Otautau Golf Club is in the heart of rural Western Southland. 9 holes of golf that you can play twice for $10. This is true New Zealand country golf course action,

Otautau was our base whilst in the deep south. A great little rural town with a good pub. Blue cod and Bluff oysters were always on the menu and Speights was always on tap.

It was a lovely evening in Southland and a quick 9 holes seemed appropriate following our travels to get to this brilliant part of New Zealand. Otautau Golf Club is up a country track and on the hill at the back of the township.

It was a deserted part of the world as we pulled up into the car park. I had pre organised cash for my wallet on this trip knowing fine well that honesty boxes would be the dominant payment method. Cash dispatched into the envelope and the envelope slid into the slot. Off we trotted to the first tee.

I was excited to be on a golf course in the South, I love this part of the world. The countryside reminds me of Scotland and the people too. Unpretentious hearty welcoming people come from the south.

As we bashed off the first tee a man appeared from the bushes, ” g’day, crackin’ night eh?” We struck up a bit of banter and the local green-keeper(?) advised us to aim for the trees the grass was shorter in the rough than on the fairways! They were a bit behind on the maintenance schedule. He wasn’t wrong.

I wasn’t expecting championship quality and we didn’t get it. Expectations were met with a beautiful setting and a quiet round of golf with the whole course to ourselves.

You’ll work out I like an appropriately named hole. The 4th/13th was called Baldy, who knows why? There wasn’t anyone to ask. But what a great name for a hole.

The 5th/14th had 2 names one for the 5th one for the 14th. Dogleg and Elbow respectively. When in doubt name the dog leg for what it is. You could tell real people were responsible for this golf club.

I don’t know how many members are playing at Otautau, not many I was told in the pub. Rural golf courses all around New Zealand are only there thanks to the army of volunteers who look after them. Dedicating their time and effort to keep them alive. My $10 might pay for a pint for one of the volunteers hopefully.

There was enough challenging holes around Otautau to keep us engaged as the evening turned to dusk. The final 3 were a treat. Will this course be here in 5 years time, it will be hard to see how it won’t end up as farmland. Good luck to the good people of Otautau.