The Williamson Golf Course in Whangamatā is a favourite haunt for holidaymakers. It’s a charming little par-three, nine-hole course tucked right into the middle of town. For most of the year it hums along quietly, aside from a couple of weekly events, but once the holidays roll around, things step up a gear.
The course is perfect for beginners, casual players and the time-poor, and the green-fee income is a welcome addition to the club’s annual coffers. But with houses bordering the fairways and more than a few ways to sneak on, some visitors — known locally as “golf thieves” — occasionally try their luck at a free round.
The course and bar are staffed during the day, but when the paid staff clock off at 5pm, that’s when the mischief tends to begin.
This summer, members decided enough was enough and formed what’s now known as the “Twilight Patrol”. Most encounters are friendly, with a polite reminder to head to the pro shop doing the trick. Every so often there’s a bit of pushback from a cocky teenager or the odd neighbour who reckons they’re just “having a quick hit”. And yes, the older members will sometimes look the other way if a kid who clearly loves the game is a few dollars short that week.
Organiser Warren Glass says the patrol has already paid dividends.
“We’ve ‘caught’ more than 120 golf thieves this summer — which adds up to thousands of dollars in much-needed income for the club,” he says. “Hopefully we’re educating people at the same time, so it’s a win-win.”
Glass says the importance of collecting green fees was driven home after Cyclone Gabrielle.
“After Gabrielle, the club had to invest more than $300,000 just to get the course back in order, and volunteers put in hundreds of hours,” he says. “That’s why every green fee really does matter — it helps keep the course open and available for everyone.”
