Simon Boland fostering junior golf

Simon Boland fostering junior golf 

By Neville Idour

Simon Boland is one of those special people in the Lake Wakatipu region in Otago who enjoys contributing hugely in their chosen field. 

Caption: Simon Boland working with junior golfers.

For Boland it is junior golf. 

He masterminded the extremely successful Wakatipu Junior Golf Club six years ago. It has become the blueprint for similar clubs throughout New Zealand. 

The virtual club has no actual home course but members enjoy playing rights at several courses for their annual membership fee of $120 which is also available for their parents when they play together. The growing membership is currently 160 juniors and 32 parents.

So where did it all begin for Boland? 

“I was born in Dunedin. I didn’t play golf when I was younger,’’ Boland replied.

``Dad was a tragic golfer who used golf as a chance to go out with his mates. He was a member of the fire Bbrigade in Dunedin and played a bit of fire brigade golf.

“I would occasionally bunk school and go and caddy for him and sometimes even drive him home afterwards. 

``So that was my only experience of golf back then. Dad loved the social side of golf so I would caddy then drive him home some nights because he had drunk too many beers. 

``I was always there at Balmacewen (Otago Golf Club) and while dad was enjoying the 19th I would spend some time looking for golf balls, often in the glen (the famous signature 11th hole).

“I didn’t play much golf as I was into other sports like soccer which was my main sport as well as softball, being part of a softballing family. 

``I moved up to Queenstown when I was 21 in 1992 to do some gibstopping work, which was my trade  and never went back.”

When did Boland really start playing golf?.

``I started playing socially when I was 28 or 29. As a youngster it would be occasionally with mates to see who could throw their club the furthest when he hit a bad shot. 

``I was still playing soccer so I got involved with the Queenstown Rovers and ended up running the club. I enjoyed that and meeting a lot of people. So we took the club to play in the Southland competition and went from strength to strength. I met a few guys who played golf so we might go out on a Sunday for a game after a bashed up football game on a Saturday.

“I enjoyed hacking around but I then joined Queenstown Golf Club (Kelvin Heights) in 1999 back in the days of the Montana Series at Millbrook. My brother was playing golf in Queenstown and I decided to play some golf with him at Millbrook. So I joined a club to get a handicap, although I was still just a social golfer.

“Then when I was 30 I busted my knee playing soccer so I thought, oh well I might have a crack at golf and ripped into it from there. Therefore I have only been playing golf seriously and competitively for about 18 years — a late bloomer.

“When I look back I was disappointed my football finished the way it did. The knee injury forced my hand as being single living in Queenstown was a bit of a crazy life, so golf threw a bit of a lifeline to me. 

``It taught me a lot of things about myself I hadn’t really considered. To this day I’m pleased it all happened that way as it gave me a chance to change me as a person and give back to the sport that was good to me. It certainly settled me down a bit and with my competitive nature I took to golf and wanted to get good at it. To do that I knew I had to change.”

Boland has always been a person who has wanted to help others. 

“Even when I was at school I remember going to do phys ed (physical education) and spending most of the time hanging out in the gym with the phys ed teachers. I was at Logan Park High and I would sometimes help the teachers run their classes and sometimes take the third and fourth form classes.”

Boland has coached football and softball teams. His mother was a big giver to sport running softball clubs.

``I probably learned about giving back from mum. When I joined Queenstown Golf Club I got involved on the executive committee and worked as their junior convenor to try and encourage youngsters to play golf.”

It was then in 2015 that the Wakatipu Junior Golf Club was born. The concept originated from a lack of support for junior golf in the area. 

Boland explains: “I had been looking after small groups at the Queenstown Golf Club for some years and decided that a junior only club should be created with a view to gaining support from local business and funding sources. John Stephens, the club manager, suggested we take it further and create a club for the entire Wakatipu region.”

What is your work situation now?

``I worked with my brother who was a painter doing gibstopping for a few years then started my own business. However I planned to be out of it when I was 45. That was my focus and I managed to achieve that a couple of years earlier. So now it is full time with golf.

“I’m fortunate because when we started the junior programme in 2014 I was able to balance that with my business. Then in 2016 when our son Willis was born I made the choice then to get out of the trade as I was working some pretty long hours. Seven day weeks, 12 hour days, some injuries that needed attending to, it was time to get out. 

``It was great to be supported by my wife. It gave me the opportunity to grow the Wakatipu Junior Golf Club so it could employ me. Now with the work for Southland Golf I am full time.” 

Last year Boland took on the role of junior golf co-ordinator.

“My wife Anna and I have been together for 18 years and she is a financial adviser for Jarden Investments.  She is not involved in golf. It works well and we support each other in our interests. I honestly believe golf has given me the opportunity to help others to experience what golf can give a person.”

Boland is a member of the Winton Golf Club because he plays for the Southland Masters. 

``I’m also a member at Millbrook and Queenstown (Kelvin Heights). I’m a member of the PGA (professional golfers’ association) as a PGA gateway coach.”

Boland has been a scratch handicap golfer, although he ruefully admits he is now around three handicapper. 

Still, with his late entry to golf and sometimes limited playing opportunities it is an admirable achievement. Exciting times are now ahead with five-year-old son Willis playing.

 ``After school he can jump in the cart with me and we can play a few holes at Kelvin Heights. He loves it, but he also loves lots of sports like me.”

Boland’s outstanding support for junior golf is always in evidence. At various tournaments in the district and further afield he will be there looking after teams of Wakatipu juniors even if he is playing himself. Long may it continue as the youngsters sing his praises.