Bunkering off for befitting cause | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A NYONE who has taken the twisty, windy 30km/h road to and from the Cape Kidnappers Golf Resort from the Clifton Rd gate will attest to how the picturesque surrounds can leave you in a state of meditation ... and then the boss screams on the other end of the phone, akin to the well-known TV bank advertisement: "Goldstein!"

In August last year, Wellingtonians Michael Goldstein and Jamie Patton were doing just that when Goldstein jokingly mooted the idea of playing golf every single day of 2010.

"We'd probably had a few the night before but as we were driving through I came up with the idea and we were laughing and thought how awesome that would be," he told SportToday yesterday.

A week later, when they returned from their Bay trip to Wellington, the dream became a reality - all in the name of charity.

The 24-year-olds quit their jobs as corporate lawyers after receiving favourable responses from golf clubs around the world to see if they would accommodate the pair during their quest from New Year's Day at the Kauri Cliffs Golf Resort.

"Golf is a perfect game where in four hours you can talk, meet people in different countries and courses each day," explained Goldstein following their round of golf at the Hastings Golf Club yesterday after arriving here from Mahia before heading off to Pahiatua today for a round.

They will go to Australia for three months, the United States for two months and Britain for 3 1/2 months before making their way back via Asian countries in October to the South Island.

"We'll end up in Cape Kidnappers where it all began for us." Australian-born Goldstein, who arrived in New Zealand with his family when he was 5 years old, said they chose countries where they could find billets, such as Australia, and anticipated they would get all the help they needed from the UK because Patton is a Scotsman.

"We want to keep the costs as low as possible with the help of hosts and free golf," he said, emphasising all proceeds from donations would go to the First Tee New Zealand, a branch of a global mission to inspire children by providing educational programmes that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf (donations can be made via the website - www.thefirstteenz.org).

Patton and Goldstein, who were staying with a Havelock North couple who wish to remain anonymous, said the hospitality from Kiwis to date had left them amazed and also broadened their knowledge of different communities.

Their venture will be officially launched at the Terrace Downs Resort golf club in Christchurch on January 25.

While the single-digit handicappers had found their handicaps were blowing out, their biggest challenge will be playing through inclement weather and maintaining their health.

So how will their "golfing widows", who are moving into a flat in Wellington, handle their absence?

"We're going to keep in touch with them and hopefully they'll travel to see us in Australia."