deAn mUrPHY
| 13
Golf can do
better: NZ chief
By david newbery
Golf, says dean murphy, is in good shape.
new Zealand Golf’s new chief executive
officer murphy is still fired up after
watching German martin Kaymer win
the Us PGA Championship at Whistling
straits when he takes my telephone call.
“We have just seen a fantastic
advertisement for the game with a great
finish to a major tournament,” he said.
“i think the health of the golf industry
has been challenged by the financial
times, but i think in general participation
is very solid in new Zealand.
“i think club membership in new
Zealand is hanging in there and there
are some signs of recovery around the
financial industry that’s leading to signs
of growth in the golf industry.
“so, i think we are in good shape, but i
think we can be doing far better and we
will look to do far better.”
murphy, who was new Zealand Golf’s
commercial manager for three years
before officially taking the top job in
June, has an innovative approach to the
game.
He is also extremely passionate about
the industry and his enthusiasm is
infectious.
Prior to joining the nZ Golf, murphy
worked in marketing and management
in small business and the travel industry.
murphy says getting more people to play
more golf is just one of the challenges
facing the new Zealand Golf’s governing
body.
“the bigger challenge is converting
those participants into being active
club members and holding long-term
memberships of those clubs,” said
murphy, who is a member at titirangi
Golf Club and plays off 9.5.
“What new Zealand Golf needs is a
healthy, vibrant golf club network.
“We’d like healthy golf clubs throughout
the country to contribute to the thriving
game that produces more champions
and has more club members.
murphy points to a new Zealand
government survey that reported a
growth in participation of around two
per cent between 2003 and 2008.
Unfortunately, the growth was in social
play – not club membership.
“A decrease in membership over the
same per