Brian Jopson is considered the ‘everything man' at Mount Maunganui Golf Club, and it's easy to see why if you were to track his movements over the Christies Floorings Mount Open week.

Jopson, the club's former general manager, runs the volunteers over the tournament week. However, there isn't much he hasn't done at the club since he joined in 2001.

He ran the show for a little under 14 years. During that period, he dealt with handicapping system changes, clubhouse developments, and everything else that comes with being a general manager. After a brief stint away, he returned in 2017 and couldn't keep away from Mt Maunganui Golf Club, as the place has a special place in his heart.

The soon-to-be president of the club's Vets couldn't have agreed fast enough when the club's current general manager, Michael Williams, asked him to help with the tournament.

The ten handicapper takes his job seriously, and the volunteers run like clockwork all week.

He says it's easy to do at a club like Mt Maunganui.

'I retired as the club's General Manager in 2014 and went to Gisborne for a couple of years and eventually moved back to the Bay. When I re-joined the club, Mike asked me if I could assist him with the Charles Tour event, which I was more than happy to do. My job is to run and coordinate all the volunteers, and we have a great group of people. I have no problems picking up the phone and giving them a job.

'I love working with them all, and they're a great bunch of people.”

He organises a group of 30 volunteers throughout the week. From starters, live scorers for every third hole, and scorecard return, Jopson has his fingers in many cookie jars.

Current Mt Maunganui General Manager Williams says Jopson always goes above and beyond and is the perfect person for the job.

'When we first had a Jennian Homes Charles Tour event here, I approached Brian and asked if he wanted to be involved, and he couldn't have said yes quicker. He and I get on really well. I know what he used to do, he knows what I currently do as he's been in the role before.

'Brian is the kind of guy where nothing is ever a problem. He's self-sufficient and gets everything sorted. He knows many of the members as he's still active in the club. It's been really cool to have his continued support; he has a great rapport with the members and is the perfect man to be the leader of the volunteers for the tournament.”

Jopson's contributions to the club stem from an unwavering love of golf and the club he belongs to. He loves Mt Maunganui Golf Club so much, his wife says the only thing missing from the club premises is his bed.

'I love the people, camaraderie, telling a few stories out on the course, and the competitive nature of it. It's the perfect sport for all of that, and every day is different.

'I have a soft spot for the mount. I've worked here, and I'm a member here, it's like home. I love the game, the course, and the club. It's a vibrant place.”

He's a handy golfer too, playing off a ten handicap. Not many people can say they've shot their age, a feat that he achieved just a few weeks ago, shooting 76.

- Jason Gulasekharam/Golf New Zealand.