2021 NBS Nelson Festival of Golf

120 players from 47 golf clubs throughout New Zealand enjoyed wonderful weather and playing conditions during this year’s tournament, the event was played in May.

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 Nelson was the warmest place in New Zealand all week.

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.

The tournament committee of Derek & Jeane Drysdale, Euan Milne, Sue Schofield, Allison O’Donnell, Rebecca Sheehy and Tony Watkins were thrilled to have a full entry list three 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 clubs.

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 some distance. Tournament Director, Derek Drysdale, is somewhat known for his sense of humour, with his amusing stories keeping everyone in jovial mood in the clubhouses after golf.

All three golf clubs involved played their part, with all the courses being presented to a very high standard. The organising committee received many compliments on the wonderful condition of the courses. 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 Brendon Whitley 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 thanks to all the catering staff at each golf club, who kept everyone fed and watered to a very high standard. We had a Team Day on the Monday with hidden partners for the first time and that went down very well. The winning teams won an assortment of Kahurangi Wines, plus NBS water bottles. We had a special prize for everyone in the tournament, and we presented them with the very useful, GOLF BALL RETRIEVER’S from Hans van Leeuwen from Hawke’s Bay. These are available on Trademe, and come well recommended, especially if you struggle bending down to pick the ball out the hole.

There was also daily prize giving for all three divisions (1 women’s and 2 men’s) with top 3 places in each division collecting a prize every day. A sprinkling of “lucky dip” prizes increasing the prize pool.

The Friday evening gala dinner and prize-giving saw 160 people attend, as we had some non-playing partners and tournament sponsors along as well. Nelson Golf Club Function & Catering Manager, Monique Tasker along with her staff presented the gathered audience with a delicious meal before we went on to the major prize giving event. Local companies, Thorvald Cheese, Little River Cheese & Regal King Salmon provided their wonderful produce for the starting platters and everyone adored the wonderful flavours on offer.

The evening’s prize giving saw major sponsor NBS, represented by their local managers, Brent Williams and Peter Havill, giving out the prizes to the winners. The overall champion golfer for the week was, Ian Stuart Chaney from Bottle Lake Golf Club, Christchurch. Ian holds the Festival of Golf Trophy for the year, and he won a $500 voucher from NBS, a limited-edition tournament shirt and wine from Kahurangi Estate Wines. Ian scored 107 stableford points, over the three individual rounds, to win on countback from Morris Stafford of Tahuna Golf Club, Waikato. Morris did however, win the Mens 1st Division. Very creditable scoring given the courses were set up to challenge the players. The other Division winners were: Jo Neep from Arrowtown in the Women’s Division with 100 points and Brian Pitt from Bottle Lake in Men’s Division 2 who scored 103 points.

All the Division winners won a Scotty Cameron putter and wine from Kahurangi Estate Wines. The mood throughout the Tournament was particularly buoyant this year proving yet again that the NBS Nelson Festival of Golf truly deserves its reputation as New Zealand’s “friendly” golf tournament.

As with any golf tournament, we could not do what we do without the tremendous support from our sponsors, so huge thanks go to these generous companies, who worked with us throughout the event.

NBS ( Nelson Building Society )

NRDA & NELSON CITY COUNCIL – KAHURANGI ESTATE WINES -TOTAL GOLF GREENS MOTEL - THORVALD CHEESE - LITTLE RIVER CHEESE

REGAL KING SALMON – McCASHINS STOKE BREWERY

The Tournament was also supported by the following businesses:

Motueka Golf Club, Greencares Golf Club, 623 In The City, Sands Brewery Kitchen & Bar, Tides Restaurant, Beetees Fashion Store, New World, Stoke.

To view the 2022 events programme.

Nelson Festival of Golf, NZ golf tournament (nelsongolf.co.nz)