Tee-riffic time at golf events

Module Overview

A group of farmers and growers recently got into the swing of things at a series of golf events that got them off the farm, socialising and having a good time.

The three golf events – the Paeroa Stockies and Cockies Golf Day, the Onewhero Farmers and Growers Golf Day and the Maramarua Farmers and Growers Golf Day – were held in May at local golf courses in the Waikato.

Mangatangi farmer and keen golfer Bruce Chipman attended both the Onewhero and Maramarua golf days.

“It was a great day with great company. We played a bit of golf and they put on a BBQ and had prizes, and it was very enjoyable,” says Bruce, who is semi-retired.

“We talked a bit of farming but also talked about other stuff as well. I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Bruce, who played representative badminton for 41 years, says it was good to get off the farm and meet and play golf with different people.

“Playing sport over the years has given me a pretty good work/life balance. It gets me off the farm and doing something different that I enjoy.”

Collaborative effort

FMG Hauraki Plains/Coromandel rural manager and keen golfer Arianna Ashworth helped organise the events with the support of Farmstrong.

“I wanted to put on some events to help farmers and growers get off the farm and to have a good day out with other like-minded people,” Arianna says.

“A lot of things have been cancelled because of COVID-19 so it was fantastic to put something on for the local community and have it go ahead.”

The golfers teed off at 10.30am and played either 9 or 18 holes into the afternoon. Lunch and non-alcoholic drinks were provided, and everyone received a free copy of Farmstrong’s new book, Live Well, Farm Well – Farmers on Being Farmstrong

Arianna says the feedback was great and there are plans to hold another series of golf events next year.

“It was a collaborative, community effort to get the events going. The golfing was the cherry on top, but the best thing was seeing everybody have a great day off the farm.”

She says it’s important to have events up and running again after COVID-19 prevented so many from going ahead.

“The goal is to have lots of events happening in the community to support people’s wellbeing.”