I'm more of a mini-golfer than a championship-course golfer, but I can now boast that I've shared a golf cart with former US President Barack Obama.
I mean, it's quite possibly not the same golf cart of course, but just humour me. For just 9 days ago, I was lucky enough to stay at Kauri Cliffs luxury lodge in Northland's beautiful Matauri Bay... the same place Obama is currently enjoying with golfing buddy Sir John Key. Which surely technically makes us new best friends?
But what's it really like behind those security gates on Tepene Tablelands Road? Well, beautiful is the short answer. Beautiful, elegant, relaxed, indulgent, heavenly... the list of superlatives could go on and on.
From the moment you arrive, you're swept into a world of luxury, where no request is too much trouble - but you probably won't need to make any requests, because the expert staff also appear to be mind-readers. They'll anticipate your every need - whether it's a glass of champagne after the long drive from Auckland (sadly, a private chopper flight wsan't part of my deal), a glass of champagne and a fruit platter after your two-hour spa treatment, or a glass of champagne with your pre-dinner canapes. Yes, champagne features heavily.
