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Steve Alker clings to victory in seasonending tournament PAGE 3 INSIDE // OUR FAVOURITE COURSES // NATIONAL GOLF AWARDS
EDITORIAL
pgueorgieff@yahoo.co.nz
Dear oh dear, what was I thinking? T
By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ
he importance of a caddie. Those words could not have been more significant to me following a club competition last month. The event was the final of our shootout competition. I was one of 11 players to qualify for the shootout final. I must explain that the qualifying period at our club is spread over many months and entry at $2 per round on any Saturday or Sunday means a significant amount of money goes into the pot. Your eight best stableford scores decide who makes the final and I was fortunate enough to be the equal top qualifier. But that means nothing when it comes to the final. The 11 players all tee off from the first hole and one player must be eliminated after every hole until one is left standing at the completion of 10 holes. The person with the highest net score after each hole is knocked out. If there is more than one person on the highest net score there is some kind of play off, such as a chip or a putt, which is determined by the tour-
nament director. On our first hole I went into a greenside bunker with my second shot on a par four. Unfortunately I ended up with a downhill lie in wet sand with a clay-like surface underneath and the pin close to the bunker. In other words, a very, very difficult shot. I thinned the shot and the ball sailed to the other side of the green. I was unsighted to exactly where the ball went and I said to the tournament director did my ball go out of bounds? He said no, you are okay. As I marched around the green, a spectator said you can replay your next shot from the bunker if you like. I am thinking why would I do that? As I got to the other side of the green, I see my ball. It is a few feet out of bounds. This is where it all starts to go wrong. In conjunction with the tournament director I start to determine where the nearest point of relief is as if my ball had been in a hazard. I drop the ball on a downhill lie in the rough and am left with another difficult chip. I played a reasonable shot but with my two-shot penalty I end up with a
score of eight. I suffer the shootout indignity of being the first hole loser. What I did wrong was take a drop from where the ball went out of bounds. That’s against the rules. I wasn’t thinking clearly. We do have the local rule where you can play the ball from the fairway for a two-shot penalty but that didn’t even enter my mind that was now whirring. But even if I had remembered that local rule, I would not have taken that option. I should have done what the spectator suggested in the first place by replaying the same shot from the bunker. Having already played the shot once, I would have had some confidence of playing the same shot better and perhaps getting down for a score of seven. That would have made for a net score of six because I had a shot on that hole and into a playoff and perhaps survival. Shootout golf is only about survival. It’s not about winning the hole, it’s about not losing the hole. So why did I start this column with the sentence about the importance of a caddie? Many of the players in the shootout did have a caddie but I did not. I needed a caddie to
slow me down, discuss the options and make a well-considered decision. I understand most of us cannot justify a caddie for what is generally social golf but when it comes to important events another voice is important even though it may only be relevant for five percent of the game. This point was drummed home to me when Steve Alker won on the PGA Tour Champions in the United States last month. He only needed par on the par five final hole to win. He elected to lay up with his second shot and although his third shot did not go as planned he still secured his par to win the tournament. I found it interesting that afterwards Alker mentioned that his caddie had told him to lay up and that 75 percent of the time he would get up and down for a birdie — otherwise it would be an easy par. Alker said he did not entertain going for the green in two even though he described his shot as a perfect five iron. But the important thing was that the caddie confirmed what Alker was thinking — and that’s the importance of a caddie.
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 SALES & CLUB PACKAGE GOLF TRAILS & NOTICEBOARDS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 7 5504 6334 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 LAYOUT & DESIGN layout.golferpacificnz@gmail.com PUBLISHER Golfer Pacific NZ LTD PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand ACCOUNTS Leigh Smith smith.sun@bigpond.com SUBSCRIPTION $60.00 per annum including GST smith.sun@bigpond.com Ph: 0061 5575 7444 Mob: 0061 433 163 043 NEW ZEALAND MAIL ADDRESS PO Box 51338 Tawa, Wellington 5249, New Zealand COVER PHOTO: Steve Alker gives a fist pump after winning the $US3 million Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Arizona last month. Photo credit: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images. 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 refl ect 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.
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December 2023
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teve Alker started the final round at the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona with a commanding fourshot lead. But come to the final hole of the $US3 million Charles Schwab Cup Championship, that lead for the New Zealander had dwindled to one and more drama was about to follow. The 18th hole was a par five and Alker chose the safer option of laying up with his second shot which left a wedge from about 80 metres for his third. As Alker hit his third shot, the television commentator said: “He needs to go left and short.” As the ball landed the commentator added with surprise: “Oh and it’s right and long. What is he thinking?” The ball went through the back of the green and near a water hazard. Alker was left with a nervous chip shot. He left it short by about three feet and, considering what was riding on it, he expressed great relief at seeing the ball go in the hole. “I made it exciting here on 18,” Alker
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Steve Alker celebrates with the Charles Schwab Cup after his win at the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona last month. Photo credit Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
said afterwards, “but that wasn’t the plan, I’ll tell you.” Alker said his caddy told him the percentage shot was to lay up with his
second. “He said you lay up to 100 (yards) and you are going to make four 75 percent of the time.’’
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Not that Alker really considered going for the green in two. “It never really entered my mind. It was a perfect five iron but I didn’t need to.” The win was a big pay day for Alker who is from Hamilton but has lived in Scottsdale, near Phoenix, for the last 21 years. The tournament’s winning purse was $US528,000 but Alker also won an additional $US500,000 for finishing second on the season-long Charles Schwab Cup. That totalled $1.7 million in New Zealand dollars. The win was Alker’s second of the year on the PGA Tour Champions which is for golfers aged 50 and over. Alker, 52, won the season-long title last year and he has now won seven times on the tour in three years. His earnings on the PGA Tour Champions are $US7.1 million. Alker was delighted just to put another win on the board. “It’s another win. To beat these guys ... it’s hard to win out here.”
GOLF NEWS
Steve Alker clings to victory in season-ending tournament
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Campbell snatches last gasp win in Hong Kong Open GOLF NEWS Cameron Smith (left) congratulates Ben Campbell after the latter’s win in the Hong Kong Open last month. Photo credit: Asian Tour.
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ew Zealand’s Ben Campbell drained a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the $US2 million Hong Kong Open after a gripping battle over the closing stages with playing partners Cameron Smith from Australia and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai. Campbell, who had not led at any stage of the tournament until his brilliant last putt, shot a four under par 66 to finish on 19 under and beat Smith by one and Phacahara by two. All three players, playing in the final grouping, were tied playing the last with the chance of a sudden death play-off very high. However, Campbell won it in regulation play after Smith had to lay up with his second shot and nearly holed his third before making a four, while Phachara missed his birdie putt from 25 feet and three putted after missing a three-footer. Campbell, who also birdied the 17th, was notcing his maiden win on the Asian Tour, with his only other win in the professional game coming at the New Zealand PGA Championship in 2018.
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The Queenstown-based Campbell, previously from Masterton in the Wairarapa, said afterwards: “It’s good to finally get the monkey off the back and yeah, sort of just battling away all day. “Sort of didn’t get off to the greatest of starts and swing wasn’t feeling that great. Sort of went back to a few close losses and wrote a few notes down in my yardage book last night, and really used them on those last four or five holes. “It was getting a bit tight in the swing and just from those past experiences managed to, I think, you know, put a couple of nice swings coming down the stretch which really helped.” The victory is also just reward for a player who has struggled with injuries and missed six months last year due to a back issue which required surgery. “Even probably four months ago I was sort of battling with the body. I’ve had quite a few operations, and bulged discs in the back and things like that, so had to change the swing quite a bit especially in the last two or three years. So yeah, great to put that behind me now and the monkey’s off the back which is good.”
December 2023
The winner’s purse was $US360,000. In New Zealand dollars that’s about $610,000. The most recent Kiwi winner of the Hong Kong Open was Frank Nobilo in 1997, while the only other was Walter Godfrey in 1972. Smith and Phachara had started the day sharing the lead with Campbell one back. Phachara looked to be heading for the win when he birdied three in a row from No 11 and led by one from Smith and two from Campbell with three holes to go. However, drama unfolded on the par four 16th when he hooked his tee shot into the trees. He chose to try and hit his ball back into play from a treacherous lie but failed to get it out before just being able to advance his ball to the edge of the fairway with the next. He ended up making a costly double bogey. He then birdied the next hole before his disappointing finish on 18. Phachara said: “Today my putting was not so good like the last three days, but I played well since the beginning until the 16th hole. “I was in a very difficult situation at that moment that I couldn’t do anything. Also, there were broken trees which was an obstacle so I couldn’t step backwards to drop the ball. I had to keep trying to hit it. “However, I’m satisfied with my overall performance that I can make under par for today. “Playing with world class players like Cameron (Smith) was an honour, and I did well until the last. However, it’s just not my time yet.” Smith struggled with his driver and long irons over the weekend and was disappointed not to win for the first time in Asia. “Pretty poor over the weekend I guess but I hung in there so lots of positives,” said the Australian “Definitely wasn’t the nicest golf to be played over last couple of days, still lots to work on.” American Andy Ogletree was the other big winner on the day after he was confirmed as the winner of The International Series order of merit, which hands him a “golden ticket’’ onto next year’s multi-million dollar LIV Golf League. He finished in joint 15th following a 69. Ogletree, from the United States, said: “At the moment it’s hard enough to think about the way I played today but I am so excited to win the Order of Merit. “It’s been a lot of hard work this year and a lot of great golf has gone into this and I just want to thank everyone that’s gotten me to this point. The Asian Tour for all that they’ve done and my team back home for allowing me to play the way I’ve played this year. I couldn’t be more excited, and I can’t wait to play LIV next year.”
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Kerry Mountcastle racks up his second Super 6 win
Wairarapa golfer Kerry Mountcastle after his win in the Gippsland Super 6 tournament in Victoria last month. Photo credit: PGA of Australia. By Patrick Taylor
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wenty-four hours after his place in the tournament was in jeopardy, Kerry Mountcastle from New Zealand broke through for his first win on the PGA Tour of Australasia at the Gippsland Super 6 at Warragul Country Club in Victoria last month. It had been a strong debut tour season so far for the Masterton golfer, with top
10s at the PNG Open (10th), and the WA Open (fourth), but this victory takes his professional career to new heights. As well as securing a spot in both the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open, the win also saw him take over No1 spot in this season’s order of merit standings. But there was a chance on the Saturday that he would not even make it through to the final day on Sunday with the for-
mer New Zealand amateur representative having to survive a 10-man playoff to reach the last 24 who contested the sudden-death medal match-play rounds. He finished the 54 holes of strokeplay in a tie for 17th at six under par, and then had to get through five opponents on Sunday (a total of 30 holes) on his way to the trophy. Jye Pickin, Lawry Flynn, Michael Wright, and Jak Carter were Mountcastle’s final-day victims before he faced the formidable Jake McLeod in the final. “I only just snuck in today through the playoff yesterday, so I kind of came into today just trying to finish as high as I could for the order of merit … and all of a sudden I was in the final,” Mountcastle said with a laugh after his win. “I was probably more nervous in that (Saturday) playoff than I was at any point today. “To get into those (the Australian PGA and Australian Open) is massive, because obviously they’re worth the most money and points. It means a lot. I can now plan what I want to do.” Mountcastle, 28, is coached by Dom Azzopardi, coach of Australian professional Lucas Herbert and Mouncastle’s partner Momoka Kobori, and said the work they’ve put in has changed his game dramatically. “The major changes happened end of last year, beginning of this year and then I was able to work on them through winter,” he said. “It’s made my game a lot more consistent what I’ve done with Dom. I don’t have the massive miss off the tee that I
NEWS
used to have and putting and chipping has got a lot better.” The win was Mountcastle’s second in a Super 6 tournament. The other win was the New Zealand Super 6s at the Manawatu Golf Club in Palmerston North in 2021. The Victorian tournament carried a first prize of $A36,000 ($NZ39,000). Runner-up Jake McLeod, from Queensland, played near-flawless golf until the final, and took down the No 1 seed Jarryd Felton from Western Australia in the quarter-finals. The McLeod versus Felton match was the pick of the day, with both players finishing at three-under after the six-hole match. Two knockout holes were required, with McLeod eventually making birdie on the second extra hole. Western Australian amateur Joseph Owen, who made an ace on the 15th hole in round one, made it all the way to the semi-finals before being knocked out by McLeod.
Kerry Mountcastle is swamped by his friends after winning the Gippsland Super 6 in Victoria last month. Photo credit: PGA of Australia.
A very special treble weekend By Neville Idour
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t is rare when three New Zealanders win on the world’s professional golf tours in a month, let alone on the same weekend, as happened in the second weekend of last month. For Champions PGA Tour star Steven Alker it was mere confirmation of his status on the tour. For Ben Campbell and Kerry Mountcastle it was a breaking of the ice as first time winners on the world stage. But for all three it was a triumph of true grit under pressure. Alker took a four shot lead into the final round of the season ending Charles Schwab Cup. Yet just four holes into the round his lead had shrunk to one with Ernie Els, Stephen Ames and Padraig Harrington hot on his heels. It was time to start grinding and stick to his game. For hole after hole it seemed he had to save par to maintain his lead. On the par three 15th he had to recover from the bunker and sink a putt of several feet. Then on the 18th, a par five, he overshot the green with his approach shot a few feet into some juicy rough. With just the one shot lead and Els and Ames in the clubhouse a playoff looked possible. With hearts in
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mouths he chipped to a few feet and holed the testing putt to the delight of family and friends watching. For Alker it was emotional as he reflected on the sudden death from cancer in February of his long-time caddie Sam Workman. So Alker ended his 2023 year on a high. A $1.7million payday, second in the season-long points’ race, two wins, five seconds, 12 top 10s in 20 starts. Not too bad, one might say. For Ben Campbell it was a significant breakthrough at the Hong Kong Open. Again Kiwi grit was in evidence. After three consistent rounds he was tucked in behind overnight leader Phachara Khongwatmai, alongside favourite Cameron Smith of Australia. It was a close battle until the 16th, where Phachara led Smith by a shot with Campbell a further shot back. A birdie to Campbell on 17 saw all three level on 18 under. On the 18th hole Campbell calmly rolled in a perfectly judged 12 foot birdie putt to clinch a one shot win. Campbell said: “I was battling all day, didn’t get off to the best of starts, but made some nice swings down the stretch.’’ His final putt was the result of the few putts he had during the practice round. So he knew the read and
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nailed it. This was a great effort in a strong field including LIV players Smith, Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and others. Kerry Mountcastle scored his first win on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, at the Gippsland Super Six at Warragul in Victoria. He came into the event with some form, with a 10th at the Papa New Guinea Open and a fourth at the Western Australia Open. The win earned him a place at the later big events, the PGA and Australian Opens. However he came within an ace of missing out on the last 24 to play in the sudden death matchplay rounds. He had to survive a 10-man playoff. Mountcastle then went on to win four six hole matches before reaching the final against the well credentialled Jake McLeod. Again Kiwi grit prevailed as he sank the crucial putt for the win. Mountcastle is coached by Dom Azzopardi, who also coaches his partner Momoka Kobori and Lucas Herbert. “The work we have put in has changed my game dramatically. The major changes happened at the end of last year into the beginning of this year. It has made my game more consistent.”
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Sam Jones earns 2024 DP World Tour status GOLF NEWS
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am Jones has played his way onto the DP World Tour after transitioning into the professional game just over a couple of weeks previously. The Taranaki rookie professional will join Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier in Europe next year after finishing seventh at DP World Tour Q-school final stage in Spain, which should see him earn starts in around 20 events. After moving to the professional game after the Asia-Pacific Amateur in October, Jones raced to Spain to compete in the second stage of qualifying school, where he finished fourth to punch his ticket into the final stage. He fired rounds of 68, 69, 70 and 65 at Infinitum Golf to make the 72-hole cut at final stage and earn full Challenge Tour status before improving his ranking to category-18 DP World Tour status after shooting 68 and 66 in the final two rounds. Following a gruelling two weeks of playing for his future, changing flights, and mental stress, Jones said it was hard to put into words what finishing inside the top 25 at final stage so soon into his professional career meant to him. “I’m pretty speechless to be honest with you,’’ Jones said.
Taranaki golfer Sam Jones, a two-time CharlesTour winner, who has qualified to play on the DP World Tour. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
“I had to change my flight to stay in Spain for final stage, so I didn’t really have any expectations – I didn’t think I was going to get through second stage,” he said with a laugh. “To be here now after all of that is crazy. Like I said,
I’m speechless.” Aware of the physical impacts 10 rounds of golf in two weeks might have on him, the two-time Charles Tour winner put a lot of thought into where he spent his energy so he’d still perform at his best over the final two rounds when it mattered most. Although he felt physically fine, Jones said dealing with the mental pressures was the most challenging part. “I was so nervous [heading into the final round] that it wasn’t even funny. Me being me, I looked at all the details – what kind of category I was going to get and what not. “Obviously, the starts in the DP World Tour, the increased purses, and everything that comes along with that – I got really nervous heading into the fifth and sixth rounds. I thought I would be able to handle it well, but honestly, it was a grind, and I’m happy to come out the other side of it.” Now that his playing rights are secured, Jones intends on picking the brains of Fox and Hillier on playing the DP World Tour.
Sebastian May wins biggest title of his amateur career
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Sebastian May pumps his fist after sinking the winning putt in the New Zealand Amateur in Hamilton last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
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ebastian May stormed home to win the biggest title of his young career when winning the New Zealand Amateur Championship. The 17-year-old Cantabrian beat Auckland’s Steven Van Heerden 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final at Hamilton Golf Club – St Andrews Course, last month to write his name next to Danny Lee, Stuart Jones, Walter Godfrey, and Brian Silk, who all won at the same venue. After making golf his primary focus earlier this year, May was initially struggling to comprehend that he had won the tournament and written his name alongside some New Zealand golfing legends. “I’m pretty speechless. It’s pretty unreal – I don’t think it’s sunk in just yet,” May said afterwards. The school student beat Glenn Solomann, Dominic Brettkelly, Harry Goakes, and Tom Lee to get to the final. The final started off as a close affair with both players trading one up leads, which was the margin May would hold at the mid-
way point of 18 holes. After lunch, the former hockey player and medium-paced cricket bowler, put the accelerator down and birdied four of the next nine holes to establish an insurmountable lead. He quickly found himself six up with six to play and calmly rolled in a 15-foot putt to win on the 31st. With school exams just around the corner, May was tossing up whether he was going to play this event a couple of weeks previous. He certainly didn’t anticipate reaching the final as he and his mother needed to find new accommodation the night before, as they thought they would already be at home. “The goal was to make the top 32 for the matchplay when I decided to play. I have a couple of exams lined up next week. I wasn’t actually sure if I was going to play this week – I’m glad I did.” His mother followed him every day while his older brother and sister Zach and Maddie watched from afar, as they are in college in the United Staes pursu-
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Canterbury golfer Sebastian May with his trophy after winning the New Zealand Amateur Championship in Hamilton last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
ing their own golf careers. He admits the victory still might not give him the best golfer in the family title but says it’s a positive step in his development. “I’m not sure they would be happy with me claiming that title,” he said with a laugh. “It’s certainly a step in the right direction. I’ll have a bit of a break over the summer and will try and play as many tournaments as I can next year.”
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Faith Vui becomes first Samoan to win New Zealand Women’s Amateur GOLF NEWS Faith Vui who became the first Samoan to win the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship in Hamilton last month. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
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aith Vui has written her name into New Zealand golfing history, becoming the first Samoan to win the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship last month. Vui won the 36-hole final at Hamilton Golf Club – St Andrews Course with a 5 and 3 victory over Pupuke’s Amy Im, with her father and coach Gary caddying for the 18-year-old for every shot she hit over the entire week. Vui beat Teresa Wang, Sumin Kang, Suwanna McPhee, and Chloe Lam to get into the final and proved she was up to the challenge. Vui dreams of playing golf professionally one day
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and this week’s victory gives her the belief that someone from Samoa can perform on women’s golf’s biggest stages. “Winning this event has been one of my biggest goals,’’ Vui said. “My dream is to be the first Samoan to play on the LPGA Tour, and this is a stepping stone to that. I’m really happy and grateful to my father for giving me the opportunity to be here.” Vui even surprised her proud father, who couldn’t believe she played as well as she did under the most pressure the Royal Samoa Golf Club member had felt before a match before. Her father Gary said: “I’m so proud to be a dad. I’m so proud to be the coach and caddy. I just love my kids. “Her dream is to play professionally, and now that she’s achieved something as big as this, she believes in herself now. I didn’t tell a lot of people back home that she was in the final because I didn’t want her to feel any extra pressure. “I can tell them now though.” Vui never trailed in her final match, getting off to a fast start with a victory at the first hole to establish a lead she’d never relinquish. Vui finished her opening 18 holes with a three up lead before heading into lunch, and after the short break, she continued winning holes to move to six up with nine to go. Vui hit a couple of speed bumps, with Im reducing Vui’s lead to four with seven to play. However, with
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Faith Vui with her father Gary after the New Zealand Women’s Amateur.
some outstanding putting and creativity around the greens, Vui was able to seal the championship on the 33rd hole. “I’m trying not to cry. I’m just really happy – I can’t explain it,’’ Vui added. “I’m extremely proud of myself, but I couldn’t have done it without my dad. He was probably the biggest reason why I won today – he’s had such a positive influence on me and my golf. I’m grateful and happy to share the experience with him and my other family that came out. “Hopefully, this will show people that even though we’re from Samoa, we can still achieve great things with hard work.”
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Six past champions to return for 103rd New Zealand Open
Brendan Jones, winner of the 2023 New Zealand Open, holds aloft the Brodie Breeze trophy at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown. Photo credit: Photosport.nz.
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ix recent past winners of the New Zealand Open, presented by broadcasters Sky Sport, have committed to playing the 103rd event at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown next year. They are defending champion Brendan Jones, two-time winner Brad Kennedy, 2019 winner Zach Murray, 2016 winner Matthew Griffin, 2015 winner Jordan Zunic and 2014 winner Dimitrios Papadatos. The open, first played in 1907, will be held from February 29-March 3. Tournament director Michael Glading was delighted to confirm the return of six past champions who are all keen to claim the Brodie Breeze Trophy once more. “When you talk to these past champions, and indeed to many returning players, they all express so much positivity about the event, and there is no doubt that they all do their utmost to return to Queenstown each year,” Glading said.
Brendan Jones is keen to recapture the magic that saw him lift the trophy earlier this year. The Canberra-based golfer fell in love with golf in Queenstown, quickly becoming a regular at the New Zealand Open in its current format, but it took Jones until his 48th birthday to get his hands on the Brodie Breeze Trophy. After considering retirement during the pandemic, Jones returned better than before, reinvigorated with his game and the sport. He is the most successful foreign player on the Japan Golf Tour, having won more than $NZ14 million including 14 titles in a career spanning 20 years. “Winning the 2023 New Zealand Open was one of the coolest things that has happened in my golfing career,’’ Jones said. “To win such a great tournament in my favourite place in the world was really special. “The tournament gets better year on
year which I’m so happy about for my friends Michael Glading, John Hart and the amazing team they have around them. I can’t wait to get back.” Brad Kennedy, who captured the title in 2011 and 2020, will return to Queenstown in a bid to join the eight others who have added their name three times to the winners’ list. The Sydneysider currently plies his trade on the Japan Tour where he has won three times with career earnings of around $NZ5 million. Kennedy has always prospered at Millbrook Resort. As well as his second victory in 2020, he was second in 2017 and fourth in 2019. “I’m really looking forward to walking down the fairways at Millbrook again, connecting with the emotions from 2020 and using them as motivation for this year,” Kennedy said. “Queenstown is an amazing place; as soon as you get off the plane you feel like it’s a holiday not a golf event which puts you in a great frame of mind. You can’t beat Kiwi hospitality!” Zach Murray will go down in history as the winner of the 100th New Zealand Open where he led from start to finish in a brilliant performance which opened the door for him to compete on the Asian Tour where he has put in some solid performances including 17th at the New Zealand Open in 2023. “It makes me smile just thinking about how cool it was to win the 100th New Zealand Open,” Murray said. “Queenstown is my favourite place in the world, I think about it at least once a week. It holds a very special place in my heart and I’m very much looking forward to coming back.” Matthew Griffin’s win in 2016 came with a dramatic final hole battle. Teeing off one shot behind Japan’s Hideto Tanihara, Griffin nailed his birdie and with Tanihara
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recording a bogey, he claimed the title by one shot. Griffin has also played with success on the Japan, Korean and Australasian Tours winning seven titles in total, but his victory at the New Zealand Open remains his most significant. “The New Zealand Open in Queenstown is always one of my favourite weeks of the year,’’ Griffin said. “Playing events that you have won in the past fills you with great memories and I can’t wait to be back.” Jordan Zunic claimed his first professional win at the New Zealand Open in 2015 with a slender one-shot victory at The Hills over compatriot David Bransdon. Zunic currently plays on the Challenge Tour in Europe and after his victory in 2015, had a crack at the big time when he narrowly lost on the second playoff hole against former world number one Cameron Smith in the 2017 Australian PGA Championship. “I’m very excited to be heading back to Queenstown again, a very special place for me being my first professional win,’’ Zunic said. “My wife’s parents live on the course at Millbrook Resort so it’s my home away from home and I just love the atmosphere of the event.” Dimitrios Papadatos said the New Zealand Open was the “first event on my schedule” and can’t wait to get back to Queenstown. “The New Zealand Open is very special, my first professional win that gave me the belief to continue my golf career,’’ Papadatos said. “I feel very proud to be on the trophy with some of the greats of the game like Sir Bob Charles, Peter Thompson, Ian Baker-Finch and Michael Campbell.”
Adidas in long term extension partnership with New Zealand Open A long term partnership with global sports’ apparel and footwear company adidas has been announced for The New Zealand Open. The announcement said the partnership would build on an already strong relationship and elevate the tournament to new heights and bring a fresh wave of excitement to New Zealand’s premier men’s golf tournament. The New Zealand Open will be played for the 103rd time in 2024 with adidas committing to the event as a key partner.
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Adidas will provide exclusive merchandise, including clothing for tournament officials, amateurs, volunteers, caddies, as well as limited-edition New Zealand Open apparel available for purchase by attendees. Darryn Lowe, the general manager of adidas Golf Pacific, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the New Zealand Open, it’s a prestigious event that allows the adidas brand to unite people through sport. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to be the best sports brand in the world. We look for-
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ward to elevating the experience for both players and fans while contributing to the growth of golf in New Zealand.” The New Zealand Open shares this enthusiasm for the partnership extension, with tournament director Michael Glading stating: “We are thrilled to have adidas as our official apparel and footwear partner. “Their dedication to quality and innovation mirrors our own values and we are confident that this partnership will continue to enhance the overall experience for everyone at the New Zealand Open.”
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2024 New Zealand Hickory Open aiming high By Neville Idour
GOLF NEWS
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Peter van Ekelen in his hickory golf sticks’ workshop.
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ew Zealand Hickory Open chairman Peter van Ekelen has announced the programme for the 2024 New Zealand Hickory Open and Asia Pacific Championship. Van Ekelen expected it would attract an international field to the Christchurch Golf Club next March. “We have an extensive programme of hickory golf, including various events leading up to the open,’’ Van Ekelen said. “The programme will not only cater for golf enthusiasts but also provides partner events such as regional wine tours.” From humble beginnings the event now stands as arguably the best hickory tournament in the southern hemisphere, if not the world, according to van Ekelen. These sentiments were shared by the Australian team, including four Australian champions and one world champion who competed in the 2023 event. As a Golf New Zealand sanctioned national championship it needs to maintain a high standard as expected by an international field. Van Ekelen added: “We anticipate welcoming representatives from the International Society of Hickory Golf who will not only compete but learn from our event to set new standards for the World Hickory Championship. “New Zealand is the first country to establish a separate hickory handicap. Additionally Golf New Zealand’s commitment to forming a virtual hickory club supporting all New Zealand hickory players on the Dot Golf framework further strengthens the hickory
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golf growth.” The 2023 NZ Open had 67 players, more than competed in the Australian event on the Melbourne sandbelt which received significant support from New Zealand and Japanese players. With a more robust New Zealand-wide marketing campaign including electronic, it is hoped players from throughout the country will make the effort to join this unique occasion with what promises to be an international field. Christchurch Golf Club players Catherine Palmer and Mark Lawson won the Australian Foursomes and Women’s Asia-Pacific titles and can be expected to be in contention at Christchurch in March. The confirmed programme of events for the New Zealand Hickory Open, starting Tuesday, March 5, are as follows. March 5: SOHG Asia-Pacific Championship singles, 18 holes at the Christchurch Club followed by a dinner function and presentation. March 6: Optional. Christchurch Golf Club men’s field, 18 holes hickory. March 7: Nine holes foursomes/singles at Tai Tapu Golf Club with spit roast dinner to follow. March 8: Anzac Flask (Australia vs NZ) and guests. Japan Cup (Japan vs NZ). Presentation and dinner. March 9: Christchurch GC mens day. Hickory guests welcome. 18 holes. March 10: New Zealand Hickory Open, 12 holes foursomes/singles on special open layout. Running concurrently, second round of the SOHG Asia-Pacific Championship over 12 holes. Dinner and presentations conclude the event.
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Te Arai Links — a gem for all to enjoy By Neville Idour
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here does one start in describing the magnificent Te Arai Links golf resort? After enjoying three nights in getting to know the development, one thing is crystal clear. Te Arai Links, if it is not already, will undoubtedly become one of the world’s very best golf and, even, holiday destinations. Care with signage is required for the drive from SH1 as Google may not survive all the way. Emerging from the forest, one might draw breath at the first sight and think “Wow”. The mouth waters at the thought of staying three nights. Our timing was perfect as we were going to play the north course on opening day for the public. The idea of Jim Rohrstaff and Ric Kayne, Te Arai Links is named after the Te Arai coastline of its location, north of Pakiri and just south of Mangawhai and a 90 minute drive from Auckland. Both the north and south courses border “Forestry”, one of New Zealand’s prime surf beaches. Kayne first visited the area in 1996 when the seed was sown. Whereas sister course Tara Iti is now a private members’ course Rohrstaff says: “Te Arai Links is very different because we share it with the world. It is a great example of iwi coming together with business.” The partnership with Ngati Manuhiri Settlement Trust is a win-win for all. Checking into our suite we were greeted with a spacious 484 square feet of luxuriously appointed accommodation with a super king-sized bed, private balcony and outdoor seating. With lovely views of the coastline and the world’s largest putting green which covers 2.5 acres, this was bliss. It was quite special to watch old and young on the putting green enjoying the opportunity to have fun over the 12 holes. Indeed it was an example of “sharing it with the world”. The accommodation caters for all demographics. The 48 suites cater for twosomes. The 19 two-bedroom Ocean Cottages cater for up to four adults. These are 1507 square feet of pure luxury and include two bedrooms and two bathrooms plus a kitchenette. Nice touches are the complimentary non alcoholic mini bar and the private outdoor patio with a gas firepit.
Ric’s Restaurant at Te Arai Links
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For larger groups, six four-bedroom villas will become available in October, 2024. While all the accommodation is luxurious it is understated with a focus on comfort and texture in harmony with the environment. Breakfast is included with all room rates. So to the dining available. It was only a short walk on the putting green to Ric’s Restaurant as it is affectionately called. This is a spacious welcoming place to graze with a choice of indoor and sheltered outdoor seating. The menu was friendly and not going to require a mortgage while the pizza oven was ready. The Ocean restaurant is set to open in October 2024 and its setting is spectacular overlooking the south course 18th green. The design is exciting as it will open up, blurring the inside and outside while bringing the ocean and rolling dunes views as close as possible. Likewise, the north course clubhouse and restaurant which will include a Concierge and small golf shop will open in October 2024. The restaurant will be casual, catering mainly for members and guests playing the north course which is some distance from the south course and it’s facilities. To currently cater for north course players there is a neat halfway house on the course where food, including meals and drinks, are available. The perfect stop for replenishment. The reception area building houses the well stocked golf shop and dressing rooms and leads on to the terrific driving range with six greens. The staff was amazing, immediately there to aid with your golf bag and take it to the driving range for you. Then keeping an eye out for when you finished they would be there to store it overnight and come morning it would be waiting for you on the driving range. Facilities available also include massage and spa treatments. A full spa and fitness centre is planned for 2025. For people staying, or day visitors, there are walks, biking trails, surfing and even horseback riding options. Te Arai Links is already something of a mecca for people in Mangawhai and surrounding areas, but not just for golf. It is very popular with people and groups who come to Ric’s Restaurant for morning tea or coffee, lunch or dinner, such is
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The south course at Te Arai Links.
the appeal of the environment. Of course many bring their putters and have fun on the unique putting green. It was almost sad to say goodbye but nice it was a leisurely 11am checkout. As a bucket list experience goes, three nights and a round at each course at Te Arai Links doesn’t get any better, and is one this writer and wife Philippa plan to repeat. A stay and play at Te Arai Links does not need to break the bank. In fact for a couple, two nights and two rounds will cost no more than a round for two at some upmarket courses. There are four
seasons for accommodation and five for golf. July to September is a great time as at current rates $2000 will get you two nights with breakfast and two rounds for two people excluding golf extras such as a caddie and clubs and trundler hire. Of course we did play both courses, but we will review the north and south golf courses in the January issue of this publication. Along with that watch for interviews with director of marketing Grace Rokela, general manager Brian Spicer and caddie Richard Squire. Watch this space.
One of the suites at Te Arai Links.
December 2023
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Turangi will delight GOLF NEWS
Tatiana Siddells at the Turangi Golf Club. By Neville Idour
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urangi is one of several central North Island courses well worth sampling. On our recent road trip this was the first one we played and it was a great way to start our first time experiences. We were well looked after by the young lady on duty, Tatiana Siddells, who has been working there for seven years. She recalled coming to the course as a six-year-old with her nanna and grandad and has, as she put it, “been hanging around as a member since I was a little girl.” She explained how much the forming of the course was owed to a group of Italian born tunnellers who arrived in Turangi to work on the Tongariro power scheme in the late 1960s. Following the leasing of land and drawing plans for a nine-hole course, people in the area in 1967 formed the Turangi Golf Club and as the story goes “spent two years talking golf and drinking beer before actually playing any
The aptly named The Gap which is the 12th hole at Turangi.
golf.” Nine greens were in place in 1969. With the arrival of the Italians, with their boss Alessandro del Favero, a keen golfer, things took off. He donated money so the club could buy a used tractor, as well as paying for the construction of a toilet block and a veranda for the clubhouse. He also hired a Taupo golf professional as resident club manager and when the course opened in 1969 his company sponsored the celebratory party, He also donated a lot of his workers man hours to do much of the development of the second nine holes. Apparently he removed workers from the power scheme to get it finished, using those big earth-moving machines to shape the holes and mould the greens to a high standard. Volunteers had to clear bush to enable the extension to 18 holes. His company would go on to sponsor an annual tournament. The government department managing the power scheme sold a former men’s canteen building to the club. The spacious 185 square metre structure
was modified to provide a very decent sized clubhouse. So to the course which can best be described as pleasant walking on mainly flat land, with attractive deciduous trees and water features and nice variety in hole design. The course is well groomed and in autumn the tree foliage colours are spectacular. The course is no pushover at 5762 metres from the white tees and 5134 metres from the yellows. All of the holes have self explanatory names to add interest and anticipation. Devils Grip sets the scene. A par four of 338 metres has a water hazard to clear off the tee. Angel’s Smile and Lucy follow. The fifth, Roller Coaster is a par four with a magnificent sculptured wooden bird greeting you. The seventh, Plateau, is 126 metres to a raised plateau. You need enough club to avoid rolling back off the green. The ninth Gambler, a 458 metre par five, provides options to complete the front nine. The 10th, Windy Crossing, is a 145
metre challenging par three with a hazard and foliage to avoid. Accuracy is required. The 11th, The Knob is a shortish 275 metre par four which plays up a rise then it is down gently on The Gap par four 12th. As you may guess, trees either side form a rather narrow approach to the green. The remaining holes, all par fours except for the 15th a par five, in the main have water present in some form. Holes 15, 17 and 18 all have a dogleg element, with 17, The Terror, well named. With a decent dogleg right and water right of the green it commands close attention. This is a course that you would be happy to have as your home club with fairways and greens of a high standard. It boasts a friendly welcoming atmosphere as was the case when we played. Green fees are $40 affiliated, $45 non affiliated for 18 holes and $25/$30 for 9 holes. Carts are available for $45 and $30 for 9 holes.
Taranaki and Dunedin golfers first winners of nine-hole competition
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couple of casual nine-hole games of midweek golf with friends has earned two Kiwi golfers a shot at flying to Scotland to play in a world invitational golf tournament leading into The Open Championship. Jocelyn Stevenson, who plays at Westown Golf Club in New Plymouth, and Archie Shaw, who plays at St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin, were randomly selected as the first monthly winners in a promotion being run by Golf New Zealand.
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The highly patronised event, called Make Time Play 9, runs throughout summer, and encourages golfers of all ages and skill levels across the country to participate in a shorter format of the game. Golfers go in the prize draw by simply submitting their nine-hole score card. As a starter for winning the most recent monthly draw, Joceyln and Archie won return airfares and accommodation to Queenstown to compete in the Make Time Play 9 final event – being held in March
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in conjunction with the New Zealand Open. Jocelyn and Archie will join eight other winners from around New Zealand to tee up for nine holes at Millbrook Golf Club – with the two best players going on to represent New Zealand at The R&A 9-Hole Challenge on the eve of the 152nd Open Championship being played at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland in July. The world final will feature 42 nine-hole players from 22 countries.
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December 2023
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A walk down memory lane at the “spiritual home” GOLF NEWS The fourth green at Paraparaumu Beach. By Peter Thornton
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hen we made the hard call to move home to Auckland, my first thought was of this place – the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club. We had lived in Wellington for three years and fell in love with the city. In that time, I was proud to call myself a member of Paraparaumu, known as the “spiritual home of New Zealand golf”. I was more than proud. I love this place and I can’t explain to you quite how much, but I will try. I can still remember writing the email to Leo Barber, the down-to-earth general manager at Paraparaumu Beach, that I would not be renewing my membership this time around. It was painful. I felt like I was letting him know there had been a death in my family. But six months have passed since that day, and I am back. You cannot wipe the smile off my face. Standing on the first tee with good mates Ben Lauchlan – who is quick with a joke and can smash a drive as far as you can see, Andrew Joyce, a professional musician who has spent more time on the course than his cello in the past 12 months, and Simon ‘Blocka’ Roche, an old rugby mate who
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The 17th hole at the Paraparaumu Beach golf course.
is just as competitive when it comes to golf. It’s going to be a good day regardless of the result. Ben was the best of our modest bunch and teamed up with Joyce, taking on myself and Blocka. The stakes were low – beers and chips for the winners at the end – but the level of banter made you feel like we were playing for the Ryder Cup. The weather came to the party. It was one of those days where you find it impossible not to say “You can’t beat Wellington on a good day”. It was warm with a gentle breeze across the links -there would be no excuses.
Walking in the footsteps of giants
A game at Paraparaumu Beach is following in the footsteps of giants. Of course, this is the only course in Aotearoa where Tiger Woods has played a competitive tournament. He featured in the 2002 New Zealand Open with promoters reportedly paying him $US2 million as an appearance fee. That was more than double the total tournament prize money. It was a controversial and divisive moment for golf in this country but
when Woods arrived it created a fanfare the game that has never been seen before and will likely never see again. Woods’ appearance at the New Zealand Open, alongside his Kiwi caddie Steve Williams, is well documented inside the clubrooms and it’s cool to look back on an incredible moment in time. Just knowing you are playing a links course that the game’s greatest ever golfer has played is special in itself. For the record, Woods finished sixth that year behind Aussie Craig Parry. But the hysteria of Tiger coming to the Kapiti Coast is only one of many magic moments that have played out on this hallowed turf. Local boy Michael Campbell famously won his New Zealand Open title here in 2000 when he defeated Craig Perks with an eagle in a playoff. He shot an amazing 64 in the final round. The struggles of Frank Nobilo on the par three fifth hole – who famously made a triple bogey six here during the 1989 New Zealand Open – it took him out of the lead and opened the door for Greg Turner to win the title. I feel your pain Frank. On the 18th there is a plaque which
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captures a special moment – Grant Waite made an albatross two on the par five to win the New Zealand Open in 1992. I could go on. In all, Paraparaumu Beach has hosted the New Zealand Open 12 times and it has always been a popular venue. How great would it be to see Golf New Zealand move our flagship event from Queenstown to how it used to be – a tournament for all New Zealanders to enjoy and engage in. Paraparaumu Beach would surely be top of the list of places to return.
A battle for the beers
Back to our game. There is an old adage at Paraparaumu Beach that if you can get through the first five holes with your scorecard intact, then you’ll be in a good place coming into the turn. Blocka and I were rusty compared to our compatriots and got off to a slow start. Ben made a fine par at the first, and we were two down after four holes. We got back into the game when Blocka hit a perfect eight iron into the fifth hole and made par, and I was fortunate to birdie the sixth. Things were looking up. But anytime we threw a punch, they
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NEWS
Great mates. From left to right are Andrew Joyce, Simon Roche, Pete Thornton and Ben Lauchlan.
An aerial shot of Paraparaumu Beach golf course, north of Wellington.
came back, led by Ben whose shot-making suggested that his information technology company affords him a fair amount of time on the course. His approach into the ninth was out of the top drawer and he converted the birdie to take a two up lead at the turn. Annoyingly, Joyce contributed just when he needed to. His par on the par five 12th was the last thing we needed. He has an uncanny knack for coming up with a chip or a putt at the right time. My best moment of the day came on the par four 13th. Man, what a golf hole. Sir Bob Charles described it as one of the best par fours in the country and one of his favourites. It’s easy to see why. I smashed my rescue from 190m to pinhigh and made par to reignite our hopes. We rode our luck on the back nine and I managed to hole a handy putt from 30 feet off the green on 10 and then chipped in on 14 to get us back to all square. We were feeling good. But again, Lauchlan hit back with a sucker-punch. A precise tee shot to the par three 16th was good enough to make par and they would go on to claim a 2 and 1 win at the 17th. It was hard to take but also hard to be unhappy at my favourite course in the
It was great to see the club recognised recently – it was named environment club of the year at the Golf New Zealand National Golf Awards. For the past 25 years the club has been removing evidence of human intervention — returning much of the course to its natural state. The long-term programme has involved exotic tree felling, promoting indigenous flora, mass eradication of invasive weeds and the enhancement and creation of wetlands. General manager Barber said the course was “so much closer to nature nowadays”. “We’ve really worked hard to make this land a stunning example of our local environment. “Man-made retaining walls have been removed, paths have been realigned and designed to be hidden from line of sight, sustainable grasses were encouraged and what’s more we made a huge reduction in chemical and fertiliser reliance. “The club has recently installed solar energy and during some parts of the year is often exclusively powering our clubhouse from that source. “The club’s mantra for the enhancement process is to provide an island of
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country.
Like no other course in the country
Spring is a great time to play Paraparaumu Beach. The fairways are firm – accentuating the endless undulations of the layout – and the greens are a touch more receptive than you’ll find in the peak of summer. On our visit the greens were quick – they felt like there were running at around 11 on the stimpmeter, maybe quicker. The greens here are pure. Right up there with the best you will find anywhere around the country. But if you want to enjoy your round, spend some time on the practice green to get a feel for the pace. The course is always in top condition, the rough can be penal and if you score well around here you know you have played well. Every hole has its own character and challenges. The course was designed in 1949 by former Australian Open champion Alex Russell. The work of the highly-acclaimed course architect stands the test of time and is widely regarded as one of our best.
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close-to-natural ecosystem within an increasingly urbanised environment.”
Until next time
Sitting on the deck, with an ice-cold Hazy IPA beer, the sun is on the way down over the Kapiti Coast. Like every round, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the moments of magic, the near-misses and of course the winners are always keener to chat about the day’s events. There will be another day. We have already started the planning for the rematch in the coming months. There is no better place to do that than here. If you love your golf, then trust me, you have to experience Paraparaumu Beach for yourself. If you’re lucky enough to become a member here, it should come with a warning. It will likely end with a lifetime love affair with this place that will never leave you. Peter Thornton is an experienced journalist and media manager. He first worked in the golf industry producing Phillip Leishman’s television golf shows for Sky Sport. He went on to be the media and communications manager for Golf New Zealand and has worked as a journalist in all forms for the past 20 years.
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Exceptional golfing performances recognised at national awards GOLF NEWS
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ew Zealand’s best golf clubs, golfing facilities and people in the golfing industry – both on a voluntary and professional basis – have all been officially acknowledged for their outstanding work and contributions to the sport at the 2023 National Golf Awards. The National Golf Awards are the industry’s showcase for formally spotlighting the incredible amount of dedication and commitment displayed within the golfing community, along with the implementation of ``best practice’’ club operations standards which have seen player participation numbers in the sport reach new record high levels. Recognising national and international performances and achievements of excellence during the 2022 calendar year, the 2023 National Golf Awards are chosen after a rigorous judging process deliberates through scores of nominations which are meticulously assessed against a thorough list of assessment criteria. Golf New Zealand chief executive Jeff Latch said the common factor which emanated strongly from all award winners, and indeed all nominees, was their unconditional passion for the sport – and sharing that enthusiasm with the wider golfing community, from weekend hackers strolling down the fairways with their mates, through to elite and high performance players. Said Latch: “The fantastic thing about golf is that the sport provides for so many playing opportunities – and the 2023 National Golf Awards winners truly reflect this incredibly broad range of experiences, personnel, and locations. “The high degrees of excellence and passionate commitment evidenced by all our winners shows that the sport of golf is in a very healthy state – from a grass roots level, out in provincial New Zealand, and right up to the pinnacle of high performance golf on the international stages. This bodes extremely well for the sport in the future.” The full list of winners at the 2023 National Golf Awards encompass:
Club of the year award: Pupuke Golf Club, Auckland.
A progressive golf club which has taken a corporate approach to its various activities – while still very much remaining locally community and member focussed – has taken out the club of the year award. The club of the year award is bestowed on a club which demonstrates operational excellence consequently leading to the delivery of an outstanding record of achievement across all aspects of its operations – encompassing membership, customer service, marketing, and community relevance. Taking a long term operational view, Pupuke Golf Club’s committee
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completed a strategic plan review which provided a refined and strengthened focus on how the club should not only position itself within the surrounding community, but also how it should market its golfing activities – ultimately creating a golfing hub arching across multiple revenue generating streams. Coming out of the review, Pupuke Golf Club on Auckland’s North Shore was one of the first golf clubs in the Greater Auckland region to participate in a multi-party green space enhancement initiative involving Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation (DOC) to improve the course’s natural environment. Much of Pupuke Golf Club’s indepth work in the environmental enhancement and partnerships space now forms the basis of North Golf’s case study, which many other clubs in the region have adopted as the basis for their similar plans. The Department of Conservation is also using its relationship with Pupuke Golf Club as a template for other clubs around the country to follow or adapt. The success of Pupuke Golf Club’s natural landscaping enhancement and wildlife protection project enabled the club to give solid evidence in opposition to the Auckland Council Draft Investment Plan – supported by neighbourhood community organisations such as the Centennial Park Bush Society which administers a nature reserve adjoining the course. Elsewhere within the club’s player number growth initiatives, Pupuke Golf Club was cited for its success in bringing scores of new players to the sport – particularly women. The club’s female-orientated Chip & Sip initiative for example was originally an eight-week summer twilight programme which signed up some 120 players running across three hour-long time slots at an entry level coaching fee of $27.50 per night. Pupuke’s chip & sip programme has subsequently been refined and will be running again this coming summer. Recognising that golf is a discretionary household activity with an impact on family budgets in the current economic climate, Pupuke Golf Club also introduced a ‘pay as you play’ membership option – with members paying green fees at a rate which effectively spread their annual subscription across a more budget-friendly 12-month period rather than a single lump sum outlay. Throughout a dynamic period of change over recent years, Pupuke Golf Club’s management team held a number of face-to-face member engagement sessions to keep members fully briefed on where the club was heading … and why. This included utilising the Harbour Sport’s ActivAsian team, which enabled the club to effectively engage with its sizeable Korean membership. This resulted in the club fostering and supporting a multicultural
environment reflecting the local community demographic. Targeting school-age golfers as part of its long-term membership funnel, Pupuke Golf Club’s management also instigated a raft of programmes establishing strong relationships with local primary and secondary schools – delivering specific ‘fit for purpose’ age and ability appropriate sessions. In 2022, Pupuke Golf Club won the Harcourts Cooper & Co. Harbour Sports Club of the Year for the North Harbour region.
Golf administrator of the year award: Lucinda Searle
Driving the number of golfers joining the sport in Taranaki to unprecedented high levels in a virtual ‘overnight’ period of time has been the lasting impact of hard-working golf participation manager and coach Lucinda Searle who has won the golf administrator of the year award. The golf administrator of the year accolade is presented to someone serving the sport at club, regional, or national level, who has made an outstanding contribution to the growth, success, enjoyment, or profile of the game in their administrative role. Lucinda Searle only began working on a part-time basis at Taranaki Golf in the second quarter of last year – dedicating much of her attention towards raising the profile and appeal of golf in the participation space. She has directly worked with 11 of the 18 golf clubs in Taranaki, and has on average three volunteers actively assisting with new players per club. Lucinda’s coaching approach is that not everyone who comes to golf is singularly focused about shooting a sub-par round, but the majority are seeking out a good time with their friends, whacking out a quick Tik Tok clip, or having a laugh with and at each other. They may prefer to indulge in a round of speed golf, play six holes, or participate in a ladies’ day out under the ‘She Loves Golf’ marketing marque. Networking with schools, local golfing sector influencers, and regional sporting entities such as Sport Taranaki and the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports Association to spread the word about golf, Lucinda’s efforts have seen the sport literally boom in Taranaki – particularly amongst children and women demographics. Since Lucinda took on the role, junior golf membership numbers in Taranaki have increased by more than 35 percent – from 360 to 502 junior members. Some 68 young golfers attended
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the recent Taranaki Age Group Championship – up from 49 players in 2022 and 30 in 2021. The junior coaching programmes which Lucinda facilitates across Taranaki have increased not only casual golf numbers, but also doubled the number of golfers wanting to test their skills in a competitive environment over the past two years – with more players entering tournaments and one-day club-specific events. Holiday programmes for nine – 14-yearolds are now a big feature on Taranaki’s golfing calendar. While establishing women’s golf coaching programmes throughout the province, which have to date attracted some 270 participants, Lucinda noted that many of the women turning up were bringing their husband’s or grandfather’s old and heavy steel shafted clubs – making it harder to learn the game’s basics. Coming up with a solution, Lucinda applied to Sport Taranaki’s Tu Manawa fund, and was successful in securing $10,000 to put towards purchasing 20 sets of female tailored golf clubs. The clubs are now taken to all Lucinda’s coaching sessions, with some trainees borrowing or hiring out sets for a trial round or two before deciding on whether to purchase their own sets. Spotting a gap in the market, Lucinda organises early morning golfing experiences for women in Taranaki – taking advantage of space availability at this time of the day on many courses in the area, combined with the personality of women learners preferring to play without feeling they are being watched by more experienced golfers who they feel may be judging their performance. In addition, she is also slowly but surely influencing Taranaki golf club committees on the issue of dress codes – educating them that it is perfectly acceptable for women to turn up to golf dressed in active wear…. if that is what they are comfortable wearing. Within the school environment, the married mother of three has worked intensively at Sacred Heart Girls College in New Plymouth to develop on a lunchtime programme called ‘Interactive Revolution’ where year seven to nine girls are not allowed their mobile ‘phones during school hours apart from for schoolwork. The school provides sporting and cultural options for the girls to participate in at lunchtime instead of sitting on their mobile ‘phones. Lucinda has had up to 51 girls turning up to play golf at lunchtime. Those who are keen on pursuing golf further are then invited to attend participation days at a golf club where they get an on-course experience and coaching. Meanwhile, in the male youth space, Lucinda, has targeted the three largest boys’ high schools in Taranaki, and organised golf days at local clubs which have attracted nearly 75 teen-
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age boys to try out the sport. Taking a collegial approach to servicing the needs of newbie golfers coming into the sport in Taranaki, Lucinda has not only linked in with PGA professional coaches, such as Grant Moorhead, but has also developed an army of volunteers within the province’s clubs to meet and greet visitors and new players. She has nine Futures coordinators who work with the juniors, and an additional 30 club volunteers supporting the various female-focused golf programmes. Appearing under the banner of sports participation, Lucinda has also raised the profile of the game of in Taranaki by featuring in several newspaper articles. Lucinda has also been instrumental in showcasing to golf clubs the benefits and importance of taking on junior players. Some 88 percent of Taranaki’s golf clubs are now committed to virtual golf memberships for young people.
Volunteer of the year award: Brian Chapman, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
Helping save a golf club from near financial ruin and turning it into a sustainable commercial entity – including attending some 150 consecutive committee and board meetings in the process over the space of 17-years – has earned Brian Chapman the title of volunteer of the year award winner. The volunteer of the year award recognises a golfing sector volunteer who is not only inspirational in their commitment to their organisation, club, or local golfing community, but also contributes tirelessly to the game as a whole. Brian Chapman, a company secretary and accountant by profession, has been an active member of Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club just north of Wellington since 2001 when he relocated to the Kapiti Coast. He initially became involved in voluntary work through organising national events at the club, which transitioned into running regular competition days, alongside a huge involvement in veterans’ golfing activities. In 2006 Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club reached a low ebb in its history - with mounting debt levels, and cashflow issues at a critical point. The club went
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through a massive restructuring process, in which Brian played a significant role. Assisting the interim general manager of the time, Brian was instrumental in handling the detail regarding accounting and financial matters. Brian oversaw preparation of the club’s accounts, assisted with financial planning and modelling scenarios, fact checked income and expenditure items, and acted as an independent guardian of large member loans. Flowing on from the initial rescue, Brian has subsequently voluntarily assisted with accounting processes at the golf club – formulating and resolving constitutional matters, managing annual general meetings, overseeing payroll protocols and providing independent financial advice. At the same time, Brian offered his services voluntarily as board secretary – a position he has been appointed to every year since 2006. His duties have seen him assist with the preparation of agendas, financial reports, any matters requiring additional research or papers, as well as minute-taking and board support. Brian has not missed any of the club’s 150 executive meetings during this tenure. During this period, Brian has sat on the finance sub-committee as a board appointment. As a signatory, Brian checks the accounts each month and co-authorises their payment. Working alongside both the club’s general manager and administration manager three times a week, Brian also reviews all staff timesheets and co-authorises payroll – never missing a deadline since taking on the voluntary role, and saving the club in the region of a six-figure staff position. In the direct sporting context, Brian has assisted with the organisation of major events such as New Zealand National Club Championship and the New Zealand Amateur Championship which Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club hosted in 2006 and 2008 respectively, and the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in 2007. Brian now performs the starting/registration and financial management duties each year for the club’s annual pro’ am’ event – a tournament he has attended every year since 2007. Shunning publicity and acknowledgement, Brian is also highly active among the region’s veteran golfing scene – serving on the Kapiti Vets organising committee for eight years, and instigating regular golfing activities for retired players on the coast. For the past 14 years working purely for the love of the sport, Brian has been the convenor and organiser of the Kapiti Coast Classic – a weeklong event hosted over the four courses of the Kapiti District – arranging sponsorship, marketing, player registrations, making the draw, handling scoring, and sourcing and presenting prizes. For a nine-year period between 2007 and 2016, Brian was the convenor the club’s midweek men’s group of between 50 – 60 regulars. This involved leading a small committee to develop and deliver a programme of events each year, fronting the weekly prize giving, recording the winners, and presenting them with prizes, and organisation of the annual prize giving dinner. During his tenure, the Paraparaumu Beach Golf
Club celebrated 50 years of organised Wednesday golf with a competition and luncheon. Growing the sport, Brian developed and managed a Monday ‘disc draw’ competition format where those wishing to play are randomly placed into playing groups with an emphasis is on camaraderie, gender inclusion, casual formats, and fellowship. He has shouldered this responsibility since 2006. In 2012, Brian Chapman’s significant voluntary efforts were recognised with membership to the Eagles Golfing Society.
Community coach of the year award: Wiremu Neho, Whangarei Golf Club.
What started simply as a dad learning to coach his kids in the rudimentary skills of golf has now transitioned into more than two decades of being a volunteer golfing instructor for New Zealand community coach of the year Wiremu Neho. The community coach of the year award is presented to a volunteer or community-orientated coach who successfully contributes to the growth of participation in an enjoyable, engaging, or innovative manner. The Whangarei sportsman educationalist first began coaching golf in 2002 after hanging up his rugby league boots and stepping back from his role as a rugby coach. With three young children picking up golf clubs, Wiremu thought it would be a good thing to follow them into the sport, and like a diligent dad, he learnt the fundamentals of the game and began coaching the trio. Wiremu’s teaching ability quickly rose to the fore – with his 17-year-old son Kadin Neho winning the New Zealand Amateur Championship in 2013, becoming the first Northlander to win the title since 1893. Under Wiremu’s guidance, Kadin evolved to become a pillar in the Northland team which went on to win the national interprovincial golfing title. Two of the current Northland golfing team participating at national interprovincial level started playing under Wiremu’s initial coaching guidance, while another three talented players are looming in the wings for possible provincial call-ups. While several of his prodigies have reached high performance levels nationally, Wiremu describes his commitment to the sport as being a participation coach – encompassing children, women, and men getting into the game for the first time. When a talented player comes through his programmes, Wiremu knows when to pass them onto a professional golf coach who can develop their skills further, and take them to the next level of competition golf. Coaching out of the Whangarei Golf Club Mount Denby on Sundays, Wiremu has fully embraced many of Golf New Zealand’s participation programmes in both nine and 18-hole formats – including She Loves Golf and Futures. He also runs school holiday programmes for children getting into what is a booming sport in Northland. Mentoring students is a near full-time commitment for Wiremu – either on the golf course, or in his profession as a full-time relieving teacher at Whangarei schools.
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Professional coach of the year award: Kevin Smith, Kapiti Coast
Coaching is in the family blood for lifelong golfing coach Kevin Smith – winner of the professional coach of the year award – who has been mentoring and advising players ever since he left school some 40-years ago. The professional coach of the year award is presented to professional coach who is demonstrates professional excellence or innovation through their coaching activities, and under whose guidance prodigies are able to perform and achieve at the highest levels. Kevin has been playing golf since he was 14. Several years later when considering potential career paths to take after leaving high school, Kevin’s father, a rugby coach, suggested the Wellington teenager might consider a golfing career as a playing professional. Kevin tossed up the idea, but instead mooted that he wouldn’t mind being a golf coach instead. Kevin subsequently applied for a job in the pro shop at Heretaunga Golf Club, now the Royal Wellington Golf Club … and the rest, as they say, is history, with Kevin recently receiving his 40-year membership recognition certificate from the New Zealand PGA. The organisation’s trainee programme provided the framework for evolving a career in coaching, fuelled by Kevin’s fascination with not only the physiology of swing dynamics, but also the psychology of the game. Over the ensuing decades, the Class AAA NZPGA teaching professional created his own hybrid training programmes – which he delivered at both Royal Wellington and Manor Park golf clubs. It was at one of those coaching clinics that Kevin was procured to privately coach a talented 12-year-old Daniel Hillier who was showing potential as an age group player – and subsequently under Kevin’s guidance, went on to become the New Zealand Amateur Champion as a 16-year-old. Kevin continued to influence Daniel’s fairway evolution into a two-time Challenge Tour winner – including the 2022 Swiss Challenge which propelled Hillier onto the DP World Tour. Kevin still remains on the books in a ‘hands-off’ capacity as Daniel’s swing coach – reviewing Hillier’s technique remotely online when needed during the European Tour, and catching up for faceto-face sessions whenever the world pro’ is back in New Zealand. Living on the Kapiti Coast, just north of Wellington, Kevin now divides his professional coaching time between the Otaki and Paraparaumu Beach golf clubs, where he runs group and individual lessons for
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kids and beginners, all the way up to pennant-level players, drawing equally rewarding outcomes from all abilities. Kevin defines working with beginners and casual golfers as being a ‘building coach’ where the changes to improving technique are usually bigger – because the players are making bigger mistakes – while coaching high performance golfers is more defined as being a ‘fixing coach’ there to tweak and fine tune players’ techniques. Sharing his teaching tips as an author, Kevin wrote a golf training manual called The Complete Guide to Good Golf – Golf Steps from Beginners through to Advanced Players.
Environment club of the year award: Paraparaumu Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
Landscaping one of New Zealand’s best seaside links golf courses back to the way God and nature intended it to be hundreds, and even thousands, of years ago has seen Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club being named as the environment club of the year award winner. The environment club of the year award recognises both the golf club and its superintendent, who jointly demonstrate excellence and leadership in environmental stewardship. For some 16 years Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club on the Kapiti Coast, just north of Wellington, has been removing evidence of human intervention – returning much the course to its natural state. The long-term programme has seen exotic trees felled, wetlands created, sand dunes reshaped to their original undulations, tee blocks reshaped, man-made retaining walls removed, new grasses planted along fairway edges, and cart paths realigned. The club’s mantra for the enhancement process is to provide: “An island of close-to-natural ecosystem within an increasingly urbanised environment.” Of the 50 hectares that Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club occupies, 20 hectares or 40 percent is retained in a naturalised state. From the late 1990s and accelerated from the mid-2000s, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club engaged in a substantial sand dune restoration programme which will eventually see all exotic tree species removed, natural open grassland returned, invasive weeds such as lupin, broom, and gorse removed, and ongoing treatment programmes initiated to retain character and enhance habitat. Situated on an extensive natural sand dune system just a few hundred metres from the ocean, and interspersed with small wetlands, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club’s vegetation is predominantly native/naturalised grasses such as fescue and brown top with sedges, flax and some scattered larger indigenous plantings. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club has a collection of existing healthy wetlands which it has been enhancing through weed removal and planting, and where appropriate, creating new wetlands to further support biodiversity and overall water quality. Club greenkeepers maintain buffer areas around each wetland and water course
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– ensuring they remain free from fertiliser or pesticide applications to prevent any leaching. Elsewhere, the club has pro-actively assisted the Friends of the Tikotu Stream community group to plant along the banks of the Tikotu Stream banks which runs alongside the course’s boundary – with the ensuing vegetation shade keeping water temperatures cool. Paraparaumu Beach Primary School and its students also partake in a vegetation planting initiative to attract birdlife onto the course – with the club both funding the purchase of plants, and helping the youngsters with planting. For irrigation, the club draws water from a single bore, and over the past seven-years has been upgrading the irrigation system, so that it now has more efficient control over the amount of water being spread at lower volumes and additionally using less power. The grass varieties of brown top and fescue which require less irrigation have also been planted to assist in reducing water consumption. Greenkeeping staff use moisture meters to accurately assess when greens turf requires watering. Chemical and fertiliser programmes at Paraparaumu Golf Club are designed around a ‘low input’ model where products are used sparingly as a last resort. For example, weeds are handpicked from greens, with some degree of insect infestation and disease tolerated – provided nothing causes long-term damage to the course flora. Fertiliser and nutrient input on the course has been continually reduced on an annualised basis since the early 2000s. The native rough around the fairways and holes receives no water or fertiliser inputs. It is not mown – so does not utilise fuel or other resources, and subsequently creates that ‘close to nature’ feel where the golf course is in harmony with its surroundings. Within the clubroom operations, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club operates a waste management policy of ‘reduce, reuse, donate’. Green waste is either composted onsite or given to a local pig farm. Batteries and metals are exchanged for cash at scrap yards for recycling. Solar panels on the roof of the pro’ shop fully power the clubhouse at certain sunnier times of the year.
Golfing event of the year award: Flat day out at Pupuke Golf Club, Auckland
The creation of a summer afternoon golfing party-like phenomenon which combines a mix of a youth-focused dance party vibes complete with a mobile food truck, live DJ, and plenty of ‘liquid refreshments’ has taken out the golfing event of the year award. The golfing event of the year award is presented to a recipient or a club on any level whose organisational skills far exceeds the expectations of both organisers and participants – by delivering a memorable event or activity within the golfing arena and spilling into the wider community. The Flat Day Out experience first organised in 2022 by Pupuke Golf Club on Auckland’s North Shore was targeted at both teenage/early-20s non-golf-
ers and golfers who enjoy having fun on the course with their mates – with portable speakers blasting out from golf carts, and a highly-sociable participant environment with little adherence to the more formal and stricter rules of the game. Some 100 participants from a diverse range of socio-economic backgrounds and genders attended the nine-hole Ambrose scoring event. Because of the Gen-Z playing participant demographic, there was a huge amount of shared social media feeds and posts emanating online – which all helped boost both the profile of golf and Pupuke Golf Club’s profile to a new audience who may otherwise have preconceived ideas about the sport. The overwhelming success of Pupuke Golf Club’s inaugural Flat Day Out last year prompted the venue to organise another Flat Day Out this spring.
Golf performance of the year award: Lydia Ko
New Zealand’s number one ranked woman golfer, Lydia Ko, had a 2022 year which reflected her mantle on the global stage – walking away with three tournament trophies – and now adding the golf performance of the year award to the tally. The golf performance of the year award spotlights and acknowledges an exceptional golfing performance that inspires New Zealanders – no matter whether they are actively involved in the sport at any level, or are simply observers of the game. The pinnacle of Lydia’s 2022 victories was the gold medal placing at the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship event, which boasted the highest first-place prize purse in women’s sporting history. In addition to winning the CME Group Tour Championship, Lydia also captured the Vare Trophy for carding the lowest scoring average for the year – winning the accolade for the second straight year. Concurrently, Lydia Ko won the LPGA Tour’s 2022 Player of the Year award. Ko also won the Rolex Player of the Year – earning two more LPGA Hall of Fame points which took her tally to 25, with 27 needed to be inducted into the LPGA Tour’s Hall of Fame.
All abilities golfer of the year award: Guy Harrison, Hawke’s Bay
award is bestowed on a player who has inspired others to play golf – overcoming any physical or mental obstacles they may be living with. Guy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a pre-schooler. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disease which can severely disable a person’s muscles. Due to the condition, Guy finds it hard to balance his legs – meaning he must walk through on his downswing like golfing great Gary Player. The Halberg youth disability council member and eight handicapper has been swinging on the fairways of Hawke’s Bay courses since he was a five-year-old – regularly competing against his dad over the decades, and hoping one day to wear the Silver Fern and take on the best of the world in the Paralympics. Guy’s ongoing golfing journey saw him crowned the 2022 Mount Open All Abilities Champion in Tauranga. He also played in the New Zealand All Abilities Championship held at the New Zealand Open. Guy is in his second year of university – studying for a bachelor of sport and exercise science as well as being a mentor in the young physical disabilities’ scene. “I was five years old when I started playing golf. Dad was having a hit with a couple of his mates at the local nine-hole course. I went around and I thought: ‘I should give that a go’. I got a five iron and a putter, and I’d hit around for the last few holes. I would then get to three holes, then four holes, then five holes, then nine holes. That’s how I got started,” says Guy. “I have such a good relationship with my dad. We still play today. I play off an eight and he plays off a 28 at the moment, which means he’s always changing the rules. I used to give him five shots, then it went to 18 shots, now we have a rule if he beats me on a hole he wins, which adds a lot of pressure on myself.” Through his work on the Halberg Youth Disability Council, Guy is a conduit for giving other young people with disabilities opportunities in sport. He administers activities in the Hawke’s Bay region and runs numerous events annually – providing youngsters with disabilities the chance of trying new recreational activities. Guy hopes that one day golf will be included in the Paralympics competition schedule, so he and many other golfers with disabilities can participate in one of the world’s premier sporting events. “I love my golf. The challenge with golf at the Paralympics is how can you make it fair? There are so many disability classifications out there that trying to design a classification system to make the playing field fair and equal is hard. Hopefully in 2032 or 2028 the organising committee can have it sorted.”
An amazing self-belief that physical disability is no obstacle for achieving greatness on the golfing stage has been the motivational spur for all abilities golfer of the year award winner Guy Harrison. The all abilities golfer of the year
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December 2023
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Longest Day Golf Challenge – teeing off for a great cause GOLF NEWS
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he Cancer Society of New Zealand is excited to launch this year’s Longest Day Golf Challenge, which raises essential funds to support people affected by cancer. Participants are invited to test their skills and endurance on the golf course by completing four rounds of golf – a
whopping 72 holes – in just one day. This year, a half marathon option (36 holes) is also being introduced. The longest day falls on Thursday, December 22 but participants can play on any day in December or January that suits them for their sunrise to sunset endurance challenge.
The Cancer Society is once again collaborating with Golf New Zealand to promote the Longest Day Golf Challenge and golfers can take part or donate anywhere in the country. Golfers Joshua Young, John Kendall and Jonny Wimpress from Auckland have teamed up to take on the Longest Day Golf Challenge on December 7 at Pakuranga Golf Course where all three are members. Young, who has completed the challenge once before, said the trio had all been affected by losing family members to cancer and that motivated them to raise money for the cause. “We’ve set a goal to raise between $1000 and $2000. We are calling ourselves The Hackers as we’re all bang average golfers,” Young said. Hundreds of teams and individuals have signed up to take on the challenge with some very creative and punny team names in the mix such as Sultans of Swing, Chip-in-dales, and Dude Where’s My Par? Cancer Society chief executive Rachael Hart says the Longest Day Golf Challenge is a great way to celebrate sum-
mer while raising vital funds for those impacted by cancer. “Approximately 25,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year,’’ Hart said. “We are extremely grateful to those who will swing into action this summer to help us raise funds so we can be there for cancer patients and their whānau during one of the most difficult times of their lives. “Your support will allow us to provide support services like counselling, information, transport to and from treatment and accommodation, as well as contribute to our work in cancer prevention, advocacy and research.” Golf New Zealand chief executive Jeff Latch said the sporting body was proud of the dozens of big-hearted golfers across the country who would support this year’s Cancer Society Longest Day Golf Challenge. “Playing four rounds of golf in one day demands not only a high degree of fitness and dedication from players, but also a considerable amount of organisational planning, and often the encouragement and
sustenance of a support team on the side,’’ Latch said. “However, we know that having a clear goal and focus for raising funds from participating in the Longest Day Challenge is a highly motivating factor for those golfers undertaking the event. “With clubs and courses in every town and city across New Zealand, golf really is an integral part of the New Zealand way of life. Golf New Zealand’s best wishes go out to all those community-spirited players making their way down the fairways and greens nationwide to complete the 72-hole one-day journey over the coming months.” The Cancer Society and Golf New Zealand invite golfers to dust off their clubs and get ready for The Longest Day Golf Challenge. Choose the day, the course, tell your mates and make a team – or you can do it solo. If you would like to find out more about the Cancer Society’s Longest Day Golf Challenge including how to sign up and get involved anywhere in the country, you can visit www.longestday.org.nz.
Auckland wins 11th Freyberg Masters’ title A
uckland snatched the Freyberg Masters’ trophy from Bay of Plenty’s grasp, winning it’s 11th over40s event at Poverty Bay Golf Club last month by a slim two games. Auckland’s Matthew Cormack, who was named player of the tournament, said it was really special for the team, “Team victories hit a little bit different,’’ Cormack said. “As you get a bit older, especially when you get to masters’ age, winning as a group is really special rather than
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individually. “We spent a week together where we bonded, had fun, and went through some good and bad times on the golf course, and to get a win at the end of all of that is very satisfying. “The biggest satisfaction is winning for our manager, Michael Barltrop. He puts countless hours of work into us, and to repay his faith in us with a victory makes it more special.” The Auckland team comprised of Ben Westgate, Scott
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Thrupp, Matthew Cormack, Brad Winger, Jack Bull, and manager Michael Barltrop. A second-place finish will be a bitter pill for Bay of Plenty to swallow after going through the tournament undefeated. It won six matches and had halves against Wellington and Manawatu Wanganui, which proved costly. Wellington finished with bronze, falling shy of a third Freyberg Masters title in successive years with 6.5 points and 25.5 games.
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Flagstick in or flagstick out? By Neville Idour
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fter the rule changes in 2019, golfers have had three options when putting — remove the pin, have someone attend it or leave the pin in. When all players choose the third option play is sped up considerably. However in this writer’s experience it is rare in a foursome that all will have the flag left in. It can be a frustrating merry go round. In, out, in, out. Some will never leave the flag in. Some will sometimes leave it in for a tap in. Some will always have it in except for certain putts. Maybe, depending on slope or in my case and my wife’s, we only have the flag out if a strong head wind angles the flag significantly towards us thus narrowing the front gap too much for the ball to drop. So what formula gives the best results overall? Believe it or not the facts say you will hole more putts if you leave the flag in. Putting guru Dave Pelz has done all the science and tests and one of the world’s leading professionals has proven beyond doubt for himself the benefits of leaving
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the flag in. Sure, there will be times when a ball might hit the flag and bounce out, but usually the ball was travelling too fast. Conversely the ball might hit the flagstick and drop in when otherwise it would have missed. Pelz offers some facts. The gap between the cup edge and the pin is 1.875 inches and the ball is 1.68 inches in diameter. That makes for a gap 0.195 inches which may not seem much but Pelz’s tests and studies have shown conclusively that all golfers should putt with the pin in. His testing involved exhaustive wide ranging putts from different distances and speeds surrounding the hole using a special putting device. This was built to roll putts accurately with a laser, producing a true pure roll. Pelz said: “We rolled putts at different speeds hitting different parts of the pin on flat, uphill and downhill sloping greens. The results were conclusive. You will hole more putts when you leave the flagstick in. One reason is the significant energy lost from a putt’s speed when the ball hits the flagstick. Gravity pulls the
slower moving ball down into the hole more often.” We have all watched in person or on television and seen balls crash into the pin and drop in the hole. If we don’t believe the science Pelz suggests we test for ourselves by hitting balls from a three foot circle then a six foot circle with the flagstick in several times over several days and keep track of your results. Another range of tests by Golf Spy more than backed up Pelz’s findings. They tested with putts that would roll past the hole by three, six and nine feet. Their conclusions were: Leaving the flagstick in is always an advantage. It also keeps the ball closer on misses. Off centre strikes on the flagstick still holed more often than flag out. It also showed that if the flag is only facing forward a little or it is leaning away it improves the chances of the ball dropping in. We will let a couple of professionals offer their thoughts. Bryson DeChambeau said he would putt with the pin in whenever he can as it gives better results. Justin Thomas, however, said he couldn’t take himself seriously if he left the flag
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NEWS in. Strange reasoning. Nothing to do with results or logic. Matthew Fitzpatrick always leaves the flag in and has proven the wisdom of that. His statistics comparing his putting previously with the flag out to now with the flag in are compelling and are a major contributor to his elevated world ranking. Previously he ranked 77th in putts per round. Now he ranks 16th. His one putt percentage has improved from 53rd to 35th. The evidence is there. The rule change was made with some intention to speed the game up so why not give it a go. The facts show beyond doubt that, over a period, leaving the flag in will produce more positive results than negative. What I love about the rule is if you get to the green first with time to spare you can putt out on occasions thus speeding the game up. Also it gives you a better target for alignment. Finally, don’t let the tradition of having the flag out prevent you shooting lower scores. It is one small step for an individual to speed the game up but one giant step collectively. So leave the pin in.
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News in brief By Neville Idour
GOLF NEWS
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guess what is news can vary according to personal opinion. Some news is need to know, some is nice to know, some is take it or leave it, some is upsetting (rare for golf), some is don’t need to know which means it isn’t really news. I thought I would throw that into the pot as these news in brief columns contain some or all of the above in my opinion. I will not label each one even if I would like to. I guess readers will form their own opinions and you are welcome to offer your thoughts at golferpacific.co.nz
2023 a distaster for Lydia Ko
United States golf magazine Golfweek labelled 26-year-old Lydia Ko’s 2023 a disaster. In 2022, after winning a swag of trophies and the CME Group Championship along with number one world ranking, 2023 has certainly been a comedown. Maybe the playing of golf is not quite in disaster territory for multi-millionaire golfers. The fact she could not make the CME Group playoffs having finished 100th in the CME points list and add to that just one place from losing her LPGA Tour card was something of a shock. Explaining her fall off the cliff she put it down to “the pressure of her ongoing goal of induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame.” Her current world ranking is 11. She needs another major championship title or two regular tournament wins to attain that goal. She is still committed to representing New Zealand at the 2024 Paris Olympics and winning a gold medal to add to the silver and bronze she won in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Her thoughts of retiring at age 30, or sooner, are still in place, as well as finishing her degree in psychology which she started eight years ago in South Korea.
TGL Golf League a fizzer
Glenorchy Golf Club in the family
Futures Whakatipu has added Glenorchy Golf Club as part of the Futures Whakatipu family. The forward thinking Whakatipu Junior Golf Club was the catalyst for Golf New Zealand’s futures’ golf programme now being adopted by districts throughout New Zealand. It did take several years for Golf New Zealand to follow Whakatipu’s lead but the dividends are already evident. Glenorchy is a nine-hole course located at the Recreation grounds and all Futures Whakatipu members can now play there as part of their membership.
At the Victorian PGA that followed, his first three rounds of 67, 67 and 66 had the commentary team in raptures and left him with a six-shot lead. He had looked bulletproof with just two bogeys in the second round to offset a swag of birdies. However his game deserted him in the fourth round and his lead had gone within a few holes as he recorded a shattering seven bogeys. Nevertheless had he been offered third place, as he finished, before the tournament began that would probably have been acceptable. It was noted by the commentary team Kobori did not have a caddie and pulled a trundler. A calming voice may well have been an asset in getting him back on track. The following week in a very strong international field at the Australian PGA Championships he battled but just missed the cut by one shot.
sellout with a stadium hole proving a winner. The crowds lapped up being able to see many of the world’s best in action after being deprived of top class golf for so many years. As an endorsement of the event’s success it was named world’s best golf event of 2023 by the World Golf Awards. It is a relief to see there is still some objectivity, impartiality and recognition of excellence in the golf world. No doubt this award would have had Jay Monahan and Keith Pelley grinding their teeth. The 2024 schedule includes a return to Adelaide from April 26-28 to the delight of South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas and golf fans. “The inaugural event was a global success and pumped $S65 million into our state’s economy.”
McIlroy no fan of Cantlay
This is one of those feel good stories. Twenty five-year-old Andy Ogletree is remembered for playing the very first LIV event in London, finishing last and losing his spot in the league. However the 2019 United States Amateur winner has won three International Series events on the Asian Tour this season and is set for a permanent return to LIV. “It is an exciting time for me as I decide which team I want to be on.”
Following the unsavoury dustup with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe La Cava at the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy made no secret of his thoughts. “Joe used to be a nice guy when he caddied for Tiger. Now he is caddying for that d*** he’s turned into an ass****. I wasn’t in a great headspace. My relationship with Cantlay is average at best.” Despite those strong words McIlroy acknowledged he still had huge respect for Cantlay’s golfing exploits at the Ryder Cup. Enough said.
McIlroy had a new driver in Dubai
Kobori’s successful start to pro career
Is this need to know news? Rory McIlroy had a new driver in his bag at the DP World Tour Championship and we will not reveal the brand here. “It is just a new driver I have been playing around with. It could be a good time to test it.” It didn’t drive him to victory.
Kazuma Kobori’s transition to professional was seamless as he made an immediate impression as one to watch. A ninth placing at the Queensland PGA Championship was very heartening. Seventeen birdies and an eagle over four rounds was only bettered by one player. A final round 66 with an eagle on the par five fourth hole moved him up the leaderboard.
LIV wins “world’s best golf event award”
The LIV Golf event in Adelaide was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the golfing year. The event was a
Ogletree set for LIV return
Hospice golf tournament beats the snow
“Well, what can I say. I know I have run the tournament in some dodgy weather before, but never in snow.” So said tournament director and Aotearoa Gaming Trust manager Kevin Galliven. The annual hospice fund raiser at the St Clair Golf Club in Dunedin is an enjoyable four-person ambrose event and always draws a full field with a car on the line for a hole in one at the par three 16th hole. With the various sponsors and enticing auction items up for grabs it always raises significant funds. Galliven said: “A massive thank you to those who stayed on (through the
SUMMER IN THE PARK of
The much hyped Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy (who else) high tech TGL Golf league in partnership with
the PGA Tour (oh please) which was set to kick off on January 9, 2024, has fizzled and been put off a year. (Do I hear some background noise?) Why? Because the venues’ roof fell in. Thankfully no one was killed or injured. So it is okay for laughter. These bitter critics of LIV Golf have come up with something nobody needs and is farcical compared to LIV’s offering. The fact that 12 of the world’s top 20 players have committed is proof it is all about the easy money. They say it is to foster the growth of the game, yeh, just like frisbee golf has. Techno golf is not golf. It is video games — and of course women are not involved. Nelly Korda and Lexi Thompson would have far more pulling power than most of the men.
SUMMER IN THE PARK
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December 2023
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snow in October) and helped achieve a massive result for the hospice of $46,000 despite the weather.”
Moore Park in Sydney under siege
Anyone who has been to the Moore Park Public golf course in Sydney will know what a wonderful facility it is. Any city worth it’s salt would crawl over broken glass to keep a facility like it as an integral necessity for it. This writer passed some time there at the magnificent driving range many years ago while waiting for a flight home. Sadly the New South Wales government intends to reduce the course from 18 to nine holes in order to “provide green space for neighbouring suburbs of mainly new high rise apartments.” This is the latest public course in Australia to be threatened with a land grab by bureaucrats. It has a two tier extensive number of hitting bays. I cannot remember how many but 50 would not surprise. The course looked great and interesting in its undulations. It is one of the busiest courses in Australia and the only one within five kilometres of the Sydney central business district. It attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year (about 1400 a day), with 80 percent playing 18 holes. Staggering figures. It is precious green space amidst a sea of ashphalt and buildings. Greg Norman has taken up the cudgels labelling the decision as disappointing. “I used to go to Moore Park a lot when I lived in Sydney in the mid 1970s. There are certain things you need to protect. Moore Park is one of those. Public golf is important as not everyone can afford to be a member of high-end golf clubs or private courses. “
Norman on LIV’s appeal to the younger demographic
Greg Norman says “golf is the ageing demographic in sport. The average viewer is 67 years old. In 22 tournaments with LIV, 60 percent of our viewers are 43 years and younger and we will keep
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dropping. Capturing the gen zers (born 1990-2010) to baby boomers (born 19461964) is how we grow the game. We want to take our LIV business platform to public facilities. I think it is my responsibility for growing the game of golf.”
Mickelson at his best
Phil Mickelson has copped probably more than his fair share of criticism since his move to LIV Golf. Now, for a change, he is garnering almost universal praise for giving up his time to help a player get ready for stage two of qualifying for the PGA Tour. Forty-year-old professional Mark Baldwin said: “It was the coolest experience of my life in golf.” Mickelson gave Baldwin a short game clinic at his home followed by nine-hole and 18-hole matches in California. Apparently Mickelson worked with him from 8am until dark. Hundreds of balls. A qualifying follower Ryan French sent a hopeful message to Mickelson on social media to help Baldwin. Mickelson took just three hours to respond. “It was amazing of Phil,” said French.
Campbell aiming for his LIV card
Queenstown professional 32-year-old Ben Campbell has LIV Golf membership in his sights after his brilliant win at the Hong Kong Open. His win guarantees him two more years on the Asian Tour where LIV golfers are welcomed. He is third on the Asian Tour order of merit with winnings of $US139,535. Campbell said earlier in the year he would have no qualms about playing on the LIV Tour if the opportunity arose. That possibility is now a reality as he will compete in the LIV playoff series this month for one of three spots for a card. He said that is his goal and also confirmed he will definitely play in the 103rd NZ Open at Millbrook, looking to improve on his previous second placings.
Biggest hitter off the tee
Surprise results here. On the DP World Tour, South African Wilco Nienaber averages a mammoth 332 yards. Rory McIlroy leads the way on the PGA Tour with an
average 326.3 yards. On LIV Golf it is Peter Uhlein with 322.5 yards. Dean Burmester is next with 318.2 yards. Surprisingly Bryson DeChambeau is third with 316.8 yards. He was top on the PGA Tour in 2020-21 with 323.7 yards. It may have something to do with his change in diet from his weight gaining programme which caused him health problems. Dustin Johnson averages 316.4 yards.
Liv bails out Wiesberger
Bernd Wiesberger is a relieved and happy chappie after choosing to leave LIV rather than play for his place with a top three finish in the playoff series this month, thanks to the generosity of LIV. After finishing the season 41st he is one of five players whose contracts expired. His two years with LIV were disappointing. Just one top 10 in 22 appearances, an eighth in 2022. An eight time winner on the DP World Tour he did not resign when he joined LIV and had been accumulating fines which reached a massive $US1.9 million. However, to facilitate his smooth easy return to the DP World Tour, LIV stumped up and paid his massive fine. LIV could have said no, it was your choice to accumulate fines.
John Senden diagnosed with Parkinson’s
One of Australia’s best golfers for many years, 52-year-old John Senden revealed the sad news that he has Parkinson’s disease. He confirmed it at Royal Queensland where he missed the cut in the Australian PGA by one shot. He said he will continue playing professional golf for as long as he can. “I have to continue playing and stay light hearted about everything as Parkinson’s wants to close you down and make you feel depressed. It doesn’t undermine my strength, just makes me feel a bit weird at times. My right arm might start shaking and I have to stretch or make big movements. But I’m still able to play and enjoy golf.” Courageous words indeed.
December 2023
Top 10 PGA players win $US220 million
This season was a bonanza for the top 10 PGA Tour money winners. It is no wonder some of them never say a bad word about LIV. The figures are mouth watering and confirm Phil Mickelson’s assertions about the PGA Tours closed war chest two years ago. Victor Hovland was the biggest winner with $US37.1 million followed by Rory McIlroy’s $US32.9 million. Scottie Scheffler ($29m). Jon Rahm ($26.2m), Xander Schauffele ($18 m) and 10th placed Matt Fitzpatrick ($12.1m).
DP World Tour feeds 10 players to PGA Tour
The much vaunted strategic alliance between the PGA and DP World tours has spurned it’s first echelon of 10 players to gain their PGA Tour cards. Some of them are hardly household names and it highlights the ongoing shredding of the DP World Tour year on year. Here is the list with their world rankings. Adrian Meronk (48th), Ryan Fox (28th), Victor Perez (68th), Thorbjorn Olesen (78th), Alexander Bjork (76th), Sami Valimaki (108th), Robert MacIntyre (57th), Matthieu Pavon (95th), Jorge Campillo (107th) and Ryo Hisatsune (81st). Just two top 50 players and eight top 100 are the best on the DP World Tour.
McIlroy resigns from PGA Tour board
Rory McIlroy’s resignation from the PGA Tour Board came as something of a surprise, but in some ways should not have been. Maybe he can now concentrate on playing and not voicing his opinions as pseudo spokesman for the PGA Tour as often. Jon Rahm has been mooted as a replacement but Rahm categorically consigned that thought to the rubbish bin. “Absolutely no chance. I don’t know how many meetings they have but they are six, seven hours plus long. I’m not going to spend that time there. It’s a big commitment and I’m not here for that.”
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Revisions to handicap system start on January 1 GOLF NEWS 24
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he R&A and the United States’ Golf Association have announced the first update to the world handicap system (WHS) as part of an on-going review of the rules of handicapping and course rating system with a continued emphasis on accuracy, consistency and equity. The latest revisions will come into effect from January 1 of next year. Many countries have seen significant increases in the number of scores being submitted for handicapping purposes since the WHS was introduced, reflecting golf’s broadening appeal. More than 100 million scores have been posted each year, unifying millions of golfers through a standard measure of playing ability. The 2024 update leverages the performance data gathered from around the world, in addition to feedback received from many of the 125 countries now using the system. Significant updates to the WHS include: * Inclusion of shorter-length golf courses within the course rating system: The overall length requirements for course rating in the WHS will be significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may be as
short as 1500 yards (1370 metres) to be eligible for a course rating and slope rating, and a set of tees on a nine-hole course may be as short as 750 yards (685 metres). This change is intended to expand the WHS to thousands of shorter length courses, including par-three courses, and enable more golfers to obtain and use a Handicap Index. * Use of an expected score for a hole not played: Improvements have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s expected score rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a nine-hole or 18-hole Score Differential that more accurately reflects a player’s ability. As golfers across the world are playing more nine-hole rounds, an expected score can also be used to convert a ninehole round into an 18-hole score differential. For some countries, this means that nine-hole scores will be considered in the calculation of a player’s handicap index immediately after the day of play, rather than waiting to combine with another nine-hole score. * Playing conditions calculation ad-
justments made more frequent: The playing conditions calculation (PCC) has been modified to increase the likelihood of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. National associations were given discretion, beginning in July 2022, to introduce this revision within their computation platforms, which will be complete by April 1, 2024. * Enhanced guidance on conducting a handicap review: The role of the handicap committee is vital to the success of the WHS and the rules recommend that a handicap review is conducted regularly, or at least once a year to ensure a handicap index remains reflective of a player’s ability. New reporting tools have been developed that national associations can incorporate into their handicapping software to assist committees in conducting the review process effectively and consistently. Since its inception, the WHS has embraced the many ways golf is played around the world by giving national associations scope to apply regional discretionary items, with the objective for greater alignment over time. For this reason, the governing bodies expect countries to continue to shift
December 2023
the way they calculate course handicaps so that they are relative to par, making a golfer’s target score to ‘play to handicap’ more intuitive. Golfers are encouraged to visit their national association’s website to learn more about the discretionary items that apply to their region. Contact details for national associations can be found on the WHS website here: https://www.whs.com/#association. The R&A and the USGA have also recently launched a new WHS software accreditation and interoperability programme to help ensure that there is consistency and accuracy in the calculation of handicaps worldwide, and to assist with the retrieval of a handicap Index and the return of away scores from country to country. The R&A and the USGA jointly launched and govern the WHS to provide a modern and responsive system, that gives an accurate reflection of a player’s demonstrated ability. It is calculated by incorporating the rules of handicapping and the course rating system and is administered by a range of handicapping bodies and national associations around the world.
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December 2023
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Sprouting native tree planting programme tees off at South Canterbury golf clubs GOLF NEWS
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Tree planters in action. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
multi-million-dollar native tree planting programme involving one of the world’s biggest environmental organisations, the Department of Conservation (DOC), a global home fragrance brand, golf clubs and their volunteers, has teed off in South Canterbury. The South Canterbury riparian planting project has brought together the resources of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand, DOC, commercial partner Botanica by Air Wick, and four golf clubs in the province, united in the aim of helping to restore biodiversity around the locale through the planting of native trees and shrubbery. The South Canterbury venues involved in the project are Gleniti and Temuka golf clubs in Temuka, Pleasant Point Golf Club and Geraldine Golf Club. The clubs were identified by the Department of Conservation as being strategically located for habitat restoration in conjunction with the wider predator-free initiative, as well as having access to large numbers of volunteer members able to assist in the beautification process. The first planting day was recently held recently at Gleniti Golf Club, with a group of club volunteers working alongside a horticultural team from Temuka’s Arowhenua Marae nursery which is contracted to grow and supply the native plants for the greater planting project over the coming months. The Arowhenua Marae nursery employs some 30 people. Some 20 green-fingered golf club
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Some of the planting at Gleniti Golf Club in South Canterbuy. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
volunteers, along with Arowhenua Marae nursery staff and DOC staff attended the day-long planting session, seeding approximately 1300 native trees and shrubs around three large water catchment ponds running through Gleniti Golf Club. Days later the process was repeated with some 14 volunteers from the membership at the Pleasant Point Golf Club which has a free-flowing stream running through the middle of several fairways. Approximately 1195 trees and shrubs were planted along the stream banks. Similar planting days were to be held along the waterways and catchment ponds of the Temuka, and Geraldine golf clubs over coming months. Golf New Zealand regional support manager Richard Hudson said the South Canterbury riparian planting project was an outstanding example of how the golfing sector could successfully collaborate with conservation projects. He hoped the South Canterbury partnership would be used as a template for rolling out replica initiatives nationwide. “Golf clubs are renown for being environmental pillars within New Zealand communities the length and breadth of the country -- undertaking hundreds of hectares of planting projects as well as implementing pest and rodent eradication programmes to help rid the country of stoats, weasels, and possums,” Hudson said. “The South Canterbury riparian plant-
ing project showcases that the restoration and care of our environmental assets really is a multi-discipline opportunity -- with the various stakeholders bringing onboard their respective strengths and contributions, whether that be organisational, financial, horticultural expertise, personnel, or location. “Being proud intergenerational custodians of the land, South Canterbury golf clubs and their environmentally-conscious members are wholeheartedly supportive of the South Canterbury riparian planting project which not only adds to the area’s ecological sustainability, but also increases the visual appeal of courses as natural recreational areas able to be enjoyed by all members of the public.” The South Canterbury native vegetation planting programme at the four golf clubs is the third phase of the WWF-New Zealand and Botanica by Air Wick joint #ReBlossomNZ initiative which saw 8800 native tree species planted in Wellington and Porirua in 2021 to help improve water quality in the Porirua Stream, followed by the planting of more than 9000 riparian trees in Auckland in 2022 to help protect the city’s depleting wetlands. Now in its third year, the project will help restore the health and wellbeing of over 5,600 square-metres of land across South Canterbury through planting around 9000 natives. With approximately 90 percent of New Zealand’s wetland areas lost to development, the three-year partnership aims to
December 2023
restore these important habitats across Aotearoa through planting native flowers. Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, chief executive of WWF-New Zealand, said: “We’re proud to support a project that has seen nearly 28,000 natives planted across Aotearoa over the last three years to protect our wetland areas, restore biodiversity and improve water quality. These sorts of community conservation projects can make a real difference in ensuring we have a healthy environment for the next generation of New Zealanders.” Rachel Bainbridge, head of brand and trade marketing at Reckitt NZ, emphasised Reckitt’s commitment as the parent company of Botanica by Air Wick to contribute to the preservation of rich biodiversity in Aotearoa, and around the world. “Our #ReBlossomNZ initiative with WWF-New Zealand and valued partners has yielded remarkable results over the past three years and we are on track to meet our goal of planting 27,800 flowering natives across the motu by the end of 2023,” Bainbridge said. “Through initiatives like these, we hope to help protect and restore Aotearoa’s unique biodiversity, while also fostering a deeper connection between communities and nature - contributing to the well-being of our native fauna and flora,” Bainbridge concluded. Meaning (Cambridge dictionary) Riparian: At the edge of a river, or relating to this area.
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Play nine holes and go in the draw to win an all-expenses paid trip to The Open K
NEWS
iwi golfers taking to the fairways and greens around New Zealand for a nine-hole round over the coming months are being given the opportunity to win an all-expenses paid trip of a lifetime to play in a world tournament leading up to The Open Champion to be played at Royal Troon Old Course in Scotland. The free-to-enter promotion, called Make Time Pay 9, is being organised by Golf New Zealand. Running from October 1, every golfer who submits a nine-hole scorecard – either playing a nine-hole course, or just nine holes as part of an 18-hole course – will go into the draw for a chance to play the national nine-hole qualifying event against nine other golfers as part of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown. Players simply put in their nine-hole scorecard to en-
ter the initial draw. There are no forms to fill in, no entry fees required, and no formalities to complete. At the end of each month through until February, Golf New Zealand will randomly select one male and one female winner. The computer-generated draw is open to every player in New Zealand – regardless of what handicap they are playing on, or what they scored on their nine holes. All nine-hole scorecards submitted during the qualifying period will be eligible – including casual rounds of golf with friends and family, competitive club competitions, and twilight sessions. All monthly draw winners, with two draws in February, will receive a prize trip for two to play at The Golf Club in the national Make Time Play 9 finals as part of the New Zealand Open. Playing off a stableford format, the winner and runner-up at the national Make Time Play 9 event will qualify as New Zealand’s representatives at the world R&A 9-Hole Challenge on the eve of the 152nd The Open Championship in Troon, Scotland. The final at Troon will feature 42 nine-hole players from 21 other countries. The R&A 9-Hole Challenge initiative, including airfares and six nights’ accommodation for two, is literally a ”money can’t buy opportunity” – as the only way to secure an invite to the world final is through winning each country’s qualifying tournament. Golf New Zealand development general manag-
er Thiem Nguyen said the Make Time Play 9 initiative was a pathway for golfers to potentially win the sporting trip of a lifetime – starting with the qualifying round at Millbrook Golf Club, and for two players, ultimately taking them to a shot at a world title being played in conjunction with one of the sport’s most prestigious events. “For two lucky Kiwi golfers, they will have the prospect of playing on the same golf course as Ryan Fox, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and the best professional golfers in the world for The Open Championship,” said Nguyen. “Best of all, entry to Make Time Play 9 is totally free, and players of all abilities and skills have exactly the same chance of going into the draw to get them to Queenstown.”
Archie Shaw from Dunedin who one of the first winners of a nine-hole compeition run by Golf New Zealand.
Millbrook Resort in Queenstown. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.
Jocelyn Stevenson from Taranaki who is in the draw to win a trip to Scotland in a Golf New Zealand nine-hole competition.
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December 2023
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GOLF NEWS
Next year’s Asia-Pacific Amateur will be in Japan T he 15th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) will be contested at Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba course in Japan, it has been announced by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A. To be held from October 3-6, 2024, it will be the second time that Japan has staged the AAC. Hideki Matsuyama won the second edition of the championship in 2010 when it was staged at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Japan. The AAC field is comprised annually of the top male amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region representing the 43 APGC affiliated organisations. The champion of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and automatically qualifies for The 153rd Open in Northern Ireland. The
runner(s)-up will gain a place in final qualifying for The Open. “Returning to Japan for the 15th edition of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship brings the Championship full circle,” said Taimur Hassan Amin, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, on behalf of the Founding Partners. “The Asia-Pacific Amateur has an extensive history in Japan, starting with Hideki Matsuyama’s victory more than a decade ago, and we are committed to building on that legacy in 2024 at a world class venue in Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba Course.” Notable past competitors include Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the AAC and the 2021 Masters champion, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Collectively, alumni of the AAC have gone on to win 24 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 120 across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour,
Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour. Shun Han, president of Taiheiyo Club, said: “We are excited to welcome the best players from across the Asia-Pacific region to Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba Course in 2024. “The Gotemba course is one of the world’s top courses and we look forward to the test it will provide to some of the most talented golfers in the world.” Designed in 1977 by Shunsuke Kato, Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba course underwent a renovation in 2018 overseen by Rees Jones with consultation from Matsuyama. The hillside course, situated 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, features views of Mount Fuji. The flagship of Taiheiyo Club’s 18 golf courses, the Gotemba course has hosted a number of international events, including the Taiheiyo Masters and the 2001 World Cup of Golf won by South Africa’s Ernie
Els and Retief Goosen. Japan Golf Association executive director Andy Yamanaka said: “It will be an honour to welcome this elite championship back to Japan after hosting the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2010. “We are prepared to showcase Japanese golf at the highest levels and build on the success that past champions such as Hideki Matsuyama, Takumi Kanaya and Keita Nakajima have had at this Championship.” The AAC has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players since its inception in 2009, including Australians Cameron Davis, Lucas Herbert, Min Woo Lee and Cameron Smith, Chinese Taipei’s C T Pan, Koreans Kim Si-woo and Lee Kyoung-hoon, Japan’s Kanaya, Satoshi Kodaira, Matsuyama and Nakajima and New Zealand’s Ryan Fox.
Playing golf good for mental processes, study concludes
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laying golf or regular walking may significantly improve immediate cognitive function in older individuals, according to a recent study published in medical journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. An international team of researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, the University of Edinburgh and ETH Zürich aimed to explore the immediate effects of three distinct cognitively demanding aerobic exercises on cognition and related biological responses in older, healthy adults. The study involved 25 healthy older golfers, aged 65 and above, who participated in three different acute bouts of aerobic exercise: an 18-hole golf round, a six-kilometre Nordic walking session, and a six-kilometre regular walking session. Each exercise was conducted in a real-life environment, with participants maintaining their typical pace,
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Singapore golf course awarded world’s best
entosa Golf Club’s (SGC) Serapong course in Singapore has been named the world’s best golf course at the World Golf Awards. The course is the first golf club in Asia to win the accolade which has previously been claimed by Augusta National Golf Club and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in the United States and the Old Course at St Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. At the awards ceremony at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the Serapong course also retained its titles as the best course in Singapore and best course in Asia. “It is truly an honour and a source of great pride to see the Serapong and Sentosa Golf Club being recognised as the best, not only in Singapore, but also in Asia and the world,” said Andrew Johnston, general manager and director of
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corresponding to brisk walking. Cognitive function was assessed using the Trail-Making Test (TMT) A and B, a widely used tool for evaluating cognitive function in older adults. The TMT-A test measures lower cognitive functions, such as attention and processing speed, while the TMT-B test measures more demanding executive functions such as task-switching ability. Additionally, blood samples were collected to measure brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTSB) levels. Both have been suggested to reflect the benefits of exercise in the brain. Participants also wore fitness monitoring devices to record exercise-specific data like distance, duration, pace, energy expenditure and steps. An ECG sensor with a chest strap was used to monitor heart rate. The study showed that a single session of any of the
three exercises improved lower cognitive functions in older adults. Furthermore, Nordic walking and regular walking were associated with enhanced executive functions. “These findings underscore the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise, such as golf, Nordic walking and regular walking, in maintaining and enhancing cognitive function among older adults,” said Julia Kettinen, the first author of the article and a doctoral researcher in sports and exercise medicine at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland. “Previous research has shown that exercise also holds promise as a potential strategy for those experiencing cognitive decline,” she added. Meaning: Cognitive: Connected with thinking or conscious mental processes.
Annika Sorenstam becomes member of Augusta National
agronomy at SGC. “It is testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team and their relentless pursuit of excellence. “This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering an exceptional golfing experience to our members and guests. The back of the house work we have dedicated to the working culture of the team transcends into great golf, but more important great memories. “Over the years, Serapong has risen to global prominence, hosting prestigious events and attracting golfers from around the world. “One memorable experience was hosting the inaugural LIV Golf Singapore presented by Resorts World Sentosa. This was a milestone for the Club, showcasing our ability to organise high-profile events and cementing our status as a championship venue.”
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en-time LPGA major champion Annika Sorenstam has become the latest woman to accept membership of Augusta National Golf Club in the United States. The 53-year-old Swede is the first former LPGA Tour player to be welcomed into the club which did not allow any female members until 2012. Since then, the Masters venue, which was founded in 1932, has granted membership to a number of high profile women, including former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, financier Darla Moore, former US Golf Association president Diana Murphy, former IBM chief executive Ginni Rometty and Ana Botin, executive chairman of the Santander Group. Speaking during the Founding Partners’ press conference at last month’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Augusta National chair-
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man Fred Ridley said: “I’ve known Annika for quite some time, and I think she is going to be a great addition to the club. “I played golf with her at an opening member event last week, and I can tell you, she can still play, and she was just a delight to be with.” “We have a number of women members and we have for quite a few years. I think it made us a better club, and they are an integral part of our culture.” Sorenstam retired from regular tournament golf in 2008, having won 90 professional events worldwide, but came back to win the US Senior Women’s Open in 2021. She became the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event since 1945 when she competed in the Bank of America Colonial in 2003. Among her various current roles, Sorenstam is president of the International Golf Federation.
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NEWS
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December 2023
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Our Favourite Courses • OUR FAVOURITE COURSES •
WAINUI GOLF CLUB • NEW ZEALAND • NORTH ISLAND
AUCKLAND Phone: +64 09 444 3437 Email: admin@wainui.online Website: www.wainui.online COURSE LENGTHS 65’s 6485 Par 72 59’s 5921 Par 72 55’s 5519 Par 72 50’s 5009 Par 72 45’s 4532 Par 72
• NEW ZEALAND • NORTH ISLAND
WAIRAKEI GOLF + SANCTUARY TAUPO Phone: +64 7 374 8152 Fax: +64 7 374 8289 Email: info@wairakeigolf.co.nz Website: www.wairakeigolfcourse.co.nz
COURSE LENGTHS Blue: 6460 Mtrs Par 72 White: 5853 Mtrs Par 72 Red: 5091 Mtrs Par 72
Advertising Feature
COURSE INFORMATION Year opened: PGC established 1956 * Wainui 2016 Green Fees: from $115.00 (incl. gst) Electric Cart Hire: $50.00 per cart Club Hire: $60 (Premium 18H); $40 (Premium 9H) Accommodation: O’Grady Lodge. Visit www.ogradylodge.co.nz, email ogrady@xtra. co.nz or phone 021 620 276 to book. Special Features: Club Fitting Studio. Driving Range. Short Game Practice Area. Orchard 9 Par 3 Course. Restaurant and Bar Facilities. How to get here: Head north on the State Highway #1 to exit # 396 Millwater. Take the first turn on Wainui Road. 4 kilometers to Windmill Drive turn left .5 kilometers.
COURSE INFORMATION Year Established: 1968 Course Architects: Thomson & Wolveridge Head Professional: Steven Jessup Green Fees: New Zealand Registered $260, Australian Registered $295, International Registered $345 Electric Cart: $60 Executive Club Hire: $75 Footwear: Soft spikes only Accommodation: Huka Lodge Ph +64 7 378 5791 & Wairakei Resort Ph +64 7 3748021 Special Features: Unique predator proof sanctuary, protecting kiwi, takahe, pheasants and fallow deer. How to get there: 10-min drive north from Central Taupo.
A challenging links course that is playable all year round! We love having groups come and play our course and offer a discount for 12 players or more. Give us a call to enquire about bringing your golfing buddies, or a ladies golf group, to Ohope Beach Golf Links ... and think about combining it with a round at one of our neighbours; Whakatane, Opotiki, Kawerau or Te Teko.
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December 2023
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Odyssey Ai-ONE - Callaway Golf W H A T ’ S N E W the sweet spot. Our revolutionary Ai-ONE urethane insert delivers more consistent ball speeds, even from off-center hits, leaving putts up to 21% closer to the hole. To achieve this unmatched level of performance, we made the back of the insert out of aluminum and added a White Hot Urethane to the striking surface for the iconic White Hot feel that millions of golfers love. These enhancements provide incredible feel, speed control, and consistency in a design that’s changing the face of putting.
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tent ball speed across the face. We’ve co-molded a grooved White Hot urethane layer into that aluminum backer for the classic White Hot feel that Tour players and amateurs love.
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The most important performance feature of this putter is the insert, and now we’re showcasing the most unique aspect of the insert…the contours on the back. Our designers and engineers developed a Panlite window that makes these contours visible, along with an automotive grade polymer that provides great clarity and scratch resistance. The window truly makes these putters unlike anything
ll golfers, even the best Tour players in the world, miss the center of face from time to time. And when you lose speed relative to a center hit, the ball doesn’t roll as far as you intended, so you miss more putts or leave them further from the hole. Now in Odyssey Ai-ONE, we’ve leveraged Callaway’s industry-leading Artificial Intelligence design and super-computing capabilities to create the most advanced insert in golf. The multi-material construction includes unique contours on the back of the face that minimise ball speed losses on off-center hits, and greatly increase
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that’s come before and highlights this extraordinary technology.
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A lightweight steel shaft with 20-30 grams (depending on the grip) of counterbalance weight in the butt end. This is an evolution of our Stroke Lab Weighting that will appeal to even more golfers.
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These putters all feature a beautiful navy blue PVD finish that really sets them apart and gives them a premium look.
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Drivepods North Island Championship 2023 LONG DRIVE
he Drivepods North Island XDL Championship took to the tee with a full field at Pupuke Golf Club, in Auckland on the 12th November. The winds were face on for the players, who were all driving well, mostly over the 300 grid line. It was a great day with a constant flow of spectators and sounds coming from DJ - Junior. Celebrity Ben Lummis took to the microphone as MC. Ben is famous for being the 1st New Zealand Idol and made global headlines in the music industry becoming a 5 x platinum recording artist with Sony Music. The grid workers and operations had a busy day on the green delivering an awesome event to find our winners. With the North Island Champs delivering 3 divisions the ladies draw card Phillis Meti, our defending champ brought some hype with a NEW name to our sport Monica Chau who delivered a powerhouse
performance from the ladies. With Covid still prevalent, 6 players had to withdraw with 2 players injured. The Men’s Open division had a strong field with a number of the New Zealand Long Blacks competing. Chris Charlton taking the longest drive of the day coming in at 374 this during the playoff for 3rd place. Youngest driver at the tee was Whaitiri Preston who drove an impressive 338 distance and got a roar from the crowd against his opponent Ryan Coxon who drove 333 . Whangarei resident, Devlyn Birchell, a newcomer to the sport, took on the defending North Island Champ, and New Zealand Long Black, Grieg Mooney and drove a 242 with Grieg Mooney driving a 352 with a face on wind. The big moment arrived with the final against two New Zealand Long Blacks George Wardell (defending New Zealand Champion) and Nick Hanna to the tee with great excitement from the crowd seeing to national representatives in the most intense rounds. The most incredible outcome with a meter difference took Nick Hanna to the podium as winner of the Drivepods XDL North Island Champion 2023 with a drive of 362 m and George Wardell a close 361 m drive to take 2nd place. Local club resident Andrew Storm, a crowd favorite, put on another great performance and took out the Masters North Island Championship title with Joel Taylor (2023 Drivepods XDL South Island Champion) coming in a close second. Brent Snooks the Hawera Club Champion taking 3rd place in the Masters divi-
sion to make a champion field proving the nation’s best is on the tee box. The 2024 season looks to be the biggest yet with club event qualifiers and other special events ensuring we have plenty of activity for our big drivers. The season begins on February 10th with the Hawera Golf Club Championship being the first listed on the XDL calendar. New Zealand Long Drive and Xtreme Drivers League are welcoming events that will be promoted by the NSO. The Women’s playoff with Monica Chau, gave Phillis Meti an undefeated win and with this brings the announcement for XDL Ladies on the Tee events in 2024. Phillis is a Queen’s Honour recipient and is the face of the Media Contract for the 2024 season promoting the XDL Women’s division. Let’s keep the ball rolling…. The WINNERS of the Drivepods XDL New Zealand Championship Title goes to Men’s Open Winner - Nick Hanna after his Opponent (South Island Champion, plus fellow New Zealand Long Black) Grieg Mooney went into the playoff for the New Zealand title. Nick drove 362 to take the national title and looks forward to the 2024 Media Contract. Masters South Island Champion, Joel Taylor and North Island Champion Andrew Storm went head to head with the playout for New Zealand title going to Joel Taylor. Joel drove a 360 m ball to take the national title and picked the 2024 Media Contract. The Masters division has increased interest for next year’s season so XDL is now looking at
extra events to grow the opportunities for these divisions. Continued thanks and gratitude to the following; Pupuke Golf Club our host venue since 2019. Mercedes Benz North Shore, driving our crew and players since 2016. Power Vault, powering up our events, DJ - Junior for keeping our crowd, crew and players hyped all day, FruitGuys, providing nutrition for our players and crew since 2016. Drivepods NZ who have brought our vision to life, ready to launch in 2024. Pharmagenics who provided very special gift bags of the finest joint products to our winners. Golfer Pacific NZ, My Golf News Oz, International Long Drive Magazine, Wii Stream (XDL TV). To all the grid workers, club helpers, greenkeeper, operations staff, and Ben Lummis our MC for all the amazing work throughout the day. To our supporters, sponsors, spectators and players, you’re our motivation, so thanks for the great energy you bring.
Nick Hanna, Drivepods XDL Mens North Island Champion 2023 (Left - Ben, MC ), (Right - Kian, Operations).
Andrew Storm, Drivepods XDL Masters North Island Champion 2023 with Ben - MC & Kian - Operations.
Phillis Meti, Drivepods XDL Women’s North Island Champion 2023 with Ben - MC & Kian - Operations.
Monica Chau 2nd place in both the Drivepods XDL North Island Champs and New Zealand Title.
Nick Hanna (2023 Drivepods XDL North Island Champion).
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Drivepods XDL New Zealand Mens Champion 2023 - Nick Hanna
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Phillis Meti - Drivepods XDL North Island Women’s Champion 2023.
Drivepods XDL New Zealand Masters Champion 2023 - Joel Taylor
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Drivepods South Island XDL Championship 23
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ith injuries and Covid taking out a number of registrations days before tee off, this year’s Drivepods South Island XDL Champs were challenging the nerves of the crew. With a bunch of New Zealand Long Blacks taking to the tee the locals were hyped to see Nelson Golf Club listing some resi-
dents to take on the nation’s best. The Men’s Open division had a strong field with New Zealand Long Blacks - George Wardell (Defending South Island and New Zealand Champion), Grieg Mooney, Nick Hanna creating some heat with their presence. New names on the board Joel Taylor and Chris Charlton kept the heat on all day with their dynamic energy and big drives proving that this sport attracts high-performance athletes and is not for the faint hearted. The winds were head on in sunny Nelson which naturally slows up the drives and therefore shortens the distances for our players who weren’t deterred at all. Support on the grid from club locals is always welcomed and XDL applauds how quickly the grid got cleared, at this year’s championship. The Masters division brought joy to the crowd when two Nelson Golf Club managers, Tony Watkins and Derek Drysdale,
took to the tee. There was unwavering energy, from both the players with smiles all around when Tony Watkins took 3rd place and proved he can drive like a pro.
Results in:
Drivepods XDL South Island Mens Open Championship 2023 (Grieg Mooney - Winner 293 m. Joel Taylor - 2nd, 290 m, George Wardell - 3rd 292 m with Matthew Grimes (Local golf instructor) taking 4th position. Drivepods XDL South Island Masters Championship 2023 (Joel Taylor - Winner 270 m. Grant Newport - 2nd. 231 m, Tony Watkins - 3rd, 231 m With another year coming to a close the 2024 season looks to be the most dynamic yet. Expect more events coming from our golf clubs around the nation all listed on www.xdlworldwide.com. Continued thanks and gratitude to Nel-
son Golf Club, their staff, members and sponsors for supporting XDL events. Our continued thanks and gratitude to XDL partner, Daymans who have supplied vehicles for our crew and champions since 2020. Drivepods NZ who have brought XDL’S vision to life ready for the 2024 season. Thanks and gratitude to Total Golf, Blair and Sean, for delivering all the balls to the tee with ease. To all our supporters, grid workers and helpers, continued thanks and gratitude, you all play a part in our success. Be part of the NEXT BIG THING with XDL and list your event with us. Thanks and continued gratitude to our International Media Partners, International Long Drive Magazine, Golfer Pacific NZ, My Golf News OZ and Wiistream for getting our news and content out there for the world to see.
New Zealand Long Black & Drivepods XDL South Island Champion 2023 Grieg Mooney with Derek Drysdale.
Nick Hanna (New Zealand Long Black & NZ Champion).
Joel Taylor (South Island & NZ Masters Champion).
Winners and some of our local grid workers who supported XDL crew.
Drivepods XDL Masters South Island Champion 2023, Joel Taylor with Derek Drysdale Nelson Golf Club.
First Club Qualifier for XDL 2024 Season H
awera Golf course is stoked to announce the date for the 2024 Regional Long Drive has been locked in for February 10th 2024. After the success of the last 2 years the team are working hard to grow the event even further and with last years winner, Sam Jones now committed to the DP World Tour the gates are open for a new title holder. National and International Events listed on www.xdlworldwide.com Up for grabs is the ability to qualify for the Nationals as well as some fantastic cash and merchandise prizes. To register for the event contact the Carl Jones on 0275256043 or Chad Harris on 022 325 2459 Ngā mihi, Jonsey
Pictured is last year’s >45 Regional winner Brent Snooks who recently returned from the Nationals with a respectable 3rd place.
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December 2023
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GOLF TRAILS
NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS
NORTHLAND 2023 Northland Men’s & Women’s Champ of Champs!
Played recently at Hikurangi.
SUMMER MEMBERSHIP Judgeford Golf Club summer membership is now open Summer membership runs from 1 September 2023 to 31 March 2024
$499.00 Summer membership payable now in full – details below
How do I accept this Exclusive Offer? Pay cash at the shop or through internet banking to our Bank Account: 06-0513-0016489-00 (use ‘surname’ and ‘summer’ as reference). Please note – we cannot accept credit card payment This offer is available now - so be in quick! If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the shop on 235-7633 (Press 1 for the shop)
328 Paremata Haywards Road SH58 RD1 PORIRUA 5381
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(04) 235 7633 judgeford@golf.co.nz www.judgefordgolf.co.nz
December 2023
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AUCKLAND Championship Crowning Moments at Auckland Provincial Match Play!
In a gripping Men’s final, Jack van Prehn from Ngāmotu secured victory with a stellar performance, defeating Remuera’s Ryan Xie 2/1! On the Women’s front, Eunseo Choi, a powerhouse on the greens, clinched her 4th Auckland Provincial Championship in 5 years (only due to COVID interruptions) with a commanding 5/4 win over Rianne Li from RAGGC!
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WAIKATO Waikato 2023 Ralph Cup Winners
Played recently. The team had a draw
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against Northland and wins against Bay of Plenty and Auckland! Waikato retained the Ralph Cup won last year! Pictured: L/R: Cole Tosland (captain), Din Morrell, Ricci Putohe and Ben Ambler
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MANAWATU-WHANGANUI Results from Rangitikei Golf Club
Wednesday 15th Nov - Comp Stableford: Ron Harris & Karen Yorke 37pts, Mathew Aitkin & Lynne McDonald 35pts, Neil Atkins, Kevin Taylor, Ross Greener, Cynthia Luckham & Pat McCarthy 34pts, Geoff Ingram 33pts, Chris Duffy, Dan Scotson & Virginia Ryan 32pts. Twos: Jullian Elliott - 3rd Saturday 18th Nov - Comp Hidden Gem medal: Greg Baker net 68, Kelvin Burt net 70, Simon Mitchell & Alan Wix net 71, Marcus Anderson, Joseph Tapper & John Luckham net 72, Phil Wood, Ron Harris & Karen Yorke net 73, by lot Varina Mitchell & Jill Hall net 74. Closest to Pin: 3rd = Ken Boyle & 12th = Simon Mitchell Saturday 4th November - Comp Medal & Stableford: Toyota Cup Winners: Ladies Best net - Jill Hall net 67, Mens Best Net - Jullian Elliot net 62. Best Stableford Trophy - Bruce Kinloch 41pts. Toyota Finance Trophy: Jamie Denholm Seniors: Graeme Stephens, Karen Yorke & Tim Wales 40pts, Sean Khov 39pts, Phil Wood 38pts, Kevin Smith& Alan Wix 35pts, Martin Field, Ron Harris & Scott Ewens 33pts. Juniors: Varina Mitchell 40pts, Joseph Tapper & Joe Yorke 39pts, Liz Kinloch, Wendal Masters & Joe Yorke 37pts, Neville Berendt 34pts, Kirsty Gledhill, Clive Robinson, Jamie Gledhill & Bill Ward 33pts. Twos: Peter Thompson, Tim Wales, Joe Ferrier & Alan Wix - 3rd Phil Wood - 5th, Liz Kinloch - 12th, & Kirsty Gledhill - 16th. Closest to Pin 3rd: Bruce Kinloch
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Closest to Pin 16th: Bruce Kinloch Lucky Draw: Richard Holden. Wednesday 1st November - Comp Stableford: Garry Edwards 41pts, Neville Berendt & Bob Pittaway 4opts, Jullian Elliott & Stew de Burgh 38pts, Jason Bowles & Steve Ryan 37pts, Clive Robinson, Cynthia Luckham, Geoff Ingram, Edith Leary, & Martin Field 36pts, Stella Berendt & Tania Harpur 35pts, Bryan Northcott, Ross Greener, Norm Rackham & Chris Deighton 34pts. Twos: Garry Edwards 12th & 16th, Marty Field & Michelle Mossop 3rd. Sunday 29th October - Comp Medal: SENIORS: Alan Wix net 68, Pete Masters net 72, Karen Yorke, Ann Carroll & Matt Carroll net 74, Kelvin Burt, Peter Thompson net 75, Graeme Stephens net 77. Juniors: Wendal Masters net 69, Joe Ferrier & John Luckham net 71, Cynthia Luckham net 72, Richard Holden, Dan Scotson & Varina Mitchell net 77. Twos: Simon Mitchell - 12th & Steve Conner - 16th. Closest to Pin - 16th: Simon Mitchell
WOODWARD CUP As expected at this level, both semi-final matches were extremely tight with several matches going the distance. In the 1st vs 4th match-up Harewood put up a great fight trying to upset table topper Christchurch’s day, they did however fall just short with Shirley prevailing 5-3. Tom Lee playing at number one got his team on the board early winning 5/4 while James Howard likewise got Harewood underway winning 4/3 in the number 2 match. At the other end of the table, Alisdair Reid and Kerry Branson couldn’t be separated at the numbers 8’s while Jason Sincock produced a great comeback to win his last 4 holes to pip Harewood’s Scott Manyweathers 1Up. Josh Smith meanwhile was able to get an impressive 1Up win over previously undefeated Tim Leonard, however with wins to Reid and Lee Christchurch has enough to progress to the final.
CANTERBURY 2023 Men’s Interclub Finals Day Overview
The 2023 edition of the Men’s Interclub Finals Day took place recently at Pegasus Golf Club in very hot spring conditions. With a total of 120 players across 16 teams and four different competitions all culminating together, it was always going to be a very busy semi-final morning plays before the eventual respective competition finalists were found.
The Clearwater vs Templeton match meanwhile was an even closer match-up, a repeat of the 2022 final. Unfortunately, from Clearwater’s perspective, the result was the same with Templeton narrowly getting up 4.5-3.5. Clearwater started
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well with number 1 Dominic Brettkelly winning comfortably 5/4 and at the other end of the order Will Bastings managed a 3/2 win over Tom Wilson. However, it was Templeton who was dominant in the middle of the order with David Zohrab winning 6/5, Ryan Bellamy winning 4/3, and Nick Franzmann 3/2. Clearwater’s Cooper Moore was able to add a win 2up over Dan Laughton but alongside the Jordon Latter, Michael Bailey half it wasn’t enough. So, the finalists were found with defending champions Templeton looking to achieve a rare 3-peat while Christchurch in their 150th year were looking to wrestle back the title for the first time since 2019. Things started positively for Christchurch at the battle of the 8’s with Alisdair Reid being in control to eventually overcome Tom Wilson 5/3. In the same pairing, a tough battle between Jordon Latter and Mika MacDonald played out with the latter in control for large periods, however, it was the experienced Latter who fought back for a 2/1 victory to get Templeton on the board. In the next group, Jason Sincock continued his good day beating David Zohrab 2up while Templeton’s Ryan Bellamy was able to overcome Richard Reed 3/2 to make it 2 wins a piece. It was the next group however that saw Christchurch take advantage of the contest with the Canterbury representative Reid Hilton in his debut year for the club comfortably defeating James Standeven 6/5 alongside Tim Leonard’s hard-fought 1up victory over Dan Laughton. Those results meant that only 2 wins for Templeton from the final group would be enough to take the match to a play-off, with those contests going all the way to the 18th hole where a large and expectant crowd awaited. Templeton’s Mike Toeke started the hole 1up against opponent Peter Lee while Tom Lee and Nick Franzmann’s match was all square after Franzmann had fought back from previously trailing as much as 3 down. Toeke was able to hold firm to claim a half on the who and an overall 1 up victory, however Franzmann was unable to complete the comeback. After an outof-bounds shot off the tee followed by a further out-of-bounds approach shot with Christchurch’s Tom Lee ball already on the green, Franzmann conceded the match. The outcome confirmed Christchurch’s 5-3 victory and 2023 Woodward Cup Champions.
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convincingly beaten Bottle Lake in the regular season would have been favourites for this one, however, the men from Bottle Lake put up a big fight. A big 6/4 win to Bottle Lake’s Jonathan Drury got the team on the front foot before salver winner Mitchell Redmayne was able to contribute with a tight 2up victory over Paul Bailey. Templeton’s Kevin Hopkins and Ricky Buton both responded with 1up victories however with Bottle Lake’s Kieran Sharvin cruising to a 7/6 victory and Luke Millar winning 2/1, it meant Templeton would need 2 wins from their final group to force a play-off. Willy Morri and Scot Duggan duly delivered with 1up victories each and it was to the play-off we went. Scott Duggan and Kieran Sharvin both steeped up for Templeton and Bottle Lake respectively, but it was the Sharvin who following an impressive drive went on to birdie the hole and send Bottle Lake through. In the other semi-final, the action was a lot more one-sided as Russley met Christchurch. It was the Russley men that were dominant prevailing 7.5-.5 in the impressive performance. Alfie Bell with the biggest victory 5/4 with Ricky Wang also winning 4/2. Most of the other matches in fairness to Christchurch were decided on the 17th hole. Charles Whitwham getting the solitary half for Christchurch at the number one spot. BLANK CUP In Blank Cup action, table toppers Russley took on 4th place Harewood in the first semi-final. As it proved Russley was too strong comfortably marching to a 6-2 victory. The biggest victories going to Russley’s Joe Piggott 5/4 at the number 7 spot and Hayden Bryden’s 5/3 victory at the number 2 spot. Harewood’s Cameron Powell got their biggest win 4/2 at the number 4 position with Liam Keegan getting the team’s only other victory 2up. In the other semi, Christchurch took on Clearwater in a match that finished 5-3 in Christchurch’s favour. A 4/3 win to David Grater got Christchurch off to a good start followed by Rhys Morris’s 3/2 victory over Clearwater’s Craig McMillan. James Cadenhead got a 2/1 victory at the number 2 spot for Clearwater but with halved matches at 7 & 8, it was not enough. Therefore, Russley and Christchurch were left to play out the final, a fitting match for the teams that finished 1 and 2 respectively in the regular season. However, it was Russley who mimicked their
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morning’s result progressing to a 6-2 victory. Ben Baker led from the top winning 6/5 over Grater while Kikukawa, Fitzsimmons, and Piggott all won 3/2 over their opponents. Ethan Lam and Stu Amos also won to give the team their 6-point total. Christchurch’s George Keable and Finlay Jones meanwhile were able to both contribute 3/2 wins for their side.
SIMON CUP In Simon Cup action the first semifinal saw Templeton take on 4th seeds Bottle Lake Golf Club. Templeton after an impressive regular season and having
On to the Bottle Lake vs Russley final we went. Encouraged by their morning showing Bottle Lake again came out of the blocks quickly. Jonathan Drury backed up his morning performance with an equalling impressive display winning 6/5 over Russley’s Peter Jones. Phillip Walker was able to get one back for Russley winning 3/2, however, wins to Bottle Lake’s Zac Medland 3/2 and Tom Harding 4/3 had Bottle Lake in control 3-1. News then came in that Kieran Sharvin had also prevailed 4/3 at the number one spot meaning Russley needed to win all 3 fi-
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nal games to force a playoff. The penultimate group matches were in the balance with both matches sitting at all square as they started the last hole. It was however Russley’s Riley Wang and Dereck Xu who both won the last to claw back the score to 4-3 with just the Mitchell Redmayne vs Ying He match to finish. After the pair halved the second to last hole, both players, watched on by their respective teammates teed off on par 5 number 5. After a bit of early trouble Bottle Lake’s Redmayne managed to make the green in 3 shots with an approximate 7-foot putt left. Ying He was a bit wayward with his second into the green and after a scramble was only able to make a 5 on the hole leaving Redmayne two shots to half and clench the Bottle Lake win. He only needed one shot however making the putt to win 1up and give Bottle Lake the 5-3 victory.
SIMON CUP DIVISION 2 - THOMPSON/MACDONALD After being played for the majority of the season as Simon Division 2, this competition was renamed on the day the Thompson/MacDonald trophy in honour of newly crowned Canterbury Golf Life Members John Thompson and Peter MacDonald, who as ever were both officiating on the day. In the 6-man team event, Avondale took on Rawhiti in the first semi-final and it was the Rawhiti team that got the job done by a margin of 4-2. Tiaki Davis and Nathan Andrews getting the equal best victories 6/5. In the other contest, Templeton took on Weedons in what was a very dominant display for the Central region based club. Weedons getting the win 6-0 with Cameron Coombes winning comfortably 6/5 at the top followed by teammate Anuresh Chandra 5/3. Andrew Wylie also won impressively 7/6 at the number 6 position. With Weedons getting the regular season win, Rawhiti would have been keen to reverse that result in the final, howev-
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er, it wasn’t to be with Weedons winning narrowly 3.5-2.5. Cameron Coombes again getting a strong win 4/3 which was complemented by Reg Wentworth’s 2/1 win and Nick Tait’s 1up. Rawhiti’s Nathan Andrews also produced another impressive showing winning 6/5 but with only teammate Dan Matthews getting another win it wasn’t quite enough.
win over Alisia Ren (Russley). Both players played immaculate golf, with Catherine finishing 1 over the card for a 36 hole total of 149 and Alisia 2 over the card on 150. The final hole was the decider when Catherine made a birdie 3 against Alisia’s par 4. This is the third consecutive year Catherine has won this event, which is a great achievement.
The Hagley Trophy for best Silver Champions net was won by Joanne Harkerss (Ellesmere) with a 36 hole total of 150. The Gross Stableford Rosebowl was won by Rangiora’s Jo Kent, Sue McFarlane and Vicky Lucas with a combined total of 55 points, making it back-to-back victories for the North Canterbury Club. Both Jo and Sue were also members of last year’s winning Rangiora team. This competition is a NZ Golf club based event played by Silver and Bronze champions and Bronze Runners-up in an off-the-stick stableford format, the winners scores going forward to compete against other New Zealand districts.
Canterbury Golf The Women’s Champion of Champions Tournament and Gross Stableford Rosebowl
The Women’s Champion of Champions Tournament and Gross Stableford Rosebowl were held at Christchurch Golf Club recently in perfect summery conditions with the course in great order.
Junior Foursomes Interclub
The Women’s Champion of Champion for 2023 is Catherine Palmer of Christchurch (pictured above) with a 1 stroke
The 9 Hole Women’s Champion is Philippa Lemon (Avondale), pictured above, with a gross score of 59. The Pat Rennell Salver was won by Templeton’s Dorothy Kennard and Sue Smith with a combined 33 points.
The Final Round of the 4 week junior foursomes was concluded recently at Russley Golf Club. The Nine Hole competition had been a close tussle between Waimairi Beach and Weedons and entering the final round Waimairi had a 2 point lead. However the Weedons team had other ideas and emerged the winners of the competition by 3 points after the four ball best ball stableford with their pairing of Taine and Lianna contributing an impressive 21 points. It was a great team effort by this young pairing who complimented each other well and scored vital points when their team mate was in trouble.
Back Row, from left - Stu Myles, Weedon’s Leyan Gilmore, Lianna Wentworth, Jared Wann, and Taine Jewell with Mike Rondel. Front Row - Waimairi Beach’s Niina Noda, Anissa Kak, Ari Marino and Isaac Prebble. The 18 Hole Competition leaders Pegasus, in their first year of entering the competition, also had designed on extending their 10 point lead to victory. The problem with this plan was the nature of the 2 ball best ball stableford and both making sure that if a bad hole is happening that your teammate is playing that hole well. This was the case with their two closest rivals, Russley whose pairing of Subin Bae and Alice Fry had 26 points for the front nine, with both contributing and the Hororata pair of Alex Kimber and Sam Smith also combining very well. A 2 for 5 stableford points by Sam on the challenging ninth hole will always help in this event. After 18 holes these two pairs had 47 and 49 points respectively, the highlight being a Gross 74 by Alice Fry. When combined with their teammates both the trailing teams had snuck past Pegasus with Russley finishing on 256 points, 1 point ahead of Hororata and a further 2 back to Pegasus on 253.
Pictured from left, Mike Rondel, Hororata’s Kohl Thompson-Small, Harvey Youdale, Alex Kimber and Sam Smith and Russley’s Subin Bae, Junie Chang, Eva Yin and Alice Fry with Stu Myles. Prizegiving was done with sponsor Stu Myles from Carlton Corner MTF and Canterbury Golf President Mike Rondel in attendance.
OTAGO/SOUTHLAND The Aorangi Women’s Champion of Champions
AD Reid Gross Stableford Rose Bowl (Geraldine) - Linda Pearsall, Ginny Bolderston, Michelle Amos The Aorangi Women’s Champion of Champions was held at the Timaru Golf Club recently in extremely windy conditions, which made playing conditions difficult for players. Timaru’s Angela Gerken took out the AG Reid tray with a Gross
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score of 79. In the team events, Ginny Bolderston, Linda Pearsall and Michelle Amos from Geraldine won the Gross Stableford Rose Bowl with 45 points. Ashburton’s team of Pauline Bell, Kay Fox and Lynn Small won the Prue Sanders Rosebowl with a combined net score of 239. The Gay Henderson Tray was also won by Ashburton. Liz Cabout, Sheryl Reid and Jenny Matthews had a net aggregate score of 173.
Bronze A gross (Peg Lister Trophy): Teresa Booker (Rakaia) 92. Bronze A net: Jenny Bolitho (Temuka) 74 Bronze A Runner up Net (SCWGA Trophy): Sandra Quinn (Rakaia) and Lyn Small (Ashburton) 79 50th Anniversary Salver Net (not already in the prize list): Pauline Bell (Ashburton) 72 Bronze B Net: Judy Hamer (Pleasant
Gay Henderson Tray Nett (Ashburton) - Liz Cabout, Jenny Mathews, Sheryl Reid Individual results: Silver Gross (AD Reid Trophy): Angela Gerken (Timaru) 79. Silver net: Bev Green (Pleasant Point) 74.
Point) and Susan Haynes (Gleniti) 69. Bronze B Runner up Net: Sheryl Reid (Ashburton) 79 Bronze C Net: Ann Whitley (Pleasant Point) 70 9 Hole Net: Judith Tutton (Gleniti) 37
Best Gross - AD Reid Trophy - Angela Gerken (Timaru)
Prue Sanders Rose Bowl Net (Ashburton) - Lyn Small, Pauline Bell, Kay Fox
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Golf-loving Ruby McMurtrie
Golf-loving Ruby McMurtrie celebrated her 90th birthday in October – and days later went within one shot of winning an epic 15th senior championships title at her Waitoa Park Golf Club at Waitoa near Oamaru. Ruby has been a member of Waitoa Park Golf Club for some 30-years, and still plays twice a week — every Tuesday and Thursday. Alongside 14 club championships, Ruby has also amassed five holein-ones throughout her playing career. “‘The people are so friendly here. It’s a lovely club,’’ confides Ruby. ‘‘The course is beautiful. The groundsmen have kept it in lovely condition. ‘‘It suits my age here because the North Otago and Lower Waitaki are big courses and it takes a bit of getting around them.’’ As well Ruby’s success on the course, she also volunteers her time to help out
December 2023
behind the scenes. The veteran’s date scones are always a crowd-pleaser at the club. ‘‘I make a Christmas cake for a raffle on Christmas Day. I’ve been doing that for a few years.’’ Rugby McMurtrie takes pride in giving back to the club that has given her so much. Her contributions were formally recognised when she was made a life member a few years ago. ‘‘I’ve had a lot of enjoyment out of it,’’ she says. ‘‘I’ll play as long as I can, as long as I can get around, as long as they’ll put up with me.’’ To celebrate Ruby’s 90th birthday, Waitoa Park Golf Club combined its men’s and women’s groups to hold a successful Ambrose event, followed by a celebratory afternoon tea after the rounds in her honour.
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