Golf: McCullum to lead transtasman challenge at NZ Open

Brendon McCullum will swap cricket bat for a golf club. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Retiring Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum will be swapping bat for golf club later this year after being revealed in the field for the transtasman challenge at the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open.

McCullum will represent New Zealand in a transtasman ANZ Celebrity Challenge as part of the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open.

The Challenge will be played concurrently with the Open, seeing a four-man Australian celebrity team (captained by Allan Border) go head to head in match-play against the four-man New Zealand celebrity team (captained by Stephen Fleming).

The ANZ Celebrity Challenge will be played over all four days of the tournament (March 10 to 13) across Millbrook, The Hills and Jack's Point golf courses. In total, the eight players will play 16 matches to compete for the ANZ Celebrity Challenge team event between the two countries.

In the New Zealand line-up with McCullum are Stephen Fleming, former All Blacks Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens, while Australia fields Allan Border as captain, former cricketer Ricky Ponting, actor and comedian Glenn Robbins and former New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary, all playing as amateur golfers in a 'team versus team' format.

Playing off a handicap of 11, McCullum admits he is likely to have a few nerves ahead of what he describes as his "ultimate golfing test."

"To have my swing open to analysis by thousands of golf fans is something quite new for me. I am really looking forward to being a part of the NZ Open, and to play on three of New Zealand's finest courses - and of course the leadership that our Captain Fleming will no doubt provide."