June 11, 2025 • 5 mins
"I can't think of a better ambassador for our sport."
The Golf NZ boss says Ryan Fox is working wonders for the game here in New Zealand and influencing kids to tee up the sport.
He spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're joined now by Jeff Latchey's the CEO of Golf Ends.
Then we talk about Ryan Fox and what he's done.
Welcome to the program, Jeff, are always good to have
you on. So how influential has has Ryan Fox been
for his own golf?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
The impact that Foxy has on the game of golf
in New Zealand is immense and it's overwhelmingly positive. And
I think probably the key thing that we see is
we see the impact that it has on kids picking a.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Golf club up and wanting to have a hit.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
And if you look at our junior membership number over
the last twelve months, they're extraordinary. They've grown by over
twenty five percent year on year, and so that's a
massive increase and our research shows that major drivers of
that are the performance of people like Foxy and Lydia
(01:05):
on the global stage. These are the people that inspire
kids to pick up a golf club and have a hit.
We can't overemphasize how important it is and what a
boon it's been to New Zealand golf.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I think of the case of Lydia, especially Ryan, they
understand that and they contribute to that willingly and knowingly.
They like the fact they're bringing kids into the game.
They like the fact that people look up to them,
and they're not shying from that.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Look, they're both terrific, Kiwis. They're just terrific individuals, and
they're really keen and conscious about wanting to give back
to the game of golf. And therefore, I mean, look
at the work that Ryan's done over the last few days.
I mean, we know he's trying to prepare for the
US Open, but how many interviews has he done over
the last three to four days. I mean, he's just
(01:50):
been remarkable all at the same time while he's trying
to get ready to.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Play in one of the four majors. Yeah. I think
Ryan and Lydia both are.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Just amazing examples of people that really care passionately about
the sport, want to give back and want to encourage
other people to take up the game that they love.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
JEF, So your stats back that up. You've actually done
research that says, yes, I'm following this guy and this
is why I've picked clubs up me. How accurate is that?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Well, it's as accurate, I think as any research can be,
because there's always a range of factors behind people starting
to play the game of golf or indeed any other school.
Family are really important, friends are really important. But also
I think with kids it's a lot of it is
about inspiration from seeing people on the global stage do well.
I mean, look at the interviews that Ryan's done. I
(02:38):
love the one that was on here.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
The other night. Were actually at the kids playing in
the in the bunker.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I mean it was just awesome. Were how often do
you see that? And how good is that for the
game of golf, to show that it's actually something that
embraces everyone.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's for families, it's not just for the players.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
It's things like that that actually help out as well.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
They're really valuable.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I've been pestering Ryan Fox for I don't know how long.
He's not changed. He's always been available, is a good yarn.
And you mentioned before the key he's a quintessential Kiwi
on the world stage. I've seen no adjustment and I
don't think anything's going to change. You might pick up
a hatful of mages, makes no difference, Ryan Fox. It's
Ryan Fox.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, and I think that's why he's so loved in
New Zealand and he has such fantastic support in New Zealand.
But equally he's got a terrific reputation internationally within golf
circles as well. Like everyone likes right and you see
it when he's wandering down the fairways. He's there, he's
having a yarn. He's actually he gets on well with
virtually everyone. He's a great guy. I mean, I can't
(03:43):
think of a better ambassador for our sport. He's just
a quintessential down to earth Kiwi guy, doing really well
on the world stage, immensely talented, but incredibly humble and
modest with it.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
He's a great guy.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
He's been very helpful. How much have you been behind
using his name, his brand and what he's achieved so
far to push New Zealand golf. Are you active in
that space?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Jeff, No, we don't use anyone's brand without their approval,
right and so, and I think all players Ryan included
Lydia et cetera, quite rightly, are really conscious of making
sure that their names are only used in the right way.
And so we haven't actively gone out and used Ryan's
(04:28):
name nor Lydia's nor any of our other terrific golfers
at the moment, because I think that's the other part
of the story. I mean, we're all quite rightly celebrating
Ryan's achievements at the moment and Lydia's a few months
ago which were extraordinary as well.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
But it's not just two people.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Now We've got Steve Elka on the Champions Tour, You've
got Dan Hillier, We've got Ben Campbell Kazuma for Jona's
Unions now on the.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
LPGA Tour as well. So we've got two players.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
We've got all these players that are actually coming through
at the moment that are doing well on the world
stage in golf, and that's wonderful. I mean, the sport
is in real good health.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
It's terrific.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're joined now by Jeff Latchey's the CEO of Golf Ends.
Then we talk about Ryan Fox and what he's done.
Welcome to the program, Jeff, are always good to have
you on. So how influential has has Ryan Fox been
for his own golf?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
The impact that Foxy has on the game of golf
in New Zealand is immense and it's overwhelmingly positive. And
I think probably the key thing that we see is
we see the impact that it has on kids picking a.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Golf club up and wanting to have a hit.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
And if you look at our junior membership number over
the last twelve months, they're extraordinary. They've grown by over
twenty five percent year on year, and so that's a
massive increase and our research shows that major drivers of
that are the performance of people like Foxy and Lydia
(01:05):
on the global stage. These are the people that inspire
kids to pick up a golf club and have a hit.
We can't overemphasize how important it is and what a
boon it's been to New Zealand golf.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I think of the case of Lydia, especially Ryan, they
understand that and they contribute to that willingly and knowingly.
They like the fact they're bringing kids into the game.
They like the fact that people look up to them,
and they're not shying from that.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Look, they're both terrific, Kiwis. They're just terrific individuals, and
they're really keen and conscious about wanting to give back
to the game of golf. And therefore, I mean, look
at the work that Ryan's done over the last few days.
I mean, we know he's trying to prepare for the
US Open, but how many interviews has he done over
the last three to four days. I mean, he's just
(01:50):
been remarkable all at the same time while he's trying
to get ready to.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Play in one of the four majors. Yeah. I think
Ryan and Lydia both are.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Just amazing examples of people that really care passionately about
the sport, want to give back and want to encourage
other people to take up the game that they love.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
JEF, So your stats back that up. You've actually done
research that says, yes, I'm following this guy and this
is why I've picked clubs up me. How accurate is that?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Well, it's as accurate, I think as any research can be,
because there's always a range of factors behind people starting
to play the game of golf or indeed any other school.
Family are really important, friends are really important. But also
I think with kids it's a lot of it is
about inspiration from seeing people on the global stage do well.
I mean, look at the interviews that Ryan's done. I
(02:38):
love the one that was on here.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
The other night. Were actually at the kids playing in
the in the bunker.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
I mean it was just awesome. Were how often do
you see that? And how good is that for the
game of golf, to show that it's actually something that
embraces everyone.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's for families, it's not just for the players.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
It's things like that that actually help out as well.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
They're really valuable.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
I've been pestering Ryan Fox for I don't know how long.
He's not changed. He's always been available, is a good yarn.
And you mentioned before the key he's a quintessential Kiwi
on the world stage. I've seen no adjustment and I
don't think anything's going to change. You might pick up
a hatful of mages, makes no difference, Ryan Fox. It's
Ryan Fox.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, and I think that's why he's so loved in
New Zealand and he has such fantastic support in New Zealand.
But equally he's got a terrific reputation internationally within golf
circles as well. Like everyone likes right and you see
it when he's wandering down the fairways. He's there, he's
having a yarn. He's actually he gets on well with
virtually everyone. He's a great guy. I mean, I can't
(03:43):
think of a better ambassador for our sport. He's just
a quintessential down to earth Kiwi guy, doing really well
on the world stage, immensely talented, but incredibly humble and
modest with it.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
He's a great guy.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
He's been very helpful. How much have you been behind
using his name, his brand and what he's achieved so
far to push New Zealand golf. Are you active in
that space?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Jeff, No, we don't use anyone's brand without their approval,
right and so, and I think all players Ryan included
Lydia et cetera, quite rightly, are really conscious of making
sure that their names are only used in the right way.
And so we haven't actively gone out and used Ryan's
(04:28):
name nor Lydia's nor any of our other terrific golfers
at the moment, because I think that's the other part
of the story. I mean, we're all quite rightly celebrating
Ryan's achievements at the moment and Lydia's a few months
ago which were extraordinary as well.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
But it's not just two people.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Now We've got Steve Elka on the Champions Tour, You've
got Dan Hillier, We've got Ben Campbell Kazuma for Jona's
Unions now on the.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
LPGA Tour as well. So we've got two players.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
We've got all these players that are actually coming through
at the moment that are doing well on the world
stage in golf, and that's wonderful. I mean, the sport
is in real good health.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
It's terrific.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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