ISSUE ONE
MARCH 2017 FLORIDA | QUEENSTOWN | FIJI WITH COMPLIMENTS
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GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
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Contents
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FLORIDA
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RESULTS
QUEENSTOWN
FIJI
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CALENDAR
www.parnz.co.nz
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Florida
MORE THAN JUST
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GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
Trump National Doral, Miami
‘GATORS’
JOIN DENISE & KIM FROM PAR NZ GOLFING HOLIDAYS ON THEIR 2017 GRAND FLORIDA USA GOLF TOUR THAT INCLUDES THE TURN GRANDSTAND TICKETS ON THE 18TH AT THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017. “Beware the gators’ signs” are a thrilling part of playing golf in Florida, but a golf holiday to Florida can offer so much more. The ‘Sunshine State’ attracts huge numbers of golf-mad Americans and international golfers alike because it offers year-round opportunities to play some of the best courses in the US. Off the course, the choices seem endless with exciting theme parks, aeronautics, world-renowned restaurants, top hotels and spas, chic communities, ecological zones and 2170kms of white sand beaches. Little wonder Florida has four beaches in the US Top 10. Attracting 95 million tourists annually, it often ranks above Rome and Paris as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. It is www.parnz.co.nz
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Sawgrass
also one of the US’s fastest growing states, with more than 1000 people a week joining its base population of almost 20 million. Florida is a golfer’s paradise with over 1250 courses to play – more than any other state in the US. There is an array of spectacular courses designed by the legends of the game – Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones, and Gary Player to name a few. Florida courses host PGA, Champions and LPGA 6
GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
Tournaments annually on the Florida Swing. The PGA and LPGA make their home at Ponte Vedra Beach in north-east Florida. Just down the road at St Augustine founded in 1565, where the Spanish first settled the US in 1513, is The World Golf Hall of Fame and the spectacular, custom-built World Golf Village. You can find the lockers of Australians Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Walter Travis, Karrie Webb, and Kiwi Sir Bob Charles in
Ponte Vedra Beach
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill
the Hall of Fame and the museum houses a priceless collection of the golf memorabilia of inducted golfing greats and historic records from the game itself. It is a must-visit for any golfer. In the World Golf Village are two, one-of-a-kind golf courses. The King & Bear is the only golf course in the world designed by Palmer and Nicklaus in collaboration. The other, The Slammer & Squire, is named in honour of golfing greats Sam ‘The Slammer’ Snead and Gene ‘The
Squire’ Sarazen, who were consulted throughout its design. While many courses in Florida are open to the green-fee-paying public, access to playing the best courses does require skillful networking. Many courses are exclusively private and others have hotel partnerships that are ‘stay and play’ only. The best courses in Florida include TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, in northeast Florida, which is the host course of the so called ‘fifth major’, THE PLAYERS Championship. www.parnz.co.nz
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Tiburon
The 17th, a par 3 island green is one of the most recognised and notorious holes in golf. Sawgrass reports that more than 100,000 balls are collected each year from the water around this difficult course. The other top course is Seminole in Palm Beach, a classic-style course built in the 1920s by Donald Ross. Seminole was a favourite of resident Ben Hogan in his warm-up for The Masters. Golf initiated in Florida near Palm Beach in 1896 with the building of The Breakers Ocean Course by railway tycoon and father of Florida tourism, Henry Flagler. On the same coast, Jupiter Island is the latest ‘hot-spot’ for pro-golfers and where you could run into Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood or Ernie Els at the local supermarket. 8
GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
Jack Nicklaus started the exodus to Florida’s south-east coast 40 years ago and others followed, including the most recognised high-flying golfer Greg Norman, with most building eight-figure-sum homes. US President Barack Obama has holidayed in Jupiter Island, playing a much publicised round with Tiger Woods.
For more information please contact Denise, Kim and the PaR nz Golfing Holidays Team.
Kennedy Space Centre, NASA Florida
Blue Monster
www.parnz.co.nz
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Queenstown THE BUZZ! TWO GREAT EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2017!
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19 - 20 April 2017 INAUGURAL 2017 4BBB QUEENSTOWN AUTUMN MIXED TOURNAMENT JACKS POINT & MILLBROOK RESORT
MILLBROOK AND JACKS POINT CONTINUALLY GET WORLD ACCLAIM AND ARE LITERALLY, CURRENTLY RIDING A GOLFING BOOM – AND WHY NOT? THEY ARE GREAT COURSES, SET IN THE STUNNING BACKDROP OF LAKE WAKATIPU, THE TOWNSHIP OF QUEENSTOWN AND THE REMARKABLE RANGE. This is what past Chief Executive of the R&A Limited said of Jacks Point.
Millbrook
“Jack’s Point was simply unforgettable. I haven’t seen such an exciting layout for a very long time and the condition of the pure fescue fairways is unmatched in my experience.” It’s an exciting design that has been set around the natural landscape, with minimal excavation, built on the most spectacular of Jack’s Point terrain. The fairways weave through native tussock grasslands, dramatic rock outcrops, steep bluffs and swathes of native bush to the edge of Lake Wakatipu. From their website “With a backdrop of 2300 vertical metres of the Remarkables mountain range and an armchair view of outstanding lake www.parnz.co.nz
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panoramas, Jack’s Point Golf course is one of the most visually spectacular in the world.” We happen to agree! Much has also been written about Millbrook Resort over recent years including owner, Mr Eiichi Ishii being recognised for his work and services to New Zealand and Japan relations, golf and tourism when on the 31 December 2015 he was added to the New Zealand Honours List. Millbrook is at the heart of that award. Millbrook is a unique ‘total-package’
Jacks Point
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with 27 hours holes of stunning golf and a range of facilities and restaurants that continually win world acclaim. Over two decades of awards have been credited to this unique resort with best resort, top New Zealand hotel, best Asia Pacific Golf Course, best wellness spa and best restaurant being judged by credible publications such as Trip Advisors Travellers Choice Awards, Shanghai Traveller’s Club Travel Awards, World Luxury Hotel Awards and the Wine
Spectacular Excellence awards. The list is long and distinguished. In April 2016, Millbrook Resort was chosen as a one of the most romantic wedding destinations in the world by Expedia. Chosen among ten other venues from around the globe, Millbrook Resort stood out for its “green fairways, gentle streams, rolling hills and a backdrop of rugged mountains.” Millbrook was also described “as offering couples “a romantic escape in 500 acres of
beautiful countryside, with five-star rooms and suits as spacious as its surroundings”. Millbrook has also announced new facilities with a new conference centre being built in 2018 along with a further 9 holes planned for completion within the next five years. Renovations to the popular 2 bedroom Villas is also on the agenda for 2018. PaR nz Golfing Holidays is delighted to welcome players from New Zealand, Australia and around the
www.parnz.co.nz
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Jacks Point
Millbrook
Millbrook
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GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
Millbrook
world, to enter into two exciting events in 2017 in this golfing Mecca. Both tournaments are for men and women, and all handicap levels. The inaugural Queenstown 4BBB Autumn Mixed Tournament is timed to back onto the 2017 World Masters Games being hosted by Auckland City in April along with the Akarua Arrowtown Autumn Festival 21-25 April 2017. Players will compete over 36 holes, 18 on Jacks Point and 18 on Millbrook with pairs split into divisions by age, handicap and team composition – men, women and a mixed pair. The 2017 BOSCH Millbrook Masters will offer players the chance to enter this popular tournament, now set for spring, from 23 – 28 October 2017. Along with a date change, the tournament will include 2 rounds at Jacks Point and 2 rounds at Millbrook. For both tournaments, Millbrook
will be the tournament base with accommodation packages to match. The Central Otago is known for its stunning wines, especially world leading Pinot Noir. For both the Queenstown 4BBB and Millbrook Masters tournaments we are delighted to feature AKARUA wines as our wine partner. All details and tournament entries will be available on line and include AKARUA wine and food matching cuisine representing this fabulous area of NZ. Tournament details and registration for both Millbrook and Jacks Point events are available on line at www.parnz.co.nz or phone +64 9 486 1077.
For more information please contact Denise, Kim and the PaR nz Golfing Holidays Team. www.parnz.co.nz
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Fiji
TWO TOURNAMENTS SELLING NOW
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2017
SHERATON FIJI VILLA TEAMS CHALLENGE
SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER – SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2017 (7-NIGHT PACKAGES) The Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge has been called the “Best teams event in the Pacific” by the many golfers from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji who have played
Denarau Beach
in the tournament over its +20 year history. 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. The 2017 Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge, a 7-night package promises to be another fantastic week of competitive golf and lots of fun social activities. The 2017 Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge is a teams competition. You can make your team up with any combination of men and/or women. If you don’t have a team we can certainly find you a team. The competition is played over 4 rounds where each players score daily contributes to the overall team score. Points are scored under the PaR nz Points System™. We have a generous prize table where team winners are awarded trophies and prizes at the farewell dinner.
www.parnz.co.nz
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Sheraton Fiji
2017
SHERATON FIJI DENARAU WOMEN’S GOLF CLASSIC SATURDAY 26 AUGUST – SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2017 (7-NIGHT PACKAGES)
In 2017, we will celebrate 15 years of The Denarau Women’s Golf Classic. The week-long tournament promises to be another fantastic week of competitive golf and lots of fun social activities. Don’t delay in getting your entry in early as the secret is out as to how good this event is and we expect 18
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it to be another sell-out week. The Sheraton Fiji Denarau Women’s Golf Classic is a pairs tournament played over 54 holes with a fun Ambrose Teams Day at the start of the week. The competition format is Foursomes Stableford, 4BBB (best ball) Stableford and Combined Stableford to make up your score over the three rounds. Daily fun prizes are awarded as well for the overall winners. We welcome women golfers of all ages and all handicap levels including 18-hole and 9-hole golfers.
ENTER ONE OR BOTH TOURNAMENTS! Join hosts Kim Buckley & Denise Langdon from PaR nz Golfing Holidays in Fiji at the award winning 5-star Sheraton Fiji Resort where you can choose from three luxury accommodation packages staying 7 nights twin share at either The Sheraton Fiji or The Westin Fiji. If you have a group of 4, typically 2 couples or 4 girls / 4 guys we recommend the quad share, apartment style Sheraton Villas. At each hotel there are several different room categories as well including ocean view, ocean
front, garden view and pool view, just take your pick! A comprehensive list of tournament inclusions is included along with lots of fun social activities during the week. Tournament sponsors include The Sheraton Fiji Resort, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways, Pure Fiji, Victoria Wines of Fiji, BOSCH, Akarua Wines, Sheridan and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf.
For more information please contact Denise, Kim and the PaR nz Golfing Holidays Team.
Tokoriki
Sheraton Villas
www.parnz.co.nz
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Results 2017
NEW ZEALAND MEN’S & WOMEN’S MID AMATEUR OMANU GOLF CLUB JANUARY 13-15
BAY OF PLENTY REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY MCELROY TOPPED BOTH THE WOMEN’S AND MEN’S FIELDS AT THE RECENT 2017 NEW ZEALAND MID AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OMANU GOLF COURSE, NEAR TAURANGA. The Springfield player finished four over par on the modified par-71 course, and one stroke ahead of the top men’s competitor, fellow Bay of Plenty player Brent Curnow. It was McElroy’s first win in the prestigious national Mid Amateur tournament, which this year attracted players from throughout New Zealand and Australia as well as from France and Tahiti. McElroy saved her best to last with a one-under-par result on the final 18 holes to score 217 for the 54-hole, three-day event. Strong afternoon sea breezes across the link-style course during the opening round proved a challenge for all, including the many experienced district representatives in the women’s field.
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McElroy opened her charge with a two-over 73 that give her a one-shot lead heading into day two. Strong North Harbour player Vaha Fapiano chased hard to finish on 74 in her opening round, and Taranaki representative Ann Braithwaite had a dream run to finish on 75 and three shots under her handicap. McElroy, however, cemented her lead in Saturday’s play with a 74 and a four-shot lead over Fapiano in improved weather conditions, and a one-under-par total for the final 18 holes secured the Women’s Trust Shield. Fapiano finished in second place on 224 with a final round of 73. Defending champion Jill Morgan, a Waikato representative, finished third on 226, nudging Braithwaite, on 228, into fourth place. Braithwaite achieved the best stableford score over the three days, of 111 points – three better than her six handicap. Liz Bartlett, of Ngaruawahia, earned the best net with net rounds of 70, 68 and 70. Like Braithwaite, Bartlett played well under handicap and thoroughly enjoyed her three days on the Omanu course. Men’s winner Brent Curnow was all smiles too after winning the Neil Woodbury Cup and the top men’s award. He shot a 73 in the first round, backed up by a par round of 71 the
next day, and a final four-over 75 for a tournament total of 218. Curnow, who plays most of his golf at the neighbouring Mt Maunganui Golf Club, has won his club championship for two successive years but has not yet represented his district. Marcus Raman, of Redwood Park, finished two shots behind Curnow after rounds of 75, 74 and 71. James Malone, Te Ngutu, had the best round of the tournament with 67 on the final day, rocketing him up the board to share third place with Ken Meaden, Muriwai, on 221. Tom Ratima, of Foxton, easily won the men’s leading net prize with rounds of 70, 63 and 64, and Greg Quinn returned to Mangawhai with the prize for the leading stableford score. Australian player Damon Flood was expected to present strong competition in the men’s event, but a wrist injury ended his participation after the first round. The tournament, managed by PaR nz Golfing Holidays on behalf of New Zealand Golf, will return to Omanu Golf Club next year.
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1. Women Winners from left Ann Braithwaite, Shelley McElroy and Liz Bartlett 2. From left Fleur Reynolds, Jill Morgan and Heather Keefe 3. Brent Curnow with Neil Woodbury 4. Shelley McElroy 5. Men’s winners from left Tom Ratima, Brent Curnow and Greg Quinn
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2017
NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
WAIHI GOLF CLUB FEBRUARY 20-23 NAIL-BITING FINAL AT WOMEN’S SENIORS FINAL REPORT FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2017 It took 21 holes on the final round to determine the winner of this year’s New Zealand Women’s Senior Championships at Waihi Golf Club. A birdie on the final hole was the deciding shot for Australian Kim Burke, of Shelly Beach on the NSW Central Coast. She took out the championship title after a tense play-off against fellow Australian, Helen Pascoe, of Buninyong in Victoria. Burke was one of 16 Australians who added competitive heat to the record field of 128 players at the 69th annual women’s senior’s tournament. Players from the length and width of New Zealand as well as from across the ‘ditch’ battled it out over four days of challenging golf. After Monday’s stroke play round, with a score of 76, Burke was seeded second in the 16-player draw. There she came up against Robyn Pellow (Ngaruawahia), a two-time NZ Seniors Champion. Burke won that match with relative ease, five and four to then play against another Australian, the defending champion Sharon Dawson (Lake Karrinyup). After trailing in the initial stages of this match, Burke began to display the ‘terrier’ qualities that proved crucial in the matches that followed. She won on the 18th, then had to go onto the 19th to take out the current Australian
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champion senior, Jacqui Morgan. Coming from behind, Burke’s birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th and 18th squared the match and forced it to be decided at the extra hole. In the final, long-hitting Pascoe led Burke by two strokes at the turn, but Burke sank a steading putt on the 18th for par against Pascoe’s bogey to make them even. The pair both carded bogeys on the first playoff hole, then pars on the second before Burke secured the championship title with a finely executed birdie putt on the third playoff hole. The 69th championship also marked a significant development of senior women’s golf between Australia and New Zealand. Tournament directors, PaR nz Golfing Holidays (under the auspices of New Zealand Golf) confirmed a place for the leading Kiwi to represent New Zealand in the 2017 Australian Senior Women’s Amateur, to be played on October 23-27 at Maroochy River, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Robyn Pullar (Invercargill) was announced as the inaugural recipient of the sponsorship, being the best placed Kiwi in the NZ Senior Championships, and the only New Zealander to make the semifinals. Pullar faced the in-form Pascoe in the first semi-final of the day, and narrowly missed advancing to the final. Golf Australia provides the top four seeds from its equivalent championship, and PaR nz Golfing Holidays’ intends to build on its initial investment to enable more New Zealand representation. Similar initiatives will apply to the Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships, from 2018 onwards. The list of prize winners at Waihi is
extensive with multiple flights and plates. Helen Pascoe won the Senior Veterans Cup for the best gross, with Sue Cox (Mangawhai) winning the Eileen Nutt Best Net, with a net 65 on Monday. Lesley Otway (Hamilton) won the prestigious Vesta Cup for the best gross by a plater aged 70 and over. She carded an 89 in her Stroke Play round. In the Senior Challenge Cup (Division 1), Jill Morgan (Te Awamutu) won the plate, and Shelley McElroy (Springfield) and Robyn Boniface (Queens Park) won the flights. Dianne Gilmour (Rotorua) was awarded the Waipukurau Jubilee Salver, and Judy Fullerton (Hauraki) earned the Hawkes Bay Salver. Waihi player Avon Gordon received the Manawatu – Wanganui Salver with another local player, Robin Zinzan, who was called in as a reserve, winning the Canterbury Rosebowl. Mary Symons (Otautau) now has her name engraved on the Maunu Trophy and, similarly, Walton member Heather Sharp will feature on the Wanaka Cup. In recognition of the record number of entries, the host club donated a new tournament trophy, which was awarded to Elspeth Wing from Mt Maunganui. A record field coupled with exciting announcements on Trans-Tasman competition and funding made for a great week of senior women’s golf. 1. Susan Paterson with the NZ Senior Match Play winner Kim Burke 2. From left, Helen Pascoe, Sue Cox, Susan Paterson (NZ Golf Board) and Lesley Otway 3. From left, Jacqui Morgan and Robyn Boniface 4. Susan Paterson with Robyn Pullar 5. From left, Gillian Lees, Annette Muir, Dianne Gilmour and Jenny Roberts
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PAR NZ GOLFING HOLIDAYS 2017 CALENDAR MAR
21 APR
19 MAY
04 JUNE
04 JUNE
25 AUG
27 SEP
03 OCT
21 OCT
23 OCT
30 NOV
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NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S AUTUMN FOURSOMES March 21 – 23 / Harewood INAUGURAL 4BBB QUEENSTOWN April 19 & 20 / Millbrook & Jacks Point FLORIDA GRAND TOUR May 04 – 20 CANADIAN ROCKIES GOLF TOUR #1 June 04 – 21 CANADIAN ROCKIES GOLF TOUR #2 June 25 – 12 July SHERATON FIJI DENARAU WOMEN’S GOLF CLASSIC August 27 – 02 September / Fiji SHERATON FIJI VILLA TEAMS CHALLENGE September 03 – 09 / Fiji NEW ZEALAND MIXED FOURSOMES CHAMPIONSHIPS October 21 & 22 / Wanaka 2017 MILLBROOK MASTERS INCORPORATING JACKS POINT October 23 – 28
HAWKES BAY WINE & GOLF CLASSIC October 30 – 03 November / Hastings, Maraenui, Napier & Hawkes Bay NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S SENIOR FOURSOMES November 20 – 23 / New Plymouth
GOLF TRAVELLER 1.0 MARCH 2017
Contact: www.parnz.co.nz | Ph: +64 9 486 1077