KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Golf (NZG) is to implement a new programme aimed at attracting more people to the game, helping clubs and districts and creating a player development pathway.
The "whole of sport" innovation will be launched with the help of a $1.4 million funding from Sport and Recreation New Zealand (Sparc) over the next two years.
NZG missed out on funding for its high performance programme last year as it did not align with Sparc's high performance strategy
"While that was a disappointment for the organisation, we understood their position," NZG chief executive Bill MacGowan said.
"It did open up the opportunity to talk with Sparc about our overall aims and objectives and many of those areas were shared by them, in terms of encouraging more people to be active throughout their lives."
Sparc said they were excited about increasing the number of people involved in golf.
"We view this investment as a meaningful way to achieve the goals of both organisations,' Sparc chief executive Nick Hill said.
"It's the first time we have consolidated investment in the whole pathway of a sport from introductory level to elite."
The player development pathway will provide a range of opportunities for golfers from introductory programmes through to the elite amateur and rookie professional.
"A solid performance in the Espirito Santo and Eisenhower Trophy world amateur tournaments will no longer be the main performance indicators to measure the success of the national programme, but rather a stepping stone on the road for our amateur players to fulfil their golfing potential," MacGowan said.
- NZPA
