Pair on par for a year of golf

Jamie Patton (left) and Michael Goldstein at Lochiel Golf Club near Hamilton yesterday, on day six of their year-long golf adventure. Photo / Alan Gibson

Two young lawyers have put their careers on hold for what is probably at best a Lotto dream for most golfers - to play 18 holes of golf every day on different courses around the world for an entire year.

Michael Goldstein and his friend Jamie Patton, both corporate lawyers from Wellington, began their golfing adventure, which they have called Puregolf 2010, at Kauri Cliffs golf resort in Northland on January 1.

After shooting 83 that day, Mr Goldstein, a 6-handicapper, has had a few problems with his game.

"The ball is going left and right, not one particular way," he said.

Mr Patton, who plays off a 3 at his Miramar Club in Wellington, was battling a snap hook when the Herald visited the pair at Lochiel Golf Club near Hamilton yesterday.

Still, the two 24-year-olds have plenty of time to get their games right at courses throughout New Zealand over the next six weeks before they head off to Australia, the United States, Britain, Europe, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea on a year-long golfing odyssey.

"It's kind of like that surfing movie The Endless Summer, except we're playing golf which might not be as cool," said Mr Goldstein.

Mr Patton, who is originally from Scotland but has lived in New Zealand since 2000, said the Puregolf 2010 idea came to them during an end-of-season hockey trip last August, when the pair were hung over and visited Cape Kidnappers.

"We were a bit reflective and thought: 'Why don't we do something crazy like play golf every day for a year?' We laughed it off but then thought a bit more about it and got together and thought we can make it happen, wrote a business plan and here we are."

The pair found that their partners were receptive to the idea and are living together for the year.

In a few months the pair could find themselves at Augusta National in the United States or St Andrews in Scotland.

"We don't have all the courses lined up yet but we are hopeful of getting on to some of the better courses," said Mr Goldstein.

Mr Patton hoped Puregolf 2010 would help raise money for their chosen charity First Tee New Zealand - an organisation in South Auckland that promotes character development and life-enhancing values through golf.

Their golf journey will end on December 31 where it started, at the Cape Kidnappers golf course.