Day 14 - Mahia

Posted by Jamie on 14 January 2010 | 2 Comments | Tags: , ,

I love playing at country courses.  And hearing about how life is for people outside of the main centres.  Having spent most of my days in the concrete jungle, I am just as guilty as the many that forget there is civilisation outside of the city.  How refreshing it is to chew the fat with the sort of characters we have met over the past 24 hours.

Dashing down from Gisborne after a quick 18 holes and a pint, we were en route to Lil (& Bill) Morgan's place near Mahia - a 2000 acre sheep and beer farm near the coast.  Neither of us had met Lil before; in fact she had only invited us to stay 2 days prior, when we were organising our tee time for today's game.  Nonetheless Lil had gone to the trouble of inviting a few of the locals around for a BBQ, to welcome us to their neighbourhood.  Embarassingly we were late (having underestimated our travel time -  an error we have made more than once already this year).  But Lil and her pals were in good spirits and we were instantly put at ease.  Phew.  The warm welcome set the tone for our visit - and we sat up into the night blethering away.  (After forewarning from certain of the said locals, nightmares ensued during the night about unprecedented golf ball losses - nightmares that unfortunately came to fruition).

An early start and Lil kindly had breakfast set out for us.  With no time to waste we then boosted 15 minutes or so down the road to Mahia Golf Course, the road to which is flanked with spectacular views across torquoise waters and black sand beaches.  Mike and I were in awe of this place; seemingly one of the few around these days that genuinenely feels untouched.  Perhaps it's because there is no highway in there - and if that's the case, it's a good thing.

Mahia is a true links layout, the sort of track I relish.  Though not long it is riddled with long grass and water hazards, and the wind (though it didn't this morning) likely plays havoc more often than not.  There are 9 holes, played twice off different tees.  So in theory the second time round you should know where you are going, and this should be reflected in your score.  Yeah right.  

The place has an amazing feel to it - and the day was all the more enhanced by our playing partners, Peter (the club president, local top gun and "King of the [East] Coast" - read: good golfer) and Frank (the assistant greenkeeper, and thankfully my playing partner).  Banter was sharp and relentless.  And thankfully Frank and I had the last laugh in the haggle - which poured water on the fire of Peter's chat. 

After the golf we had a couple of Goodtime Pies in the clubhouse (never had them before, but delicious), washed down with a cool ale (in choosing Lion Red over Tui apparently I fell steeply in Peter's estimation).  Mahia feels like a real members' club - and you can picture the shindigs they put on in that clubhouse.  Would love to be a fly on the wall to see some of the mischief they get up to.  But it's not all fun and games: Lil and co enlightened us on what being part of a club like Mahia involves - namely everyone getting their hands dirty.  If fairways need to be raised to avert flooding, the members do it.  If a sprinkler needs fixing, the members do it.  Kind of reminded me of the club ski fields in Canterbury.  Being part of a city course one is often so removed from the day to day work of golf course maintenance.  So it was nice to hear first hand what these good people put into their golf club - and what they got out of it in return.  From our flying visit we got the impression that the club plays a pivotal role in the community - something which made our experience feel all the more privileged, more intimate. 

So thank you to Lil, Bill, Pete, Frank, and all the others that we met in Mahia.  It was a privilege to be allowed to share your course with you, and we are grateful to you for putting us up so generously.  We'll be back (although not until next year at least!).

After leaving Mahia we zipped down to Havelock North, near Napier and Hastings.  We are kindly being hosted by Gayle and her husband Munro, in their lovely home overlooking the village.  Beautiful house - the sort that I'd like to end up in some day.  Gayle works at the club we are visiting tomorrow - Bridge Pa - and Munro plays there too.  Just spent a lovely evening with them talking about all sorts of things, and they cooked us a wonderful meal to boot.  Writing this blog from the home computer located in their bedroom, and think I'm standing between them and bed, so better call it a day for now.  More on Havelock, Bridge Pa and Gayle's/Munro's kind hospitality tomorrow.  Hope Bridge Pa is kinder to me than it was last time...

peace, JP

 

 

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Comments

  • Well done guy's,sounds like your having some great experiences, not working,playing Golf!! You have cracked it..

    Posted by Ged O'Connell, 15/01/2010 8:09pm (1 year ago)

  • Sounding good guys! More about who has the longest drive each day and who has the biggest nightmare of a hole!!

    Posted by Sam Bree, 15/01/2010 7:45am (1 year ago)