Hi there, and welcome to the May newsletter where plenty has been happening on and off the course this month.
Flooding devastates Hororata and Greendale Golf Clubs
While all Canterbury golf clubs suffered from the recent rain event and resultant flooding it was the two clubs that bordered the Selwyn River that suffered most – Hororata and Greendale Golf Clubs. Their courses pretty much became part of the river with water flowing freely through the courses bringing with it an enormous amount of silt and debris.
The golf community has rallied around both clubs, with overwhelming offers of volunteer support, use of heavy machinery, members able to play at other clubs, and support for crowd funding pages that has seen over $20,000 raised.
Out of adversity golf has received great publicity via TV, news websites, and social media with the positive way clubs have reacted, and the coordination of resources to get the clean-ups underway. Both clubs will continue to be supported in the weeks and months to come as the road to full recovery will be long and winding.
Blair Minton Employed as Golf Development Manager
Blair will be taking up the role of Golf Development Manager vacated by Rachel Thow starting work on 28 June. Blair is an outstanding sport management professional who comes to Canterbury Golf from New Zealand Football where he worked for five years as a Player Welfare Officer. Prior to this he was Upper South Regional Manager for Gymnastics New Zealand for three years. These roles were on the back of being top graduate student for three years in a row while he completed his Bachelor of Sport & Recreation Management Degree at Lincoln University.
Blair would describe himself as a keen casual golfer with a good base knowledge of the game. It is his experience in providing coaching, development, and high performance programmes that will stand him in good stead for the role, along with his excellent communication and relationship management skills.
2021 Power Turf Canterbury Club Golf Forum
Many Canterbury Golf Clubs took the opportunity to attend the bi-annual PowerTurf Canterbury Golf Club Forum held at Russley Golf on 23 May. The theme was "Beyond 2021 - Golf Clubs in a COVID World" with most discussion centring around how to maximise the growth in golf through COVID, and locking in the gains made particularly when the borders reopen. Master MC Stephen Gee kept the mood in the room light, fun and interactive ensuring the day was a pleasurable and informative experience.
In the first session the guest panel consisted of three golf clubs representatives - Gary Knight from Akaroa Golf, Jane Pangborn from Ellesmere Golf, and Michelle Campbell from Hastings Golf Club. They spoke of their club experiences through COVID, and what they thought clubs needed to do to maximise the gains made. After group discussion it became apparent planning and retention were the keys. In particular planning for the effective use of increased cash reserves, and providing a quality experience to new members and visitors so that they renew their membership and continue to play and use the course facilities.
Golf NZ Chief Executive Dean Murphy then addressed the audience. It was interesting to hear about the man himself - from his roots in the Manawatu, to work and travel experiences in Europe, and move back to New Zealand to eventually take up the helm at NZ Golf. Dean's key message was for clubs to plan well, get good people involved, and take action.
A post match interview video is available here: https://www.facebook.com/124837964236381/videos/128495039349151 and a highlights package will be available soon.
Garvey transitions to professional game at US Women’s Open
Rising New Zealand golfing prodigy Amelia Garvey announced her transition into the professional game in time for the US Women’s Open held at The Olympic Club last week. She was looking good after round one on a tough layout with a 3 over par round, but could only manage 8 over in the second round to miss the cut.
Having finished her college career at the University of Southern California a few weeks ago, the communications student decided to play in her second major championship as a professional golfer a day after her 21st birthday. The Cantabrian had plans of turning professional at LPGA Qualifying School in August, but a phone call with her coach Ryan Lumsden following her three-person playoff win at a US Women’s Open Qualifier changed her mind.
INTERCLUB AND TOURNAMENTS WRAP
The month of May has seen a very full calendar of interclub and tournaments with many competitions wrapping up in this month.
Scargill Win Women's National Club Teams' District Final
On Friday 30 April at Avondale Golf Club , twenty-four Canterbury club teams of four contested the District Final of the annual NZ National Club Teams' event. The format was a 4BBB and it was a closely contested competition with the Scargill club team emerging the winner with a combined score of 122, their players from left are Emma MacFarlane, Jo Sampson, Helen Lang and Viv Pooley. One shot back was Rangiora on 123, then on 125 Ellesmere took third place on a countback to Rawhiti in fourth. The Canterbury result will be compared against all other Districts in New Zealand with the best club net differential being awarded the national trophy.
Templeton - Presidents Grade Champions
The final round of Presidents Grade Interclub was held at Bottle Lake Golf Club on 9 May. The Champion Templeton team of (from left) Paul Prendergast, Richard Hampton, John Hampton, Mark O Connor, Wayne Huddy, Tony Pupich, Murray Huddy, John Sykes and Lex Franklin were in control from the start of the competition getting away to a flying start winning their first ten matches and setting up what appeared to be an unassailable lead, however this was put to test as Templeton finished winless over the final three rounds. They were tied on 20 points at the top of the table but still had just enough in the tank to beat last year's Champions McLeans Island who finished strongly, winning their last 9 matches but couldn't quite peg back Templeton who had a superior individual games total of 69 to McLeans Island's 57. The Presidents Grade MVP Trophy was again very hotly contested and was in the balance right up to the final round, but it was McLeans Island's Ian McCall who triumphed with 10 wins, 1 half and 2 losses over the 13 round competition.
Women's 18 Hole Silver & 18 Hole 4's Interclub Finals
The Women's 18 Hole Silver and 18 Hole 4's Interclub Finals were played at Weedons Golf Club on 11 May.The 18 Hole Silver Final between Clearwater and Harewood was always going to be hard fought as both teams had finished locked at the top-of-the-table after round-robin play. While both teams had comfortable wins further down the order it was the battle at the top between Virginia Faass and Debbie Scott that swung the result in Harewood's favour with Debbie gaining the vital win at the 18th, winning 1up. The winning Harewood team pictured right are, from left Lynn Brand, Debbie Scott, Carolyn Rickard, Julie Jones, Helen Burne and Liz Warren. (Di Chaney, absent).
The 18 Hole 4's Final between Tai Tapu 1 and Waitikiri was an even tighter affair with both teams locked together at the end of 18 holes after two matches were decided on the final hole. It then came down to a sudden death play-off between Carol Bates and Fay McCarthy at the top of the order before Carol clinched the match for Tai Tapu at the first extra hole.The victorious Tai Tapu 1 team are pictured right, from left Penny Coffey, Sue Hart, Donna Edmonds, Anne Siave and Carol Bates
9 Hole Interclub Final
The Canterbury 9 Hole Interclub Final was played at Rangiora on 17 May. All the 9 hole teams turned out for this final and played their 9 holes alongside the two finalists from Coringa and Russley. The final was played in a friendly theme through-out the round and all teams were outside the clubhouse to warmly cheer the last pairings on at the final hole. It was the Russley 1 team, pictured right of Christine Lake, Eleanor Smart, Jane Trotter, Sue Meyer and Suzanne Taylor that continued their consistent form from round robin play defeating Coringa by a combined 71 stableford points to 64.
Women's Weekend Interclub Final
A frost delay at Russley Golf Club on Sunday 23 May caused the Harewood 2 and Weedons teams in the Weekend interclub final to cool their heels for an hour or so but there followed a fine sunny day and excellent course conditions. Deanna Matthews played par golf to claim an early win for Weedons against Lesley Hedges, but the other three matches were all decided on the 18th green resulting in a tie of two wins for each of the teams, Gail Parkinson also winning for Weedons against Denise Guerin 1 up while Lynn Brand defeated Kirsty O'Neill 2 up and Catherine Butts defeated Lorraine Langan 2 up for Harewood's two wins
Deanna Matthews and Lynn Brand fought out a sudden death play-off on No.1 hole where Lynn's two putt par swung the play-off in Harewood's favour with players and supporters elated to become Weekend Interclub Champions for 2021.
It completed an interclub double for the club with their Women's 18 Hole Silver team winning their competition a fortnight ago. The winning Harewood team, from left is Catherine Butts, Lesley Hedges, Valerie Wood, Denise Guerin, Lynn Brand and Fiona Nicholls.
Central Shield & Brownie Cup
The final rounds of both Canterbury Central Shield and Brownie Cup were played at Ellesmere on 24 May in fine conditions and the course in great order. Hororata Yellow were deserved winners of the Canterbury Central Shield remaining undefeated through the competition ahead of Weedons Red and Ellesmere. It was also fitting that their captain Andrew Inch was awarded the Grant Lethaby Trophy for the best individual performance also unbeaten throughout the competition. The Champion Hororata Yellow team from left is Andrew Inch, Simon Edwards, Max Edwards, Roy Stieller and Dominic Brettkelly.
Weedons Black were convincing winners of the Brownie Cup winning by three points from Lincoln and Tai Tapu and were also undefeated for the season. The winning team, above from left is Shane Chatterton, Nick Tait, Shane Lacey, Russell Berridge, Mike Scott and Stephen Harrison.
The Barkle Cup for best individual performance in Brownie Cup was a much closer affair with Lincoln's David Gugich and Weedon's Stephen Harrison and their captain Russell Berridge (pictured) all unbeaten through the competition.
Kaikoura and Templeton Cup
The Kaikoura and Templeton Cup Finals were played at Pegasus Golf Club on Sunday 23 May in fine, cool conditions and the course in great order. In the Kaikoura Cup Final the Amuri team of, from left James Cadenhead, Ross Forbes, Jason Sincock, Marcel Boet, Mike Toeke, Andrew Murdoch and Will Bastings defeated Rangiora 7-2. Amuri led 2-1 after the morning Foursomes and only dropped one match in the afternoon singles at the top of the order, with Kazuma narrowly defeating Canterbury Captain Mike Toeke.
The Templeton Cup was a nail-biter when Kaiapoi White and Waimak Black finished locked up 3-3 at the end of regulation play. It then went to a sudden death play-off with Kaiapoi White winning the first play-off hole. The winning Kaiapoi team of, from left James Maguire, Kevin Clarke, Andrew Hegarty, Paul Hughes, Jason Miles and Graham Moore (Manager on the day) are pictured. Absent Jake Hosking, (Kaiapoi's no.1, who won every game he played in the competition and won the play off hole with a birdie).
Canterbury Central vs Buller Westland
The Canterbury Central vs Buller Westland representive fixture was held on the weekend 29-30 May at the Greymouth Golf Club. In general the matches were very close contests as 12 of the 20 matches went down to the final two holes, with the following results:
Women - Buller Westland 3, Canterbury Central 1
Masters Men - Buller Westland 2, Canterbury Central 2
Intermediate Men - Buller Westland 5, Canterbury Central 3
Senior Men - Buller Westland 2, Canterbury Central 2
Overall a win to Buller Westland 12-8. Due to the weather, Sunday's matches were abandoned.
Men's Golf Team Finalists for Canterbury Team of the Year
Our champion 2020 Canterbury Men's Interprovincial Team were named as a finalist for the 2021 Canterbury Sports Awards held at Hagley Oval on 28 May. They were in illustrious company with the Canterbury Womens Cricket team - The Magicians – Cricket, and Crusaders - Rugby Union. Unfortunately the Crusaders ran out the winners. Golf was represented by Mike Taylor (Manager), Mike Toeke (Captain), Ian Donaldson (Convenor of Selectors), and Mike Rondel (President).
Maddie and Zach May in National Emerging Players Squad
Two of Canterbury's most promising golfers, Maddie and Zach May, have been invited by Golf New Zealand to attend a training camp at the St Peters Golf Academy in Cambridge mid July. The best young emerging players from around the country will come together for three days in Cambridge as part of the pathway to prepare the next generation of New Zealand representatives. We congratulate them and wish them well.
