The thought of winning a brand new Holden Colorado playing a new form of nine-hole golf was enough to convince Kamo's Reagan Mckenzie to have a crack at Cheeky9, which starts tonight at the Northland Golf Club.
However, to win the car he - or another Holden Cheeky9 competitor - must nail a hole in one on a particular hole in a particular week as chosen by the organisers. At the time when convinced, the 17-year-old Mckenzie didn't even know what Cheeky9 golf was - and still isn't 100 per cent - but was up for trying a new challenge. Teeing off from 5.45pm tonight, though, Mckenzie will experience the ambrose team style - where each player tees off and plays before alternating putting once on the green - variation along with about 20 other Northlanders, even though more are welcome to come along and have a crack.
The new rules see scoring based on a points system with teams being rewarded for beating their opposition on the hole, hitting the longest drive, getting nearest to pin, and chipping in. There are also other fun rules worth points which are changed each week such as speed holes, one-club only holes, and power holes.
Mckenzie's lack of knowledge on the rules won't be a hindrance though as everyone is in the same boat. "It's certainly a good idea," the Kamo High School Year 13 student said of the new format, adding that playing for a new Holden was appealing. "I'll have a crack."
During the 10-week competition, players can compare themselves to other competitors at their club and around the country as each player's statistics are recorded and ranked on cheeky9.com.
