A core group of golfers gathered at Ōhope Beach Golf Links last weekend to play in the inaugural Jayden’s Cup invitational tournament, with mental health at the top of everyone’s mind.

The tournament was organised by Ōhope local and former I Am Hope national ambassador Cam Galbraith for two primary reasons: to honour the memory of his son, and to shine a light on mental health.

In attendance alongside a number of invited golfers was Richie Barnett, former Kiwis captain and current I Am Hope ambassador.

Mr Galbraith said holding the tournament named after his son was something he had wanted to do for a long time, and it provided a release for him to do so last weekend.

Jayden died in 2001, aged just nine months. Mr Galbraith was living in Whakatāne at the time and had to travel to Auckland, where his son was, after receiving the devastating phone call.

Mr Galbraith describes being around helicopters as his safe place and hired a helicopter to fly over his son’s grave after the burial.

Last Saturday he took another helicopter ride to fly in the Jayden’s Cup memorial trophy, thanks to Steve from Motu Helicopters, using one of Heli-Hire's MD500s.

“Part of that whole thing was about healing, not being in a helicopter overlooking my son, but actually being in the helicopter over the water on a beautiful day looking out at Whakaari, Whale Island, our house and giving that experience of relief.”

Mr Galbraith said he chose to hold a golf tournament because it was a game that had helped him since he played for the first time with the Warriors in the early 2000s at The Grange golf course in Auckland.

“Golf is different each day, the same way our mental health is,” he said.

“So long as the sun rises in the morning and you’re there to see it, your journey continues. As long as you’ve got balls in the bag, tees and a club, you’re still going to take another shot.

“Golf is a great game with camaraderie, banter, and a great platform to talk about mental health.”

Mr Galbraith said the tournament was as much about his family and Jayden as it was about starting those conversations among players.

“Throughout the day I could hear conversations of guys opening up and saying we need to talk about this stuff; whether it’s trouble with the wife, pressure at work, trouble with the kids, not feeling good enough, not meeting expectations of whānau or parents.

“Most of us bottle everything up and it’s like shaking a coke bottle. You shake it long enough, or you put it in the freezer, everything comes to a point. And when that boiling point happens, a lot of people go inside.

“The worst part is, that’s when people take their lives.”

Mr Galbraith said support was a vital lifeline for people in mental health crisis, and for him that came from the likes of Senior Sergeant Michael Flatt, Sir Peter Leitch, Walter Little, Mike King, Richie Barnett, Gordon Tietjens, Crete Wana, Don Rabbits, David Absolum and his family – his parents, wife and children.

Ōhope golf household name Ian Bartlett, also a friend of Mr Galbraith’s, won the tournament, taking home the memorial trophy designed by Jewelz.