Pin money on offer

CLOSE CALL: Keith Slight, winner of last year's annual Wanganui Golf Club Closest to the Pin competition.

Hitting a hole-in-one is an adrenaline-rousing experience that all golfers aspire to. It is not age, gender, ethnicity or ability-specific.

But for most golfers holes-in-one are so close, yet so far away prompting the Wanganui Golf Club to host the annual Closest to the Pin competition.

From tomorrow through until Sunday (March 2-5) entrants must land up to three balls within the circle on the chosen green to qualify.

Anyone can rock up to Belmont and pay a nominal entry and have a crack at winning some substantial prizes.

The format is for entrants to have as many turns as they see fit to pay for, and to try and get within a circle around the flag. Over the four days, all those who qualify - and you can only qualify three times - will go into the finals, which will be contested at 5.30pm on March 11.

The competition will conclude with a dinner in the clubhouse and tickets are available through the club office or pro shop.

First prize is $1000, second $500 and $250 for third. There is also a $100 prezzy card drawn from all Closest to the Pin competitors who must be in club house at prizegiving to win.

If competitors choose to have six hits, they qualify for one free "long putt". Also there is a small circle of a shorter distance for those short shots. Saunders and Stevenson have donated $100 to be divided between successful players.

The club is also hosting a putting competition opposite the pro shop on the practice putting green.

Club social events organiser Robyn McKenzie said for just $1 a putt, competitors can win some great prizes. A Waimarie cruise for four is first prize, two golf lessons from Peter Cassidy for second and a Caroline Boat Shed voucher for third.

Also up for grabs is a luncheon voucher for two at Mint Cafe will be drawn at prizegiving for the lucky draw of putting competitors.

A separate Putt Putt Team Challenge is on Friday, March 10 starting at 5.30pm with the final of March 11 at 4.30pm.