Full field gets behind Friends of Football’s eighth annual charity golf day

posted in: Events, News

More than a hundred football enthusiasts enjoyed Friends of Football’s eighth annual charity golf day at Huapai Golf Club, helping raise funds that will support football-related projects.

A full field of 25 teams enjoyed a great day at Huapai on June 1, 2023, despite some inclement weather doing its best to disrupt proceedings with a few showers testing everyone’s wet weather golfing ability through the day.

The course played superbly though and with beautifully rolling greens softened by recent rain, approach shots were holding, and putts were dropping, with birdies aplenty.

Ready to play in the Toyo Tires-sponsored event, the 25 teams gather for action at Huapai Golf Club.

The Hit the Target competition on hole 7 was keenly anticipated, hosted on the day by committee member and former All White Tony Sibley and wife Glenda, with all golfers hitting the target going in the draw to win a round for four at Titirangi Golf Club.

And the 10th also proved popular with Medal of Excellence recipient Terry Hobin manning the BBQ throughout the afternoon, with help from Friends of Football chair Josh Easby, feeding hungry golfers as they moved through on their round.

Team Barfoot and Thompson ended up winners on the day with a stunning score close to a net 50 on the par 70 layout, taking the coveted Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy and top prize.

Main photo: Barfoot and Thompson Ponsonby team members Neal Dayal (left) and Josh Colligan (right) receive the winner’s trophy from Trish MacGowan. Other team members were Jared Colligan and Shaun O’Mara.

The charity auction proved popular, with some great funds raised for Friends of Football’s work in the community, with the Toyo Tires, Taupo Golfing Getaway and Eagle Fishing Charter proving popular, alongside some amazing football memorabilia including a signed 2010 All Whites World Cup shirt.

Prize winners

Close to the pin (hole 3)
Under 60: Darryl C Over 60: Keith Benson

Close to the pin (hole 16)
Affiliated: Earle Thomas, Non-Affiliated: Des Hoeflich

Long drive (hole 6)

Under 40: James Colligan 40 to 60: Brett Dormer Over 60: Chantie

Hit the Target competition
Nigel Curteis

Runners-up were Dale Webster’s team. From left: Dave Chant, Dale Webster, Frank Van Hattum, Trish MacGowan, Gary Sayles.

Top ten teams

1 Barfoot and Thompson (overall winners, taking the Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy)
2 Dale Webster team
3 Cube Printing
4 Orbitz Elevators
5 Eagle Technology
6 It’s Not About Winning
7 Victorious Secrets
8 Waitakere 90’s
9 Rewa Gold
10 The Clubroom

Our main sponsor

Our prize sponsors

Remembering Bill MacGowan

Our trophy for the winning team is named after the late Bill MacGowan, one of New Zealand sport’s best administrators, who died in 2018.

With the help of Bill’s wife, Trish, we introduced the trophy in his name for our 2019 golf day.

We’re proud to celebrate the memory of Bill MacGowan again this year.

Previous winners

2JC Electrical were the 2022 winners of the Bill MacGowan Memorial Trophy.

Click here for more details >>>>

90s Waitakere City won the trophy in 2021.

Click here for more details >>>>

Our Helping Hand Fund

Friends of Football Helping Hand Fund supports football-related projects that benefit the sport in an innovative way.

The fund has up to $20,000 available to support suitable projects.

Our aim is to get behind the type of project — or even a number of projects — that might otherwise be lost because there is no current way to easily get them off the ground.

Individuals or organisations are welcome to apply for funding providing their proposal meets the following criteria:

  • It has significant benefit for football in New Zealand.
  • The proposal has clear and measurable objectives.
  • The applicant can demonstrate an ability to successfully achieve the objective(s) within an agreed timeframe.
  • The project cannot be easily funded through applications to traditional sources of support, such as gaming trusts.

This fund isn’t for clubs to seek money to buy apparel or equipment. There are many other sources of funding for those types of items.

Friends of Football is looking for the type of initiative where someone, or an organisation, has seen an opportunity to do something that has the potential to make a real difference, but they need a helping hand.

How to apply

Applications will open soon for our next round of funding. Please check our website for details.

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