International flavour for popular tournament

‘WORLD’ CHAMPS: The winning team of (from left) Nick Godden, Jenny Marshall, Diane Alexander and Ron Horsfall proudly pose with International Celebrity Host Robin Paine. 

While rain of the wet kind would be much appreciated, the Mangawhai Golf Club was delighted to see international goodwill reign throughout a very successful International Day on Sunday February 17.

This new event was initiated by the ever-growing flock of ‘snowbirds’ who migrate to Mangawhai each year for the summer. Banding together to thank local members for their hospitality, the visitors arrive from Canada, Scotland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Lithuania, the US, England and a myriad of other countries and become totally involved in the local golfing scene.

A pleasingly large field of 88 golfers took to the course, playing in fours to meet the challenge of a Modified Texas Scramble where the individual skills of each team member were well and truly put to the test. 

Teams were drawn to create a narrow handicap band and each team included at least one woman (much appreciated by the men for their superior putting ability). The format required each player to contribute equally both off the tee and throughout each hole, ensuring the big-hitting alpha males were not overly dominant.

The course is in wonderfully good condition considering the recent lack of significant rain. Scoring was good and the results required considerable mathematical evaluation before winners could be decided. The winning teams were ranked and rewarded by a prize table that reflected the international aspect of the day. Very few of the players went home without something to savour, despite the quality of their golf.

MC Robin Paine, speaking the finest Queen's English, conducted proceedings with a suitable air and the ever-present humour of the day was a refreshing contrast to the niggly stuff we see from the UN.

The winning team on the day comprised Nick Godden, Ron Horsfall, Diane Alexander and Jenny Marshall, closely followed by Don McLean, Jason Archibald, Neville Polkinghorne and Carol O'Hara, then the team of Peter O'Hara, Chas Routen, Bede and Mary Brittenden. 

The general consensus was that this will become an international fixture and already plans are well advanced to bring greater numbers of countries onto the course. Thanks to the international organising committee (too numerous to name all) who worked very hard over a number of weeks to ensure the day's success.