Golf: Club lands half a million

Bill Lindsay has never heard of a golf club getting such a big donation. Photo / Greg Bowker

A $500,000 donation from an anonymous source has enabled Maungakiekie Golf Club to chip itself out of a financial bunker.

With membership falling, subscriptions down and bank loans becoming harder to service, Maungakiekie was no different from most golf clubs in the country.

But the club that started life on the slopes of One Tree Hill before moving to its Lynfield site has a guardian angel on its shoulder.

Last week, club president Bill Lindsay banked a cheque for a cool half million. The donation was anonymous, with a letter from an accountant saying the benefactor did not want to be named.

"I have a couple of ideas who it might be, but I couldn't say 100 per cent," Mr Lindsay said.

"It just shows you that if the guy has that much passion for Maungakiekie it must be a special place."

In spring, the club will embark on a recruiting drive. Mr Lindsay said membership of about 800 had dipped recently as the effects of the tough economic climate kicked in.

With Akarana Golf Club just across Richardson Rd and Titirangi Golf Club just a suburb away, competition for members is tough.

Maungakiekie has a considerable asset in that it owns the golf course land, but it has a cash debt that has proven to be a burden.

"We do have debt. It's not massive, but we were struggling to pay the capital as well as the interest."

Which is why the donation has proved a huge stress-reliever.

"I can't get over it," Mr Lindsay said. "I have never heard of another club receiving a half-million donation."