GOLF
TRAVELLER
ISSUE 10 • WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND • TOURISM UPDATE
• NZ’S TOP TOURNAMENTS
WITH COMPLIMENTS
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Kauri Cliffs, Northland, New Zealand
www.parnz.co.nz
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GOLF TRAVELLER
DECEMBER 2018
CONTENTS
08 12 Cromwell Golf Club, Otago
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Paraparaumu Beach Links Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
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Kauri Cliffs, Northland
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Jack’s Point, Central Otago
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Reflections – a look back on 2018.
NZ Men’s and Women’s Mid Amateur, Mt Maunganui.
NZ Men’s and Women’s 9-hole Masters, Mt Maunganui.
NZ Women’s Senior Championships, Cromwell, Otago.
NZ Women’s Autumn Foursomes, Paraparaumu.
Mt Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic.
The Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic.
New Zealand Mixed Foursomes, Maraenui, Hawke’s Bay.
COMING SOON – 2019 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay 4-Course Golf & Wine Classic, and the Akarua Millbrook Masters.
Visit our website: www.parnz.co.nz Or call us on +64 9 486 1077, Australia Toll Free 1800 018 575 4
GOLF TRAVELLER ISSUE 10
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GOLF TRAVELLER
DECEMBER 2018
CONTENTS
30 31 Shandon, Wellington
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Some of the PaR nz Golfing Holidays 2018 winners
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NZ Women’s Senior Foursomes, Shandon, Wellington.
Motor Neuron Disease research update – how PaR nz Golfing Holidays is helping.
Bula Me! PaR nz Golfing Holidays present two great events in Denarau, Fiji.
The PaR nz 2018 Winner’s Circle – all of the year’s amazing winners.
Golf in New Zealand the 2018 highlights.
Denarau, Fiji
Visit our website: www.parnz.co.nz Or call us on +64 9 486 1077, Australia Toll Free 1800 018 575 6
GOLF TRAVELLER ISSUE 10
Cooking everyone’s favourites just got deliciously easy. Rediscover the joy of cooking with the new Bosch Series 6 Ovens. Designed to deliver great results and a seamless experience, they come with a range of handy accessories. The Slim Tray to help prepare every dish simultaneously, Clip Rails for total flexibility and the Ceramic Non-Stick Tray for effortless cleaning. The Bosch Series 6 Ovens are flexible and so simple to use, it’s even easier to cook your favourite meals. Learn more at www.bosch-home.co.nz
REFLECTIONS We look back on an incredible year and take a peek into the future to forecast the fun and excitement 2019 will bring.
Dear PaR nz golfers, We thank you all for your amazing support for our many tours and tournaments this year – it’s been a buzz! As 2018 draws to a close, it’s fun to reflect on the many highlights of the great year we’ve had together. Our international season began with a tour to Hawaii with golf on Kaua‘i including Hokuala, Poipu Bay, Puakea and Princeville courses. Our tours included Canada, of course. We love Canada and the Canadians love us! We’ve only missed one year since our first tour there in 2004, and twice we’ve hosted two tours in one year! The 2019 Canadian Rockies Tour, which has sold out, will be our 17th tour. We have a record number booked for next June, and this will include all the tour favourites such as Banff Springs, Greywolf, Predator Ridge and Chateau Whistler. The group that toured Scotland with us is probably still singing ‘There’s Only One Molinari’ after seeing Francesco Molinari win at Carnoustie in the 147th Open Champio nship. What an event – and what a popular winner! We were lucky enough to see Molinari in action again in Paris, when Europe won the 2018 Ryder Cup, played on Le Golf National. This was a magical tour. Our Northern France Golf Tour started with the Ryder Cup and five nights in Paris, before heading north to Normandy and Brittany. We played some iconic courses such as Omaha Beach, Dinard, Pléneuf-Val-André and Golf de Saint-Omer, while also visiting war memorials to both WWI and WWII, such as at Pointe du Hoc, Carrière Wellington and the new Sir John Monash Centre at Villers-Bretonneux. We finished this tour with rounds at Fontainebleau and Le Golf National.
PaR nz Golfing Holidays returned to Italy in 2018 with golf in Venice and the ride on water taxis a highlight, as usual. We looked out for the Molinari family in Turin to no avail, but you can rest assured the Italians are very proud of their golfing hero. Our very first international foray, back in 2003, was to Fiji with the inaugural Denarau Women’s Golf Classic. We still go back to Denarau with our partner, the Sheraton Fiji and its three complexes. Now attracting more than 250 golfers annually in both a women’s pairs event and a mixed tournament week, it’s certainly great fun to get out of the New Zealand and Australian winters for some golf and sun in an island paradise that welcomes us back every year. Bula! Most of our 2019 tours have sold out – including Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Spain Portugal and Morocco – with Fiji selling now. We are working on and are already releasing our 2020 programme that of course will include Canada, with a Canadian East Coast Cruise option this time, South Africa again, The Open and a tour of Scotland and England, plus a tour of Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We value our long association with New Zealand Golf. Again hosted the New Zealand Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur, New Zealand 9-Hole Masters, New Zealand Women’s Senior Championships, New Zealand Women’s Autumn Foursomes, New Zealand Women’s Masters, and New Zealand Mixed Foursomes. The popular New Zealand Women’s Senior Foursomes concluded in Nelson just this week. The full list of all winners is on pages 34 and 35. PaR nz Golfing Holidays hosted nearly 1,000 golfers and partners in Hawke’s Bay, the Bay of Islands, Queenstown and
Opposite page, top: The Open Tour at Turnberry. Middle, left to right: Fiji Pyjama Party, Hawaii on the Tee, Gondola ride in Venice. Bottom: P Party in Denarau.
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Top: Le Golf National – Ryder Cup Tour. Above, left to right: Bosch Winners in Millbrook; Water taxi to golf; Europe’s fans. Below, left to right: Grinning in Canada; Golf in Italy.
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Central Otago in a series of multi-course challenges. These will all be on our 2019 calendar! The enjoyment that comes from these opportunities to play with like-minded keen golfers in beautiful surrounds cannot be overstated. Waitangi, Bay of Islands Kerikeri, Whangaroa, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, Hastings, Arrowtown, Cromwell, Alexandra, Wanaka and Queenstown joined what Tourism New Zealand calls ‘marquee courses’ – Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, Millbrook and Jack’s Point in a stunning line-up of must-plays. Check out all the dates and details in the coming pages. We want to acknowledge the significant contribution, in so many ways, that our sponsors make to the game we love. Sincere thanks to TaylorMade, Adidas, Sheraton Fiji, Tourism Ireland, Hawaii Tourism Authority and Bosch, in particular, for their support over our range of events and tournaments. Please do consider them when travelling or when purchasing golf equipment, clothing or household appliances. They are making such a positive impact on our game. We will be back in Fiji and Ireland in 2019. Consider these countries for any travel that you might like to do independently of our planned tours and ask PaR nz Golfing Holidays to assist with any private travel and golf plans. We do this a lot for many of our clients. We enjoy the wines from many of the regions we play: Trinity Hill from Hawke’s Bay, Akarua from Bannockburn along with Mount Michael from Cromwell and the Omata Estate
New Zealand's Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator
New Zealand's Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator
who worked with us on our multi-course challenge in the Bay of Islands. These wonderful wineries have all supported our tournaments in their respective locations and are great lovers of the game. Return the favour when you can, and buy some wine from their collections. Please, always let them know that you are purchasers as a result of their sponsorship, as it all helps. There are many supporters that assist and work with us on various tournaments and we thank you all, including Wanaka Beer Works who will be on hand again at the 2019 Mount Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic in April. Finally, we thank you all for your continued support with raffles, donations, and the like as we continue to try to raise awareness of research into the terrible Motor Neuron Disease. We keep in touch regularly with Sir Richard Faull and the amazing work he and his team are doing at the Centre for Brain Research. Two new researchers have been recruited as a result of the funds we have collected and passed on. May they find a cure for this disease, or at least some treatment, very soon. The team at PaR nz Golfing Holidays – Denise, Kim, Ellie, Hye Jin and Melanie – wish you all a Happy Christmas and a great golfing New Year. Please have a look at the tournaments we have coming up in Aotearoa in 2019. Thanks for your support of PaR nz Golfing Holidays – your laughter, friendship, camaraderie and love of the game. See you on some fairway soon, we hope! Denise, Kim and the PaR nz Golfing Holidays team
New Zealand's Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator
www.parnz.co.nz
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2019 JANUARY 2019 New Zealand Men’s Mid Amateur 2019 New Zealand Women’s Mid Amateur Location: When: Who can play? What is included? Entry fee:
Omanu Golf Club, Mt Maunganui 11 – 13 January Men aged 30+, handicaps from 0 - 14, Women aged 30+, handicap from 0 - 24 Tournament entry, practice round, lunch & prize giving on 13 January NZ$165.00 per person
The 2019 New Zealand Men’s & Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be played simultaneously at the Omanu Golf Course situated in the coastal haven of Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty region. The two Championships are 54-hole stroke-play tournaments. These two tournaments will continue to award two places to the 2019 Australian Mid-Amateur for the men’s and women’s winners (or offered to the highest placed New Zealander) or the top placed New Zealand male and female competitors. This will include tournament entry, tournament clothing and a travel grant to assist with flights to Australia. The Omanu Golf Course will, for the third year running, host the 2019 Championship. It is a superb championship course layout, located close to beaches, cafes and good quality accommodation. For the Mid Am Championship, both trophies, the Neil Woodbury Mid-Amateur Cup and the New Zealand Women’s Masters Shield, donated by the Women’s Trust Fund, will be awarded to the overall lowest gross winner, man and woman, over 54 holes. Additional gross, nett and stableford prizes by division and age, will be awarded, the final age split will be advised when entries close and the field is full.
Omanu Golf Club, Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
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THEY DON’T PLAY THE #1 BALL IN GOLF. THEY PLAY THE ONE THAT BEATS IT. *Featured your players have all won against or finished higher than tour players using prov1/x balls in competition
2019 JANUARY New Zealand Men’s & Women’s 9-Hole Masters Location: When: Who can play? What is included? Entry fee:
Omanu Golf Club, Mt Maunganui 11 – 13 January Men and Women aged 40 plus. All affiliated members welcome – 9 & 18 hole members Tournament entry, practice round, lunch & prize giving on 13 January NZ$125.00 per person
The 2019 New Zealand 9 Hole Championship will be played for the second consecutive year at the Omanu Golf Course situated in the coastal haven of Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty region. The 27 hole stableford tournament will be played over 3 days (Friday 11 January, Saturday 12 January, and Sunday 13 January). The tournament is open to all affiliated members (9 hole and 18 hole members). Players must be over 40 years of age, as at 11 January 2019. Players are invited to register on Thursday 10 January, and have a complimentary practice round. Included will be a farewell and prizegiving lunch on Sunday 13 January after the final rounds are concluded.
Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
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2019 FEBRUARY 2019 New Zealand Women’s Senior Championships Location: When: Who can play? What is included? Entry fee:
Cromwell Golf Club, Otago 18 – 21 February Women aged 50 plus. All affiliated 18-hole members welcome Tournament entry, practice round, welcome function NZ$150.00 per person
PaR nz Golfing Holidays proudly announce the 2019 New Zealand Women’s Senior Match Play Championships will be held back in the South Island, at the Cromwell Golf Club. This is the 71st year of the tournament and the programme includes a qualifying round before three guaranteed rounds of match play in eight divisions. Winners after three rounds will play on in the finals, in all divisions including flights and plates. The top division competes in “off-the-stick” match play: all other divisions compete in handicap match play. The tournament is open to affiliated 18-hole women golfers of ages 50+ years and all handicap levels. Over the past years we have enjoyed the competition and friendship of many Australian women golfers – we welcome players from around the Pacific! See you in Cromwell.
Cromwell Golf Club, Otago
Cromwell Golf Club, Otago
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THE GATE HOSPITALITY & TOURIST CENTRE CROMWELL, CENTRAL OTAGO
@
Where Eagles Soar and Birdies Sing Walls pock-marked by wayward golf balls show just how close Harvest Hotel is to 18-hole Cromwell Golf Course – considered one of the country’s finest inland links. But it’s not just being on the Cromwell Golf Course boundary that makes Harvest Hotel so popular with golfers, this is the hotel that puts some 10 club, resort and country courses within an hour’s drive. Accommodation is 47 standard and premium rooms, all opening onto Central Otago mountain, vineyard and rural views, not forgetting rooms in the Dunes Wing also directly overlook Cromwell Golf Course. Most Harvest Hotel guests take advantage of The Gate Hospitality & Tourist Centre being home to Five Stags Bar & Restaurant and Forage Information Centre & Café.
Ideal for apres golf catch-ups, hunting lodge themed Five Stag Bar & Restaurant is open daily from 11am to 10.30pm. Last dinner orders 8.30pm non daylight saving months, 9pm during daylight saving. Snack menu to 10.30pm daily. Reservations 03 445 3648. Five Stags is also home to Cromwell’s dine-in or take-out Black Panther Pizza.
The ideal drop in for a pre or post golf round snack or meal, Forage Information Centre & Café is The Gate’s light, spacious café with amazing views where the food’s fab and beverages bedazzling. Forage also offers a feast of tourist information. Open daily from 6am to 4pm.
CNR HIGHWAY 8B & BARRY AVENUE , CROMWELL E: info@thegate.nz NZ: 0800 104 451 W: www.thegate.nz
FORMERLY GOLDEN GATE LODGE
P: + 64 3 445 1777
2019 MARCH 2019 New Zealand Women’s Autumn Foursomes Location: When: Who can play: What is included? Entry fee:
Paraparaumu Beach Links Golf Club, Kapiti Coast 6 – 28 March Women – any ages / any handicap, All affiliated 18-hole members welcome Tournament entry, practice round, welcome function NZ$150.00 per person
Now in its 83rd year - this popular women’s tournament is to be held in 2019 at Paraparaumu Beach Links Golf Club. This links course has hosted a record 12 New Zealand Opens including the infamous event in 2002 when Tiger Woods competed. Regarded by many as one of the greatest links courses in the southern hemisphere this course is located just 45 minutes from the capital. The format of the tournament remains the same with a 64-pair random draw published for round one, with multiple flights and plates following for rounds 2-5. Winners after five rounds go onto their respective finals on Thursday afternoon. The winners receive the NZLGU Foursomes Cups and the first round losers compete for the NZLGU Salvers. Come and join us in Paraparaumu Beach!
Paraparaumu Beach Links Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
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Paraparaumu Beach Links Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
www.parnz.co.nz
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2019 APRIL 2019 Mount Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic Location: When: Who can play: What is included? Entry fee:
Alexandra, Arrowtown, Cromwell, Queenstown, Wanaka 8 – 12 April Men & Women – any ages. Handicaps – men max 32.0 / women 36.0 Tournament entry, welcome drop-in function, welcome morning tea and daily prize giving NZ$365.00 per person
On behalf of the Central Otago golf clubs of Alexandra, Arrowtown, Cromwell, Queenstown, and Wanaka – we introduce you to The 2019 Mount Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic. PaR nz Golfing Holidays for the 2nd year running, continue the management and promotion of this very successful tournament. This is New Zealand’s largest amateur golf tournament which has proven to be extremely popular with local and international golf visitors alike, selling out within months. Entries are limited to 448 on a ‘first come’ basis. The 2019 Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic will be held from Monday 8th April to Friday 12th April 2019. The rounds of golf will be played consecutively across the various golf courses. Men and women golfers of all ages are welcome to enter. Maximum handicap index of men 32.0 / women 36.0 apply. Tournament entry is NZD$365 pp and includes 5 rounds of golf and a ‘Drop in Wine, Beer & Cheese Welcome’ at Arrowtown GC on Sunday 7th April presented by the tournaments naming sponsor, Mount Michael Wines and Gold Sponsor Partner, Wanaka Beer Works. The final function with prize giving will be held at the Millennium Hotel, Queenstown on Friday 12th April 2019. This includes a light supper and a complimentary beer or glass of wine. This is an additional NZD$25 for players and NZD$50 for partners / non playing guests. For the tournament week, PaR nz Golfing Holidays are promoting a special 6-night accommodation package at The Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakeview, along with a special tournament deal with Budget Rental Car ‘pay for 5 and get 6 days rental’. New in 2019 PaR nz Golfing Holidays have created drop-in centres in Arrowtown, Cromwell, Queenstown, and Wanaka so you have a great, fun meeting place for drinks and dining options with your golfing buddies!
Arrowtown Golf Club
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Queenstown Golf Club
Wanaka Golf Club
Alexandra Golf Club
Cromwell Golf Club
www.parnz.co.nz
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2019 MAY 2019 The Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic Location: When: Who can play: What is included? Entry fee:
Bay of Islands Kerikeri, Kauri Cliffs, Waitangi & Whangaroa 3 – 7 May Men & Women – any ages. Handicaps – men max 32.0 / women 36.0 Tournament entry, Player pack, welcome function at Charlotte’s Kitchen, 3-course prize giving dinner – carts at Kauri Cliffs for all golfers. NZ$490.00 per person
Our first year of this multi-course tournament in 2018 was a huge success with a sell-out crowd of over 200 golfers. We are delighted to be returning to the ‘winterless north’ for the tournament again in 2019 and with a new naming sponsor – The Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands. The Resort will be our accommodation partner, host of happy hours and venue for our Final Dinner at the end of the tournament week. Our foundation wine partners Omata Estate, The Duke of Marlborough Hotel and Charlotte’s Kitchen have also renewed their sponsor association in 2019. The tournament gives golfers the rare opportunity to play Kauri Cliffs (#37 World’s 100 Greatest Courses) in a competition format for a special rate (attractive to both local and international golfers), along with the Bay of Islands Kerikeri, Waitangi and Whangaroa Golf Clubs. The four tournament rounds will be held over 5 days including a rest day. Men and Women of all handicap levels and ages are welcome to enter. For the tournament week, we are promoting a special 6-night accommodation package at our new naming sponsor – The Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands. We also have a special tournament deal with Budget Rental Car ‘pay for 5 and get 6 days rental’.
The Copthorne Hotel & Resort, Bay of Islands
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Bay of Islands Kerikeri Golf Club
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course
Waitangi Golf Club
Whangaroa Golf Club
www.parnz.co.nz
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2019 OCTOBER 2019 New Zealand Mixed Foursomes Location: When: Who can play: What is included? Entry fee:
Maraenui Golf Club, Hawke’s Bay 26 – 27 October Men & Women – any ages. All handicaps welcome Tournament entry, welcome breakfast, lunch on Sunday 27 October, practice round on Friday 25 October NZ$160.00 per person
The 2019 New Zealand Mixed Foursomes Championship will be held for the second time at Maraenui Golf Club, by PaR nz Golfing Holidays under the auspices of New Zealand Golf. All players will be seeded by handicap into divisions of eight, for three rounds of foursomes match play. The top division will play off the stick foursomes match play with the remainder of the field playing handicap foursomes match play. The programme includes a welcome happy hour, breakfast before play on Saturday 26 October and lunch before prize giving after the final round on Sunday 27 October. This is a relaxed, fun but competitive format and a great opportunity to escape to the sunny Hawke’s Bay for Labour weekend.
Maraenui Golf Club
Maraenui Golf Club
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LAKESIDE COMFORT WITH A REMARKABLE VIEW.
Corner Frankton Rd & Adelaide St Queenstown 9300 T +64 3 450 0260 E copthorne.lakefront@millenniumhotels.com
Book online at millenniumhotels.com
CENTRAL OTAGO
BAY OF ISLANDS
TAKE THE 2019 MULTI COURSE
CHALLENGE Multi Course Challenges – Great Destinations around New Zealand – check out the following – registering now! All details and entry online at www.parnz.co.nz
APRIL 2019 MOUNT MICHAEL CENTRAL OTAGO AUTUMN GOLF CLASSIC Monday 8 April – Friday 12 April 2019 Now in its 11th year, the hugely popular Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic is now open for registration. This tournament is arguably New Zealand’s largest amateur golf tournament with entries limited to 448 on a ‘first come’ basis. The course line-up features Alexandra, Arrowtown, Cromwell, Queenstown and Wanaka over a week long programme. We welcome back naming sponsor Mount Michael Wines who along with Wanaka Beer Works will be part of the welcome ‘wine and beer tasting’ and farewell awards function. Extensive packages include entry, accommodation, rental cars, and buses along with added tourism activities.
MAY 2019 COPTHORNE BAY OF ISLANDS 4-COURSE GOLF CLASSIC Friday 3 May – Tuesday 7 May 2019 For the second year, we are back at Kauri Cliffs, Waitangi, Whangaroa and the Bay of Islands Golf Club for another great week in the winterless north. Proudly supported by the Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands, the week includes attractive accommodation packages and a range of aprésgolf activities in conjunction with Charlotte’s Kitchen, Paihia. Golfers limited to the first 208 entries paid up – don’t delay refer www.parnz.co.nz or contact kim@parnz.co.nz for all details.
VISIT US AT: www.parnz.co.nz Or call us on +64 9 486 1077 Australia Toll Free 1800 018 575
2019 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
COMING SOON 2019 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay 4-Course Golf & Wine Classic 2019 Akarua Millbrook Masters Details and prices released soon
Cape Kidnappers Golf Club
Jack’s Point
Millbrook
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D I SCOV E R T HE BEST O F NEW ZEAL AND
P L AY K AU RI CLI F F S A ND CAP E KI D NA P P E RS
Named #37 in Golf Digest’s World’s Greatest 100 Golf Courses – 2018
Named #17 in Golf Digest’s World’s Greatest 100 Golf Courses – 2018
Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers golf experiences available through PaR nz Golfing Holidays. Contact Denise denise@parnz.co.nz or Kim kim@parnz.co.nz for more info
2019 NOVEMBER 2019 New Zealand Women’s Senior Foursomes Location: When: Who can play: What is included? Entry fee:
Shandon Golf Club, Wellington 25 – 28 November Women aged 50 plus. All handicaps welcome Tournament entry, practice round, welcome function NZ$155.00 per person
The 46th New Zealand Women’s Senior Foursomes will be hosted at Shandon Golf Club, in the Hutt Valley, Wellington. Many national and regional tournaments have been hosted here including the 2011 New Zealand Women’s Masters. Demand for this tournament has been extremely high in recent years and we expect the 2019 tournament to be no different. As a result, entries are open to the first 80 pairs, providing all other entry conditions are met, such as age. Wellington is a great destination with players able to also take in many other sightseeing opportunities such as the Wellington Cable Car and the Te Papa Museum.
Shandon Golf Club
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MOTOR NEURON DISEASE
RESEARCH UPDATE
There are approximately 350 people living with MND in New Zealand, and each year around 130 New Zealanders die of the disease. In January we published our study showing that NZ has the highest mortality rate from MND in the developed world. This was reported in the NZ Herald and on TV3’s The Project. Our findings were recently corroborated by researchers at AUT as part of a Global Burden of Disease study. Interestingly, in our study NZ Maori had lower rates of MND than the total population. The NZ MND patient registry, founded in May 2017 and of which Dr. Scotter is a steering committee member, will help us to further understand MND burden in NZ. We are also poised to recruit for a genetic screening study in 2019, which will help to understand whether the high rate of MND in NZ is due to increased genetic risk. Our MND research program here at the Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, also tackles key questions in MND biology, including the role of brain inflammation and the blood-brain-barrier, and testing new drugs. In addition we work with MND specialist neurologists and the national association, MND NZ. We have recently established a national MND research network to boost capacity in MND research for, and of, NZ patients. PaR nz Golfing Holidays has been an enthusiastic supporter of our research since 2014. This year we used PaR nz Golfing Holidays’ research support funding to support Laura Nementzik and Sarah Waters, two talented summer students.
The Scotter Lab with family and friends at the Motor Neuron Disease annual Walk to D’Feet MND fundraiser.
Laura Nementzik has completed her second year of the biomedical sciences program and is working over summer to determine how a genetic mutation that causes MND affects the ability of cells growing in a dish to respond to stressful chemical insults.
Sarah Waters is a medical student and alumnus of the Scotter Lab, who is dedicating her summer to determining why blood vessels in the spinal cord of people who have died from MND are leaky.
www.parnz.co.nz
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DENARAU GOLF
FIJI FUN
BULA ME! TWO GREAT EVENTS IN DENARAU ON SALE! PaR nz Golfing Holidays, in partnership with Sheraton Fiji Resorts, are again hosting two great tournaments in Denarau, Fiji, August 2019.
2019 SHERATON FIJI DENARAU WOMEN’S GOLF CLASSIC August 3rd – 10th, 2019 Looking for an idea for a ‘girls golf getaway’? If so, pack your golf shoes, cocktail dress, and bikini, and come enjoy the sun with us in beautiful Fiji! Now in our 17th year, we welcome back many of our tournament regulars and openly invite new faces to our annual Denarau Women’s Golf Classic proudly presented by The Sheraton Fiji Resorts including, The Westin Fiji Resort, Sheraton Villas, and Denarau Golf & Racquet Club. The tournament format is a 54-hole pairs competition – foursomes, best ball and combined stableford rounds. Daily fun prizes are awarded as well for the overall winners. We welcome women golfers of all ages and all handicap levels including both 18-hole and 9-hole golfers, all play is in carts. Join us for a week of fun but competitive golf and a great social programme packed with activities. 2019 SHERATON FIJI DENARAU VILLA TEAMS CHALLENGE August 10th – 17th, 2019 Play in the “Best Teams Event in the Pacific” – now 23 years young! The Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge attracts golfers from around New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. Many of the teams who play in the tournament are regulars and keep coming back to Fiji year after year. We welcome men and women golfers of all ages and all handicap levels to enter a team of four players. You can make your own team with any combination of men and women. If you don’t have a team, we can certainly find you one, mixing you with locals and other like-minded golfers. The 2019 Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge, promises to be another fantastic week of competitive golf and lots of fun social activities. 5-star luxury in Fiji including 7-night and 4-golf packages with a comprehensive list of tournament inclusions.
VISIT US AT: www.parnz.co.nz Or call us on +64 9 486 1077 Australia Toll Free 1800 018 575
2018 WINNER’S CIRCLE Well done all our 2018 Winners! NZ Men’s Mid-Amateur, Omanu Dale Clarke (Sherwood Park) NZ Women’s Mid-Amateur, Omanu
Kellie Orchard (Royal Wellington)
NZ 9 Hole Masters, Omanu Jackie Merritt (Te Puke) Lesley Rayner (Fairview) David Butcher (Warkworth) NZ Women’s Senior Stroke Play, Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Kim Burke (Australia)
NZ Women’s Senior Match Play, Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Sue Wooster (Australia)
Mount Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic – Bob Ashton (Warkworth) (Arrowtown, Cromwell, Alexandra, Ian Howell (South Head) Queenstown, Wanaka) Mark Hervey (Timaru) Mark Sorenson (Australia) Kevin Beauchamp (Tarras) Garry Pankhurst (Cromwell) Jan Studholme (Waimate) Sue Harvey (Remuera) Queenstown 4BBB Champions (Millbrook, Jack’s Point) Jill & Graeme Udy (North Shore) Miguel Sobrino (Reefton) & Alex Sharp (North Shore) NZ Women’s Autumn Foursomes
Susan Somerville (Te Marua) & Iris Jillett (Whakatane)
Hawaii Kauai’s Golf Classic, Hawaii Sue & Andrew Roberston (North Shore) Barry Wither (Titirangi) & Nan Johnston (Hamilton) Canadian Rockies Golf Tour, Canada
Dianne Sweeney (Walton) & Malcolm MacLennan (Australia)
The Open & Scotland Tour, Tina Lucas (Remuera), Scotland Maureen De Bernardo (Paraparaumu Beach) Campbell Preston (Royal Wellington)
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Sheraton Fiji Denarau Women’s Golf Classic Jane Williams (Masterton) and Sue Ross (Pahiatua) (Denarau Island) Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge (Denarau Island)
Brian & Margaret Naylor (Australia) and Suzanne & Colin MacLean (Australia)
Grand Italian Tour, Italy Judith Simpson (Pupuke) & Michael Benjamin (Royal Auckland & Grange) Ryder Cup & France Tour, France
Janelle Brennan (Australia) & Graeme Murphy (Tara Iti)
NZ Mixed Foursomes Champions, Maraenui
Kathy Olsen (Hastings) & Russell Mitchell (Maraenui)
Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Golf & Wine Classic – Napier, Hastings, Maraenui, Hawkes Bay Kathy Honeyfield (Pataea), Dianne Myer (Waikara), Adrian Verry (Pio Pio Aria), Bernard Leonard (Windross Farm), Joanne McDonald (New Plymouth), Susan Hancock (Matamata), Michael Todd (Randwick), Anita Kelling (Greenacres), Ike Ashworth (Thames), Dianne & Gary Meyer and Judy & Brian Thomson (Waikare & Ngaruawahia) Akarua Millbrook Masters, Millbrook & Jack’s Point
Margie Dash (The Hills), Rocco Festa (Australia)
NZ Women’s Senior Foursomes, Nelson
Shirley Otton (Nelson) & Sandra Cleary (Westport)
An impressive list of winners from our tournaments and tours. Opposite page from left to right are NZ Mixed Foursomes, NZ Women’s Seniors and Fiji’s Sheraton Villa. Above, left & centre: Hawaii. Above right: Ryder Cup Paris. Below, left to right: French Tour, the NZ Men’s & Women’s Mid- Amateur and the Grand Italian tour.
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2018 HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE Fierce competition at the top of their game New Zealand’s top-ranking men’s player in the PGA Tour, Danny Lee, kept the best to last this year. He recorded one of his best results in three years – and was elevated into the Tour’s top 10 – after finishing second behind American Matt Kuchar in the Mayakoba Classic in Mexico in mid-November. On the European Tour, Ryan Fox enjoyed his best finish in a major, T27th. He has played in three majors and made all three cuts this year. As New Zealand’s top ranked men’s player, Fox partnered with Mark Brown at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne after Danny Lee withdrew for family reasons. Fellow elite professional Lydia Ko is also back on the rise and looking likely to re-enter the LPGA top-10 before the year is out. She tied for second place at the Buick LPGA Shanghai in October, and had two other top-five finishes this year: a win at the Mediheal Championship in April and third in the Meijer LPGA Classic in June. Dale Clark, of Sherwood Park Golf Club near Whangarei, ended the year on a high note as both the New Zealand and Australian Mid-Amateur champion after a win in South Australia in November. Back in New Zealand, Waikato’s 20-year-old Charlie Smail
recently became the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Champion. She nudged ahead of Kum Kang Park on the 37th play-off hole at Wairakei. Australia beat New Zealand by one point to win the inaugural Women’s Senior Trans-Tasman Cup held at The Grange Golf Club at Adelaide in October. New Zealand captain Robin Boniface led a six-member team in a Ryder-Cup style event. All bets are off for when the return match is held in New Zealand in 2020. Opportunity ahead for strengthening leadership As New Zealand society transforms through population growth, shifting demographics, and technological change so are our sport, recreation and tourism sectors working to anticipate the new landscape. Who we are and how we live, work and play is markedly different from 10 to 15 years ago. That’s one of the reasons New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy is so appreciative of the generous opportunity to learn from some of the world’s outstanding academic, business and spor ts leaders when he takes up the C.K. Doig Leadership Award scholarship next year.
Dean Murphy won the 2018 New Zealand Amateur Championship, narrowly defeating Wellington’s Kerry Mountcastle, in the 36-hole final at Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary in November. Mountcastle is this year’s New Zealand Stroke Play Champion and won impressively on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour against the professionals. One to watch is 14-year-old Vivian Lu, of Auckland, who
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He received the prestigious award earlier this year at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards, and is now planning several short-term, leadership-focused placements over the coming months, including at Stanford University in California. Murphy observes that recent societal changes have led to the acceleration of the casualisation of sports, including golf. This
different way of enjoying recreation, and a greater willingness of people to pay for participation in sports and recreation on a casual basis, challenges traditional models of organisations, business plans, products and services. Changing personal and economic links with the rest of the world also means a growing proportion of golfing visitors from Asia and the United States – though still minor compared with Australian traveller numbers. Former C.K. Doig Leadership Award winners, such as New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew, have come from major sports and recreation organisations. Soon it will be golf’s chance to increase its leadership capability – not just at chief executive level – but as a consequence of new knowledge and innovations being shared and discussed right down to grassroots. Boardroom balance This year delivered a diverse range of faces and ages to the New Zealand Golf Board, with an appointed director Jess Reid, an elected director Meghan Blair, and an intern, Hana-Rae Seifert joining it for the first time. Chairman Murray Ward now leads a board of men and women ranging in age from their 20s to 60s. Industry Council focus The New Zealand Golf Industry Council, formed in late 2017 to unite the industry on agreed initiatives, announced its first project in February – a two-day industry conference and trade exhibition in mid-2019 at Auckland. Golf leaders, and representatives from around the New Zealand golf scene are working together to: • Unite the NZ Golf industry, to drive par ticipation and to advocate for the games best interests • Research and communicate the economic, health and environmental benefits to a nationwide NZ audience.
Dale Clark
Not an easy task with ongoing challenges. Current board members include Des Topp (Chariman), Sam Sullivan, Dom Sainsbury, Spencer Cooper, Kristiine Kerr, Carl Fenton, Ryan Brandenburg and Denise Langdon (PaR nz Golfing Holidays).
TOURNAMENTS 2020 vision for Women’s Open The New Zealand Women’s Open primary sponsor, McKayson, discontinued its association with the tournament in October leading organisers to cancel the February 2019 event proposed for Auckland and remove it from next year’s LPGA calendar. This meant there would be no New Zealand Women’s Open in either 2018 or 2019. The LGPA rescheduled the next Open from late 2018 to early 2019 to tie in with the Australian Open at Adelaide in mid-February and more settled, summer weather. New Zealand Golf, the LGPA and tournament promoter, The Clubhouse, are now working together towards a 2020 event. Held as an LPGA-sanctioned event for the first time in September-October 2017, the Open attracted top players and more than 30,000 spectators, despite adverse weather conditions delaying play. Royal Wellington hosts first for Down Under Many of the region’s most promising young women players will assemble at Royal Wellington Golf Club on December 13-16 to compete at the first-annual ANNIKA Invitational Australasia. Hosted by Hall of Fame professional golfer Annika Sörenstam’s charitable foundation, 72 of the region’s top girls and young women, including 25 from New Zealand, will compete in the 54-hole stroke event. Royal Wellington is well up to the task, after hosting the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
David Smail (left) & Charlie Smail
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2018 HIGHLIGHTS COURSES
Sustainability award recognises exceptional protection Jack’s Point boosted New Zealand’s reputa tion for environmentally respectful golf courses even further with its prestigious International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) 2019 Sustainability Award for Nature Protection. The award, presented to Jack’s Point general manager John Griffin at a ceremony in Slovenia in October, recognised the golf course team’s sustainability and nature protection initiatives since course construction began in 2005, and for its ‘extraordinary preservation of the breathtaking natural landscape’. Designer John Darby commented that 95 per cent of the site is kept as open space, with wildlife habitat and 35 kilometres of hiking trails. Jack’s Point became Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Environment Certified this year, endorsed by the GEO Foundation and the R & A and European Tour, for championing sustainability. Remuera Golf Club and Royal Wellington Golf Club, both of which were shortlisted in the IAGTO sustainability awards were the first New Zealand clubs to attain GEO accreditation, in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Jack’s Point
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Five superb courses make ‘world’s greatest’ list There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing New Zealand’s name in the top 100 of the best golf courses in the world – except for seeing it five times. This year’s Golf Digest’s third biennial ranking of what it considers is the world’s greatest courses included Tara Iti, Cape Kidnappers, Kauri Cliffs, Jack’s Point and Paraparaumu Beach. Entering at number six on the World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, Tara Iti’s was the highest debut on any of Golf Digest’s various course rankings. Tara Iti, near Mangawhai, was built by American designer Tom Doak and is New Zealand’s first-ever American-style private golf club. A coastal course with expansive views of the Hauraki Gulf, sand is a beautiful natural feature but, remarkably, there are no bunkers. Jack’s Point was new to the list, entering at number 76 with a nod to its ‘sterling views of Lake Wakatipu and the mile-high Remarkables’. Paraparaumu Beach is also a new starter, arriving at the number 77 spot and described as ‘a rare authentic sand-based links’. Kauri Cliffs, at Matauri Bay, moved up the list from 49 in 2016 to 37 in this year’s list. Golf Digest is still impressed by the way the late Dave Harman designed and built so many holes parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline. It makes special note of the hills of native rough, stands of fern, and forced carries over gorges. Some of the best superlatives are reserved for the former Environmental Leaders in Golf Award-winner, Cape Kidnappers, ranked at 17: ‘Not a links, more like a stratospheric Pebble Beach’.
18-HOLES INLAND LINKS. PURE LUXURY.