Golf professional Andrew Whiley is finishing up at the Chisholm Park Golf Club at the end of April, but he is ''not leaving''.
By the time Whiley (48) works his last day on April 30, he will have worked at the club for 12 years.
Whiley, who is also a Dunedin City councillor, feels he has accomplished nearly everything he set out to do and it is time to leave.
''If I look at where the club was at when I arrived, and to where it is today, I'm pretty chuffed with what I accomplished,'' he said.
Overseeing the last pro tournament the links course hosted, the 2004 Dunedin Classic, which recently retired Mahal Pearce won, was one of the highlights for Whiley.
''Another thing was getting Chisholm Park recognised nationally as a top golf course. Having people come play it through my relationships through the country, and getting it ranked in the top 25 courses in the country.
''That, to me, was something I was really proud of. I always knew it was a special place, but it never got the recognition on that basis.
''Like any golf pro at any club, you look at all the people you introduced to the game,'' he said.
Whiley also established a strong Monday night programme, which New Zealand Golf recognised as ''probably the most successful twilight golf programme in the country''.
Watching juniors develop and the increasingly popular Sunday morning nine-hole programme for women, was also a highlight for the outgoing pro.
While April 30 will signal the end of Whiley's time as an employee of the club, he said he will sign up as a member.
''Yes, I'm finishing but I'm not leaving.
''No-one has p..... me off. No, I haven't had a fall-out with anyone. It's a decision we made as a family where we said, `It's time to close that chapter and move on'.''
While he will not miss the everyday running of the business and the paper work, he will miss the public interaction.
''Somebody always walks into the shop and you always have some banter and stuff like that. I will miss that sort of contact.
''Hence why I'm more than happy to stay and play my golf here as a member, as an equal,'' he said.
Whiley, who was raised in Wellington but spent more than a decade overseas before moving to Dunedin in 2003, is looking forward to having weekends free.
As well as his role as a councillor keeping him ''reasonably active'', the 48-year-old hopes to get involved in resource management and possibly pick up an 80-hour per month job in the future.
Whiley, who has been on the NZPGA board the past seven years and is the NZ Open caddy master, will remain in both positions.
Allan Court, who has worked alongside Whiley as the other golf pro at the club since September, would ''definitely put his hand up'' for the head pro's position, Whiley said.
''Whether the club chooses to go in that line is up to the board. I wouldn't have hired him if I didn't think he was a good fit for the club.''
Applications for the job would ''probably'' open at the end of January, he said.
- Robert van Royen