A golf day fundraiser was held at the Kurow Golf Club earlier this week following a failed bid to secure funding from the Waimate District Council.
72 players across 18 teams took part in the nine-hole ambrose tournament.
Teams of four or five each teed off but they all played from the spot of the best ball and only one score was recorded per hole.
This style of tournament allowed golfers of all different skill levels to play alongside each other.
While every team walked away with a prize of some kind, "High Intensity" came in first place.
Whalan Lodge Trust chairman Barney McCone could not have been happier with how the day went.
"It’s been a great occasion. We’ve had a really good day out."
They managed to raise about $8000 from the day to help with the rebuild of the lodge following a $1.36 million loan from the Waitaki District Council.
"A few extra thousand up our sleeve will make all the difference."
Each team paid a $200 entry fee and the trust also received donations from "20 to 30" different places, Whalan Lodge trustee Simon Taylor said.
"That was from families and local business from Twizel to Oamaru."
Stage one of the rebuild will add five new bedrooms, increasing their capacity to 20 residents, a new kitchen, dining room and entrance way.
Originally slated to be completed at the end of this month, it is slightly delayed. The new goal was to have it finished by the end of May, Mr McCone said.
Mr Taylor and the rest of the trustees were massively grateful for all the support they received.
"We just want to thank the support of the Upper Waitaki community and the Kurow Golf Club," he said.
Mr McCone echoed this sentiment.
"We’re grateful to the whole community.
"[The golf club] supplied the grounds and their ladies did all the morning tea and put a lot of work into it."
Redevelopment chairman Peter McIlraith said the trust recently appealed to the Waimate District Council for funding, but was turned down.
Although the lodge was based in Waitaki, many residents were from the Hakataramea Valley.
It was a "very disappointing" result and consequently the council was not invited to the golf tournament.
A council spokesman said it was supportive of the trust and what they were aiming to achieve, but councils around the country were under "immense" pressure to deliver infrastructure such as roading and water.
It did not have cash to support other worthy causes, he said.
"Sadly, the answer would be same if the lodge was within the Waimate District."
— additional reporting Wyatt Ryder
