Keen golfers wanting desperately to improve their game could try jumping aboard a racehorse in order to lower their scores.
The link between playing good golf and being a jockey is clear, according to Brent Thomson, one of the best riders New Zealand has produced.
Thomson, who rode four horses to win the Cox Plate, one of Australasia's most prestigious thoroughbred races, is on his way to the Chisholm Links course this month to play in the New Zealand Legends Masters golf tournament.
Thomson, who was born and bred in Whanganui, moved to Australia where he reached stardom as a champion jockey who notched more than 2500 wins before retiring.
Before leaving for Australia, Thomson was a star apprentice rider in New Zealand who rode on tracks as far south as Riccarton.
How Thomson got asked to travel to Dunedin, a town he never visited during his riding career, is a complicated story, he said.
''It was a bit of a long story.''
''But they said how about coming down to Dunedin to play some golf and I said I would love to and the plan was hatched.''
''From what I am told, it is a lovely golf course so I am sure it will be a good few days.''
The tournament is the culmination of 13 qualifying events at courses across Otago and Southland.
The last opportunity to make the final comes on Tuesday at Roxburgh.
The Legends Masters is a tournament which aims to give the farming community an opportunity to play golf with greats such as Thomson,
who has been a keen golfer from as far back as his riding days in the 1970s.
''Generally speaking, nine of out 10 jockeys play golf as it's a good leisure activity and it's a good walk and good exercise.''
Thomson said that some of the world's best jockeys, including Hugh Bowman, regular rider of wonder mare Winx, were also brilliant golfers.
''I play regularly with Damian Oliver who plays off about a six [handicap] and he is a very good golfer.''
Playing golf goes hand in hand with being a jockey and it provides riders, who are not allowed to bet on races in which they are riding, the chance to have a friendly wager away from the track, Thomson said.
The New Zealand Legends Masters tournament will be held on February 25-26.
