Golf: Boost for disabled sport

Whangarei's John Gordon tees off at the first hole at the Whangarei Golf Course for the Eagles Golfing Society fundraiser tournament for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation yesterday. Photo / John Stone

Disabled young Northlanders wanting to advance their sporting prowess and junior golfers will benefit from a charity golf tournament held in Whangarei.

Yesterday 144 golfers teed off at Whangarei Golf Club in the annual Eagles Golf Tournament that raises money for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and junior golf in the region.

Wellsford's Max Parker watches the flight of the ball after his shot off the number one tee at Whangarei Golf Course for the Halberg Foundation fundraiser.

Eagles Golfing Society Northland captain Hugh Tennent said the tournament will raise up to $4500 for the foundation and around $2000 for junior golf.

Mr Tennent said in the 20 years the tournament has been running Eagles had given about $113,000 to the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, with all that going to help disabled young sportspeople in Northland.

He said it was often difficult enough for disabled youngsters to participate in sport so the society wanted to do what it could to help.

"It's a very worthwhile cause," Mr Tennent said.

Halberg Disability Sport Adviser, Maia Lewis, said the money raised would be available to help Northland's disabled sportspeople aged under 21 with Activity Fund grants to physically disabled young people to help cover the costs of adaptive sports equipment, lessons and camps.

Ms Lewis said the foundation helped around 200 young Northlanders.

The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation was set up by Olympian Sir Murray Halberg in 1963 and aims to enhance the lives of physically disabled New Zealanders by enabling them to participate in sport and recreation.

The Eagles Golfing Society of New Zealand has supported the foundation since 1969. Olympic running legend Jesse Owens, was guest speaker at the Halberg Awards that year and former Halberg Trustee and NZ Eagles President, the late Leo Hendrey organised a charity golf tournament with the American Olympic champion.

The event was a huge success and spurred the start of many fundraising tournaments organised by the Eagles to benefit the Halberg Foundation.