Vacation, fairways, and a Sealegs parked on the grass

A few huge days at Millbrook Resort. World-class golf. A lot of very good-looking Vacation cans. More conversations with Canyon drinkers, golf fans, curious wanderers and thirsty spectators than we could count. And while there were definitely some bluebird moments, there were also a couple of days so cold it felt like it could have snowed at any minute.

Classic Central.

There is something about the New Zealand Open that feels a bit like home to us now. After three years of being part of it, it has become one of those fixtures on the calendar we genuinely look forward to. It’s the kind of event where a serious golf fan and someone who is mostly there for the atmosphere can both have a very good day.

That is very much our speed.

Vacation was back in its golf fit

Our hazy pale ale, Vacation, returned in its annual New Zealand Open costume change, and it looked right at home among the fairways.

It is always a bit of a highlight seeing one of our beers step into a moment like this. Same beer, same easy-drinking hazy goodness, just dressed for the occasion and ready for a few days on course.

Boats, Birdies and Beers

This year, one of the most entertaining parts of our activation was teaming up with Sealegs for Boats, Birdies and Beers.

Which, to be honest, is already a very strong combination before you even add prizes.

We were parked up at the Tee Junction at Millbrook Resort from 26 February to 1 March, with a Sealegs on site and a beanbag toss challenge built around kegs, golf, and a healthy amount of competitive energy. The concept was simple: toss a beanbag into the kegs and you could score prizes worth more than just bragging rights. Though there was plenty of that going around too.

It was one of those simple ideas that just worked. Easy to join in, fun to watch, and a good excuse to hang around a little longer with a beer in hand.

The Battle of the Beers

And then there was The Battle of the Beers.

We brought our jerry-rigged walker scoreboard to the fairways for the ultimate showdown: New Zealand Open Vacation vs. Canyon Gold. One juicy hazy, one crisp lager, both very capable of making a strong case for themselves.

We asked the people to decide, one sip at a time.

It was part tasting, part debate, part highly unofficial sporting event, and it quickly became one of those things people got surprisingly invested in. Fair enough too. Choosing between a hazy and a lager in the sun is serious business.

Beer all over the course

You could also find Canyon pouring across multiple spots around the Open, which meant people were never too far from a cold one.

We had beers flowing at:

• The Manuka Doctor Hive

• O’Malley’s Corner

• Champions Lounge

• The Landing

• The Birdie Bar

• The Ishii Lounge

It was pretty special seeing Canyon showing up across the site like that. Not tucked into one small corner, but properly woven into the event.

The little things made it

Some of our favourite moments were not the big flashy ones. They were the smaller interactions.

The people who doubled back to tell us Vacation was tasting especially good in the sun. The groups who got weirdly competitive over the beanbag challenge. The laughs over our golf “Quiet” cards, which flipped to “Drink responsibly” on the back. The people who spotted the Sealegs from a distance and immediately changed direction.

That is the good stuff.

For us, events like this are never just about pouring beer. They are about creating moments people remember. Something a little unexpected. Something that makes the day feel more fun than it already was.

A very good week for Canyon

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, had a yarn, took on the challenge, grabbed a Vacation, or just came over to see what on earth a Sealegs was doing parked at the golf.

And of course, a big thanks to Sealegs and the New Zealand Open team for having us along for the ride.

Same time next year.