For example, did you know our golfing prime minister is a fan of swedes from down south? But we're not talking about enjoying a plate of ''Golden Sunshine'' served the traditional way, mashed with butter, milk and pepper.
Oh no. John Key prefers his rutabagas in chip-sized portions and barbecued. It's true, I swear, because South Otago farmer Bruce Wilson told me this yesterday as we were wandering down the first fairway at The Hills.
On the other side of the ropes, Mr Key was engaged in a super-friendly ''celebrity'' three-ball with Kiwi golfing legend Sir Bob Charles and the laugh-a-minute American pro Rocco Mediate.
It had nothing to do with the serious side of the final day of the New Zealand Open but everything to do with providing entertainment for the fans. And, as a crowd-puller, it worked a treat.
The hundreds in the public gallery were easily the largest crowd of the tournament to that point.
And Mr Wilson, a farmer from near Owaka, was clearly happy to be among them.
He greeted Mr Key on the first tee with the news there were ''no swedes today'', which drew a couple of quizzical looks. Later, he explained he always took a couple of swedes to National Party conferences because the PM had a fondness for the delicacy.
''I might even send him a sackful next time,'' he said.
For his part, the PM looked as if he had a lot more than swedes on his mind. Playing a private round of golf with President Barack Obama while on a Christmas holiday in Hawaii is one thing; displaying your golfing skills in full public view, even in an election year, is quite another.
However, teaming up with the garrulous Mediate meant Mr Key was never going to be allowed to take this golf match that seriously.
The American had his trademark commentary on overdrive, chattering non-stop with his companions and interacting with the fans as well.
Perhaps sensing the PM's game was under more intense public scrutiny than his companions', Mediate did his best to put him at ease.
When Mr Key went from bunker to bunker to bunker on the second hole, Mediate shared his exasperation, calling out, ''They've got to fill those things in!''
Three holes later, on the testing fifth, the PM's game really deserted him. Maybe it was the result of being heckled by a bearded bystander just as he was about to play his first shot on the previous hole (the offender was given a free ride off the course soon after).
Or maybe it was what every golfer refers to as ''mental errors''.
Whatever the reasons, as the PM prepared to play what appeared to be his 10th shot (but who was counting, really?), Mediate suggested he should ''pick it up if you get to 12 and then let's get the hell out of here!''
But that's when the PM showed some of the steely resolve it takes to run a country (nearly as hard as trying to master The Hills), parring the testing sixth hole (courtesy of a ''gimme'' from Mediate) after a brave second across the pond.
Then he followed up with an odds-defying par 3 on the seventh after escaping from a deep bunker then holing an outrageous, 20m cross-country putt that prompted wild applause from the gallery and high fives all round by the three players.
By the end of the 18 holes, it was obvious Mr Key had now befriended a second American golfing buddy, the pair exchanging mutual compliments.
''And if I don't see you again,'' said the PM, ''keep in touch.''
Although there is still the small matter of an election for Mr Key to win, who's to say the pair won't tee it up again next year?''I'll be back,'' said Mediate, ''if they'll have me.''
