Charity Fundraising Dinner & Golf with Steve Williams, 2002.

Steve Williams (left) with the TRC President Rob Pattullo.

In early 2002, the Club  through Bob Knappstein, got  opportunity to have Steve Williams, Tiger Wood's caddie, as a high profile guest speaker at a fundraising dinner to raise funds for the Kel Tremain Memorial Education Trust.

Convened by Kevyn Moore, a club member with a successful history of raising large sums of money for Club projects, the Club had the opportunity to meet with Steve Williams, and secure him as a high profile guest speaker. The opportunity offered the chance of doubling up with golf tournament with Steve as celebrity guest.

Kevyn and initial committee meet with Steve Williams for the first time.

L to R: Bob McCaw, Trevor Kilpatrick, Kevyn Moore, Warren Cooper, Steve Williams

A sub-committee was formed and met with Steve at Kevyn's home and Steve  agreed to our plan but his fee was to be paid to his own trust to support young New Zealand golfers. Otherwise he said that his role would be to caddie each group as the passed through the 6th hole, offering a tip or two.

The event was held on 15^th January 2002 . 

Thanks to some magnificent work by Kevyn and his committee, sponsorship was achieved, 40 dinner tables sold at $NZ1200 for 10, sports gear auctioned (including Tiger memorabilia) and a very successful golf tournament held. Particular mention should be made of the efforts of Dave Nichol who sold many tables and secured most of the sponsored prizes.

When the final accounts came in, the Trust

benefited by more than $50,000.

which was a wonderful effort for the many Club members who worked willingly to make this event a success.

Hawke's Bay  Business Awards Finalists

The Golf & Dinner Charity Event was submitted to the Hawke's Bay  Business Association for consideration for one of its Business Awards for 2002. The application document shown below summarises the whole project and its outcomes. The Club's entry was selected as a finalist in is section, but while it did not win, it was a great honour to be reach the final three, and this was recognised by the Association with a Certificate, which was presented to Kevyn Moore at the Awards Ceremony evening. Read more...

The organising team.

L to R: Ken Carson, Mark Read, Alan Monk, Rex Rohan, Bob Knappstein, Peter Warmke, Ray Burney, Frank Crotty.

Absent Bob McCaw (photographer).

By Monique Hewitt

Team Beaton on the 6th green...

Steve Williams, caddy for the world's number one sportsperson, Tiger Woods, was giving expert advice to 160 keen golfers competing in the Kel Tremain Memorial Educational Trust Charity Tournament, held at the Napier Golf Club at Waiohiki on Tuesday.

Coming from the New Zealand Golf Open to the Napier Golf Club is a big difference but "the course is great", says Steve, whose most helpful advice was to "look at the number on the ball and you will never miss it", and "swing hard just in case you hit it."

... and Team Nichol look relaxed with Steve at the 6th tee

Steve has been caddying for 23 years with the past four years for Tiger Woods. He spent his day at the seventh hole, giving hints and tips when requested by "a wide range" of golfers playing the hole, both on the tee and on the green.

You couldn't help bin be impressed with the ease in which he interacted with each group that played the hole, regardless of ability or age. One player in particular was sure he had the right club, a nine iron, in his hand for his tee shot on the seventh. Steve convinced him to go to an. eight iron saying "it's a long way, even my man (Tiger) would be using a nine". The result - pin high, 12 feet to the right of the flag.

There was a cash prize of $5000 for a hole-in-one on the seventh.

"I've done a lot of charity events and enjoy doing it when it is for a good cause such as this one," says Steve.

Simon Tremain and family team prepare.

With a somewhat witty charm Steve speaks of Tiger or "my man" as he refers to him, with great respect and says he "treats me very well" and is just like you and I.

"Tiger had a great time in New Zealand, he really enjoyed himself and found Kiwis very friendly. He believed he played well but struggled on the greens. There was a lot of rain in December, which would have made it difficult for the greenkeeper to prepare the course. Tiger had more putts last week than he ever has in a professional golf tournament and it's not like he was playing bad, I mean he shot  65 in his last round in Hawaii before he came over here," says Steve,

Team Beaton with Steve at the 7th

"Every time he sets a ball up people are expecting him to win. and of course in golf you can't always do that. If you had to go through what Tiger has to and still compete at the level he does, it's pretty impressive. Not many people could handle what goes on around him day in and day out and perform as well as he does,"

The Kel Tremain Memorial Educational Trust was set up by the Taradale Rotary Club back in the 1970s and they gave their first grant in 1985. Since then $7000-$9000 per year has been granted to assist students who, without help from the Trust, would otherwise have struggled to fulfil their potential in tertiary education.

."This tournament will boost the Trust's funds significantly." says Bob McCaw, chairman of the Kel Tremain Memorial Educational Trust and member of the tournament organising committee.

Steve lines up Ian Beaton's putt

"Kudos has to go to Kevyn Moore, convenor of the organising committee, who, through another Rotarian, Bob Knappstein,  organised Steve for this event when he was here last year racing his car at the speedway."

"Dave Nichol, a member of the organising committee, has also done a fantastic job in securing the sponsorship and prizes for the tournament," says Bob.

Forty-one tables were booked for the evening dinner, where Steve Williams was guest speaker. Steve had several items of Tiger Woods memorabilia which were auctioned during the evening.

Sir Brian and Lady Pam Lochore with Mark Read

"The auction was a huge success according to organising committee member and trustee Selwyn Dyet.

"A Nike cap worn by Tiger in the NZ Open went for $5300 and a rugby ball signed by the Clarke brothers went for $5000. The rugby ball was from a test match between the All Blacks and Springboks in the 1960s during which Don Clarke kicked a conversion to give the All Blacks a draw and also drew them level in the series," says Selwyn.

Tiger's scorecard from the British Open which was co-signed by the eventual winner David Duval went for $1530.

Peter Sugden, Anne Nicol, Sue Read and Colleen Carson survey the prize table.

"All up the auction realised over $32,000 and the whole event looks like earning the Trust in excess of $50,000,'' says Selwyn.

"Fully per cent of the proceeds from the Tiger Woods memorabilia will go to the Trust with the remaining 50% going to the Steve Williams Trust for junior golf in New Zealand."

"The whole event was a fantastic success and exceeded all of our expectations," he said.