Peter Williams: Board candidates offer hope for New Zealand Golf

The often predictable old boys (and old girls) network of golf administration is in for a shake-up at the first AGM of New Zealand Golf on May 23.

With the newly-amalgamated body facing some serious issues around the funding and (lack of) sponsorship for the New Zealand Open, such a shake-up is timely.

For the first time in years, a real challenge for places on the board is being mounted by people who haven't taken the traditional path of club committee to provincial association to national council to New Zealand board which has been the norm for men's golf here.

In its final years before amalgamating with the old NZGA, Women's Golf New Zealand, to its credit, did appoint some outsiders as board members. One, former World Squash president Susie Simcock, is on the board of New Zealand Golf.

But in just over two weeks, Alan Isaac, Geoff Saunders and John Flowers are among eight nominations for the five NZG board places occupied by men and Gail Allport is one of five women chasing the three board positions that must be filled by females. Why there have to be such ridiculous gender specifications in the 21st century is another issue - but that's golf.

Having men with the ability and backgrounds of Isaac, Saunders and Flowers available is a coup for golf and it would be a tragedy if all three were not elected to the board. Isaac recently retired as the New Zealand chairman of KPMG and will step down as a partner at the huge accounting and business services firm in October. Still in his mid-50s, he's a self-confessed sports nut who now wants to do more in sports administration. He's been on the New Zealand Cricket board for 17 years and is part of the 2011 Rugby World Cup establishment board.

Saunders, a Christchurch lawyer, was a New Zealand Junior representative in the 1970s and played for Canterbury at inter-provincial tournaments. Of the three, he's the one with closest ties to the current establishment. His firm were legal advisers on the new NZG constitution. But with NZPGA Championship promoters Tuohy and Associates among his clients, Saunders is also exposed to the challenges that professional golf in this part of the world faces.

English-born Flowers is general manager of Olex, the New Plymouth cable manufacturing company which sponsors the $40,000 Taranaki Open.

Allport has for years been the manager and often caddy for the country's top female professional Lyn Brooky and was a key figure in the last attempt to get a New Zealand Women's Open played in 2001.

All four bring a range of skills and experience that NZG would appear to desperately need as it battles to stage its flagship event.

Isaac notes there's no one on the current board with any significant financial background and, having done due diligence on the organisation, he knows how parlous the NZG finances will be if the

Open is not a success this year.

Flowers looks at top golf from a sponsor's viewpoint but says he's frustrated with what he sees as a lack of drive from the current administration. Saunders has been a club and provincial administrator but as a former amateur competitor in the New Zealand Open, he's concerned about its precarious state.

There are 31 council members who elect the board on May 23. It's a most significant day for the future direction of New Zealand Golf.