Tournaments driving golf clubs
Waimkakariri Gorge Golf Club will host its annual sponsors tournament next weekend.
The event will consist of 30 teams of four players competing for overall prizes as well as sponsored prizes at each hole, followed by a sit down dinner, and auction.
It’s tournaments such as these that golf clubs need not just to raise revenue, but to attract ‘new blood’.
Waimkakariri Gorge Golf Club president Stuart Baxter said this tournament provided an opportunity to showcase the club.
‘‘We believe we have a hidden jewel here, it’s a well presented course with great views.’’
Baxter said like many golf clubs around the country, attracting new members was a top priority.
‘‘We have a number of members who are made up of retired and semi-retired people, which is great, but we would also like to have more young people and families join.’’
Canterbury Golf general manager Grant Lewis said the issues facing golf clubs were not that different to issues facing many sports clubs.
‘‘Gone are the days where the majority of people are choosing traditional year long memberships, they tend to look at more causal options such as green fee players and clubs are having to adapt to this.
‘‘Clubs need to look at other revenue generating options. Tournaments can help raise funds for things such as new mowers which clubs might not have the cash in the bank to just buy.’’
The Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club’s promotions manager Chris Roe said the club provided a lot of entertainment, not just on the green but socially as well.
‘‘It’s a great club to be a part of, it’s certainly not in the least bit stuffy, which is perhaps a perception that a lot of people might have of golf clubs.’’
Roe said professional golf coach Kevin Hughes had been providing free golf coaching at the club’s family open days, which are open to anyone to come along and experience golf.
The Waimakariri Gorge Golf Club has had its fair share of adversity in recent years, following the September 2010 earthquakes the club lost about 90 per cent of its trees in severe north west winds.
It has since gone through a massive regeneration project involving large scale clean ups and replanting.