Organisers of the Bream Bay Classic are planning to move the competition to the start of summer after this weekend's event was once again savaged by the weather.
Waipu Golf Club's John Pennington said Northland's elite mid-winter tournament had a history of high winds and rain and it appeared the golfers
had had enough.
"We're probably looking at moving the tournament out to November because if we run it again at this time of year, the feedback has been that they won't be coming back," he said.
The organisers handed out a questionnaire to the 84 golfers, who had attended and overwhelmingly the respondents had urged them to move the tournament date.
Pennington said it was hugely frustrating for the organisers to recruit a top quality field every year only to see them shoot high numbers because of the conditions.
The club now plans to consult with Golf Northland before moving the top amateur tournament to a later date, and they would prefer a November date before the opposite conditions apply - and the course dries out too much.
Pennington was full of praise for the majority of golfers, who stuck to their guns to finish the first round of the 54-hole tournament. "We needed a result and it was great to see the guys struggling through to complete their rounds on Saturday - it was a fantastic effort," he said.
"I was just expecting a mass exodus from the guys but they stuck with it and we're really grateful."
Most of the golfers completed their opening round and the following two rounds were canned, when conditions hadn't improved by Sunday morning.
Waitemata golfer Kevin Budden had to brave the weather a second time - to playoff for first place yesterday after he and Auckland's Fraser Wilkin were tied for the lead on 80 - eight over - after Saturday's round.
They played the par-3 16th twice before Budden finally won this year's title.
Muruwai's Wayne Flintham was third, with Sherwood Park's Gary-John Hill tied with Muruwai's Scott Johnson and Waipukurau's Peter Zwart for fourth place on 83.
Auckland's Jason Mann and Kerikeri's Paul Young finished on 84, while Remuera's Ross Valentine and Wellsford's Brad Bonnington were tied for ninth on 85.
