Tirau Golf Marrowthon®
Golfing challenges don’t get much bigger than playing 100 holes in a day but a field of close to 40 golfers, including celebrities, made the grade at Tirau Golf Club on Sunday 16 March, 2008.
It was the first LBF Golf Marrowthon to be held in a rural area - previous events have been held in Auckland and Christchurch - and it would not have been possible without the Rotary Club of Matamata. Rotary club organiser Tony Wilding said he had been very excited about hosting the event at the Tirau club and was thrilled with the level of support received from Matamata/Tirau businesses and individuals prepared to get behind the LBF cause.
Players raised an incredible $60,000 in sponsorship and Fidelity Life CEO, Milton Jennings, raised more than $21,500 of that total. Milton, who was taking part in his third Marrowthon, retained his title of champion fundraiser and broke his own previous record of $17,000 raised for the LBF.
The event attracted several celebrities – including former Black Cap cricketer Rob Hart and New Zealand Womens’ Golf’s top amateur player Penny Smith from Rotorua. Golfers began their day-long challenge at 8.30am with former top New Zealand professional golfer, Marnie McGuire, teeing each player off on the first hole.
Hamilton-based Hart, who played cricket for both Northern Districts and New Zealand, said the Marrowthon was a fantastic cause and the LBF went the extra mile to help thousands of New Zealanders every year.
“I felt compelled to compete in the Marrowthon when asked as I believe that organisations such as the LBF play a fundamental role in our wonderful country.
“As the father of a chronically ill child (heart-related, not leukaemia) I have seen first hand the great difference similar organisations make in our community.”
Hart used several novel approaches to raise money for the cause, including selling cricket memorabilia. Through the Ferrari Club of New Zealand he has also auctioned a ride in a Ferrari on Trade Me, raising more than $800.
The event also attracted golfers from several high schools in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland regions.
