ON a recent trip up North I had the good fortune to visit the Waitangi Golf Couse in all its glory.
It's a stunning picturesque venue that looks out to the beautiful Bay of Islands.
There were a handful of groups enjoying the surrounds in these international tourist-less times and it became apparent the players were in their "golfing paradise."
This reinforced the indisputable fact that along with all our other outstanding attractions we are one of the planet's ultimate golfing destinations.
Scattered all around the country are courses ranging from the awe inspiring and majestic to the ones off the beaten track with fences around the greens to keep the sheep off.
There are courses for everyone.
It's a huge selling point when the borders re-open and the world returns to some normality.
I've often wondered why we haven't made more of our golfing pedigree.
The Government invested $136.5m in the recently completed America's Cup campaign. While it would be churlish to question that investment there's no doubt a fraction of that spent on, say, a fully fledged co-sanctioned tournament with the PGA or the European Tour would reap rewards.
The current New Zealand Open (a Pro-Am type tournament) does a magnificent job of showcasing all that is good about Aotearoa so just imagine what substantial Government funding could realise.
It's time to tee-off post Covid and utilise our vast golfing potential.
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LAST Sunday afternoon there was a collective groan when Blues' prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi lined up Crusaders skipper Scott Barrett and took him out in a sickening "clean out" during the Super Rugby clash at Eden Park.
Tu'ungafasi was yellow-carded for clipping Barrett in the chin with his shoulder. There's no question it could have been a lot worse. That it wasn't can only be put down to good luck - pure and simple.
Ironically the Blues' player was cleared of any wrongdoing in a baffling decision from the judiciary which will only serve to encourage the "Exocet missile" (i.e. flying in at a low trajectory) technique of taking players out.
As club rugby gets set to kick-off "clean outs" like this will be the norm.
There will be yellow and red cards issued. There will be injuries, bad injuries. Players seasons will be finished and, in some cases, careers.
The illegal cleaning out appeals to the boofhead element in rugby but for everyone else it's a shameful part of the game.
It's dangerous.
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ON THIS DAY
1896
At 9.30 a.m., an explosion tore through the Brunner mine in Westland’s Grey Valley. Two men sent underground to investigate were later found unconscious after inhaling black damp, a suffocating mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Rescuers began bringing out bodies around 11 a.m. The noxious gases took their toll on the men in the rescue parties, many of whom collapsed and had to be carried out.
The final death toll was 65 – almost half of Brunner’s underground work force. This remains New Zealand’s deadliest industrial accident.
(Courtesy: nzhistory.govt.nz)
1978
The IRB at its annual meeting decided to introduce free kicks, from which points could not be scored, from the start of the 1977-78 season.
