Golf tournament generates funds for substantial flood mitigation works

A flood-prone provincial New Zealand golf club has raised $65,000 from a tournament to assist in implementing a major water mitigation programme which will see a network of natural creeks running through the course cleared of weeds impeding the smooth flow of rain run-off in winter.

Whangamata Golf Club in the Coromandel has regularly flooded over the past few winters as the effects of rain deluges are compounded by the growth of weeds and vegetation within the multiple creeks winding their way through the course’s low-lying fairways, which are sometimes drowned under 1.5 metre ponds during heavy rain spells.

Even during normal flow periods, the Wentworth River and its tributary creeks create water hazards alongside 15 of the club’s low-lying holes. Bridges – many of which were close to the end of their life expectancy and were severely damaged by previous flooding – crisscross over from several of the course’s adjoining fairways.

Whangamata Golf Club has a $500,000 flood resilience reparation budget over the next five years, with expenditure being equally split between drainage construction and bridge installation in a phased programme.

To help fund the works programme, in addition to running two raffles with the top lure of a luxury travel package to watch the famed Masters championship at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, United States, the Whangamata club also held a traditional ambrose golf day with golfing memorabilia auction last month – which attracted some 80 players from across the Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato.

Whangamata manager James Beston said the club realised that while the dual high-profile Masters raffle promotions had a nationwide appeal for incredible prizes they offered, it was also important to remember that local grass roots fundraising events such as a stock-standard ambrose golf tournament were fundamental to bringing in the dollars.

Ironically, the first half of the Water Be Gone ambrose tournament was played in torrential rain after a delayed start, until the sun burst through the clouds and the second half of the event was played in glorious sunshine and sweltering temperatures, albeit on soaked fairways and greens.

Said Beston: “We need $38,000 to clear the course creek beds and drains of weed and vegetation growth in time for this winter’s scheduled rainfall. What better time to get those funds rolling in than with winter now on the horizon.

“It was fantastic so see a hard core group of our members joined by players from surrounding clubs, and we’d like to thank everyone involved for their generous support of Whangamata Golf Club.

“It was a phenomenal event, and we were just so stoked to be able to complete the competition after it had earlier looked like we wouldn’t even be able to get out onto the course.”

The Water Be Gone tournament was won by a team of players from the Te Puke Golf Club, joined by Whangamata Golf Club member Brian ``Beansy'' Grafas.