by Dominc Sainsbury GM NZPGA

Plenty to look forward to in 2021 for the PGA of NZ

Happy New Year golfing friends,

After a real roller coaster of a year in 2020 we at the Professional Golfers’ Association of New Zealand are looking forward to a less traumatic 2021 and enjoying a number of events coming up in the year, starting with a recognition of PGA members that have made a huge impact on inspiring more people to play golf.

Sir Bob Charles celebrates his 60th year as a PGA of New Zealand member. Sir Bob joined the PGA in 1961 and two years later went on to claim the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club in England.

For more than 60 years Sir Bob has inspired us all to play golf. He is the consummate professional and has made this complex game look so easy and effortless to play.

We will celebrate our current PGA president Dennis M Clark, along with Murray Macklin and Wayne Davies who are celebrating 50 years of PGA membership. All these great men have dedicated their professional lives to the game of golf and have impacted so many lives with their dedicated passion to get more people playing our game over their 50 years as dedicated PGA professionals.

In 2020 we welcomed 14 new PGA members, all who had graduated through our PGA trainee apprenticeship programme. I am looking forward to seeing the continued impact they have on the game. They approach their leadership roles at clubs and facilities with passion, enthusiasm and innovation with the result being an enhanced experience for the golfing consumer.

The re-launch of the national PGA Scramble event is something we at the PGA are really looking forward to. This is one of the most successful teams based golf events to be played, with the three stages of the event all creating a real buzz, the first with local clubs hosting a PGA scramble event where teams of three amateur golfers complete for the chance to go through to the regional stage where they are joined by their PGA club professional to complete against the other club stage winners.

Those teams that progress through the regional stage to the national final at Jacks Point will be joined by a PGA of NZ tour professional and play in the ultimate team of five against the other regional stage winners. Friends are bounded and memories that last a life time are made in this unique teams’ experienced based event.

There is of course our domestic PGA pro-am and Charles' Tour events. These events allow the golfing public to play and complete with New Zealand’s present and future golfing stars. The events continue to be innovative with us always trying new ways to engage with local communities and bring golf to more people. This year brings in new events and established iconic events that have evolved into highlights of their clubs' calendar.

We look forward to seeing the PGA professional continuing to work passionately for our great game. PGA professionals have trained and are skilled in coaching, events, equipment technology, club fitting, golf operations, business and management. Daily they apply these skills and knowledge at their facilities to deliver enhanced experiences for all.

Lastly I am looking forward to playing more golf and especially ticking off a few more hidden gem golf courses around new Zealand. Play well New Zealand and have fun out there and please remember if you have any issue with your golf game or have a new year resolution to play better in 2021 then get in contact with you local PGA professional you can find them and there profiles at https://www.pga.org.nz/find-a-pga-pro?ComeFromCat=875