Golf: Inventor charts a new course for sport

By IAN HEPENSTALL

Take a rugby-shaped golf ball, a set of nets and scenic Bay of Plenty farm and you have the latest game in the world of sport.

The third GolfCross course in New Zealand opens this weekend on the McCarrolls' property in Pyes Pa, south of Tauranga, following courses at Mt Cook and Martinborough that opened earlier this month.

"GolfCross is golf with goals instead of holes and an oval ball that gives players the control of a professional," inventor Burton Silver said.

"Yes it's a fun game and we think it will appeal to a wider group because there's no dress codes, it's more casual, it's more of a thinking game and it's played in wonderful surroundings.

"We didn't expect the tremendous reaction from the golfing community. Professionals like Stuart Thompson and Gina Scott are rapt in it, and we showed Mal Tongue last week and he was really impressed."

The key is the development of the oval golf ball that is more aerodynamically stable than the round ball, Mr Silver said.

"Basically you hit the ball straight every time, unless you specifically choose to fade or hook by placing the ball at a certain angle. You can easily impart backspin even with a three-wood out of the rough, or you can apply topspin for a low running shot.

"You can even hit complex double curve shots."

The development of the game has taken Mr Silver and partner Martyn Turner 12 years, becoming a reality after Scottish manufacturer Penfolds agreed to produce the ball.

"When you ring from New Zealand to ask a golf ball manufacturer if they would produce an oval ball and you get a range of interesting responses," Mr Silver joked.

The venture has cost "several hundred thousand dollars" to develop, funded by Mr Silver's flourishing business as an author and publisher.

He wanted to establish an original Kiwi form of golf that also celebrates the splendour of New Zealand's rural environment and incorporates rugby.

"Without the need to develop greens, we can site GolfCross anywhere, which is why we have opened courses in places like Mt Cook and Martinborough.

"The cost of a 9-hole kit complete with nets is $20,000, which is about a third of the cost of developing one green."

Mr Silver approached Hugh and Biddy McCarroll six years ago after hearing about the unique rural surrounds of the Ngawaro golf course on their farm midway between Tauranga and Rotorua.

"We decided to give it a go and the reaction from our club people so far has been great," Hugh McCarroll said.

"I think it will appeal to a lot of people who don't play a lot of golf because it's something different."

The GolfCross course incorporates part of the existing Ngawaro course, and some newly developed hilly terrain.

Mr Silver would like GolfCross to remain unique to New Zealand.

"That's the plan initially at least, although I am unsure how long that will stay because we have already had considerable interest from overseas."

There was an open day at McCarrolls property yesterday that included a special exhibition match featuring Sam Hunt and Bradley Illes - two members of Rotorua Boys High's world secondary school winning golf team.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES