Beauden’s birthday brings surprise visit

JULIA WADE

Golfers of all ages thought they had scored way under par recently when a bunch of rugby stars stepped onto their local course to tee off for a few holes, their footprints leaving an indelible imprint for many on the greens of Mangawhai Golf Club (MGC).

All Blacks Beauden and Jordie Barrett, Sam Cane, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown were in Mangawhai for Beauden’s birthday and dropped into the club on July 24 for a round of 18 holes. It was ‘a neat day with the All Blacks’ MGC’s ambassador, Mike Howard said.

“The visit came about through my relationship with the business partner of several of the All Blacks and the fact they were up here for Beauden’s birthday,” he says. “It was a very social visit and they loved playing the course, with most of them finding it really challenging.”

Although none of the AB’s declared they would be trading the rugby field for a golf green anytime soon, Howard says that a number of the athletes were talented golfers with handicaps of four and five, not surprising as ‘some are multi-talented when it comes to sport’.

“They’ll be back here again but not for a while now once the international rugby season kicks in,” Howard says. “They were brilliant ambassadors… we had a number of delighted juniors come along and the All Blacks really went out of their way to make them – and some of our adult members – feel really special. The kids all left with huge smiles, many signatures and memories that will last years!”

Creating lasting memories, from left, All Black’s Sam Cane, Beauden Barrett and Brad Weber with a group of local children who could not stop grinning. PHOTO/SUPPLIED