124 players from 49 golf clubs throughout New Zealand and Australia enjoyed wonderful weather and playing conditions during this year’s tournament.

The Nelson region is renowned for its fabulous sunshine hours, and we did not disappoint the visitors. Not only did we have sunshine every day, but snow-capped mountains mornings too.

Many of the visitors were here for the first time, and I think it’s safe to say that they were impressed with what we had to offer them in the way of great golf courses and weather.

The tournament committee of Derek & Jeane Drysdale, Euan Milne, Sue Schofield and Allison O’Donnell were thrilled to have a full entry list two months ahead of the event, a terrific compliment to everyone involved. The committee would like to thank everyone who played in the event this year and trust that they will be spreading the word to all their club members on their return to their home courses.

As in previous years, the tournament generated a terrific atmosphere. Everyone was having a fun time, no matter whether their golf was good, bad or indifferent. The clubhouses were full to brimming after each day’s play and the sound of laughter could be heard from a distance. Tournament Director, Derek Drysdale, is somewhat known for his sense of humour - keeping everyone in jovial mood with his wealth of funny stories!

All three golf clubs involved played their part, as all the courses were presented to a very high standard. The organizing committee received many compliments on the wonderful state of the courses, so all three green keeping teams should be congratulated for their fine efforts.

Thanks also go to Motueka Club President, Peter Johnston and his wife Shona for all their help with the day at their course. Likewise, thanks go to Manager Stuart Anderson and club member, Elaine Allan for arranging all the volunteers at Greenacres Golf Club.

Having that number of people in each clubhouse after play is a daunting task, and the tournament committee would like to extend their thanks to all the catering staff at each golf club, who kept everyone fed and watered to a very high standard. We had a daily prize giving for all four divisions (2 ladies and 2 men’s) with top 4 places in each division collecting a prize.

The Friday evening gala prize giving saw 150 people attend, as we had some non-playing partners and tournament sponsors along as well. Nelson Club caterers, Sophia & Jamie Morris along with their staff presented the gathered audience with a delicious meal before we went on to the major prize giving event.

The evening’s prize giving saw major sponsor TSB Bank, represented by their local manager, Brent Williams, giving out the prizes to the winners. The overall champion golfer for the week was, Greg Ryan from Takaka Golf Club in Golden Bay. Greg had been struggling with his golf in the run up to the tournament, so he signed up for a series of lessons with Nelson professional, Glyn Delany. Glyn’s work obviously paid off as Greg won by a good margin.

The mood throughout the Tournament was particularly buoyant this year proving yet again that the TSB Festival of Golf truly deserves its reputation as New Zealand’s “friendly” tournament.

As with any golf tournament, we could not do what we do without the tremendous support from our sponsors, so please make note of these generous companies, and use their services and products whenever you can.

TSB BANK LTD

NRDA & NELSON CITY COUNCIL - SEIFRIED ESTATE WINES -TAYLOR MADE GOLF

THE LION FOUNDATION - HELLO WORLD TRAVEL, NELSON – MS FORD, NELSON

BLUEBERRY IT, NELSON- SHELLEY CARPPE, MIKE PERO REAL ESTATE, STOKE

FINAL RESULTS FROM THE 2017 TSB BANK NELSON FESTIVAL of GOLF

TOURNAMENT CHAMPION: GREG RYAN, TAKAKA, on 118 points

MEN’S DIV 1:

1. Place: Keith Roberts The Dunes 107 points.

2. Malcolm Buckley Tokoroa 102 points.

3. Philip (Tuk) Sheehan Te Aroha 101 points.

4. Neill Bauld Huapai 101 points.

LADIES DIV 1:

1. Janeyann Boreham Mangakino 101 points.

2. Judith Henderson Southland 94 points.

3. Judy Fullerton Hauraki 94 points.

4. Kat Hall Featherstone 94 points.

MEN’S DIV 2:

1. Paul Peckston Windross Farm 103 points.

2. Mike Tapp Mt Nessing 100 points.

3. Chris de Ridder Boulcotts Farm 99 points.

4. Gary Henderson Southland 98 points.

LADIES DIV 2:

1. Helen Verry Piopio Aria 102 points.

2. Raewyn Bainbridge The Grange 98 points.

3. Jill Harding Fielding 95 points.

4. Idrean Conning Hukanui 93 points.

GOLFER ENDORSEMENTS FOR FESTIVAL OF GOLF

Hi Derek, Great tournament !!! Thanks for going the extra mile for me. Cheers Kay Gilray, Harewood G.C.

FOR DEREK & JEAN:
Hello Derek & Jean and your team,
Marc and I are now back in Auckland, after a great week at sunny Nelson’s Festival of Golf. Let’s hope that you two have now had time to put your feet up and enjoy a relaxing drink or two, after all your efforts to ensure that the tournament was the success it was. Many thanks for your dedication to The Cause. We had a great time, and would certainly recommend others to attend in the future.
Thank you both, Kind regards, HELEN BELCHER, The Grange G.C.

Hi Derek

A great tournament!

Thanks to you all.

Thanks for a great week, Graeme Hill (Te Aroha)

We had good trip home ,we would like to say a huge thank you to you and your team , a very well run tournament we really enjoyed it all, congratulations to all the winners. Thank you all Rita Verry, Napier G.C.

Thanks for a great tournament, Derek. Any idea when the photos will be up? I had a great time at the tournament, and would be grateful if you would pass on my thanks to all involved in the organization of it. Cheers, Ian Tennant. Burnham G.C.

You guys run the best tournament of its kind in NZ and Derek, your jokes 😆 just add to the whole event. Well done mate and crew, I'm in for next year if there is one that is.

Kind regards, Alan Bradnock, Nelson G.C.

Good on you and you do realise of course that some of us used up all the terrible shots during the week so there were only good ones left for you to use.

Thanks to yourself, Jean and the team for such a good week .

Hope I can fish tomorrow better than I golfed last week, Janice Craig. Omanu G.C.

Hi Derek and Jeane and your team

You ran a fabulous tournament and we so enjoyed it, and will be telling more friends.

Thank you, thank you, Cheers, Diane and “Puke” Taylor, Mangawhai G.C.

Hi Derek and your team,

Thank you all for the work you did to run the wonderful tournament last week.

We all enjoyed the wonderful weather and friendliness we experienced while in Nelson.Your sponsorship was excellent and we were all surprised and delighted with our prizes.

Thanks also for the great jokes you told and could you please email me a copy of the last joke at the dinner as it was very clever and too hard to remember. We wish you success in future tournaments and hope you all enjoy a well earned break for a while. Thanks again.

Regards Anne Schnell and the Feilding G.C.Team

Thank you all so much for a fabulous week, we’ve already booked our accommodation for next year – we can’t wait !

Claire Williams, Hauraki G.C.

Hello Derek,
Just a quick email to say thanks for all the organising you and team do before and after the tournament.
It is a great format and runs like clockwork.
I really enjoyed all aspects of the week.
Keep up the great work,
Raewyn The Grange G.C.

Keith Roberts Division  1 Winner — Keith Roberts Division 1 Winner

Jayneann Boreham Divison 1  Ladies winner — Jayneann Boreham Divison 1 Ladies winner

Over All 2017 Nelson Festival of Golf Greg Ryan

2017 Nelson Festival of Golf