A GOOD WALK RUINED*

* 

 I took some more interesting photos of shadows today and would have shared them except that a grumpy old ingrate has shown no interest.

If it wasn't for the fact that he makes up for about 90% of the readership of this blog I'd have ignored him but ... beggars can't be choosers.

Today I drove out to Makara - a camel and a packed lunch away- and played 9 holes at Karori Golf Club.

I did this to check out the course to see if I wanted to join it. It was a 23 minute drive from Thorndon even though the golf course website reported it as being 15 minutes from Wellington! Who did they use - Sterling Moss? There were some roadworks in Karori and the new Karori village speed limits have slowed things down a bit but ... 15 minutes - really?

I also wanted to see what the course was like in regard to upkeep, condition, location and interesting features. While not as interesting as The Pines in Whangarei Heads where I've been a member I think it will do. I also think that they might let me join without being blackballed in the vetting process given that they have bogans from Northland as members!

I'll try out some other clubs but, on talking to some members there, they said that one of the advantages of Karori is that it was easy to get a tee time and that during the week members can come and go and play a few holes without having to wait around. This casualness is what I've been used to at The Pines so is an attraction. I don't want a formal membership where I have to play in groups.

It was the first golf I've played for months and months and for every good shot I played I followed up with a crap one. That's OK though as I'm only interested in the exercise and the chance of finding some golf balls. The course is a bit hilly but this will help with my fitness. I think that I might join as a 9-hole member.