Ohakune is known as the carrot capital of New Zealand, sitting at the foot of Mount Ruapehu . Waimarino Golf Club is an 18 hole course established in 1926 in this magical mountain location.

I was in town to drop off my snowboarding son for a week on the slopes. I was not interested in the white hillside, more the little white ball. In the dead of winter I was concerned about how this golf course would play.

Surprise Surprise ! Waimarino was dry as a bone and in great condition for such a winter location. The volcanic soil grows a great carrot and the pumice like qualities make the area free draining.

A black dog warmly welcomed me and was keen to make friends. There wasn’t many others around at 3 in the afternoon as I rushed to get on the course and finish up before dark.

In a desperate attempt to elevate my game I decided to purchase some new clubs. The Clubroom sorted me out and fitted the perfect sticks for a man like me. I picked up the new driver and hyprid on my way south. I was super nervous about having 2 new clubs in the bag.

It was like a first date, highly expectant but worried that I wouldn’t know what to do. It was a good idea to have some time on my own with these 2 beautiful additions to my carry bag. I needed to get to know them before introducing them to my friends.

I stood on the 1st holding the unwrapped Titleist driver, the black dog sat at the back of the tee watching to see what I was going to do with it.

200 plus metres later I was in the middle of the fairway. Fully satisfied with my purchase.

This romance could blossom.

I got the same feeling on the par 5 2nd – a good drive in the semi rough and an ideal chance to pull out the hybrid. I’ve never used a hybrid before, would there be instant magic? What followed was a nervous swish sending the topped ball 20 metres further up the semi rough – I had answered that question pretty quickly.

This romance may take some work.

The 3rd was a par 3 – I fired right at the bunker and watched as the ball bounced out of there some 20 metres from the green. The bunkers are walled with timber. They look great but if you catch the timber watch out.

I had a mixed bag on the front nine, but a series of chip and putt pars got me out in the right frame of mind.

The 11th is the first dogleg. It is stroke hole 3 and only 287 metres. Why is that I wondered, new driver in hand. The short leg of the dog is about 130 metres up to the corner. So the sensible thing to do is hit a mid iron and then another. Or you could gaze into the eyes of your new lover and go over the corner.

You know what happens next – I watched my ball rifle into trees and not over them.

This romance may not last.

The course here at Waimarino Golf Club was a welcome surprise, the fairways were dry and soft. I never had to clean my ball and I found the greens true. 5,500 metres with a great layout and mix of long and shorter par 4’s. The par 5’s are get-able making for a good golf course to play. I ended up 13 over the card, spot on my course handicap for the day.

Playing on your own before the rule changes you would have to take the flag out when putting. I played the whole of this round flag in. I am a raging flag out man, traditionalist some may say.

Are you an innie or outie? A little petty maybe but the innies are rude, lazy and not in keeping with the spirit of the game. So I’m glad no one saw my innie day out at Waimarino.