Inaugural Tararua Golf Open draws visitors

A pilot Tararua Golf Open for members of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA was a great success, with participants keen to return next year.

A Tararua District Council initiative, in conjunction with NZMCA, the open was held on February 14 and 15 at the Dannevirke and Pahiatua Golf Clubs and because of the amazing success, now promises to become an annual event. Treated to a barbecue after each dayos play, the motor homers were able to park up at the golf courses overnight.

pThe tournament went off really well and the players loved both courses,q Mike Matthews, Dannevirke Club Captain, said. pMost of the motor homers stayed an extra night to look around the area and reckoned they will be back with extra players next year.q

Matthews said the main reason the golf clubs become involved was to promote the Tararua and they treated the players royally with a barbecue dinner, including steak, sausages, patties, salads, potatoes and peas.

pWe also had a great bunch of sponsors with all the players receiving a prize on day one and two and the overall winners on the last day taking home top prizes of $300 down to $50,q he said.

Mark Maxwell, the Tararua District Councilos Economic Development and Communications Manager, said everyone loved the open, promising to return next year.

Maxwell said the tournament would pbuild over time,q and was about getting people to come to visit and spend in our district.

pWe had two major sponsors come forward and they are looking to sponsor the event next year,q he said.

And while the tournament involved two golf clubs this year, organisers are hoping to encourage the Eketahuna Golf Club to come on board as well, with plans to grow the event to 120 players. Like all events, the organisers know player numbers will build over the next two to three years, with good growth potential amongst NZMCA members.

This year players came from as far away as the Bay of Islands and NZMCA members from the around New Zealand, as well as locals who knew the courses well.

Winners of the day:

1st Place: 2nd Place: 3rd Place:

Men: 1st Place: 2nd Place: 3rd Place:

Ronda Turk Sue Aitken Jane Brownie

Mark Pike Mike Joblin Gary Story