NZ Golf Annual Report

5 May 2020: New Zealand Golf has today presented its annual report to its members and other stakeholders via on online annual general meeting.

While all parts of golf sector are fully focused on managing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on golf in New Zealand, the organisation paused to briefly look back on a successful 2019.

After signalling an increased focused on participation initiatives at the close of 2018, New Zealand Golf was delighted to report that during 2019 the number of club memberships increased by 2.45%, the number of rounds played grew by 6% and the number of registered casual players grew by 15.8%. In total, there are now over 220,000 registered players in the country. Also, for the first time in 6 years, an increase in junior members (12%) and junior rounds played (13%) was achieved.

While there were many highlights across the organisation in 2019, the organisation remembers fondly the 100th staging of the New Zealand Open Championship. This was a significant milestone and appropriately celebrated in the stunning surrounds of The Hills and Millbrook Resort.

From a financial perspective, the business is growing and continues to build a solid and diverse platform.

The group financial result sees a net surplus of $85,943 and a corresponding growth in the group’s net assets to a total equity position of just over $2.6M. This result is very pleasing in what continues to be a challenging environment.

During 2019 New Zealand Golf’s technology subsidiary (DotGolf) was successful in winning a tender to provide software solutions to Great Britain and Ireland. The go live for the project is November 2020 and this will provide an important, strong and fruitful revenue stream for the group in the future.

Although the organisations financial performance continues to be strong and have positive signs for the future, securing appropriate levels of sustainable revenue remains a challenging task, coupled with the unknown long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To address the future challenges for the sport, New Zealand Golf recently released its new strategic plan for the 2020 to 2025 period. Entitled ‘Enriching Lives Through Golf’, the new strategy sets a compelling vision for the future of the sport and the role it can play across the communities of New Zealand.

New Zealand Golf believes golf is distinctive from other sports. It is a game that has a unique tradition and history that encompasses a values system that is unrivalled. It is the only sport that can be played competitively and equitably across all facilities in all conditions by participants of all ages and skill levels.

Most importantly, golf is a game that delivers positive and enriching outcomes for participants through inspired performances, increased physical activity, greater social connectedness and enhanced health and wellbeing. Positive benefits are not confined to golf participants; the game of golf delivers an increasingly significant number of social, environmental and economic benefits to our country.

New Zealand Golf Chief Executive Dean Murphy believes golf is ideally placed for future prosperity.

“We believe the game of golf provides unique, inclusive and lifelong enrichment for its participants. These unique attributes provide us the platform from which to sustain prolonged growth and prosperity for the sport.

“Golf is not immune to the challenges facing sport so it’s crucial we embrace the future and plan effectively to meet the changing needs of participants. This means not only sustaining what we currently have in terms of grass roots participation and performance success but delivering a sport that attracts a new generation of players who develop a lifelong love of the game.”

Click HERE to download a copy of New Zealand Golf’s 2019 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

Click HERE to download a copy of the 2020 to 2025 strategy – Enriching Lives Through Golf.

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About New Zealand Golf

New Zealand Golf is a not-for profit charitable trust established in 1910 as the governing body for golf in New Zealand responsible for leading, growing and supporting the game. Golf is the most played sport in New Zealand with over half a million kiwis playing each year at one of the 390 clubs throughout the country.

As a sector, golf employs over 2,000 people and contributes more than a billion dollars to the national economy each year. As a sport, golf makes a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of its participants, increases the social connectivity of communities and improves provides important education and life values outcomes for young people.

New Zealand Golf is focused on inspiring increased participation in golf through a range of initiatives, programmes and support services. The organisation also provides a wide range of services for the game including overseeing the rules of the game, running of the national handicapping system, managing the New Zealand Golf representative team programme (including the Olympic programme) and the management of over 20 elite golf tournaments.

Further information:

New Zealand Golf – Dean Murphy, Chief Executive: 021 222 8951