Pro Am Tees Off at Waitangi

If looking at the cob-web covered golf bag lying forlornly in a corner of the garage induces a touch of the guilts, there's an enticing opportunity to shake off the inertia.

Pro Am golf is returning to Waitangi for the first time in 26 years. Club Pro, Alex 'Bonno' Bonnington says they've resurrected the ProAm to entice people to the Bay of Islands and to encourage young players.

"We work together with other tournaments so we're not in competiton with each other and it's an opportunity for the young players to earn some money."

Aside from the young professionals the club has organised an impressive lineup of sport celebrity participants to act as an additional lure for amateur and professional golfers alike. Recentlyretired sports broadcaster and avid golfer, Murray Deaker, says his participation is due to his wife.

"Sharon's parents, Dot and Snow Ayton, were members of Waitangi for 56 years and there's a commemorative chair on the 12th so I had no choice but to head north."

He's bringing long-time friend and former All Black captain, Buck Shellford and his wife, Jo, with him along with John Lister who played on the PGA tour in the seventies and eighties and was one of the dominant Australasian golfers of the period. Also heading north is former Black Fern and Sky TV sport presenter Melanie Robinson who was rumoured to be bringing her partner- and professional golfer -Marcus Wheelhouse.

This Auckland contingent will be joined by ex-Sevens player, Karl Te Nana, who scored 113 tries for New Zealand and won a gold medal as part of the national Seven's team at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. And, just to add spice to the mix, there's the possibility of a former rugby coach on the celebrity card

The Harcourts Waitangi Pro Am is open to any golfer who will compete in a team of three amateurs and one professional. The professionals, of course, will play off longer tees.

All the major 'names' will be at a dinner the night before play commences and which is open to the public. Master of Ceremonies for the Carpet Court function is former Russell policeman and owner of Pukematu Lodge, Colwyn Shortland, while Murray Deaker will direct questions and answers from the stage. In fact most of the celebrities coming to the Bay of Islands for the event became media sports hosts after their active playing days so they are no stranger to a microphone and will not suffer from the kind of 'yeah, nah, yeah' replies that can be induced by inexperience.

Proceeds from the Pro Am tournament will be donated to St John Ambulance. For further information go to

www.waitangigolf.co.nz