Tony Lester, chair of the Waikanae Golf Club Board says the win this morning of Ryan Fox at The Open championship will have a massive impact on the youth in our country.
“Ryan’s win in the biggest tournament in golf shows how anyone who dedicates themselves can win a major championship. He started from grass roots, has his own unique swing and now he’s won The Open, a fantastic accomplishment,” says Mr Lester.
Golf isn’t always easy. Anyone who has struggled around a Golf Course in a howling southerly and sideways sleet and subsequently has to be talked down from the clubhouse roof will tell you the game can be a tad difficult.
The future – Junior players from the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club and the Waikanae Golf Club
Ryan Fox’s last hole record is not flattering and yet here on the biggest stage in world golf (sorry Masters) he held his nerve to sink a birdie for the title.
While Spain were winning the World Cup, Ryan was winning the World Championship of golf at Royal Birkdale, joining the great kiwi lefty Sir Bob Charles as a winner of The Open.
Ryan Fox, at 39, will forever after been known as champion of the Open. His world ranking shot up to 21. Prize money, not bad at NZ$5.61million.
The impact of the Fox win on his own career will be huge and Tony Lester says that will flow through the whole golf community here.
“Ryan’s win will certainly boost the interest of many young people in golf. It is already growing and this will certainly help. A few years ago we had five players in our youth group and now we have 45. The Waikanae Golf Club has put a lot of time into our junior group and they are the future of our sport,” says Mr Lester.
Kāpiti, of course, has an array of splendid courses – Ōtaki, Waikanae, Kāpiti, Paraparaumu Beach, and no doubt after this result a few backyards will be converted.
Like many others, I am a golfer for whom desire outruns performance. Any club loftier than a 7 iron and I resemble more a landscape gardener than a golfer. So thank you Ryan Fox in helping convince another generation to abandon the keyboard in favour of the great game of Golf.
by Nigel Wilson
Golf Clubs in Kāpiti
Waikanae: www.waikanaegolfclub.co.nz
Paraparaumu Beach: https://paraparaumubeachgolfclub.co.nz/cms/
Ōtaki: www.otakigolfclub.co.nz
Kāpiti: https://www.sporty.co.nz/kgc