Exciting additions for the 2023/2024 Canterbury Golf season

With the 2023/2024 season approaching Canterbury Golf has been working towards some new additions to the CGI Tour - Order of Merit series as well some additions and changes for the 2024 Canterbury Stroke Play and Match Play.

These updates have been introduced based on feedback received in addition to our continued efforts to try and improve the experience and incentive for people to play and enjoy our top-level events throughout the season.

New Development Fund Prizes for the CGI Tour - Order of Merit

In the interest of wanting to increase the incentive for local players to play in the various OOM events throughout the season, as well as create another avenue to help player’s development, Canterbury Golf is happy to announce Development Fund prizes for the 2023/2024 CGI Tour – OOM.

The intention of these new Development Funds while to help grow playing numbers at the various OOM events run by clubs and CGI is also to assist aspiring local players in their development. The funds will be able to be spent on accessing developmental support or towards golf event travel and entry to enable them to play more competitive events. 

To read more about this and discover the Development Fund prizes players will be competing for, read more – HERE.

To read more about the 2023/2024 Order of Merit and the events, click here - OOM or Junior OOM.

2024 Canterbury Stroke Play

After another highly subscribed Canterbury Stroke Play this year, considerations have been made as to how to continue to improve this event alongside feedback received from those participating. The aim is to continue to encourage a high-quality field as well as provide the opportunity for as many Canterbury players to take part where possible, in combination with making improvements to the general delivery and player experience. As such the following considerations and changes will be made for the 2024 Canterbury Stroke Play to be held at Christchurch Golf Club:

• Canterbury Golf to work alongside Christchurch Golf Club greenkeepers and staff regarding a course set up to be conducive to a quicker pace of play where possible.
• Increase the playing field size to 108 to allow for both out-of-region interest and importantly maximise local Canterbury player involvement in the final field. The field will still be determined by ballot, with specific considerations at the discretion of Canterbury Golf.
• A multi-tee start may be applied, with the possibility of tees on the far side of Christchurch Golf Club being utilised, in consultation with club officials.
• Entries for the Men’s and Women’s events will be Open, meaning Master’s and U19 players will play alongside the seniors as one division playing of the same tee.
• Prizes for the top performing Master’s (40 years +) and U19 players to still be awarded with the top performing player eligible in each category receiving the respective Masters and U19 trophies.
• OOM points are to still be awarded to players in their respective division(s) based on the placings of players in those divisions.

2024 Canterbury Match Play

Once again following a review of recent Match Play tournaments and in the interests of maximising player entries and value, the decision has been made to move the Canterbury Match Play to the Labour Day long weekend from 2024. With the increased playing days moving from the previous 2-day weekend and the now available 3-day event, the following changes will be made for the 2024 Canterbury Match Play scheduled to be held at Pegasus Golf Club:

• The Match Play will have no seedings carried over from the 2024 Canterbury Stroke Play
• Male players are free to enter any Men’s division they are eligible for. I.e., a Men’s Master’s player or a U19 Men’s player can choose to enter the Men’s Open category should they wish. Men’s players aged between 19-39 can only enter the Men’s Open category.
• The Men’s Senior category (55 years +) will be combined with the Men’s Master’s category. The highest-placed eligible senior player who qualifies within the top 16 of the master’s category will receive the senior trophy.
• Female players can only enter the one division, the Open Women’s category.
• The event is to be played over Labour Weekend 2024 with play on the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to allow for 5 rounds of Golf. The tentative rounds timetable is as follows:

-All categories will start with a qualifying round Saturday morning to determine the seedings and match-ups for the top 16 championship to follow. All players who finish outside of the top 16 in their category will be eliminated from the event.
-The Saturday afternoon round will be the round of 16 match ups.
-Sunday morning’s round will be the quarter-finals for each division with Sunday afternoon the semi-finals for each division.
-The finals will be played on Monday morning.

• This format will ensure that:

-All entrants are guaranteed 1 (qualifying) round
-All top 16 qualifiers are guaranteed 2 rounds
-Round of 16 winners are guaranteed 3 rounds
-Quarter-Final winners are guaranteed 4 rounds
-Semi-Final winners are guaranteed 5 rounds

• Match Play OOM points are to be awarded to players only for the division they played in and are eligible for.

As mentioned, all of the above additions and changes have been designed off the back of feedback and as part of our continued efforts to try and improve the experience and incentive for participants. We look forward to another busy and exciting 2023/2024 season ahead.