Blair Minton: Canterbury Golf GM previews the Canterbury Strokeplay tournament

The Canterbury Strokeplay is teeing off this weekend. 

Canterbury Golf GM Blair Minton joined Lesley Murdoch to preview the tournament, in association with the Elmwood Trading Company.  

They also delved into the monster raffle happening this weekend. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, let's go to Canterbury Golf because it is time
for their very innovative stroke play and let's go to
Blar mint and blear.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
You will be all systems go, won't you?

Speaker 3 (00:11):
Yes, that's right, morning Negley. We're here a clear water
of the Canterbary stroke play and you absolutely all systems go,
ready for a big day of two rounds today start
the Canary stroke play.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
How many hours do you reckon you've put into the
preferation for this.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
There's definitely been a few. Obviously, we started the process
some months ago around I guess changing the format to
desum two holes, which is a process in itself. And
then yeah, I guess the hour's coming into tournament. Obviously
open registrations pre Christmas and there's been flying so that's
been it was fantastic. And then yeah, the last this
last week, there's been a few eight hour puff days,

(00:44):
ten hour puff days, can last trip. But now it's
all worth it clean. We'll just looking amazing. The stuff's
done a fantastic job here and there's a lot of
energy around and excitement.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Well, that's the next thing I was going to say.
It must be looking great when they've had plenty of reign.
They don't have to irrigate, do they.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
No, No, So we got kind of like the seeker's
a bit of sunshine out so the green keeper's right
and the team you've done a fantastic job. So now
we've really appreciateive for the work they've done and any
other stuff. Frank Cleve Wold as well and that, yes,
of course it's fantastic. So a real pleasure for all
the players, men and ladies to go and show this
stuff on a true championship.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Of course, absolutely remind us who is who you have
applied to be part of the Canniby stroke play and
educate our listeners about it a bit.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, so it's a really qual of your field. We're
really excited in the men's space, that really filled up quick.
There's we had sixty places available sort of roughly in
the semenity men's field and we had a eighty ninety
kind of applicant to there. So the cut line ended
up being around one point five for that division, which
is exceptional quality. We've got quite a few golf usual
the National Academy members, we've got the likes of Mitch
Kale has come down since they have plenty on a

(01:47):
plus four point nine and John o'caine from Wellington one
of their number ones on a similar plus four point six.
I believe there's a lot of the local Canbary players
as well, the likes of Sam McGill and Mike Holwikey
and a few others that he has some pretty strong
form informed players, so it's really exciting in that space,
and in the woman's space is really strong as well.
So we've got over thirty ladies in the field and

(02:10):
it's by far as strong as ladies field we've had
for my recent memory, and players from all around the country.
There's forty plus different golf clubs representatives amongst the field today,
so some really really coolity players and some of the
best images in the country playing, so really exciting.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
So you'll be expecting some low scores.

Speaker 3 (02:28):
Then yeah, potentially it's like I say, it's a challenging
track out here at Clear we have a lot of
water and you know, some fast gerings. The boys's got
them runn pretty quickly out here, so you need to
quite know. Obviously in previous years have said some pretty
low scores, but I wouldn't be surprised. It'll be kind
of around that par mark or a couple under, which
would be good for the purist to see some players,

(02:50):
you know, toiling away, even even the best ones finding
it difficult.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
And because I'm obsessed with holes and won any reward
if there is one scored.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
No got anything on the line this week, and unfortunately,
but I guess just that that manner of hitting a
hole on one in a Kennedy Golf event would be
would be pretty up there. We do have some pretty
bespoke kind of markers which have Kennedy Golf hole on
ones that we're bestowed if anyone's fortunate enough to do that.
But yeah, the past threes will be in play for sure.
We've got some different pin positions and some different te

(03:22):
blocks that it'll be moved around for out the weekend.
So yeah, plenty of challenge for the players.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Now, just to bring us up to date, how's the
monster raffle?

Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, we're in the final push, So today is the
last day for sales check this morning. There's probably around
one hundred left give will take. But yeah, it's been
a real surge the last two three days, which we're
very really excited about. So been a big push on
the team. And yeah, like I said, the last sort
of twelve hours or so now for people to get

(03:50):
in closes at midnight tonight. So yeah, absolutely encourage people
to buy and be in the drawer. Fifty K International
Golf Prize on the on the card to the one
lucky winner, and you're pretty excited for that. And there'll
be drawn. I met our stroke play price coming on
Sunday evening as well, so there'll be a live strength
for that for those who have bought a ticket, they
want to want to be in the draw and see

(04:11):
of their their lucky winner.

Speaker 2 (04:13):
Oh wow, it's worked out really well, isn't it. Gosh,
that's fantastic.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, if you're starting weekend, is a lot going on,
and yeah, I just encourage you from from the public.
They want to come out and see I guess some
of the country's best golfers on one of the region's
best golf courses to come out and watch. The forecast
is good and we've had enough rains and now the
times some sun and watching some so quality golf, So
to come andjo yourself and have a lot and in
yet stick around and hopefully maybe the restall, you'll be

(04:39):
a really good weekend for you.

Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah, well, well done to you Bleair and your team ament.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
It's magnificent what you've done and you've you've infused new
life into the stroke play and you deserve all the success.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Congrats.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
I appreciate that. Thank you very much.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
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Speaker 1 (04:57):
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