Full Send golf event in Gisborne promises fun and fierce competition

Patutahi member Eddie Brown jnr is known for his distance off the tee. That could be put to the test, along with other big hitters, if he enters the Full Send Social & Long Drive Event in Gisborne in January. Photo / Paul Rickard

• The Full Send Social & Long Drive Event will be held at Gisborne’s Awapuni Links in January 2025.
• The event features long drive and putting competitions with $2000 in prizes, music, and more.
• Entries are open for various divisions, with finals in head-to-head knockout battles.

Who is the King Kong of Gisborne golf?

That question and others with bragging rights resolutions will be posed at the Full Send Social & Long Drive Event to be held on Gisborne’s Awapuni Links course in January.

Full Send is the creation of keen golfers and good mates Reece Witters and Hayden Keast.

The pair put their creative heads together to come up with what they describe as “a fun, family-friendly” event featuring long drive and putting competitions, music and $2000 in prizes (so far).

It is set down for the beginning of the 2025 Auckland Anniversary holiday weekend - Friday, January 24 - starting with qualifying from 3pm.

Several division titles will be up for grabs - junior boys and girls (under-16), open men and women, “seasoned swingers” (50 years-plus men and women), and other divisions to be confirmed.

Finals will be head-to-head knockout battles similar to professional long drive competitions.

In between will be arguably the most entertaining part of the day - what has been titled “Grudge Matches”.

The format for this is a work in progress but Witters and Keast are keen to hear from anyone who wants to match up with another in this lighthearted aside - mate on mate, neighbourhood rivals, work colleagues, local legends ... whatever.

They stress Full Send is “not just about long drives ... it’s about having fun and backing the club. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged.”

Tairāwhiti has a plentiful supply of golfing “gorillas” among its clubs - Patutahi brothers Eddie and Hukanui Brown and clubmate Dwayne Russell; brothers Mike and Craig Christophers and Chris Fox of Electrinet Park; and former head greenkeeper Williams Brown, Rob Maruszewski and Pete Anderson of Poverty Bay are among those who can “send it”.

The most famous “local” bomber, however, is former Poverty Bay-East Coast representative and now Australia-based Waikaremoana man Baden Waiwai - a multiple ex-national champion, who finished fifth at the world champs in the mid-2000s. He could bazooka a ball nearly 400 metres.

The current women’s long drive world champion is a Kiwi - Phillis Meti - who won the title in the United States in August, her fifth world crown.

Entries for Full Send can be made at the Poverty Bay Golf Club pro shop or online at bit.ly/Full-Send-Entry or gisbornegolf.co.nz/full-send

Queries to Reece Witters 020 4037 8759 or reece@auldmanpar.com