September 6, 2024 • 8 mins
Ian Donaldson left Greymouth for Christchurch, becoming one of the region’s very best golfers.
Ian spoke with Lesley Murdoch, in association with The Elmwood Trading Company, about his golfing journey and love of rugby.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
News CDB. It's twenty three away from nine o'clock and
it's a very warm welcome to an absolute legend of
golf here in Canterbury. But I do believe I'm told
very reliably that he's a true blue coaster at heart.
Mister Ian Donaldson, Good morning, Ian.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, it's very flattering there. Least leave you a good morning.
Yeah I am. I guess I am a triubury coaster,
although I'm living in christ Yes, now, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
You've transplanted yourself very successfully.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Oh well, you know, it's just just what life brings you.
You know, you move around and yeah, you just try
different things. But it's been very good in christ Yes,
I must, haven't it.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Well? You Ian served as a Canterby Golf Presentative Selector
now that was for eight years before you step down
on twenty twenty three and overseeing Canterbury winning the men's
in a provincial title in twenty twenty and then you
were awarded a Distinguished Service award by Canterbury Golf and
are recently appointed to the Board of Canterbury Golf. So
(00:57):
that in itself, going from someone who plays the game
now to assisting others but also making good governance decisions
as well, so great stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, well it was obviously when you're when you're selecting.
I remember when I was asked to be a selector.
I come. It was quite a shock thatcause coming from
the West Coast and then you have to pick a
kenby team, it was basically the enemy in those days,
you know, So it was quite a surprise, but it
was very fulfilling and to win the inter provincials after
twenty years was was great. But really it was just
(01:32):
a volunteer and there's hundreds of volunteers around the province
who do equally as well, equally as good jobs as
that I do, you know, So it's it's it's just
what volunteers do you know? It was really good.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Well, that's right. I mean it's not the only thing
that you've volunteered doing, though, was it. I mean you
were a top West Coast rugby referee and refereed at
into provincial level.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well, basically took up refereeing because I got second tider
getting out of bed after rugby on a Sunday we
moved and getting beaten up, so so I ended up
taking up refereeing and that was that was great fun.
Absolutely loved it, you know, because I loved rugby and
refereeing was an ex best thing, and it was and
refering in those days when the Coast Competition had a
(02:15):
lot of teams, that was four Saturdays and it was
refereed all up and down the coast and around the country.
It was like enough to do a couple of rep games.
So we repid some great players. But that was no
great days. Great days.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
But your passion now as golf. Obviously you've got a
very low handicap.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, yeah, I got I had a low handicap. I
still planning about four handicap. I still like to be
competitive on the course, even it's playing for a dollar
or for a years, So I don't only play the
over fiftiesh competition now, but I'm still competitive. I like
to be competitive. I mean, there's no sense in playing
unship and iss you want to you know, stick your
head it down and get stuck into it. So you've
(02:57):
got to be competitive when you play, for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh absolutely I agree with that. So, you know, being
brought up on the West Coast, as you've already said,
you've had lots of opportunity to play and participate in
lots of different sports, but why did golf stick with you?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, my dad was a scratch player and he used
to play Sunday mornings with a bunch of other senior
players and what they used to call the Buttons Challenge matches,
and myself and another guy we ended up caring for
them on a Sunday morning. We're about fortena. So basically
it started from there and he basically put me on
the right track regards swing and stuff like that and etiquette,
(03:34):
and he said, build yourself a swing for when you
can still play at sixty. So pretty much that's what
happens over. I lived in Christiets for a couple of
years in the early seventies, but it was sort of
when I come back, went back to the coast. It's
basic when I basically a little bit better and started
playing repster for the Western Tasman.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, I think that's really good advice about the swing.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Definitely, yeah, the basics right, but you know it's it's
it's half the battle, half the battle.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
But then you couldn't resist and you came back to Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Well, yeah, I got an opportunity to come over for
work and my younger brother was living in christ Church
with his family there, and my mum was was widowed,
so she decided she'd liked to come to christ Its too,
so we shipped over and actually on the day of
the Cave Creek tragedy. I'll always remember it and which
was I always remember it, and you know it's it's
(04:29):
I still get back the coast a lot, you know,
four or five times a year, but homes in Christchurs now,
I always I'll always be a West Coast that yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Think you absolutely and I understand that. You know how
the DNA it just clings to that side of the country,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So you know, it's a great part of the country,
great people and too often the lined and unfortunately but
but you know, coaches will always stick up for the
West Coast, which is great.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Absolutely. So how have you seen golf change since when
you started playing to what it is now?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Oh? Well, I mean the technology for stuff, you know,
what is available for players now in clubs, equipment, the
courses are better that you know, it's just it's chalk
and cheese from what we're the clubs that we used
to use wooden edge and steel shafts. The opportunities now
for young players are a mets. Back in the day,
(05:24):
we'd play a couple of rep matches a year and
some into club. But now you have so many tournaments on.
But the technology basically is the big thing that that
is available to all the players. You know, back in
the day, you'd have choice of two sets of clubs,
but now there's it's infinite. You know, so's there's no comparison.
But I have to say, some of the best players
around when I was playing, you know, they were equally
(05:47):
as good as some of the players that they you know,
they had the same equipment. I'm pretty sure to be
pretty pretty even battle.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, no doubt. I totally get that. Would you have
been such a successful goal for if you'd stayed on
the coast?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
No, yeah, no. It's competition is the key. You know,
you're playing with players better than yourself and you don't
look like a look like an idiot, you know when
you're playing. So it was it's a long process. You've
just got to get better and practice the right things.
It's it's ongoing. It's a game for life, and you
learn something every day. I still learn every day, you know,
(06:23):
when I get beaten up at the weekend by some
guy I go home and critique my game. I think
we need to do that better, you know. So it's
it's always a learning.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
What's the secret to picking top representative golfers? Can't just
be about the scores.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
No, No, it's a I have a good quote. I
always say, stats don't like and quite often if it
comes down to a tough decision, you can always fall
back on players. Statistics on wins and losses, whatever, but players,
you know. I think when we were picking the Red team,
we wanted the players to have a huge design to
(06:58):
actually play for the problem, and the desire to win,
and be prepared to work at the game, you know,
acknowledge their weaknesses and work on those and be respectful,
you know, for the game and the opposition. And basically
if you're in the team room, you can look around
at your mates and think, well, I know that these
(07:19):
guys aren't going to let you down. So that's what
we look for, you know, the guys who really want
to play, put the work and be proud to play
for the province. And we still get players ringing up
saying that I would like to be considered representative play,
which is great. Which is what we want absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Now the Rugby Test tomorrow morning, how do you see
it going? What do you want to see?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Well, I'd like us not to get ten points up
with Clorin out to go and lose it, especially after
the last one. But I think I think it'll be tight.
You know, I've always always said, you know, inspired the
controversies of selecting and stuff, always black back to Black Jersey.
So I think it'll be pretty tight. But I have
(08:02):
to say a lot of more interests will be on
the West Coast Bully game tomorrow up in Westport for
the Rundle Cup. Oh yes, yeah, so that's that's a
big I think I've got a few mates up here
today and they're all West Coast representatives past and present,
and we'll be looking to see the Coast get the
Rendle Cup back. But I think both games be pretty tight.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, I'll tell you what. We'll keep an eye on
that as well. Yeah, that'll be a biggie well Ian Donaldson,
it's been an absolute pleasure to chat to you.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Long.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
May it continue your influence on golfing circles and just
your love of the game, clearly, and we're really grateful
that you've joined us on the program this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Thank you, it's a pleasure. Thanks and enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Go the West Coast you too.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on IRT Radio.
News CDB. It's twenty three away from nine o'clock and
it's a very warm welcome to an absolute legend of
golf here in Canterbury. But I do believe I'm told
very reliably that he's a true blue coaster at heart.
Mister Ian Donaldson, Good morning, Ian.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, it's very flattering there. Least leave you a good morning.
Yeah I am. I guess I am a triubury coaster,
although I'm living in christ Yes, now, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
You've transplanted yourself very successfully.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Oh well, you know, it's just just what life brings you.
You know, you move around and yeah, you just try
different things. But it's been very good in christ Yes,
I must, haven't it.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Well? You Ian served as a Canterby Golf Presentative Selector
now that was for eight years before you step down
on twenty twenty three and overseeing Canterbury winning the men's
in a provincial title in twenty twenty and then you
were awarded a Distinguished Service award by Canterbury Golf and
are recently appointed to the Board of Canterbury Golf. So
(00:57):
that in itself, going from someone who plays the game
now to assisting others but also making good governance decisions
as well, so great stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, well it was obviously when you're when you're selecting.
I remember when I was asked to be a selector.
I come. It was quite a shock thatcause coming from
the West Coast and then you have to pick a
kenby team, it was basically the enemy in those days,
you know, So it was quite a surprise, but it
was very fulfilling and to win the inter provincials after
twenty years was was great. But really it was just
(01:32):
a volunteer and there's hundreds of volunteers around the province
who do equally as well, equally as good jobs as
that I do, you know, So it's it's it's just
what volunteers do you know? It was really good.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Well, that's right. I mean it's not the only thing
that you've volunteered doing, though, was it. I mean you
were a top West Coast rugby referee and refereed at
into provincial level.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well, basically took up refereeing because I got second tider
getting out of bed after rugby on a Sunday we
moved and getting beaten up, so so I ended up
taking up refereeing and that was that was great fun.
Absolutely loved it, you know, because I loved rugby and
refereeing was an ex best thing, and it was and
refering in those days when the Coast Competition had a
(02:15):
lot of teams, that was four Saturdays and it was
refereed all up and down the coast and around the country.
It was like enough to do a couple of rep games.
So we repid some great players. But that was no
great days. Great days.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
But your passion now as golf. Obviously you've got a
very low handicap.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, yeah, I got I had a low handicap. I
still planning about four handicap. I still like to be
competitive on the course, even it's playing for a dollar
or for a years, So I don't only play the
over fiftiesh competition now, but I'm still competitive. I like
to be competitive. I mean, there's no sense in playing
unship and iss you want to you know, stick your
head it down and get stuck into it. So you've
(02:57):
got to be competitive when you play, for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh absolutely I agree with that. So, you know, being
brought up on the West Coast, as you've already said,
you've had lots of opportunity to play and participate in
lots of different sports, but why did golf stick with you?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Well, my dad was a scratch player and he used
to play Sunday mornings with a bunch of other senior
players and what they used to call the Buttons Challenge matches,
and myself and another guy we ended up caring for
them on a Sunday morning. We're about fortena. So basically
it started from there and he basically put me on
the right track regards swing and stuff like that and etiquette,
(03:34):
and he said, build yourself a swing for when you
can still play at sixty. So pretty much that's what
happens over. I lived in Christiets for a couple of
years in the early seventies, but it was sort of
when I come back, went back to the coast. It's
basic when I basically a little bit better and started
playing repster for the Western Tasman.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Well, I think that's really good advice about the swing.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Definitely, yeah, the basics right, but you know it's it's
it's half the battle, half the battle.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
But then you couldn't resist and you came back to Canterbury.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Well, yeah, I got an opportunity to come over for
work and my younger brother was living in christ Church
with his family there, and my mum was was widowed,
so she decided she'd liked to come to christ Its too,
so we shipped over and actually on the day of
the Cave Creek tragedy. I'll always remember it and which
was I always remember it, and you know it's it's
(04:29):
I still get back the coast a lot, you know,
four or five times a year, but homes in Christchurs now,
I always I'll always be a West Coast that yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Think you absolutely and I understand that. You know how
the DNA it just clings to that side of the country,
doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
So you know, it's a great part of the country,
great people and too often the lined and unfortunately but
but you know, coaches will always stick up for the
West Coast, which is great.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Absolutely. So how have you seen golf change since when
you started playing to what it is now?
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Oh? Well, I mean the technology for stuff, you know,
what is available for players now in clubs, equipment, the
courses are better that you know, it's just it's chalk
and cheese from what we're the clubs that we used
to use wooden edge and steel shafts. The opportunities now
for young players are a mets. Back in the day,
(05:24):
we'd play a couple of rep matches a year and
some into club. But now you have so many tournaments on.
But the technology basically is the big thing that that
is available to all the players. You know, back in
the day, you'd have choice of two sets of clubs,
but now there's it's infinite. You know, so's there's no comparison.
But I have to say, some of the best players
around when I was playing, you know, they were equally
(05:47):
as good as some of the players that they you know,
they had the same equipment. I'm pretty sure to be
pretty pretty even battle.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, no doubt. I totally get that. Would you have
been such a successful goal for if you'd stayed on
the coast?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
No, yeah, no. It's competition is the key. You know,
you're playing with players better than yourself and you don't
look like a look like an idiot, you know when
you're playing. So it was it's a long process. You've
just got to get better and practice the right things.
It's it's ongoing. It's a game for life, and you
learn something every day. I still learn every day, you know,
(06:23):
when I get beaten up at the weekend by some
guy I go home and critique my game. I think
we need to do that better, you know. So it's
it's always a learning.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
What's the secret to picking top representative golfers? Can't just
be about the scores.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
No, No, it's a I have a good quote. I
always say, stats don't like and quite often if it
comes down to a tough decision, you can always fall
back on players. Statistics on wins and losses, whatever, but players,
you know. I think when we were picking the Red team,
we wanted the players to have a huge design to
(06:58):
actually play for the problem, and the desire to win,
and be prepared to work at the game, you know,
acknowledge their weaknesses and work on those and be respectful,
you know, for the game and the opposition. And basically
if you're in the team room, you can look around
at your mates and think, well, I know that these
(07:19):
guys aren't going to let you down. So that's what
we look for, you know, the guys who really want
to play, put the work and be proud to play
for the province. And we still get players ringing up
saying that I would like to be considered representative play,
which is great. Which is what we want absolutely.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Now the Rugby Test tomorrow morning, how do you see
it going? What do you want to see?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Well, I'd like us not to get ten points up
with Clorin out to go and lose it, especially after
the last one. But I think I think it'll be tight.
You know, I've always always said, you know, inspired the
controversies of selecting and stuff, always black back to Black Jersey.
So I think it'll be pretty tight. But I have
(08:02):
to say a lot of more interests will be on
the West Coast Bully game tomorrow up in Westport for
the Rundle Cup. Oh yes, yeah, so that's that's a
big I think I've got a few mates up here
today and they're all West Coast representatives past and present,
and we'll be looking to see the Coast get the
Rendle Cup back. But I think both games be pretty tight.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Well, I'll tell you what. We'll keep an eye on
that as well. Yeah, that'll be a biggie well Ian Donaldson,
it's been an absolute pleasure to chat to you.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Long.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
May it continue your influence on golfing circles and just
your love of the game, clearly, and we're really grateful
that you've joined us on the program this morning.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Thank you, it's a pleasure. Thanks and enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Go the West Coast you too.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on IRT Radio.
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