When the Covid-19 lockdown hit New Zealand in late March there were genuine fears some clubs might not survive and fairways and greens would resemble farm paddocks.
No maintenance was allowed and no-one was allowed on the course.
Clubs though were granted an exemption two weeks into the lockdown to undertake urgent work.
The game was opened up to players when the restrictions moved to Level 3 although people could only play on their own or within their bubble.
When Level 1 arrived, there was an upswing and a boom in playing numbers.
The increase was expected but most thought it would not last and playing numbers would return to normal.
But for most clubs, numbers have swelled and a couple of weeks before Christmas, some clubs have had hundreds more rounds on their course over the past couple of months.
Alexandra Golf Club manager Dai Johns said his club had increased both its membership and the numbers of rounds being played.
He said the club actually had an increase of membership during lockdown.
"Then, since we opened again, membership has been solidly increasing the whole time. Young guys are playing more, our members are playing more. Competition numbers are up and visitor numbers are up," he said.
"Over that October, September, November, December period we would be up 100%. Lots of people from the North Island and around Canterbury-Otago-Southland are coming to play."
He said groups of young men were coming to play over the weekend.
St Clair Golf Club had 80 more members since the end of the lockdown and professional Patrick Moore said everything was up.
"We are struggling to fit in lessons, really, and in some weeks we can’t keep up with all the shafts which have to be repaired," Moore said.
Initially, some were looking to fill in their day if they were on a four-day week and that led to them becoming a member rather than paying green fees.
Others could not play team sports and joined up while many males under 40 had joined.
"I never saw it coming and no-one did. The natural reaction was you would have thought would have been to lessen the spend on leisure activities," Moore said.
"But that hasn’t happened at all. Dunedin has come out the other side as good as anyone."
However, Jacks Point in Queenstown is doing it tough with club general manger John Griffin saying the club was very much dependent on the overseas market.
"We get emails and inquiries from Australians wanting to come and play and book but we can’t. Not until we get a bubble with Australia will we be able to do that. It is frustrating for them and us," he said.
Australians made up 70% of its market. A promotion to attract New Zealanders had brought in 1500 first-time players to the course in May and locals were still playing but not at the numbers to match the lost overseas players.
Wanaka club professional Alan Rose said many travelling New Zealanders were playing.
He said when Covid-19 hit he was really worried for the future of the sport but it had bounced back well with so many people travelling around New Zealand .
Otago Golf Club director of golf Shelley Duncan said membership was up by 100 and the club was in the best financial position it had been in for 15 years.
"In March we were terrified in what was going to happen and we did all sorts of things ... we never thought this would happen."
