Leon Goldsmith on his nine-hole golf course, with its sweeping views of Otago Harbour. Photo / ODT
Leon Goldsmith discovered a good way to relax from his university studies. He built a golf course.
Mr Goldsmith, 33, a keen golfer, has developed a nine-hole course on Hare Hill, near Deborah Bay, above Otago Harbour.
During the weekend, he held an open tournament so people could
try out the course.
The idea came to him while he was working at a glass factory in Brisbane in 2004.
"It was mundane sort of work and I had a bit of time on my hands. I thought about a pitch and putt course but then thought maybe you could squeeze in a proper golf course."
His family run a horse-trekking business at Hare Hill, and Mr Goldsmith said he could see the potential of the land.
He got his sister Sarah to walk around the family farm, taking photos, which were sent to him in Brisbane.
"The first design went from memory and drawings I had done on my workbench in Brisbane."
He returned to New Zealand at the start of 2005 and began working for a degree in political studies and geography.
But in his downtime - he also played rugby as a No 8 for the Harbour club in Dunedin - he worked on the golf course.
"It's a good way to relax - get away from the books and get into some manual work."
Eventually, the course, with six par-4 holes and three par-3s, emerged, although he said it had changed greatly from what he had originally envisaged.
"But I'm really happy with what we've got."
Mr Goldsmith used spare fencing to help define the fairways, planted about 300 trees and spent hours mowing the greens. The course measures 3180m.
The family's 16 horses and 50-odd sheep keep the fairways in good order.
"All I have to do is once a week drive up the fairways and pick up all the horse dung."
Mr Goldsmith, who is now studying for a PhD in Middle Eastern politics, said the course would reward a long, accurate hitter. Green fees were $10, and anyone who wanted to have a hit could play.
It brings to 14 the number of golf courses within the greater Dunedin area.
"I didn't do it for money. When I first started out it was a 10-year plan, and with the trees planted it's going to look great."
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
