Get involved and get in there and LIKE us!

Then share us around your friends … there is plenty of us to go around!

Hendry fired a final round four under par 68, to finish two shots clear of the field with a tournament total 16 under par 272.

The 32-year-old had looked on course for a comfortable victory through 15 holes, when he led by three shots.

However, a quadruple bogey at the tricky 16th hole handed the lead back to third round leader Andrew Martin and set up a grand stand finish.

Hendry drew level again with a birdie at the 17th and saved par at the last before having to wait for Martin to finish his round.

The 27-year-old Aussie struck trouble on 17 and posted bogey, leaving him with the tough task of needing to birdie the last to force a play-off.

It wasn’t to be, with Martin struggling to a bogey to drop back to a share of second place with New Zealand’s Mark Brown at 14 under par.

It’s the second biggest win of Hendry’s career, following his victory in the 2010 Indonesia Open on the OneAsia tour. However, he says the victory at The Hills is the sweeter of the two.

“Winning in Indonesia was satisfying because it was my first win but being able to win at home in front of friends and family and putting my name on that cup which has been one of my goals ever since I turned professional is just awesome,” said Hendry.

“I felt the love out there. I had a lot of people as I was walking off greens saying come on Mike you can do it, keep it going, you’re playing great. You don’t often get that overseas.”

Hendry now has a two week break before heading to China for the European Tour and One Asia co-sanctioned Volvo China Open.

After leading for the second and third round Andrew Martin was disappointed to have finished in a share for second with New Zealand’s Mark Brown at 14 under the card.

“I guess a little disappointed, probably more disappointed not to finish outright second,” said Martin who also finished in a share for second at the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship last month.

When he reclaimed the lead after Hendry’s disastrous 16th quadruple bogey Martin had miscalculated the score and went on to bogey the 17th.

“I actually thought that Mike and I were both on 16 under when I was on the 17th, so I thought I need to go for it.

“Little did I know he was on 15 under after the par 3, if I had it probably would have changed things.

“To have a chance coming home considering what happened mid round was good; another good week put it in the memory bank and wait until the next one.”

Rounding out the top five were New Zealander Ryan Fox outright fourth on 13 under par and Korean Jin Jeong fith with 12 under the card
While Hendry may have won the NZ PGA Championship it was Peter Cooke and his amateur partner Jason Hughes who claimed the team event with a 19-under par total.

“Jason and I paired really well there were no wasted shots. We made birdies at different times so it really made our score as good as possible, congratulations to him hopefully we play together again next year,” said Cooke.

The other highlight of the day was two hole in ones scored by Hollywood Actor Don Cheadle and fellow amateur Chris Hart on the difficult par 3 16th which almost proved the undoing of Michael Hendry.

I hit the middle of the green and it fed down the hill and just kept rolling and went into the cup. I didn’t even see it. I just looked up and saw people jumping up and down and screaming. It was great because my kids were there and my wife was there so that was a lot of fun,” said Cheadle.

Forming part of the PGA Tour of Australasia the NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship has been a highlight in the early stages of the 2012 season with a key date today being announced for the 2013 event.

“The NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship has been a standout event, the format is unique to the Tour and we have seen the players embrace and relish the opportunity to compete in a different style of event,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia which encompasses the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Looking forward to building on the success of the inaugural event the 2013 tournament will be given a key date; a month earlier.

“We want to see the tournament build on the success of the inaugural event and I believe that positioning the tournament from the 28th February to 3rd March will provide the launch pad to achieve this,” added Thorburn.

“I know that I speak for all involved with the PGA Tour of Australasia that the hard work by Organising Committee Chairman John Hart and his team has made this a fantastic tournament and we look forward to working with them again and returning to Queenstown in 2013,” added Thorburn.

“Through the rain, sleet and snow, we came to see Joe”, went the catchcry of die-hard San Francisco 49ers fans as they farewelled their legendary quarter-back Joe Montana on a wintry California night almost two decades ago to the day.

The glorious Queenstown weather proved no impediment at the inaugural New Zealand PGA over the weekend, but there was a similar single-minded certainty about whom the fans at The Hills Golf Club had come to see: Ko, Lydia Ko.

The 14-year-old – whose list of achievements is already such that the course announcer had to take a deep breath before introducing her on the first tee each day – shone in the Central Otago sun from the moment she teed up with the Prime Minister on Friday morning to saluting the fans’ rapturous applause at the eighteenth yesterday afternoon.

Everywhere she went, the Auckland-based amateur seemed unfazed by the growing band of followers who admired her every swing and hummed in approval at every tee shot sent whistling down the fairway. Lifelong golfers and total novices turned to each other and whispered, in reverent tones, “gosh, doesn’t she make it look easy?”. And she does.

Through all the scrutiny, Ko seems perfectly down to earth and unaffected. She’s clearly aware of her relative inexperience, yet mature well beyond her years.

There’s something wonderfully endearing about a teenage golfer who can stare down opponents twice, three times her age, while walking the fairways with a pink panther club cover in her golf bag.

Already, with a strong management team and a calm head on young shoulders, her future seems assured. Doubtless she’s more equipped to deal with the pitfalls of fame and fortune than another teenage golfing prodigy; the dour, petulant American Michelle Wie, who appears washed up at 22.

Ko’s superstar status at The Hills meant good and bad things for the tournament as a whole. While the success and the promise of a local lass provided the feelgood factor; it also starkly illustrated what the tournament was missing: top-ranking professionals, and a credible professional competition.

The likes of Ko and Hollywood star Don Cheadle – whose final day hole-in-one was worth the price of admission alone – should only ever have formed an entertaining side-story, not the main plot. But with 80th ranked Australian Brendan Jones the top-rated golfer in the field, and big-name veterans like Craig Parry and Peter O’Malley failing to fire, the crowds were forced to look elsewhere for a pleasant distraction.

Or simply not look at all. Even though the tournament was only unveiled to fans four months ago – not much time for out-of-towners to arrange a trip down – organisers can’t have been happy with barely 5,000 people through the gates on the final day, and less than 10,000 overall.

It’s a shame because though who did come saw a well-organised tournament in a convivial setting, amongst some of the most wonderful scenery of any course in the world.

The rolling hills of the Wakatipu Basin were made for top class golf courses, and the jagged peaks rising in every direction around it could scarcely provide a better backdrop. As the sun grew low in the sky each day and the shadows lengthened, the entire landscape took on a magical golden hue.

Owner Michael Hill and his design team have made careful and delicate brushstrokes upons their precious canvas, creating stunning tee-top vistas and natural ampitheatres around greens. Most memorable is the approach to the par-five seventeenth, which is bordered by a natural rock canyon on both sides.

The facilities, too, were top-notch, the admission prices affordable, and the “nineteenth hole” – a refreshment area in the centre of the course featuring food and wine stalls, as well as children’s entertainment – was ideal for those not all that keen on watching golf all day.

All of which points to the lack of superstar billing as the only reason for the lack of buzz around The Hills. If Michael Hill really wants to set the turnstiles fizzing and grab the attention of the sporting public, he needs to find a way to lure marquee players to the event. It will mean forking out a million or more – chicken feed for the self-made jeweller and entrepreneur extraordinaire.

Grand plans are already in place to expand the tournament next year. It has powerful backers who clearly want it to succeed and flourish alongside the NZ Open, adding yet another gala event to Queenstown’s busy events calendar.

The tournament clearly has a bright future at The Hills. The local talents, led by the legendary Sir Bob Charles, will always be sentimental favourites. But next year it has to be more than just the Lydia Ko show.

Pinehurst School, in partnership with Harbour Sport, is proud to announce the official Auckland Schools and Community Sports Expo – The OUTSIDE IN.

This event will be held at Pinehurst School on:

• Friday 10 February, 2012, 1 -3pm – for the Pinehurst School Community

(End of week 2 Term 1 – 2012)

• Sunday 12 February 2012, 11am -3pm for Auckland Schools and Universities.

The purpose of this event is to:

• Promote the sporting opportunities on offer for all ages and abilities
• Build partnerships between codes, schools, students, parents, coaches and teachers
• Increase sporting activity, retention and exposure of a range of codes within schools and the sporting community
• Provide easy access to sporting registration and communication between organisers for families
• Support local sporting businesses

Pinehurst have invited all primary, intermediate, secondary schools and universities and expecting all ages to attend this event across North Shore and Auckland. This will be a huge opportunity to grow sport at Pinehurst and in the Auckland community, increase exposure, network with Auckland families, schools and regional organisations.

We have invited over 100 sporting providers including igolf and top sporting guests from the around New Zealand, who will be advertising the event on their webpages and social network sites.

You gotta be there!

Nathan Janes

The Sport Expo 2012 – The Outside In – Chief Organiser

North Harbour Community Excellence Award Winner 2011

Towards the end of 2011 at the Institute of Golf we launched our first ever girls golfing program. We are looking forward to further developing our current girls golfers in their second block of training while also recruiting a new beginners group.
What better way to kick of the 2012 girls night golf season than to have a fun ambrose style tournament that you can invite other friends to so they too can have the chance to get into golf. Each girl who participated in the first Girls Night Golf season is encouraged to invite 3 friends with them to make up a team of 4 players.

Tournament details are as follows:

• Thursday 27th January
• Tee off at 6pm (approximate finish time of 8.30pm)
• From 5-5.30pm we will run a clinic for those that need a quick tune up or a full swing overhaul. This is totally optional.
• The event will be a 5 hole Ambrose format tournament (choose the best shot out of the group)
• Each team of 4 players need 1 set of clubs between them, so you can all share (if you do not have a set then this can be arranged for you)
• Due to popular demand on course beverages will also be provided.
• Cost is $150 per team of 4 players

This is a great opportunity to have a fun evening with girlfriends, introduce them to something new while also easing yourself back into golf ready for the 2012 program. And lets be honest, with a few drinks thrown in its bound to be a great evening out on the course.

Our pros will be on hand throughout the evening giving you advice and pointers on your technique and game play.

There will be spot prizes on the night as well!

If you are keen to enrol a team download the enrolment form from our Facebook page or contact Craig at craig@instituteofgolf.co.nz

Click here to download the ENTRY FORM

Click here to download the FLYER

Click here to download the REGISTRATION form for Term 1 2012 classes

What you can expect throughout the programmes:

• Improved Fitness
• Weight Loss
• Better Muscle Tone
• Improved Functional Strength
• Improved Core Strength
• A Great Team Training Experience

Starting Tuesday 6th March 6:30am

Costs $350 for 12 sessions ( 6x 2 hours per week)

Our specially designed programs also incorporate golf drills and exercises on the range that will help you hit longer, more consistently, and pain free. Watch your scoring drop! Our first program will emphasize golf fundamentals to improve your “CONSISTENCY”

What you can expect from this program

• Improved Golf Posture
• Improved Dynamic Golf Stability
• Improved Golf Balance

Register now by emailing us at brad@instituteofgolf.co.nz

Registrations close 21st Feb at 9am or download the link below and email back to us.

Refer a friend and get 10% off!!

Please have a look to see what services are available over the break. Click on the image to download. We will be running limited times so please book in if you need a lesson over this time. We are all looking forward to a long break to refresh after a MASSIVE year. Realising that many of you wish to still practice and play we are opening the range for our members on limited times. This is our dedication to you.

Thanks,

IOG Team

The outstanding 14-year-old has become the first female recipient of the Mark H McCormack Medal, a new annual award for the top rated player in the women’s world amateur rankings.

The rankings were initiated in February by the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club) and USGA (United States Golf Association) to match the men’s amateur rankings which were launched in 2007.

”My goal when I started playing golf was to become the best in the world, and this is a tick in the box for sure,” the Aucklander said.

”This is a great reward for all the countless hours I and my team put in, and to become the first female, even better.”

Ko, who in recent times was on a course of rest and recuperation as she recovered from wrist surgery, follows in the footsteps of compatriot Danny Lee, who won the equivalent men’s award in 2008.

”It’s been a huge year for me, one of many firsts, and this is just the cherry on the top,” she said.

Ko arrived on the international stage last year when she finished as the leading amateur in the New Zealand Open at Pegasus. She tied for seventh, and in the process became the youngest woman to make the cut in a Ladies European Tour event.

She then narrowly missed becoming the youngest player to win a professional event after missing a putt to make it into a playoff at the New South Wales Open earlier this year.

Ko has continued to break records, becoming the first player to win both the Australian and New Zealand women’s strokeplay championships in the same year.

Ko was also co-medallist at the US Women’s Amateur championship at Rhode Island in August before being knocked out in the second round of the matchplay tournament.

This year is the first time the women’s game has been able to compare amateur player performance in elite competition, and it currently includes 1750 counting events with around 3500 ranked players representing 82 countries, according to the R&A.

The men’s rankings encompass more than 2500 counting events and almost 6000 players representing 100 countries worldwide.

New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy said the Mark H McCormack Medal was a tremendous honour for Ko.

“It is a magnificent result for a young player with quite outstanding skills both on and off the golf course,” he said.

“Lydia has a game, a work ethic and a personality that belie her years.

“Along with (world No and fellow Aucklander) Cecilia Cho, they have been at the forefront of the women’s amateur game and have shown a pathway for our female players that with hard work, perseverance and talent you can achieve anything.

“Throughout this both Lydia and Cecilia have continued to support local events in New Zealand and do so with such good grace and good humour.

“With golf to enter the 2016 Olympics, Lydia will be at the perfect age to be at the forefront of the game on the world stage.

“This is a great result for Lydia, for her coach and his team, for her family and for New Zealand Golf.”

By Martin Davidson

Institute of Golf Long Driver Adam Taylor has just finished up at the REMAX World Long Drive Championship in Nevada, USA. Adam got through 4 rounds and then bowed out to some massive hitters, but was extremely consistent. Just the luck of the draw with the wind held him back the few yards he needed to qualify for the next round. See what Adam had to say about the experience, below.

Swing wise I was very consistent, hitting solid sets of 5 out of 6 in the grid, which I was happy with under the pressure. In the days before the finals, preparing at the range I jumped on a launch monitor with a few of the Aussie competitors who had access to the monitor, I was solidly up at 142mph which was great to see.

The competition was a great experience, I didn’t quite make my goal of making the final day top 8, but made it through to round four of ten. The conditions were pretty tough, there were strong winds which swung around from multiple different directions each day. My sets were into a 30mph head wind which was tough after working on a high ball flight but managed a few good numbers out there considering. hit 345 into the wind in round one to go through the winners bracket, beating out Patrick Hopper who has the highest recorded swing speed in competition. Youtube him, his swings pretty impressive!.

I got to meet many of the top runners, Sadlowski, Zuback etc, awesome to see their swings in person. Sadlowski was by far the most impressive swing in terms of speed, rotation and accuracy, something to model my swing off this year!

Thanks again, I’ll pop in this week to have a chat and run through a bit of a de brief with you. Time to hit the range again, as the Nationals are fast approaching at the start of December, so onto the next goal!

From Adam Taylor

Keep in touch with us on the site or www.facebook.com/IOGNZ for more updates on Adam

Adam Taylor, a professional long driver who is based in Auckland, is competing in this weeks ReMax World Longdrive Championships in Mesquite Nevada.  Adam had the longest drive in the Australian longdrive championship with a massive 365.2M or 400 yards, qualifying him for the World Champs.  Adam has been preparing for the world championships working closely with the Institute of Golf team preparing to take on the international field, with competitors coming from over 15 countries to vie for a total prize purse of US$450 000.00.  This is Power golf at its finest!
 

We are proud to support Adam, and wish Adam all the best this week at the Remax World Longdrive Championships.  If you would like to follow Adam, coverage of the finals will be on ESPN.