Another Lions Mini Golf Working Bee

Sprucing Up the Esplanade: Our Latest Lions Mini Golf Working Bee!

Our gardens are thriving, and so is our team spirit! On 19 May 2026, ten of our hard-working club members grabbed their gloves and spades for a morning of garden maintenance at the Lions Mini Golf Course in the Palmerston North Esplanade.

What is the project

The Lions Mini Golf Course is a beloved fixture in our community. While it provides a fantastic local event for families, it also serves as our club’s primary fundraising engine. To keep the course inviting for the paying public, our dedicated volunteers regularly run working bees to maintain the physical environment, care for the gardens planted four years ago, and tackle seasonal changes.

Why it matters

A beautiful environment makes for a beautiful day out. Over the last four years, we’ve watched our plantings closely to see what thrives. While the plants have done exceptionally well, regular maintenance ensures we fill in any gaps, keep vigorous native grasses from overtaking the greens, and manage the heavy autumn leaf drop before the winter chill sets in.

The Lions' Impact

Thanks to our quick-moving volunteer crew, we managed to achieve an incredible amount in just a couple of hours. The impact of this working bee includes:

• 73 new plants successfully added to fill in gaps and ensure future vibrant growth.

• Heavy trimming of coronial and vigorous lomandra grass to keep the course neat, tidy, and compact.

• Bins of fallen autumn leaves cleared away to keep the playing surfaces pristine.

• Hours of dedicated follow-up watering and waste disposal handled by our solo volunteers during Palmerston North's beautiful sunny autumn streak.

"Our mini golf course is more than just a fun weekend activity—it’s the heart of our fundraising. Putting the hard work into these gardens is our way of keeping Palmerston North proud, beautiful, and vibrant for the families who support us every single week."

The work doesn’t stop here! With autumn leaving its mark, we already have our next group working bees lined up to clear the remaining leaves and prep the course for winter.

Want to see the results of our hard work yourself? Head down to the Esplanade this weekend for a round of mini golf! Every ticket helps us fund crucial community projects right here in Manawatū. 

Want to see how else we are contributing to the Manawatū area? Check out our other grants on our blog at www.mdlionsclub.org.nz or follow our updates on Facebook at Middle Districts Lions Club.