Women’s golf is booming in the region and a new interclub competition is thriving.
The Central Otago women’s competition, held on Sundays to specifically target working women, has attracted eight clubs in its inaugural year.
"We’ve had a really good response," Hawea-based organiser Jacqui Henderson said.
"Just amazing. Blown me away, really."
Interclub, or pennant, golf has traditionally been played during the week but Henderson said the golfers identified a need to create some flexibility for women who wanted more competitive golf but had to fit it in around work commitments.
Having the new competition on Sunday opened the doors to a lot more women.
"It may seem trivial, but it is a monumental shift to the traditional weekday format. I don’t think you’ll find such a forward-thinking competition for women in New Zealand golf.
"There weren't enough weekend tournaments available for working women. With pennants, I think it's three matches and then if you get into the finals, it's a further two matches, and that's women for Central Otago done for the whole year.
"You compare it to the men who have got pennants and club and President's Cup, there's a real difference in what's available."
Tarras, Hawea, Wanaka, Queenstown, Arrowtown, Dunstan, Cromwell and Alexandra are the foundation clubs, fielding six-women teams with four of six net scores counting for the final tally.
Organisers hope the likes of Millbrook, Maniototo, Roxburgh and Omakau will field stand-alone or combined teams in the coming years.
Each club hosts one round of the competition and organises that day’s action, while the final is scheduled for Cromwell on November 24.
"Even to get this competition off the ground took a massive effort," Henderson said.
"There's a lot of negotiations going on with each course, making sure that we've got availability for each round. So it was massive, absolutely massive.
"I really believe it's a turning point for golf in this area."
Henderson said the club captains met Central Otago golf representatives and all were committed to having the competition again in 2025 and beyond.
