expatowner

100%

Joe Biden I know, give him a chance, he will be better than Trump. But I just cant stand him. Lets see how long it takes him to send troops to kill people.

That looks cool

Unputdownable

We have been touring New Zealand for the last 6 months, and have played 117 rounds of golf on 105 courses, which works out at roughly 4½ rounds per week. The cost of each round is usually around the $25-$35 mark. Word of thanks - Most / many of the courses do not have even one full-time greenkeeper with the members volunteering to look after bits of the course. They all do a fantastic job. We also count our blessings in being able to travel and golf freely when many people around the world are so badly impacted by Covid and the restrictions. Both of our handicaps have clicked up a notch since we set out last July, but that’s to be expected playing new courses every other day. The maps show you (in black) where we have been: North Island – We tackled Northlands first, then over to The Coromandel, around Hamilton, across to Taranaki, then down the west coast to Wellington. South Island –from Picton we came down the west coast through Tasman, Buller, Grey, Westland, Queenstown Lakes and Southland. There wasn’t an awful lot of courses taking this route, but the scenery is too good to miss. North Island South Island Our plan is to take the next 6 months, to cover many of the west coast courses first on the South Island and then the North Island, finishing back in Auckland around June. Highlights and one ‘lowlight’: The quirkiest course award encountered so far is currently a tie between Rangatira and Roxburgh. Rangatira is set out on a number of descending levels and, after completing the 18th, you catch a ‘ski lift’ to get back up to the clubhouse level. Roxburgh has sculpted around various outcrops of rock sticking up along the fairways and close to the greens, sounds a bit intimidating but they add to, rather than detract from, enjoying the course. Roxburgh is a fairly short course so placement of our tee shots was important. Rangatira ski lift Roxburgh rock outcrops A special mention goes to Ngaruawahia near Hamilton, everywhere you looked things were neat and tidy – fairways, greens, bunkers, practice area, clubhouse, not one discarded beer bottle to be seen anywhere! A delight to play from start to finish. To my shame, I am currently winning the bad behaviour award for the furthest thrown club for my effort on the 5th at Manawatu (at least twice as far as my ball travelled) Mornington in Wellington, requires lungs of steel and legs like a cart horse, to cope with all the ups and downs that it throws you. Not one for the faint hearted! Most sheep on the course award is currently a tie between Taihape and Buckley. Wainuiomata picks up a special award just for its second hole - only 154m, but there’s one HUGE tree that’s VERY difficult to go over and still get to the green and it seems to fill most of the tight “fairway” and causes trouble for players as they try to play beneath. Goldendowns golf course has an option to play New Zealands longest par 5 hole at 659m, I chickened out and played the 505m option. Best par 3 is the big drop 12th at Taihape (133m), with trouble right and left, which reminded me of the old 17th hole at my home course in Kinghorn, Scotland. Taihape 12thhole Best par 4 – pick any one of many dog-leg holes at Waitomo. Waitomo dog-leg Best par 5 is the 13th at Wellsford with its humongous drop away. The most intimidating first tee award goes, hands down, to Te Marua - where a huge, straight drive is required just to get across the river. Te Marua first hole tee to landing area Nearest the pin was my shot that landed a foot away and stayed within two feet of the pin on the 13th hole (124m) at Kerikeri. Nearest the pin Anyway that’s all from us, for now. Happy New Year and play good golf everybody! List of Courses played North Island– 88 courses, 99 rounds Muriwai, South Head, Tapora, Northern Wairoa(x2), Kaitai(x2), Houhora(x2), Carrington, Whangaroa, Okaihau, Waitangi, Kerikeri, Kaihoke, Whangarei(x2), Waipu, Mangawhai, Wellsford, Maramarua, Hauraki(x2), Thames, Coromandel, Matarangi, Whitiangi, Purangi, Tairua, The Lakes, Whangamata, Waihi, Fairview, Summerhill, Omokoroa, Mt Maunganui, Matamata, Te Aroha, Watton, Paeroa, Waikere, Huntly, Riverside, Hukanui, Cambridge, Ngaruawahia(x2), Raglan(x2), Horsham, Te Awamutu, Otorohanga, Tirau, Putaruru, Tokoroa, Mangakino, Taumarunui, Urenui, Kaitake, Opunake, Manaia, Hawera, Fitzroy, Westown(x2), Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Ohakune, Taihape, Rangatira, Castlecliff, Wanganui, Marton, Orlando, Manawatu, Palmerston North, Fielding, Foxton, Otaki, Buckley, Levin, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Kapiti, Titahi, Ohariu, Karori(x2), Judgeford(x2), Hutt Valley, Trentham, Te Marua, Manor Park, Boulcotts Farm, Wainuiomata(x2), Mornington. South Island– 17 courses, 18 rounds Waahi Taakaro, Greenacres, Nelson(x2), Takaka, Motueka, Totaradale, Golden Downs, Murchison, Westport, Reefton, Hokitika, Hawea, Cromwell, Alexandra, Roxburgh, Waikaka,

I managed a top thirty finish in 2020, but I'm hoping for an even better position from my team this year. 4 solos, 1 deadly duo. Bring in on!

Ooh a last moment boost up the table for me.

25 is enough. Close the entries.