By Dominic Sainsbury
New Zealand PGA General Manager

One month into 2019 and, like starting a new round of golf, I am full of optimism and excitement about what the year will bring.

For eample there is the 100th staging of the New Zealand Open, the NZPGA Championship heading to the Pegasus Golf Course in Canterbury, four men’s majors and five women’s majors, a Presidents’ Cup being played at Royal Melbourne and an amazing number of talented Kiwis playing all over the world playing on all the major professional tours.

We are truly blessed to have so many role models playing the game at the highest level and inspiring the next generation of golfers to take up the game. The showcasing of great professional events and the way the professionals make the game seem so easy encourages us all to have a go.

Recent studies around the world have shown us that as consumers we are seeking experiences that exceed our expectations. So what unique experiences is golf offering?

This could be playing in a PGA pro-am, a club fitting from a skilled PGA professional, an innovative club competition, a coaching programme that connects people socially while at the same time improving their game, toptracer, golf in the park to name a few ways golf is offering experience focused engagements.

Just to explain toptracer turns a standard golf range into a full interactive experience while golf in the park is a New Zealand Golf concept designed to use park space to exposure golf to the general public. We set up a short course where we use plastic clubs and tennis balls and encourage everyone to have a go.

The traditional formats of the game still exists yet golf facilities are now offering so much more than just 18-hole formats of play, the golf club is a place to meet and socially connect with friends and family.

I recently played in a couple of PGA pro-ams in heartland New Zealand and it was humbling to see the way the community really gets behind the events and the giving back from the PGA professionals to players and wider community with coaching clinics and golf shot exhibitions, all engaging and inspiring golfers of all ages and abilities.

What will 2019 hold for you and your golf game? Birdies, pars and taking the opportunity to play as many of our great courses as possible while playing with great people and connecting socially and even try a new format that you may just love.

Make contact with you local PGA professional today to learn more about what unique golf experiences they have on offer for you  https://www.pga.org.nz/find-a-pga-pro?ComeFromCat=875