Two guys, one year, 365 rounds

Michael Goldstein (left) and Jamie Patton have been amazed at people's kindness as they have travelled. Photo / Alan Gibson

They've played 18 holes of golf with Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, borrowed Ben Crenshaw's locker at Bel Air and hit balls on a range next to former tennis world No 1 Pete Sampras.

There have also been rounds at TPC Sawgrass, Augusta Country Club, Bethpage Black, Winged Foot and the home of golf, St Andrew's in Scotland.

But perhaps what's more amazing is how Wellingtonians Michael Goldstein and Jamie Patton got clearance from their girlfriends to play golf - every day - at different courses around the world for an entire year.

The pair are now in Scotland and more than 200 rounds of golf and 35,000km into a journey that started on January 1 at Kauri Cliffs in Northland and has seen them travel to courses throughout New Zealand, Australia, the US and Britain.

Mr Goldstein's partner, Gretta O'Connell, yesterday told the Herald neither she nor Mr Patton's girlfriend Angela Bamford needed much convincing when the men told them of plans for their golfing adventure.

"It wasn't about them convincing us; if I had wanted to do something similar, Michael would have been happy for me to do it," she said.

"You have to let people do these things and what they're doing is pretty remarkable."

Ms O'Connell said the men were buzzing after playing at St Andrew's.

Ms Bamford said the two had been overwhelmed by strangers' random acts of kindness.

After rounds at Pine Valley and Merion - two US courses that are almost impossible to be invited to - Mr Goldstein and Mr Patton were then invited to stay at the New Jersey home of a stranger, who put them up for two days and paid for everything.

He then left them alone in his house for a further three days when he left for Scotland on his own golf trip.

"I think they were both pleasantly surprised at the fact that so many strangers had reached out to them and took them out and showed them around and they were pretty generous with donations," said Ms Bamford.

Ms O'Connell, who is to meet the men in Ireland next month, said they had their share of difficulties, including tiredness after eight months of golf.

"I think Michael has a sore back, but they're pretty fit.

"It has been tough for them just ... arranging somewhere to play every day and having somewhere to stay.

"They've slept in their car a few times, played in the pouring rain and run around the course with just one or two clubs."

The puregolf2010.com website shows that Mr Goldstein has the better stroke average. He has converted 309 birdies to Mr Patton's 249.

Their adventure has raised more than $10,000 for The First Tee, an organisation that runs educational programmes for youth promoting character development and life-enhancing values through the sport.

First Tee chief executive Pip King said she kept in regular contact with Mr Goldstein and Mr Patton via Skype and she followed their blog. Their trip had been an inspiration for the children attending First Tee courses.

"A lot of the kids in the programme are new to golf and getting these regular things from the guys is an inspiration for them."

PLAYING AROUND THE WORLD

The golfers started their year's tour at Kauri Cliffs, then played on several more courses in New Zealand before moving on to Australia in mid-February.

They travelled through New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland until early May.

The next stop was the United States, beginning in California. They went from there to Arizona, then through Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Then they headed north, stopping in at courses along the eastern seaboard all the way to New York.

In mid-July, they arrived in Britain and are now in Scotland.

They are off to Ireland next month before moving to the Continent.

They are due home in December and on the last day of the year will play at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, where they first dreamed up the idea.