The name known in most households is not a golfer of note – but his presence was noted by a group of middle-aged men on the tee at the 10th.
“That was Kelly Slater,” said one.
“Eh?” replied his playing partner.
“Kelly Slater – the GOAT of surfing,” he clarified.
For the boomers at the back – GOAT stands for “Greatest Of All Time”.
Kelly Slater is an 11-time world champion. Photo / WSL
Slater, one of the most decorated surfers in history, claimed 11 World Surf League Championship titles – including five consecutive – in a career that made him the youngest and the oldest world champion. He’s also a handy golfer.
“If I’m playing good, I’m around scratch. If I’m not playing great, I’m maybe a three [handicap]. I think they gave me two,” says Slater.
The 54-year-old is in Queenstown for the first time and he’s brought an entourage.
“My girlfriend and our 19-month-old son. He’s here on the practice green, kind of showing the pros what’s up right now. Actually we’re enjoying this open space. We have to be a little less hands-on, he can just run around.”
Slater has had a buzz about him since he became a heartthrob in the 90s.
“All the girls are messaging me,” says a woman in a drinks cart.
The Florida native will have a sizeable and curious gallery when he takes to Millbrook on Thursday. He’ll probably have the most selfie requests as well.
If you can’t make it to Queenstown while he’s here, he’s not leaving the country in a hurry.
Kelly Slater takes the time to sign a framed surfing fin for young Vivienne Buckle during a 2019 visit to Mangawhai. Photo / Ella Buckle
“I’m going to spend a week on the North Island after this, up at Tara Iti playing some golf and maybe surf a little bit. I brought a couple of boards in case there’s some surf. If there’s a nice little wave, there’s not too many people, and it’s fun.
“Mangawhai is pretty nice – but I mean that’s the closest good wave there. It’s not often great, but when it is, it’s a really nice wave.”
Every comedian in the media centre cracked the “I’ll bet he’s at home in the sand” joke – and it turns out he is.
“I almost holed an eagle sand shot on the course today. So funny enough, my best shot of the day was out of the sand.”
Another globally recognised ambassador this year is US actor Michael Pena.
“He’s in Ant-Man… quite a few things,” says a man staring at his phone whilst talking to the lady in the drinks cart.
Millbrook Resort on the eve of the 105th NZ Golf Open. Photo / Mike Thorpe
Other ambassadors include international and New Zealand sport stars such as Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting and Ash Barty. All Black Jeff Wilson is also making an appearance to carry the bag for top Kiwi senior golfer Steven Alker this year. The pairing got off to a rough start in Tuesday’s practice round.
Just seconds after being mic’d up for a camera crew, disaster struck on the 10th hole.
“Hey Goldie, have you got the head cover for my putter?” asked Alker.
“Serious? Is somebody playing a joke?” replied Wilson.
They weren’t. Wilson looked for the cover and then he looked sick. He’d dropped it cold.
“It’s okay, somebody will pick it up,” suggested a hopeful Alker. One job, Jeff – you had one job.
Former All Black Jeff Wilson will caddy for Steven Alker this week.
Wilson isn’t the biggest name caddie at this year’s event – that honour goes to Steve Williams, the longtime caddie of Tiger Woods. The legendary Kiwi bagman is in the corner of Australian professional Anthony Quayle, who plays predominantly on the Japanese Tour. Williams has 151 tournament victories in his career, but he’s never been on the bag for the NZ Open winner.
Quayle told media that “Stevie” has agreed to carry the bag for a few tournaments in Europe – but he’s told Quayle that if he wins the NZ Open it’s “chapter closed” as a caddie.
“If I’ve got a five-footer to win it on Sunday, I’ve got a decision to make,” jokes Quayle.
Caddie Steve Williams during his time on the bag for Tiger Woods.
Millbrook’s twin 18-hole courses, the Remarkables and Coronet, are in pristine condition and the set-up for the tournament is arguably the best this country has seen. Even the ugliest part of the surrounding landscape is beautiful. Environmentally, if not aesthetically. The ranges that border Millbrook are cloaked in brown wilding pine trees that have died a deliberate death. The pest is invasive in these parts but they’re slowly being beaten back.
Success finds Wilson on the back nine of the Remarkables course. The lost putter cover that threatened to derail his relationship with Alker has been found. Play on.
The 9th green on the Remarkables course at Millbrook Resort. Photo / Mike Thorpe
The tournament will start in earnest on Thursday morning, but until then there are catch-ups happening across the courses and across the codes.
“Dan! Congrats man!” yells Israel Dagg to newlywed Dan Hillier from the sixth tee to the ninth. Hillier responds with a fist pump. The sort that only a newlywed can deliver. Not a Tiger Woods in red shirt, Sunday uppercut. It’s more of a Wendy Petrie blooper from outside the Bain retrial (you know the one), minus the cringe factor.
It was a celebration of satisfaction. The top Kiwi chance will be hoping there’s more of that to come as he stalks a maiden NZ Open title.
Dan Hillier (right) celebrating with Ryan Fox at Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club in December. Photo / Photosport
Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.