Meikle: How old are you now, Andrew?
Hobbs: I turned 55 at the end of July.
In terms of golf, how is your game different at 55 from what it was at, say, 25?
It’s a lot more considered because I don’t have the tools in the bag that I used to. I look at a lot of the young fellas I get to play with now and they’re hitting it the way I used to when I was their age. And now you’re sort of in a scenario where you have to be a lot more strategic with your ability and your fitness and compensating for all the bits and pieces that don’t work any more. I tend to hit it a lot straighter than I ever have. And I’m a lot more strategic on the way I get around the golf course. Especially at Balmacewen. It’s the perfect golf course for me because I’m quite strong with my wedges. If you put me in a situation with a wedge, that’s my happy place.
Is that kind of an intriguing challenge? Having to adjust the way you’ve played a sport for a long time?
Oh, absolutely. I got my first golf membership in 1980. I played my first rep match as a junior in Canterbury in 1984. So, to have that sort of longevity is really cool.
And now you get to represent New Zealand?
It’s a second bite at the cherry. I got a trip away with a New Zealand golf squad to the Australian amateur in Melbourne in about 1997. That was really cool, but I never got a chance to wear the silver fern, and that’s always kind of grated me. I got to play with Mark Smith, from Bay of Plenty, in the foursomes, which was really cool. So to get a second bite at representing your country, at 55, is a wonderful opportunity.
You’ve now been picked in the New Zealand senior team?
Yeah, the over-55s. I’ve been eyeing this team up for about five years. I knew it was a possibility. It’s something I’ve been working towards seriously for the last two years. I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of people, and they all understand the goal that I had in mind. To get across the line into a four-man team to go to the Philippines is pretty cool.
And you’ll actually get to pull on a silver fern of some description?
Yep, absolutely. We’re representing the country. There’s Roy Hollick from Pakuranga, Tam Slaven from Paraparaumu, and Stephen Hunger from Boulcott Park. Really good guys. We go to a place called the Orchard Golf and Country Club. There’s an Arnold Palmer course and a Gary Player course. We’re over there from the 24th to the 26th for the Asia-Pacific championship.
Do you have expectations on yourself at the tournament?
None. I’ve worked pretty hard to get to a position where I think I’m reasonable enough at what I do. If you think too much about it, you get in your own way. Realistically, it’s just do what you normally do. It’s a process. And it should be a process. You take out all the other bits of it. But absolutely I’ll be nervous. It’s only been a 30-year quest to get there.
After the Philippines, what’s the plan?
I’m home for two weeks and then going over to Sydney to play at Monash Golf Club in the Australian national championship. I’m not quite sure about my schedule later in the year, but we’ve also got an over-55 test match against Australia coming up in February. I’d like to get selected for that. But I think one step at a time.
What do you do for a job?
I’m a territory manager for an oil company. I work for Valvoline New Zealand. I’ve only been with these boys for eight months. But I’ve been in this industry for five years. Before that, I was a greenkeeper for 27 years.
What’s your motivation at this point of your golf career?
People. I went up to Bay of Plenty last weekend and caught up with a lot of mates I hadn’t seen in a very long time. When you haven’t caught up with someone for a long time, you sit down, you have a bit of a natter and a beer and a feed, and it’s like you were never apart. And I’ll tell you what I am thankful for and that’s a supportive wife and a very supportive job. My family have been amazing, to be fair. Karen and I have been married 31 years. And my son, Isaac took, up golf during Covid and has been pushing me hard in friendly competition between father and son. He’s just turned 21 and is playing off a 1 handicap.
You mentioned not looking too far ahead, but at 55, do you still have a long-term goal in golf?
Absolutely. Next July, I want to go and play the British seniors. At that point I need to sit down and reassess, and I might have a little crack at the Legends Tour locally and then into Australia.
Steven Alker has made many millions playing seniors golf, so who knows?
I’m thrilled for him, too. He’s a super guy. I played a bit of amateur golf with Steve a lifetime ago. But you find me a single person that has a bad word to say about him. Everybody in our sphere is absolutely thrilled because he has worked his socks off forever to get to where he’s got to. And to be as competitive as he is at his age, it’s inspirational stuff.
How many matches have you played for Otago?
I know I played 130 for Canterbury. But I’ve been playing longer for Otago than I did for Canterbury. I almost feel like a local now. Across all grades, I’d have played over 100 for Otago.
What stands out when you reflect on your golf career?
A couple of wins at the national interprovincial for Canterbury. We won in 1998 against Otago, and we won in 2000 against Bay of Plenty. Winning in a team environment ... there is nothing like it. And we got second up at the masters in Paraparaumu with Otago.
Three favourite golf courses?
Tobacco Road, in North Carolina. Paraparaumu. And Balmacewen. It just never lets up. I was at St Clair for a long time, and I was also at Island Park. Now I play out of Otago and I’m also a member at Taieri Lakes.
The bucket list — where would you tee off if you had the chance?
Oh, wow. I’ve never actually thought about that. So many different options. I’d probably go back to Pinehurst. I played No 2 there a number of years ago. That was pretty cool. Yeah, I’d like to spend a week at Pinehurst and play more of the courses there.
