Drummond Golf Club is a stunner! 9 holes of immaculate golf course in the middle of Western Southland . Half an hour north of Invercargill. The more I got directions in the south I realised the universal language of distance is, ” 20 minutes out of Gore”

Following the ruggedness of Otautau last night my expectations were in check as we rose early to miss the heavy traffic on the way to Drummond.

Drummond castle in Scotland is brilliant and only a short drive from the famous Gleneagles. Which is relatively irrelevant but maybe Drummond Golf Club in the middle of rural Southland would stand up in the golfing world as a point of interest?

Pulling up to the car less car park it was a magical Southland morning. Crisp fresh air and a dew shimmering over the course as the sun rose into the big sky.

On very flat topography and amongst well established trees the course looked like a wee cracker.

$10 on hand to slip into the honesty box I noticed Drummond was offering online payment options also. Very wise in these modern times.

We moved to the 1st and realised we were not alone. It was hedge trimming day at Drummond. What a treat. The smell of fresh cut hedge was all around us, coupled with the perfect cloudless day I could be falling for Drummond.

Rural courses are maintained by volunteers. The work that goes in to keep these courses in order for their local communities is tremendous. You can tell Drummond Golf Club members love their golf course.

What you will notice about rural courses is that the greens are small. Not designed to punish your wayward iron shots, but in fact to help reduce the overall maintenance. The greens here are in great condition.

Following a clever dogleg to open the nine, you are faced with a longish par 5 and then head back toward the club house with a short par 4. By this point the dew was gone and the course looked amazing.

When we got to the 6th and our hedge trimmer was busy at work on the incredible expanse of hedge which defines the run down the 6th and 7th. We had so much fun paying homage to the god of hedges at this point. We prayed for a draw off the tee and for forgiveness if we couldn’t manage it. We were truly blessed as one of our balls bounced off the hedge and back onto the fairway.

On the 8th tee we met a green keeper who had a yarn with us. He was interested in where we from and what brought us to Drummond this morning. We told our stories, I asked what he thought of Southland golf. He was passionate about the region and the game. He hoped we would see Drummond in a favourable light.

I certainly did, now a favourite of mine as a nine hole golf course. I don’t know why really. Exceeded expectations, the smell of the hedge, the Southland air, who knows.

I told him about my goal to play every course in this land. “good to have a purpose” he said in true understated Southland style.

Our green-keeper mate asked if I had played Oreti Sands before it closed? No sadly. Shame that was apparently some place, the southern most 18 holes of golf in NZ. They tried to save it but they are running dogs on it now. I need to push on and accelerate this journey so as not to miss any of these great New Zealand golf courses.

Drummond – I am coming back to do it all again, I did fall for you. A perfect way to start the day!

I was 7 over the card but it was the course that won the day and the imposing hedge row.