Waihi will be celebrating its second Pro-Am in early 2021.

Following the huge success of the inaugural Waihi Expol Pro-Am golf tournament earlier this year, the Waihi Golf Club and Expol Pro-Am organizing committee have decided to do it all again this coming February.

'Only ten days after the first invitations were sent out in late November, the tournament is full, proof of the resounding success of Waihi's first Pro-Am held in February 2020, endorsed by this positive response with 30 professionals and 90 amateur players already committed, and with names already on a waiting list,” says Expol Pro-Am organizing committee member Nan Hoggard.

'The EXPOL Pro-Am committee believes this addictive game we play, for some up to four times a week, should be celebrated even by the smaller town clubs.”

Additionally two other tournaments as well as the Expol Pro-Am will be held in Waihi early in 2021. The annual OJI 54-hole tournament takes place on February 6 and 7, a week before the Expol Pro-Am, and the Ryan Fox Classic two-day fishing and golfing bonanza will be played in early March to wind up the series.

'It's a veritable ‘Celebration of Golf' in Waihi,” says Nan, who is delighted that the sponsors who were so generous for the 2020 Pro-Am have come on board again for the 2021 tournament. These include Expol, Aspect Shutters and Blinds, Clark Equipment, Cranium Signage, Gas NZ, Golf Warehouse and now also Craigs Investment Partners.

'Thanks to this sponsorship the value of the prize table for the amateurs alone will be in the vicinity of $20,000 to 66 per cent of the field.”

The Pro-Am is not exclusive.

'It is open to all players with registered handicaps, both women and men, young and old, who will be welcomed and encouraged by the Pros throughout the 36-hole event. Three amateur players form a team with one Pro, an exciting and unique experience. Of course, it is not only participants in the tournament who will benefit from the Pros' expertise, for there will be many people who will want to watch the action from vantage points around the course.”

Following the first day's play there will be clinics and exhibitions by the professionals freely sharing their knowledge, as well as a competition or two adding even more interest to the event.

A spit-roast informal meal will follow Saturday's golf, with great food and watering holes on 1 and 13 tees where sponsors will be happy to discuss their products. Light refreshments will be available in the Clubhouse prior to prize-giving on Sunday. There will be an auction of sponsors' products and a raffle with two draws, with first prize a Weber gas BBQ donated by Clark Equipment, and the second a mystery prize donated by Expol.

Nan says that as in 2020, emphasis on the entire Pro-Am experience will be on fun, enjoyment and learning more from those who know best about this great game in Waihi's celebration of golf.

The 2021 Pro-Am two day teams tournament will be held on February 13 and 14, 2021.