President John Male speaking at the announcement Cambridge Golf Club will be no more.
Waikato’s oldest golf club is a club no more.
The sporting establishment which turned 125 last year is now simply called Cambridge Golf, reflecting its desire to welcome everyone to its home alongside Tīrau Road.
Marketing chair and vice president Neil Gibb talks about the reasons for the name change and direction at Cambridge Golf. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
You don’t even have to play golf, vice president Neil Gibb told a packed clubhouse when making the announcement last week. But it would help.
Gibb said the rebrand had been carefully thought through. The club turned to professional help rather than doing it themselves.
A brand specialist was brought in to develop a logo and identity that would better reflect where the club is heading.
The result is a simple, contemporary design which draws on the course’s natural setting alongside the Waikato River and includes a subtle nod to golf.
But Gibb said it was about much more than a new look.
Cambridge Golf general manager Keith Vincent welcomes sponsors and members to the announcement. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“This isn’t just a redesign,” he said.
“It’s a strategic realignment of where we believe the future of our golf club goes.”
A strong and recognisable brand would help the club stand out and better connect with members and the wider community.
More golfers on the course meant more income, and that in turn allowed continued investment back into the facilities, he said.
The unveiling took place in front of sponsors, with new signs installed on the day of the event.
Among the sponsors present was new partner and one of Waipā’s longest standing businesses, Livingstone.
Gibb acknowledged the work of volunteers who helped prepare the site for the change, removing old signage and helping get the new look in place.
Members will be briefed in the coming weeks, and Gibb plans to front up to various club groups to explain the change.
He knows it may take some getting used to.
“Sometimes change doesn’t sit as well with some people as it does with others,” he said.
But the direction is set.
President John Male speaking at the announcement Cambridge Golf Club will be no more. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
