Our Member Host
Name: Barry Holsted
Age: Middle aged, young at heart.
Born Feb 1951
Occupation: Building Consultant.
Nickname: Bazza (and a few unprintable
ones)
Handicap: Around 18 (16.5) and Golf
Background:
Married to Cheryle (for a long time) - two boys. Live
in Titirangi and have a small stud farm in Southland.
An ex Plumber and Building Inspector who grew up overlooking
Akarana? Involved in both Rugby and Soccer as player
and administrator. Chairman of Roskill Districts Rugby
for seven Years and one of the founders of women’s
soccer in Auckland. Life Member of the Mt Roskill
Soccer Club. Joined Akarana in 2000 after a long lay
off to support my sons sport.
Finest Hour in Golf:
Runner up in the Northland Junior Stroke-play Championship
1988.
Most Embarrassing Moment in Golf:
Scoring 12 Stableford points (record) at Wairakei
off the black tees in the annual Marist trip away.
Hobbies:
Still doing Life Guard duty at Piha (Grey Watch) and
being a couch potato sports critic. NZ agent for Radio
Caroline (The first Pirate radio station in the UK
[which is still transmitting])
Something for the old Members that should
not be published :
As a child we used to caddie, mainly on Sundays, and
get a couple of shillings for our efforts. The afternoon
round was a great way to make extra money as when
the players used to go to the 3rd green (Now 11th
) we would go over to the 4th Tee (12th) , go though
the bags, find the new golf balls pocket them and
disappear into Keith Hay Park. (It was not playing
fields then.) Next week we would go and sell them
to the morning players and make a profit. Tip - Never
do it to the same player two weeks running and deny
ever taking a ball.
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The
middle hole in Akarana’s infamous trio of finishing
holes. According to Bazza it’s one that he’s
parred more times than any other but we say watch out
and be very careful.
As many players will confirm, the 16th,
17th and 18th can destroy an otherwise good round. Not
because they are overly difficult but because when it
really counts they take on a life of their own. It is
not uncommon to see a Bissett Shield player or two use
the chicken stick off the 17th tee. Maybe they know
something? Here’s how our man sees it….
“A great par 4 if the tee shot
is good. With out of bounds and a heavy tree line down
the left hand side you need to be straight as the land
slopes to the right and into Ollie’s Bush - my
usual spot. A good second will put you onto the green
and even if a bit short the slope of the ground will
allow the ball to run onto the putting surface. But
be off line and the bamboo hedge on the left will eat
your ball - goodbye par. The bunkers on the right also
catch players out as the green slopes away from them.
On the dance floor there is some interesting borrow
which is read wrong on many occasions. Having said all
that, it is the one hole I have parred more often than
any other par 4 on the course”.
Torque
Mulitmedia sponsor the 17th - that's
Gabb, the chap who designed this website! |
Back in 2003, your trusty
greens staff removed some dangerous trees that
were also blocking your line. |
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What a stud! Bazza down on the
farm. |
Bazza during his Pink phase |
Anything Else?
When starting out on about a 36 had the chance
to play with Ricky Barker, then a young pro golfer.
He had had a swing with my clubs and on the 17th I
missed a putt of about 50Omm which cost us the game
and the beer. Going down the 18th I mentioned I would
like to have a lesson with him as he had now seen
me play. His reply was he would give me a couple of
tips between then and the 18th green.
Tip 1: was get rid of those
golf clubs, being new to the game I thought they were
unsuitable.
Tip 2: and never go on a !%A^~*# golf course again
after missing that putt.
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Bazza and the boys |
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