Bayleigh Teepa-Tarau meets Ryan Fox before caddying at the 2023 Chasing the Fox event. Photo / Dean Purcell
One year on and Bayleigh’s Tāneatua School has taken to the sport with vigour, with golf coach Te Whetū Wiremu telling the Herald he has 20 keen players all keen to get into the sport.
Wiremu says the invitation to attend this year’s Chasing the Fox event is a chance for his students to have an experience that often passes them by in Tāneatua.
“Coming from a small area where we come from we don’t get many opportunities like that, so the opportunity itself I’m happy for my kids to just go and enjoy it.”
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Watching top golfers and personalities in a competitive environment last year gave the kids an extra layer of motivation to give golf a real go, he says.
“Seeing the competitiveness, it made them want to be better golfers so hopefully one day they could be in that same space as well.”
Adding to the competitive environment is the news from promoters that crowds are expected to exceed 2000 at this year’s event – and that Fox Sports in Australia will be picking up the broadcast and showcase New Zealand golf to the Australian market.
Competition teams are taking final shape, with Red Bull pulling out the stops and adding All Black Shaun Stevenson to their team to accompany mountain biker Brook MacDonald and Kiwi amateur golfer Jayden Ford.
Discover moreTAB Chasing the Fox
Location: Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club
Date: December 13
Time: Gates open 2pm, golf begins 5pm
Teams Field: Ryan Fox, Dan Hillier, Taco Golf, Mac Boucher, Rugby, Cricket, NZ Warriors, Olympians, media, politicians and more.
How to watch: TVNZ 1, 7pm
Will Toogood is an online sports editor and golf reporter for the NZ Herald. He enjoys watching people chase a ball around on a grass surface so much he decided to make a living out of it.
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