NZPGA - Golf providing the means for health, family and friends
By Dominic Sainsbury NZPGA.
Golf providing the means for health, family and friends
It has been fantastic to see so many New Zealanders out playing golf over the past couple of months — and long may this continue.
Rounds played are up dramatically on this time last year and it seems that every club I talk to has new members joining daily.
It would seem that one positive to come out of this whole covid-19 pandemic is the realisation of what is truly important — our health, our family, our friends and making time for them.
It seems like before covid-19 so many of us put our work first at the sacrifice of health, friends and family. I used to hear people all the time saying they lacked time for golf as there were too busy.
The fact is we do have time and it is how we choose to spend that time that is the issue. It seems now we are prioritising the choice of health, friends, and family ahead of other things.
Golf provides a low impact work out and can be easily done while socialising with friends and family and now that we are past the shortest day of the year (June 21) with the evenings getting longer, twilight golf will be here before we Know it and golf could take another leap forward.
Across the country we are hearing great success stories of people playing golf and having a great time with friends and family on the course.
Matt Davis from the Ashburton Golf Club is working throughout Mid-Canterbury with the Aorangi Golf Association selling the great messages of golf offering primary school students in the district the opportunity to learn golf while at school, from year one through to year eight students.
These programmes have been delivered to six schools covering over 1800 students. All of those children have had a great experience as to what golf offers them. Matt has also been running golf gala days that attract both men, women and kids to learn the game of golf. All on the day got to compete in fun games with spot prizes and a barbecue.
David Keown and Skylah Pohatu at the Poverty Bay Golf Club in Gisborne are welcoming everyone to the club with community marketing initiatives.
Jimmy Napier, Alex Petersen and Mark Brown at the Mount Maunganui Golf Club are running fun and exciting coaching programmes for new to the game, the experienced and weekend warrior golfers with great success.
Alistair Sidford, Brad Carter and Tony Sharp at Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club in Lower Hutt are providing a unique social experience from the moment you set foot at the club to the moment your leave, with great events, fun golf courses to play both the championship 18-hole course and the entertaining nine-hole short course.
These are just some of the great PGA professionals across New Zealand that are supporting their local communities as we work through the stress that covid-19 has caused.
Golf is a great game and with PGA professionals leading the way and clubs embracing what most New Zealanders want from golf (fun and a great social experience) the perception of golf is changing, clubs are welcoming and delivering on those great experiences that are helping to heal the scars of covid-19.
If you are thinking of getting back into golf or looking for a great experience next time you play, check out the offerings of from a PGA professional in your area. You can find them at https://www.pga.org.nz/find-a-pga-pro?ComeFromCat=875
Happy golfing and see you on the course.
