Left Handed Golf in New Zealand and beyond

New Zealand Left Hander’sassociation Patron Sir Bob Charles

New Zealand Left Hander’sassociation Patron Sir Bob Charles

Many of our New Zealand Left handed members have just returned from Surfers Paridise, where we joined nearly 200 Australian men and Lady Lefties to play in the 51st Australian Left handed Championship held at the beautiful Royal Pines Course.
Every year a National Tournament for Lefty Golfers is held in New Zealand and Australia, and every other year a World Tournament is held, the next one to be held in Melbourne in late October next year, playing some of the best courses in Victoria, 400 are expected to attend.
In 2008 New Zealand hosted a World Left Handed Tournament in Queenstown New Zealand, where over 400 Lefties from 17 countries enjoyed Southern hospitality, playing Arrowtown, Jacks Point, Kelvin Heights, and Millbrook courses. The final dinner prize giving was attended by over 700 people, and one of the visiting American Left handers (formerly lead guitar for Johnny Cash) gave us a great show. You certainly meet a number of interesting people playing from the other side.
Countries all around the World are affiliated to World Left Handed Golf, China and Taiwan being recent additions.
The current World Left Handed President is Richard Davison (Rangiora) and Secretary Nigel Messenger (Wellington)
Our Patron is Sir Bob Charles who needs no introduction, to this point our most famous golfer.
We have had some great players who have spent some of their earlier years playing in our Leftie tournaments, Lisa Aldridge (Herbert) Gareth Paddison, Tim Wilkinson, and just starting their careers Tyler Hodge, Lachie Macdonald and Luke Brown.
0ur next NZ Tournament will be held in Dunedin at the highly rated links course Chisholm Park, we expect many Australians to join us, as well as our NZ Lefties who will come from all parts of New Zealand to enjoy the great cameradie that is common at all Left handed events around the country and beyond.
9 hole Golfers
For the first time we recognise the growing popularity of 9-hole golf, and a division has been created, for 9 hole Men and Women golfers that wish to join us at Chisholm Park, 27/30th March 2017
A New Zealand Left handed 9-hole champion will be crowned and awarded a suitable trophy at the conclusion of 4 rounds over 4 days.
Left handed events for Leftie men, Women and friends are held all around New Zealand and Australia, we recently attended our 67th annual tournament at the beautiful Taumarunui Golf Club where Lefties and partners gather each year on the first weekend in September. On the 24th September the 38th Wellington Leftie day was held at Te Marua Golf Club Upper Hutt. Leftie days and weekends are held in NZ from Southland to Whangarei in the North each year, check our website www.nalgnz to find the next Tournament near you.
The writer has played in NSW Leftie Tournaments held at Pennant Hills and Monash golf Clubs, and any NZ member of our Association is warmly welcomed at any of the Australian Leftie events across Australia.
Over 400,000 men and women play golf in New Zealand, and it is estimated that approximately 1.5% are Left handed, 6,000 of you out there, and we would love to see you at one of our events, you would be assured of a great day, we play some lovely courses each year, and we are generous with our prizes.
Our website is www.nalg.co.nz or email the NZ Secretary John Barber nalgnz@xtra.co.nz for more information.

Sarah HeadComment