Reid Hilton (Russley) and a further 4 shots to Cooper Moore (Clearwater) and Liam Hewitt (Queenspark). Brettkelly had established a strong lead after Saturday’s 2 rounds, being 13 under and 7 shots ahead. A sol-
id par round on Sunday was sufficient to take out the Canterbury Title, along with the South Island Stroke Play title which was run in conjunction with the Canterbury event.
Chloe So (Pakaranga) won the Womens event on 225, 2 shots ahead of Yoonae Jeong (Wakatipu).
Overnight leader Andrew Hobbs (Otago) had to go an extra hole with Aaron Forsyth (Waitikiri) to claim the Mens Master’s title, winning the first sudden death
play off hole with a birdie.
Kim Moggach’s (Waitikiri) final round 76 gave her a one shot victory over the overnight leader Naomi Wallace (Waitikiri) to take out the Women’s Masters event.
Cooper Moore continued his strong tournament form by winning the Under 19 Strokeplay title.
CANTERBURY
The Final round of Canterbury Men’s Over 50’s & 60’s Interclub was played recently at Weedons Country Club. The popular competition attracted a record 24 teams who played six rounds during the 2022/23 season.
Winning Teams:
Over 50’s Team Gross - Christchurch & Over 50’s Team Net - Tai Tapu
Over 60’s Team Gross - Amberley & Over 60’s Team Net - Tai Tapu
THE ANNUAL AORANGI GOLF WAITANGI DAY TOURNAMENT
The annual Aorangi Golf Waitangi Day tournament take place at Ashburton in idyllic conditions.
The Fairlie team comprised of Lisa Forrester, Marie Anderson, Denise Biggs, Geoff Horler, Chris O’Neil and Hamish Lane took the chocolates with a team stableford total of 216. Rakaia finished 4 shots back on a total of 212.
Individual winners saw Marie Anderson from Fairlie claim the top Captain prize with 39 points, whilst the top club member prizes were shared with an astounding 44 points between Sharon Bradford (Ashburton) and Val Sisson (Rakaia).
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