mrbojumbles

The beauty of simplicity

// July 8th, 2009 // Experience

Our Australian based Kiwi correspondent Sam Williamson is one special individual. The force and brainchild behind a new internet sensation called “MASTER MOUSE PATROL”. The spectacular site taps into the creative culture and community in Australasia that over the years has been at the forefront of ideas and new thinking in every aspect of the arts and business. Master Mouse Patrol aims to bring this creative community together and share the brilliant, inspiring and confronting work, ideas and advice of these people to the World.

check out his baby - www.mastermousepatrol.com

We hope to hear from him from time to time about his golfing adventures just like the following treat…

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Looks like about 135 to the pin huh Murph?
“The beauty of simplicity”

Tai Tapu Golf Course, South Island, New Zealand

Sunday afternoon rolls around and a wee trip to the country golf course is on the agenda. As I buckle in my seat belt, making sure it clicks as Ronald McDonald would insist, I anticipate an enjoyable afternoon ahead for all. Golf isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but sharing this afternoon with friends at a quiet country course is an experience to savior. It’s not about the golf; of who hit the most fairways or who made the most birdies. For if it was, I would have been the only one smiling… It is the simple things of this shared experience that are memorable from today.

It’s driving up a gravel driveway and parking under the trees. It’s walking past the local rules board that hasn’t been updated since ’86. It’s paying our green fees through the honesty box system. I glance around the clubhouse and see the dress code in full force; Beer t-shirts, stubbies and faded towel hats. “Beaudeee.” The absence of the words Meadow, International or Royal in the name of the course leaves us with no illusions of what to expect. It isn’t a course where you’ll spot Tiger, Freddy or Monty (that foul bastard) but you’ll probably spot Bill the local Volunteer Fireman and Doug the Green Grocer. During the round I hear Bryan the Gherkin Farmer is on the course too. Magic.

On the first hole I am reminded of my location as I look over an old 8-wire fence to see cattle and sheep happily grazing in a field. The holes are simple, no frills, no tricks. Some holes even have make-shift greens that resemble your mate’s putting green out the front of his house. Usually I would storm off the course in disgust at the sight of such a thing but today I find it all very understandable and even enjoyable as my putt bobbles away from the hole. The sun never stops shining making this one of the most enjoyable rounds of my life.

We finish the round and enter the clubhouse for a drink. The good times of the round are only just the beginning. I nearly choke as they tell us the price of our three beers. A whopping $6 – God bless those prices. We enquire if there’s any food and before we’ve finished the sentence a lovely old soul, quite possibly named Maud, comes marching out of the kitchen with a plate of club sandwiches and asparagus rolls exclaiming, “Finish these off boys.” We have been in this woman’s life for barely a minute but she still has the generosity to feed us like we’re one of her own. As we sit there discussing the lows of our rounds and the repulsiveness of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ a meat raffle starts up with a $1 entry. The excitement of the draw is second to none. They should convert lotto into this format; if they did I’d happily play every week.

We sit there as the prizes for the day’s rounds are announced and the 26 locals clap each other’s good play. The winners walk to the front of the room and make their choice from sausages or chops. What a prize! A suspiciously low front nine of 29 from ‘Higgsy’ goes unnoticed by the members. We find it very amusing but realise it’s their moment in the sun and eagerly join in the celebrations yelling out “good on ya Higgsy” to a man we’ve never met. The members seem to appreciate our enjoyment of the moment as much as we’re enjoying the sandwiches.

When we leave I let my mates know that these are the type of people who are welcome at my place for a cuppa any day of the week. It could be the five beers and excitement from the meat raffle talking, but its not. It’s the feeling of acceptance and warmth that comes from the simple pleasures this round has given my friends and I today.

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