Golf: Pro tees off on a new career

A Rotorua golf professional is calling time on 27 years behind the pro-shop counter to bring a series of major events to the city.

The Rotorua club's John Weston believes the time is right to introduce a full-time approach to attracting and organising events including pro-ams, two to five-day tournaments, ladies' and junior events.

"This sort of thing hasn't been done before because it takes a lot of time and effort to set up," he said.

"There hasn't been anyone prepared to put their hand up before and do it and clubs simply haven't had the time or people to try something at this level," he said.

"I know what to do to make it work. I have the experience, the contacts and the backing. All clubs will have to do is provide the course and the day.

"It's a win-win situation all round," he said.

Weston is finishing up at the Rotorua club to devote his time and energy to getting his plans off the ground, albeit still under the umbrella of his firm, The Golf Company.

"The plan is to target a whole range of golfers.

"Rotorua is just perfectly set up for such events," he said. "It's crazy it hasn't been done before."

"People love to come to Rotorua. There's accommodation at all levels and there's plenty to do outside golf for those not playing. That's not necessarily the same elsewhere," he said.

He plans to organise a variety of golf events that bring people to the city for three to five days. Spin-offs including accommodation and associated spending will be many, he believes.

"What we need is big drawcards, big events that bring people in for a week at a time."

While unable to name names, Weston says he has had expressions of interest from corporate sponsors eager to participate.

Weston is hoping to present something that will fit the Rotorua brand and will talk to the district council and Tourism Rotorua about his plans.

The next step is to formally secure the corporate backing - "to get them to put their money where their mouth is" - then talk to the clubs about dates, then the council and tourism body about any assistance they can offer.

"Realistically we are talking 2014 before we get this off the ground. That gives us the time to talk and do it right. The last thing we want is to set it up too quick and fall on our face. It's got to be done properly."

While organising tournaments and enticing visitors to the city might keep Weston busy in future years he still plans to sell equipment through The Golf Company website and tackle a few other golf pursuits as well.

"I'm keen to target Sydney. Especially with the direct flights. I'm thinking it would be packages for Sydney golfers to come to Rotorua and play courses like Rotorua, Wairakei, Kinloch and possibly Cape Kidnappers. We would put them up in a nice lodge and maybe helicopter them to the courses, that sort of thing," he said.

On a personal level he plans to go to one major tournament a year - Masters next year and British Open the following - for a week of playing golf around the venue and then two days watching the event.

"I've got a list as long as my arm of people who have said to me that if I ever went they'd love to come too. It's been a dream for them for ages, but they've just never got round to it," he said. "What I'll do is put the details of my trip up on The Golf Company website and if they want to tag along with what I do they can".

He will also organise annual trips around New Zealand and Australia. "I want to do the golf I want to do now. I've been 33 years in total behind the counter and I've enjoyed every minute of it but I've done all I can at the golf shops. I'm ready for a new challenge."