In a proud moment for the region, three worthy Canterbury individuals were recognised for their respective contributions to the game in 2025. In the words of Golf NZ CEO Jeff Latch, “The National Golf Awards are a chance to recognise the people, clubs and initiatives that continue to shape and grow our game. This year’s winners reflect the depth of passion, innovation and commitment that exists right across the golfing community from grassroots through to high performance, and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate their contribution to the sport. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and winners.” The three Canterbury-based winners and their citations are as follows:
Golf Manager of the Year – Blair Minton
As General Manager of Canterbury Golf, Blair Minton has had an exceptional 2025. His standout achievement has been driving a 121% increase in junior membership to nearly 1,300 junior club memberships across the region, the result of Canterbury’s nationally recognised Futures programme. He also secured a partnership with the new Sir Bob Charles Golf Centre for the Talent Development Programme, which contributed directly to the Canterbury boys team winning the NZ Boys Interprovincial.
Blair’s leadership extended across the organisation in 2025: he oversaw a redesign of the Canterbury Golf website, introduced a dedicated Marketing and Communications role, revamped the Canterbury Strokeplay, launched the ambitious “Ultimate Golf Raffle” fundraising initiative for regional junior development, and completed a historic project recognising Canterbury’s representative players back to 1951. Canterbury Golf club membership reached a record high of over 15,000 members, with 607,000 rounds played in the region last year.
Contribution to the Growth of Maori Golf — Kara Campbell, Russley Golf Club / Te Waipounamu
Kara Campbell is a tireless and passionate advocate for Maori participation in golf, contributing for many years across Aotearoa through both tournament involvement and grassroots development. She has played key roles in flagship events including the Te Waipounamu Maori Golf Tournament and the New Zealand Maori Golf Nationals; both important celebrations of Maori identity, competition, and whanaungatanga within the game.
At the 2024/2025 NZ Maori National Championships, Kara’s contribution was invaluable, supporting the successful staging of the event and the wahine competitors across all divisions. At club level, she has encouraged Maori golfer participation and community engagement at both Avondale Golf Club in Christchurch and Russley Golf Club. A mentor, organiser, and ambassador across many years, Kara has helped shape stronger pathways for Maori in the game and promoted greater visibility of Maori culture throughout the golfing world.
Volunteer Coach of the Year — Margaret Langan, Weedons Golf Club
Margaret Langan has been a fixture of junior golf at Weedons Golf Club since 2009 and her dedication has shaped the golfing journeys of countless young players in the Canterbury region. Every Saturday afternoon, Margaret runs junior sessions that prioritise fun, yet many of the players who have come through her programme have progressed to representative level at both club and district.
Parents consistently speak about the welcoming environment Margaret creates and the way she makes every child feel valued. Weedons’ junior membership now exceeds 100 players which is a testament to Margaret’s sustained commitment as a coach and volunteer. Running high-quality sessions week after week, year after year, is a remarkable achievement in itself and one that speaks directly to her love of the game and the people in it.
The full list of winners can be read – HERE.
