By Derek Drysdale,
Tournament Director

We are delighted to announce that TSB Bank have agreed to continue their valued support as our Major Sponsor for our next tournament in May, 2017.
TSB Bank Nelson Festival Of Golf has also received sponsorship funding for next year’s event from the Nelson Events Marketing & Development Programme, which is funded by Nelson City Council.
The Programme’s objective is to stimulate Nelson City’s economy in the shoulder and off seasons by bringing new spending through visitors coming to Nelson for district events.” For further information contact them on 03 545 6858.
As one of the ‘must play’ events in the New Zealand golfing calendar, the TSB Bank Nelson Festival of Golf has it all - one round of Ambrose in teams of four, followed by three rounds of individual stableford competition in separate divisions for daily stableford prizes per division With a fantastic array of prizes on offer, we’re delighted to again be offering all competitors the chance to win a car for getting a hole in one, on the allotted hole during the tournament.
Our long putt competition will again bring lots of fun to the week, and with a major prize at the end of it, it’s worth getting on that practice green early. The overall division winners will be decided on each player’s accumulated total from the three individual rounds played. As in previous years we are again putting up some great novelty prizes and lucky draws to keep everyone in the hunt for a reward.
After our decision to move this year’s tournament to early May, our participants enjoyed the beautiful weather that our region is famed for. Hopefullynext year will be exactly the same, beautiful sunny weather and fabulous golf courses to enjoy. – Making entry to the TSB Bank Nelson Festival of Golf a great competition for players of all abilities.
The format has also changed slightly for this next tournament with the weeks itinerary as follows:
SUNDAY 30TH APRIL:
Registration at Nelson Golf Club between 12noon and 3pm.
Tournament Director, Derek Drysdale, confirmed that from 3pm onwards on Sunday 30th April, Nelson Golf Club will offer all competitors courtesy of the course to go out and play some golf to get a feel for the conditions. The tournament committee would like to thank the Nelson Golf Club for this generous gesture, as I am sure all the visitors to the area would like to take up that offer.
MONDAY 1ST MAY:
9.15am Shotgun start – to be played over the wonderful Nelson Golf Links. This is our only Team Day for the tournament, with everyone playing an Ambrose Competition in teams of four, with plenty of team prizes up for grabs. No individual scores will count towards the individual weekly total and the team section will only apply on the Monday. For anyone entering individually or in couples, you will be matched up into teams for the day. Just let us know when you complete your entry form and we’ll arrange it for you. Before and after play on Monday there will be the Long Putt Qualifying Round, so make sure you have a shot at this fun event as it proved very popular last time round. Qualifiers will go into a shoot-out on Friday with the chance of winning a major prize.
The Team Day prize giving will take place in the clubhouse at close of play.
TUESDAY 2ND MAY:
9.15am Shotgun start at Motueka Golf Club. This is the first of three daily individual rounds, in handicap divisions, which count toward the accumulative individual score for the week. Daily prize giving will take place in the clubhouse after play to reward the best players of the day. New Zealand golf legend, Sir Bob Charles recently played at Motueka and described it as one of New Zealand’s hidden gems. He was not wrong and you will love this beautiful tree lined parkland course.
As the next day is a rest day, we thought it would be good to get together n the evening, so we are holding a quiz night at Nelson Golf Club, as we feel the camaraderie is so good during the week it will be a fun night out.
WEDNESDAY 3RD MAY:
A rest day! If, in fact, you need a rest…. we are aware that some of you just can’t get enough golf, and there are many options for a round on a different course, like The Waahi Taakaro 9 holer in Nelson’s Maitai Valley.
 Alternatively you can enjoy some of the many other fabulous things to do in the Nelson / Tasman Region, there’s plenty to choose from.
THURSDAY 4TH MAY:
9.15am Shotgun start. Played at Greenacres Golf Club, the second round in the individual competition, in handicap divisions could be called “moving day”, so keep those scores low! The daily prize giving will again take place in the clubhouse after the day’s play. Greenacres golf course has outstanding views no matter where you look. The course is a great test of golf which will make you think about that next shot on every hole. As their website says, “it is the Best Island Golf Course”.
FRIDAY 5TH MAY:
9.15am Shotgun start for this final round at the Nelson Golf Links. Played on wonderfully true greens it will offer everyone the chance to putt their way to glory. Today will determine the winners of each division. There will be the daily prize giving at the end of play
The qualifiers for the putting shootout will take part in the final Putt-Off in front of the assembled competitors.... so no pressure, eh?
The Major Prize Giving will take place in the Nelson Clubhouse in the evening hosted by The 19th Cafe & Bar.
Nelson Golf Links: A wonderful golf course which has recently hosted both the NZ Amateur Championships and the NZ Senior Championships. Being chosen to host these great tournaments is indeed a great accolade from New Zealand Golf. I am sure that Superintendent Brendan O’Hara and his team will have the course at its best for all the competitors involved.
I would like to thank our sponsors at this time, as without them we couldn’t put things together at this level of competition.

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