16 | GROW THE GAME
COUrSE DEVELOPMENT
| 17
NZ Golf invests
in the future
By David Newbery
There were lots of smiling faces
following the recent launch of
New Zealand Golf’s Junior Tiger
campaign.
After months of planning the
first events were rolled out at 22
golf clubs in 20 different regions
across the country.
More than 600 children, including
many newcomers to the game,
took part in the tournaments.
New Zealand Golf’s commercial
manager Dean Murphy told Golf
Industry Central the Junior Tiger
program was established because
of concerns about plummeting
junior numbers at golf clubs.
The first step was to invest
$50,000 setting up the Junior
Tiger website and early
indications are that it has been
money well spent.
“We have had phenomenal
website traffic and it’s going
better than we thought,” Murphy
said.
“The whole concept of the Junior
Tiger program is to position golf
differently for kids.
“We want to let them know golf
is exciting, fun and a vibrant sport
and that’s where the website is
coming from.
“It’s an interactive, animated
website that’s not only about
tournaments we are running.
“There are games to play,
coaching, animated videos of
swings and all sorts of cool things
that we think kids can really
engage with the game.
“It’s about letting them know
what golf could be for them and
their families.”
Murphy said a carnival
atmosphere was created at each
of the tournaments.
“We have got radio stations
broadcasting live, we’ve got
mascots and all sorts of fun things
happening,” he said.
While the goal is to attract more
youngsters to the game, NZ Golf
is also hoping to discover New
Zealand’s Junior Tiger.
Golfers taking part in the
program will have the chance to
win a trip to Disneyland.
“We are trying to find a young
golfer who will win this thing and
with it the chance to represent
New Zealand at the World Junior
Championship in the US and take
their family with them for a trip to
Disneyland,” Murphy said.
“It’s also about introducing golf to
families.”
He said one of the biggest
challenges facing the country’s
amateur body was getting golf
clubs to embrace the idea.
“Twenty-two clubs have given
their course for free on a Sunday
morning, which is prime time for
members,” he said.
“It’s been hard work, but
we found 22 clubs that are
passionate about juniors and
want to get involved.”
Next year NZ Golf aims to more
than double the number of clubs
involved in the program.
“This year we’ve got 22 centres
of excellence, next year we might
have 50 and the year after 100,”
Murphy said.
“If we can have 100 clubs doing
really great things with juniors
and encouraging juniors then
that’s a big evolution from where
we are now.
“We need a big change and we
Pegasus Town: a Sanctuary Cove in the making
need kids and parents to know
that clubs are junior friendly
places and golf is a game their
children can play,” Murphy said.
New Zealand Golf has 14
development officers spreading
the message at golf clubs and
schools.
The message is simple: log on
to the website, play the online
games and watch the putting
stroke to see how it’s done.
“What this Junior Tiger campaign
is all about is getting clubs to
think differently about juniors
– it’s about getting kids to think
differently about golf.
“It can be fun, youthful and
exciting sport and I don’t think
young New Zealanders think that
currently.
“What we are trying to do is have
a different conversation with kids
and let them know golf’s a sport
for them and the whole family
and something they can play for
the rest of their life.”
NZ Golf has encouraged parents
of juniors to play an active role in
the program.
Murphy said one of the rules of
the tournament was that every
child that played had to have
a parent or caregiver caddy for
them.
“It does two things: it gives the
child security and it engages the
parents and lets them see what
golf can be,” he said.
“They spend time with the
kid and get to see how good
golf can be and enjoy the club
environment and hopefully
drag some of the parents into
memberships.”
And who knows – their kid
may even win them a trip to
Disneyland.
FOOTNOTE: Adult membership
in New Zealand is reasonably
healthy growing four per cent
last year.
www.juniortiger.co.nz
It is set near the foothills of
South Island’s magnificent
Southern Alps close to
Christchurch, New Zealand.
Pegasus Golf and Sports Club, a
brand new facility that includes
an 18-hole championship golf
course, state-of-the-art driving
range, clubhouse, restaurant,
gymnasium and tennis courts
will open in early December.
Located in one of the country’s
most picturesque and diverse
landscape, the development
is the gateway to the town of
Pegasus.
General manager Brett James,
an Australian, said the golf
course was attached to the
town of Pegasus, which is the
largest residential development
in Canterbury.
“It’s like Sanctuary Co ٔ