Year of golf has Kiwi pair aching for final putt

Michael Goldstein (L) and Jamie Patton have been playing golf courses every day around the globe to raise money for charity. Photo / Brett Phibbs

After more than 330 rounds of golf on an adventure that has taken them around the world, a pair of Kiwi golfers could be forgiven for looking a little worse for wear.

Former Wellington lawyers Michael Goldstein and his friend Jamie Patton are nearing the end of a golfing odyssey that has taken them to courses throughout New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Britain, Europe and Dubai - every day of the year since January 1.

When the Herald spoke to the two golfers in early January at the Lochiel Golf Club in Hamilton, they were sprightly and eagerly looking ahead to their adventure.

Since then they have played on several of the world's best golf courses including St Andrews, Turnberry and Winged Foot while experiencing random acts of kindness from strangers along the way.

There have also been the occasional rounds with top golfers including New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi in Dallas, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who shot 29 over nine holes in Dubai and a 74-year-old Scot Belle Robertson, who shot 73.

Yesterday at the Grange Golf Club in Papatoetoe the smiles were still there, the ball-striking was solid but the duo were wind-chafed, sunburned, jet-lagged and clearly in need of sleep.

Patton, who said he would start a new career in the oil and gas industry next year, said they had not had any serious injuries but were starting to get "a bit creaky".

"I'd say we have probably aged about 10 years over the past year.

"But the golf is the relaxing part of each day. It's just the blogging, the worrying about whether we've got a game locked down for the next week and where we're going to stay that's the hard bit ... but being back in New Zealand things shouldn't be too bad."

Goldstein, who is undecided as to what he will do next year, said the trip had opened their eyes to golfing peculiarities around the world.

It had also made them realise how egalitarian golf is in New Zealand.

The golfing adventure has helped raise more than $20,000 for charity First Tee New Zealand - a South Auckland organisation that promotes character development and life-enhancing values through golf.

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

Tour highlights

* Rounds of golf since January 1, 2010: 332

* Strokes: Goldstein 18,614, Patton 18,823

* Birdies: Goldstein 345, Patton 275

* Holes in one: None

* Best courses: Cypress Point (California), Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills (both New York), Pine Valley (New Jersey) Turnberry (Scotland)

* Fastest round: 21 minutes (9 holes)

* Km travelled: 34,296

* Weirdest moments:
1) Playing golf with former amateur champion Belle Robertson, 74, who played off a 1-handicap and shot 73. She then put the pair up for the night at her house where they drank scotch.

2) Jamie hitting his ball out of the rough at a course in Ireland and accidentally hitting a baby rabbit about 30m away. Sadly the rabbit did not survive the impact.