From the Publisher – January 2019

NZ Golf Magazine - Welcome letter Geoff

Happy New Year to all our subscribers and readers. The weather has certainly been kind to all of us so far in 2019 and the water temperature at the beach is very comfortable indeed.
The Summer of Golf is ON AGAIN!
There is no LPGA this year due to very unfortunate circumstances surrounding sponsorship. The full story has not been published but if quality sponsorship contracts are not forthcoming, then that will eventually end in disappointment. The Clubhouse (the New Zealand Promoters), NZ Golf Inc. and the LPGA moved heaven and earth to try and bring us an event for 2019. However, it was not to be, but the signs are so far excellent for 2020.
The 100th New Zealand Open and the PGA of New Zealand Championship are both being played in the South island in the first couple of weeks of March. The NZ Open in Queenstown and the PGA at Pegasus outside of Christchurch. For Michael Campbell fans the great news is that he will be returning to New Zealand and will play in the Open. So if you needed any further excuse to book those flights and tickets – this is it!

Lydia Ko during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 15, 2018 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The 2019 New Years Honours list was published a few days ago and Lydia Ko was duly honoured as a Member of the Order of New Zealand (MNZM). At 21, the former world No 1 womens golfer is one of the youngest award recipients, which is common place for her – she was the youngest world golf No 1, youngest player to win a major, and youngest to win on tour.
However the reaction on both normal media and social media has been very low key. At the risk of being dubbed a killjoy one can ask a couple of questions. Is she really too young?, Is it because of our fascination with so called role models?, and exactly what has she achieved for Golf over her time, apart from her annual scholarship programme for a couple of players!
Even so, we congratulate her on her award.

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