Robyn Boniface NZ Golf’ Volunteer of the Year.
Robyn Boniface was awarded the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for her services to Queens Park Golf Club and Golf Southland.
Boniface has been involved in golf in the region for quite some time. She has been on the Queens Park Ladies Committee since 1994 as well has taking on the roles of Deputy Club Captain, Club Captain and the President of the club.
More recently she’s been on the board of Golf Southland 2006 to 2019 and chairperson from 2008 to 2019. She was a Southland Selector from 2004 to 2017 and has managed the Southland Women's teams for 13 years.
Despite all she has given to her golf club and her province, the nomination and the award still came as a surprise.
“I was blown away. I’m very excited and very humbled with the award. There are a lot of people who do a lot of work in golf and to receive the award is a special feeling.
“I’m a true-blue Southlander and I’m really passionate about the game, my club, and my district. A lot of people have given a lot of time to the game and I think it’s only fair that I have my turn giving back to my district. Once I got in, I got hooked on it,” she says.
New Zealand Golf Sector Relationship Manager Carl Fenton says she shouldn’t be surprised at the recognition.
“Robyn is an extremely deserving winner. She has been a superb representative for golf in the Southland region as a player, volunteer, and a golf advocate both within the region and at national level,” he says.
Boniface has been a member at Queens Park for 52 years and on the committee for 26 years. She says giving back to the sport is easy when you have an undeniable love for the game.
“You make some pretty cool friendships in golf and I think the challenge that golf brings is why I’ve become hooked. I love what I do for no particular reason, I just love the sport,” Boniface says.
Her parents worked in golf administration, exposing Boniface to the sport from a young age. She was made a life member of Golf Southland last year.
She is the third winner of the Volunteer of the Year award which has been awarded to a volunteer from a different province since its inception.
Robyn Boniface (left in photo)