Fellow golfers.

It is with some remorse I write to you on behalf of the RNZAF Golfing Society to advise you; the Society executive committee has taken the difficult decision to cancel the annual RNZAF Golfing Society tournament scheduled for 07 – 11 Nov hosted on RNZAF Base Ohakea.

With less than two months to run to the tournament beginning, there were only 18 confirmed entrants. The area Captains canvassed their regional members and were not confident of the numbers increasing sufficiently in time to make hosting the tournament viable. No doubt COVID-19 and the uncertainty of the associated travel restrictions will have been on the mind of many members prior to making a firm commitment to participate. Additionally the support of our benevolent sponsors that allow us to host such a great event each year would not have seen a proportionate audience or return for their investment.

In the 71 years of Society, we have only seen one other cancellation before, and that was in 1951 when waterfront disputes lead to 151 days of strikes. NZ troops were required to go to AK and WN wharves to load and unload ships.

The plan now will be for the executive committee to determine how we can best support the interests of the wider RNZAF Golfing society. This might be through ideas such as regional golfing events supported by Society? With this in mind please contact your Area Captain if you have ideas of how the RNZAF Golfing Society might best support efforts to foster golf until we are able to host the 2022 RNZAF Golfing Society. The society exists to support the promotion of Golf in the RNZAF (past and present). We require your support and input at this time to make sure we continue to support golf.

On behalf of the RNZAF Golfing Society Executive Committee,