Hikurangi chips in with cancer cash as idea blooms

Raising $124,075 for the Cancer Society across nine years is not a bad effort for an idea which was thought of while having a few lazy beers.

However, after receiving $8000 on its first Daffodil Day fundraiser, Hikurangi Golf Club president Bruce Barrow and secretary Hugh Tennent did not think it would last the distance.

"We thought it was just going to be a one-off but it has grown every year since then," Tennent said, before adding that in recent years funds raised had plateaued at about $15,000.

"It started from about four of us having a couple of beers one afternoon and reading one of the golfing magazines. One club had a tournament for Daffodil Day somewhere around the country and had raised about $400-$500."

Tennent said one of the four chimed in to ask why the Hikurangi Golf Club could not do something similar. And so they did, with great success.

Staring down the barrel of their 10th anniversary, now with a database of about 250 sponsors and over 140 golfers on board, Tennent and Barrow say they won't be doing anything special for next year as they reinforce that the day is all about the Cancer Society and not the club.

"It's the cause that brings people in. It's not a fundraiser for the club, [the bonus for us is that we] get a lot of people play the course who otherwise would not," Barrow said. "Some of our sponsors are pretty willing participants, it's not part of advertising for them, it's just them giving to the cancer foundation."

Barrow said there was no secret to the success, only that it was a fun day with plenty to see and do throughout their round.

Novel activities such as having a beer and taking three pot-shots at a boat in the lake for $6 seem to keep the punters happy, not to mention double as an added fundraiser. Also helping around the course throughout the day are the Hikurangi Lions, who run sausage sizzles and refreshments for golfers wanting to take a break.

Helping keep the tournament fresh is the introduction of new fundraising opportunities, with this year's one going down a hit.

Barrow said for $40 players could enter a team's competition where golfers would be given one yellow ball between them. However, the catch was that the yellow ball must be returned for the team's score to count. This year, 10 teams lost their yellow ball and re-purchased another for another $40 to net the Cancer Society another $400.

"We've had full fields [about 145] over the last few years and have a wait list," Barrow said. "The golfers really seem to enjoy it."