KEY POINTS:
A domestic tour named after this country's greatest golfer was launched today.
The Charles Tour, featuring 72-hole strokeplay tournaments for professionals and elite amateurs, will be jointly run by New Zealand Golf and the PGA of New Zealand.
Sir Bob Charles, who attended the launch in Auckland, has agreed to lend his name to the series.
The tour will include three existing events - the Tauranga Open on May 15-18, Wairakei Open on September 18-21 and Taranaki Open on October 2-5 - which all carry purses of $40,000.
These will be joined by an additional event, the Shirley Open on October 24-27 in Christchurch, which was confirmed today.
Two further tournaments will be added next year, with Waikato Golf and the Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland indicating an interest to be involved.
The structure of the tournaments will be similar to that initiated by former professional Greg Turner in 2004.
"These have proven excellent for the development of the game - for the country's best amateurs and budding professionals - male and female," NZG chief executive Bill MacGowan and PGA of New Zealand chief executive Garth Stirrat said.
- NZPA