The Score Thus Far

So isn't this Blog all about playing 50 golf courses!
Has there been any mention yet of how many I have played to date?
Where am I up to on this Nine Hole Golf Odyssey of mine?

Obviously my recent back injury has hampered proceedings somewhat and I am in danger of falling behind schedule if I don't get back into it very soon.


According to my reckoning I have about 36 weeks left until my 51st Birthday (the date by which I hope to have completed the challenge).




To date I have played   16/50 golf courses.

I have a further 34  play. As you can see it is a tight schedule.
So I really need to be managing to play one a week from now on. 
Or play blocks of courses as I plan various trips about the country. This is how I have been doing it so far.

My first trip away was to Kakanui , just outside of Oamaru.
We hired a little cottage ( Molly's) overlooking the estuary and beach, with views of the resident 20 Spoonbills.
Some dear friends from Dunedin came up for  the weekend to graciously caddy for me and to provide sterling evening entertainment with some wicked games of Canasta, leaving  us all nursing sore stomach muscles from excessive laughter.

Over the four days I managed to play 4 different courses, although I actually played 5 games  because the North Otago Golf Club is so stunning and challenging that I wanted to play all 18 holes of it.

St.Andrews on Friday afternoon

N. Otago's challenging 3rd-uphill dogleg.

Stunning 15th at N. Otago

Waitoa Park-very tidy for a Sunday stroll.

The disastrous Dam-Waimate's 5th.

My second golfing trip took me to Auckland,although the real reason for my journey was to celebrate my Dad's 89th birthday and to also be there with the rest of the family when he received a Gold Bar service award from the RSA,for his many long years of dedicated involvement.

However, much golf was also played.

My family have been very encouraging of my great adventure, and with generous financial 
support for green fees whilst I was in Auckland I was able to play a further 7 courses during my ten day stay.

Phew! 

I roped in 3 of my brothers to be caddies.
However, two of them opted to hire some clubs and actually play a round of golf with me which was really great fun with the added  bit of good- natured  sibling rivalry. 
Third brother felt golf was really not his forte. But caddying certainly was as he proved to be my most dedicated and diligent caddy to date as he ran ahead to read the Fairways for me on the most challenging course I have ever played! 
That was Waitakere.
A beautiful course completely surrounded in Native Bush and the air filled with the sound of Bellbirds and Tui.

And Oh! that 6th hole has to be played to be believed.

I let a couple of guys go ahead of me at this point as I needed to see someone execute a tee shot off the fake grass tee box and clear the ball up and over the bush line and out to the fairway that dropped away far below, before I could believe it was possible to do it.
 I only lost one ball too!
Cleared that bush with my trusty 7 Wood to get sufficient loft and distance.

Walking thru Nikau to get to No6,Waitakere

Hamish the Left-handed natural at Howick

Wild seas on a stormy Monday-Muriwai

 

 

Brother  Putting on 9th, Muriwai

Dad, not to be outdone and wanting to be part of my golf odyssey wonders if we play both 18 hole courses at Albany Mini-Golf together could I count that as 1 of my courses.
Well it is not everyday your 89 year old father wants to play golf with you.


Of course it counts!

Dad on the course at Albany Mini-Golf

 And then as if that is not enough he volunteers to come and caddy for me at Takapuna on an intensely hot afternoon.I ring to see if we can hire a cart to make it a bit easier for us in the heat as I am concerned it will be a bit much for Dad.
Yes all good we can hire a cart.
But when we get there none are available.
I am worried about the effects of heat on poor old Dad but those 23rd Battalion fullas are pretty tough and despite being blind in one eye and with only partial sight in the other he manages to negotiate the uneven ground of the course with admirable style.
As he admits he is not a great caddy as he is unable to see where any of my shots go but he is fine company nevertheless.
A lovely afternoon is had by us both beside the roaring motorway.

Fine company on a sunny afternoon,Takapuna.

 Dad arranges for an RSA buddy of his to take me out to play Waitemata .
 It is a drizzly Sunday morning, and the whole exercise is executed with military precision. The fastest nine holes I have ever played and certainly no time for photos.




I finish my Auckland tour with a much more leisurely paced 9 holes at Whangaparaoa on a perfect late summer day the morning before I fly home to Shaky City.
I am my own caddy and  spend a lot of time taking photos and drinking in the views and watching the pukekos in the swamp.
I score a lovely 59 but alas no point handing in my card without a marker to verify it.
Such a relaxed atmosphere at Whangaparaoa after the fast pace of  city clubs like Howick.
This is golf how I like it.
Leisurely.
With no one in front and no one behind.
Just me and the Fairway.

Just me and my shadow,High Noon,Whangaparaoa.

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