Golf day supports Northland community sports charity

A Northland charity which supplies community organisations and clubs with new and used sports equipment has been the beneficiary of a community golf tournament – with funds raised going towards assisting with its day-to-day operations.

The Whangarei-based ReSport Charitable Trust collects and distributes sports equipment and gear from, and for, such sporting codes as basketball, hockey, cricket, rugby league, rugby union, golf, tennis, softball and volleyball.

Caption: Event organiser Dave Mullan welcomes players and acknolwedges the generous support of sponsors.

The ReSport Charitable Trust golf tournament, played on the lush fairways and greens of The Pines Golf Club in Whangarei, attracted 90 golfers from across Northland who enjoyed 18 holes of fun filled golf followed by a charity auction. Golfing teams came from across Northland to compete, along with a healthy representation of home club members from The Pines.

The ReSport Charitable Trust golf tournament was run under a three-player ambrose team format and was won by a Whangarei team comprising sharp shooters Kevin Kruse, Phane Rielly and George Richardson.

Event organiser and North Golf Association development officer Dave Mullan said the ReSport Charitable Trust golf event showcased how multiple sporting codes in Northland were now working collaboratively to increase the amount of recreational sport being played in the region, by reducing barriers to participation.

“The philosophy of ReSport, and the codes now supporting the charity, is not about favouring any one sport code competing for player numbers,’’ Mullan said.

``It’s about getting people off the couch and out into the parks, sports fields, tracks, beaches, stadiums and courts across our city and its hinterland to become healthy and active.

“Golf at The Pines was simply a conduit for bringing supporters from all the sporting codes together aligned with the focus of one common goal. It was fantastic to have teams of rugby players teeing off against soccer players, with the cricketers on the neighbouring fairway, and the hockey players swinging in too.”

Caption: The Pines stalwarts Zane Woods, left, and Damo Mahoney get right behind the ReSport sports equipment collection bin initiative.

Mullan said that with virtually all team spots booked out for the festive competition, North Golf and The Pines would look at making the tournament an annual event on Whangarei’s fundraising calendar.

The charity auction at the event saw contributions rolling in from an enthusiastic crowd bidding on highly collectible sporting memorabilia

ReSport Charitable Trust spokesperson Sharon Gibson said: “We are absolutely delighted to be North Golf’s chosen charity to support this year, and humbled with the contributions made by the golf community.

Caption: Enjoying the glorious sunshine mid-way through their round at The Pines were Whangarei golfers, from left, Austin Ryburn, Scott Douglas and David Ryburn. Photo credit: Golf New Zealand.

“While it’s amazing to benefit in this way, for us, the opportunity to have more exposure of our kaupapa (set of values) in the community is just as important because it’s about giving back to Northlanders who may be experiencing barriers to participation in sport, recreation and play. Seeing the trust in action, we received a donated mountain bike from a golfing participant and this has now been gifted to a young girl who can ride to and from school daily.”

Re Sport has a lot of gear in its warehouse, including 10 sets of second-hand golf clubs for anyone in Northland who would like to try the game first before investing capital outlay.