Alan Rose has a liking for the Mt Maunganui golf course - not that he was there to witness his latest triumph.
Rose (50), a Dunedin golf coach, has now had two of his proteges win national tournaments at the course.
He tutored Ben Gallie to win the national matchplay title in 2001 and another pupil, Vaughan McCall, won the national matchplay title there last weekend.
McCall, who became the first man for 24 years to win both the national strokeplay and matchplay titles in the same year, has been coached by Rose ever since he picked up a golf club.
Rose said McCall was an obvious talent but also had plenty of dedication.
"He came along to a kids' day at Tapanui when he was about 13 and just continued along from there. The best thing about Vaughan is that he is a good practiser," Rose said.
"He will put in three to three and a half hours practice a day. And that is all round practice, on all parts of his game. You've got to put the time in.
"I did believe he could do it but it has probably happened a year earlier than I would have thought. In the past two years he has really developed.
"As a coach there really is nothing better than seeing one of your athletes succeed."
Rose has played a big part in that success. He said McCall, who represents Southland, was now becoming a consistent scorer, logging back-to-back low rounds.
He now felt McCall, just 20, had to keep playing amateur tournaments for the next three to four years, especially overseas, before he considered going professional.
McCall is just one of many golfers that Rose helps.
Others include former New Zealand under-19 champion Duncan Croudis, now at college in the United States, and Te Anau golfer David Klein, who won the Taranaki Open on the Charles tour earlier this month.
"I coach for all levels, really. From 9-year-olds to 80-year-olds. You get satisfaction from all of them," Rose said.
"There was a young golfer I was working with who was having trouble getting out of bunkers. Then she managed to do it and there was huge smile. You get players in their 70s who are keen to get better.
"To me, you learn a lot of life skills in golf. You deal with a lot of emotions. It can be a pretty frustrating sport ... and you have to make a lot of big decisions."
As well as coaching, Rose, having now reached the half century mark, is keen to make in impression playing in senior golf.
He has played in the tournaments on the New Zealand senior tour and is looking to play more but coaching is still his priority.
Next month he will bring up 20 years of owning Sharpies Golf Barn in Dunedin and it was certainly a life which did not stand still for long.
"It is a busy life but, like everyone else, you just get on with it."
