Recipient Story: Aorangi Golf

When Aorangi Golf Development Officer Tom Wilson arrived in South Canterbury in 2021 golf was not a growing sport. The number of young players taking up the sport was dwindling. A similar story was playing out around Aotearoa.

Something had to change, and Golf New Zealand’s answer was Futures Golf, a nationwide initiative to grow the game. The Futures programme is dedicated to introducing more young people and families to golf, and inspiring a lifelong love of the game.

Aorangi Golf recognised that with their new development officer Tom Wilson they had the right person to lead this programme and just needed enough funding to deliver it. Around the same time, the sale of the St. Andrews Golf Course left a passionate group of golfers with money they wanted to put back into the sport they love.

The Futures Aorangi programme has made remarkable progress in just three years. The number of young people playing at golf clubs has more than doubled. Our Futures Girls sessions have proven even more successful in engaging girls, with participation at clubs increasing threefold.

“The playing numbers in the young people space in our region are quite astonishing. The number of young people who have taken the game up in the last couple of years, along with the families that have integrated into local golf clubs has been amazing.” - Tom Wilson

These targeted initiatives, held across various locations throughout South Canterbury have not only enhanced participants' golfing skills but also nurtured friendships that extend beyond the sport. Introducing more young people to golf has also helped connect them with adult family members through events that encourage family participation.

One of the highlights on the Futures calendar is the annual Have a Go Day at St. Andrews Primary School, where young people and family members from the local community are invited to give golf a go.

We are so privileged to be in a position to connect these people to the game we love. Of course, none of this would be possible without support and the St. Andrews Golf Fund is hugely instrumental in allowing all this to happen, whilst providing a legacy for the club long after its closure.” Tom Wilson

While the progress Aorangi Golf has made to date has been outstanding, it is eager to build on this success. Looking ahead, their plans involve expanding the Futures events, and tailoring them to support the development of young participants. They aim to increase junior membership numbers, engage new participants, and reach more local communities.

How the Aoraki Foundation helped:

The St. Andrews Golf Fund supported Aorangi Golf to deliver Futures golf with a $20,000 grant towards the programme.