Youth across Te Puke and Pāpāmoa are benefiting from a successful golf tournament that has raised over $38,000.

A glorious autumn day reigned over the green as 128 keen golfers teed off at midday on Friday, March 31, in a shotgun start for the annual Bluehaven Group / Pāpāmoa Rotary Charity Golf Tournament.

Te Puke Golf Club was looking its best for the group of generous sponsors and participants who were there to have an enjoyable day's golf and to raise community funds.

Being held for the tenth year, the competition was an Ambrose format with the winning team, leading by a narrow margin, being Livingstone Building, says Pāpāmoa Rotary Club member Barb Joyce.

'But the overall winners on the day were youth groups in the Pāpāmoa and Te Puke areas for whom the tournament raised around $38,000.”

One of the teams from Bluehaven Group. Photo: Supplied.

Upstairs in the clubhouse a noisy crowd quietened whilst Rod Keucke, assisted by President Geoff Mathis, introduced Bluehaven Group CEO, Nathan York, who spoke of how pleased they were to again be the principal sponsor of the charity tournament.

He also mentioned how good it was working with Pāpāmoa Rotary and to be able to support youth in the fast-growing Pāpāmoa area.

Raffles were drawn which, together with an auction called by Frank Vosper, raised an outstanding $8000.

The community supported event with major sponsor Bluehaven Group was generously supported by 33 other golf hole and team sponsors.

In addition, Barb says the businesses and people of Te Puke and Pāpāmoa donated nearly $16,000 worth of items for prizes, raffles and the auctions.

'Prizes were awarded for the top three teams with the remainder of the large prize-pool being awarded by way of a draw of score-cards picked at random.”

One of the teams from Bluehaven Group. Photo: Supplied.

Funds raised will be used to support various youth projects in both the Pāpāmoa and Te Puke communities including driver awareness for Year 12 students; picture dictionaries for Year 1 students; travel and training costs for the Pāpāmoa Surf Club Juniors; PiPS (People, Plants, Schools) – teaching children to grow their own vegetables; providing a 'homework hub” for Te Puke after-school activities; sunshades over playgrounds; funds towards a new outrigger canoe and various other Rotary programmes in both Pāpāmoa and Te Puke primary and secondary schools.

'Our grateful thanks also go to Te Puke Golf Club for making the club available and their support on the day, to Frank Vosper for his special auction skills and, of course, all the staff in behind the scenes helping out, and to the Bluehaven Group for their magnanimous sponsorship.”