It was club day at Hedgehope Golf Club. A lively bunch were out for the pre-Christmas loud shirt day out. People gathering quickly in the small car park. We shared a bit of banter with a man opening clubrooms and we got out quickly ahead of the pack.

The night before I had gathered directions on how to find the Hedgehope Golf Club. Asking in the local Speight’s house how far is it from here? “Oh, it’s 15 minutes out of Winton. “

Still none the wiser as I was not in Winton. Heading to Winton to find Hedgehope Golf Club, the weather was dry and overcast. Southland had experienced a lot of rain in the last month, good for growth but hard for local communities to keep their golf courses in good playing condition.

As it was club day we welcomed the sound of the mower tidying up the greens and fairways. We got the best of the conditions and the moisture dried off quickly.

The 1st hole heads down along the roadside, a par 3 to get you going, and then across the road for the next 2 holes. “Why did the Psychic Golfer cross the road?” … “To get to the other side”….

“Moonshine” was the 2nd a sweeping risk or reward par 4 at 263 metres. My hole of the day; a challenging drive to cut the corner and chase your ball up towards an elevated green.

After finishing on the 3rd – the longest hole on the course at 324 metres. It was back across the road for a short par 3, Glen Coe. One of my favourite parts of Scotland, an amazing heather laden valley.

There were a few interesting holes on Hedgehope Golf Course including doglegs, including “dogleg” which was a dogleg.

On the back nine, number 5 “Dogleg” is renamed, number 14 “Tractor Shed” a great observational name. I assume the tractor shed was built in the same location when the course came into being.

With mature trees all around and a tidy wee nine-holes, it was a pleasure to play at this community golf course. There were traditional club rooms which I am sure over the years has seen a few interesting gatherings.

Dating back to 1968 the club is a great example of golf in rural Southland. I left with a sense of pride that golf still keeps us all together, with a happy group of golfers out as a community enjoying life.