Merged golf club celebrates opening

Waikato's newest golf club opened on the weekend with a champagne breakfast for 140 enthusiastic members.

Despite rain and blustery weather the breakfast was followed by a flag-raising ceremony and a shotgun start for the full field contesting the club's first tournament.

The Riverside Golf Club, the result of a merger between the Narrows and Lochiel golf clubs, takes its name from the Waikato River, which flows between their courses.

The players contested the inaugural Riverside Origin Trophy played over two days with 18 holes on each course. Narrows took first blood by the narrowest of margins.

Lochiel chairman Matt Laming told the players, as rain and wind lashed across the Narrows course, that it was a proud day for both clubs.

He paid tribute to the hard work and innovative focus of those people involved in bringing the two clubs together.

In recent months the Riverside board confirmed Sandra Buchanan as general manager, long-established Lochiel professional Craig Carrington as Director of Golf and Steve Grinter the head course superintendent.

Lochiel was formed and incorporated in 1938 and Narrows in 1935.

Both clubs have approximately 550 members. They own their own courses, have supportive sponsors and solid balance sheets.

Laming said by merging, members had the opportunity of playing 365 days a year at one of the courses.

He predicted members would have access to greater buying power, better sponsorship support and, by sharing staff and resources, make the clubs more viable.