This month I am focusing on events.

As we continue to see increases in golf rounds played and membership numbers at clubs across New Zealand, the events that clubs offer are going to play a huge role in maintaining playing numbers.

Some of the main reasons for golf numbers booming is what our game offers people, due the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

A lot of us have reset our values. We lost what we took for granted in freedom and now we have our freedom back we are looking at ways we can connect with friends and family socially.

We are taking our health more seriously and looking at different ways we can exercise. We are looking for experiences that leave us with lasting memories and golf is meeting these values we hold so dear.

So how so we capitalise on what we know are delivering the needs and wants of the golfing consumer? We do this through events.

With this in mind the New Zealand Professional Golfers’ Association is looking at ways we can help so memberships continue to grow and current members are retained.

Our PGA professionals have been delivering a unique experience at our PGA pro-ams. Not only are PGA professionals playing great golf they are engaging with their amateur team players and helping with how to score better.

We are branching out into more unique events that designed to provide experiences that leave lasting memories, socially connect people and keep mentally and physically active.

On September 29 there were 11 South Island professionals who took on 11 North Island professionals in a teams event based on individual matchplay. The teams consisted of top professionals that relished in the opportunity to compete in matchplay against friends. Even though this was a competitive format the social focus took precedent.

The PGA north team comprised Cameron Jones, Fraser Wilkin, Luke Toomey, Josh Geary, Harry Bateman, Gareth Paddison, Jordan Loof, Daniel Hillier, Tae Koh, Trevor Marshall and Luke Brown.

The PGA mainland team was James Devlin, Sean Riordan, Carl Brooking, Nick Loach, Chas Craig, Laura Hoskins, Peter Giles, Ryan Chisnall, David Klein, Martin Pettigrew and Jordan Pruden.

The north team took out the title this year with a result of 7-1/2 matches to 3-1/2.

Another event that delivered a great experience was the PGA Holden scramble. At its height in 2009 the Holden scramble had over 9000 golfers participating annually. The PGA is planning on bringing the PGA scramble back to the golfers and clubs around New Zealand. This will be based on the format that was so successful and will emphasis all that is great about our game with a competitive element, a social focus and a very unique experience for all competitors.