The 17th annual Hirepool Charity Golf Classic tournament tees off at the end of this week with 224 golfers registered to take a swing at the relaxed event while fundraising for a local charity.

Hosted by the Wanaka Golf Club (WGC), the event involves golfers playing in teams of four over three days, starting on Friday (March 6).

Participants will play 18 holes each day with a different format each day. On the first day it’s ‘American Foursome, the second is ‘Two Ball Ambrose’, and the last day is ‘Scottish Foursome’, all of which are designed for a bit of fun and to mix things up with golfers not always playing their own ball.

The tournament, which was brought forward this year to fit in around the NZ Golf Open and the Wanaka A&P Show, wraps up with a big charity auction on Sunday (March 8) with funds raised this year going to the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust (UCCMT). 

The trust supports families who are finding it difficult to meet the costs associated with their children’s health needs. Since its inception in 2009, it has assisted more than 285 local families who are experiencing financial hardship because of the illness of their child, founding member and trustee Yvonne Gale said.

Financial assistance is provided for the treatment of children covering medical, physical, psychological and developmental problems on the recommendation from their health or education professional.

“The trust receives an average of four to five applications a month which means constant fundraising and donations….Without the generous support of the Upper Clutha community the trust would be unable to support these families and help to improve lives,” Yvonne said.

WGC manager Kim Brake said the annual event is always well supported by “very loyal” local businesses and groups, many of whom have been sponsoring this event for years. The main sponsor is Hirepool which has supported the Charity Classic since its inception in 2004. 

Other sponsors include Matukituki Ventures, Inline Electrical, Wanaka Firewood, Forsyth Barr, Maude Wines, Otago Daily Times and Edgewater Resort and new sponsors this year are Roy’s Bay Estate and House Of Travel.

During the tournament there will be daily raffles and silent auctions with the main live auction being held at the clubrooms about 4:15pm this Sunday. Kim said the auction is open to all members of the public and it is a good opportunity to support a great cause.

Many auction items have been donated, including a golf package and accommodation at Millbrook Resort for four people, catered dinner in your own home, ski passes, a skydive experience and art from local painters Jane Shriffer and Suzie Ruddenklau and Hoglund Glass.

Previous organisations which have benefitted in recent years from this annual golf tournament include the Upper Clutha Hospice Trust and the Wanaka Fire Brigade’s Road Crash Rescue team.

PHOTO: Supplied