Fundraising minigolfers in town after tour

JULIA WADE

On their last putt of a whirlwind three week tour, steering little white balls through numerous shaped ‘greens’, minigolf’s travelling fundraising trio swung into Mangawhai, intent on sinking a few holes-in-one.

Alas, John Middleton, Kyle Sutcliffe and born and bred local Zac Roberts, aka Par4, had to settle with just sighting the green on July 9 as the Mangwhai Heads course was unfortunately closed due to disrepair. The trio were certain they could navigate around the debris and puddles however, saying they had definitely played on far worse.

“Been on some hilarious courses in all sorts of weather including playing in pitch black with pouring rain,” Middleton says. “The one that takes the cake though is when we actually had to remove cow paddys off the green first and dig our way around to find the holes.”

“Then there was the guy at one course who said 'wait here, I'll just get you some balls',” Sutcliffe adds. “Twenty minutes later he returned with only one… we had to go foraging in the shrubs so we could play.”

“And Kati Kati’s Naturist Park,” Roberts says. “Although I think we were actually the only ones naked... all caught on camera for our parent’s pride...”

Inspiration to go on a minigolf fundraising tour came during Level 4 lockdown, which the friends spent together in Auckland. All three have experienced a degree of struggle with mental health in the past, and found weekly minigolf games with friends beneficial, encouraging social connection and relaxation.

After their last putts of the tour finishing at Auckland’s ‘Holey Moley’ course, the trio have more than doubled their initial fundraising target of $2500. To date they have raised $6870, ‘a great response’ they say.

On their quest to raise money for the mental health foundation Par4 have traversed the country from the far north to the deep south to play every minigolf course possible, 83 in total. They say they have been welcomed warmly by many, with course owners even opening gates late at night and at odd hours to accommodate the three putters.

“Sometimes they even fed us so we could get on our way more quickly,” Sutcliffe says. “We got a call from one lady who had a private course in

Hawera, which her husband had built for their children, and wondered if we would like to play it. The course was amazing… and she fed us.”

“Like to make a shout out to Te Anau,” Middleton says. “They pulled out all the stops – hotel room, huge five-course meal and a cruise on a vintage yacht!”

The trio also came up with an amusing way to motivate the daily winning tally Middleton says.

“Our campervan only had two beds so we decided whoever lost most of the games that day had to bunk in with one of the other guys… it was usually me so I got used to spooning...” he says. “The whole tour has been a lot fun, awesome… such a ridiculous ride, always good to have a laugh.”

n Like to donate? Visit events.mentalhealth.org.nz/fundraisers/ParFour or Par Four Facebook and Instagram @par.four
 

The guys scored a whole lot of holes-in-one for mental health, raising a total of $6870, more than twice their target. But who won the overall battle? From left, bronze went to John Middleton with 153; Kyle Sutcliffe took silver with 171; and Zac Roberts struck gold with 197. PHOTO/JULIA WADE

“I think we were actually the only ones naked.”