A new Development Fund is being launched to help grow Junior Golf in the Whakatipu thanks to the Whakatipu Junior Golf Club Charitable Trust (WJGC) and the Wombles Golfing Society.

The Development Fund will be available for youth players and can be used for coaching, golf equipment, competition costs, travel costs or Futures Golf annual membership costs.

The original purpose of the WJGC to support youth golf in the Whakatipu was so successful it has been taken on by Golf NZ and rebranded as Futures Whakatipu, so the WJGC have accumulated funds that need to be used.  In addition, the Wombles Golfing Society has been quietly raising money for Junior Golf over the past few years.  These funds are being pooled and will be used to make annual distributions via the Development Fund.

Current Chair of the Whakatipu Junior Golf Club, Stephen Brent is looking forward to handing out the first round of cheques in February this year and helping the thriving junior golf scene in the Whakatipu.

“We are planning to distribute $10,000 per year, with a maximum of $500 per applicant per round.  We hope that this will help more juniors get into golf and be able to pursue their golfing dreams. With 180 players already members of Futures Whakatipu, we are expecting a high number of applications.”

The funds for the Development Fund are being resettled with the Wakatipu Community Foundation who will also administer the applications and processing of the Development Fund.  The assessment of the applications will be handled by the trustees of the WJGC and a representative from Futures Whakatipu.

“This is a pretty unique opportunity we are offering our local youngsters. Watching their golf develop as a result is going to be very satisfying.” 

While the coffers are currently pretty healthy to keep the Development Fund running for a few years, it will need future investment so if you would like to support this great initiative then please get in touch with the Wakatipu Community Foundation.

Applications for the Development Fund open on 29th January and close on 13th February 2024.  More information and application forms can be found on the Wakatipu Community Foundation website under scholarships.