Meet the personalities behind the scorecards. In this NZ Golf Magazine series, we’re getting to know golf enthusiasts from across New Zealand — their favourite courses, memorable moments and what keeps them coming back.
You don’t need a low handicap — just a love of the game!
Meet Reece Hepi, a Hamilton golfer who calls Horsham Downs Golf Club home. With three years in the game and a 10.2 handicap, Reece joins our Clubhouse Characters series to share his golfing story. His favourite song is “Rain” by The Teskey Brothers, while Highcut gets his vote for golf gear — he’s always keen to support local! Follow him on Instagram at @the_golf_recipe and Facebook at The Golf Recipe, or support his Cancer Society fundraiser.
How Did Golf Get You Hooked?
My first introduction to golf was at 10 years old at Kawerau Golf Course, when my cousin (the same age) took me along. He was obsessed with the game, thanks to his dad, Flash Rowlands, a bit of a local club hero. I absolutely hated it, spat the dummy and walked off after struggling to hit the ball, eventually managing to send one straight off the hosel into the big toe of my left foot – who knew that was already the behaviour of most hackers!
Fast forward 26 years, after countless seasons of contact sport and a fairly broken body, my neighbour took me out to Horsham Downs, and I was hooked. After three shots out of the bunker on the 9th, I holed out, fell in love with the complexity of the game and never really looked back.
I joined Horsham Downs in October 2023 and proceeded to neglect the rest of the world while trying to get better at this ridiculous game. Three years later, it’s become a love-hate relationship that has me addicted like a junkie looking for their next fix, just to experience that feeling of flushing an iron or dropping a putt from 30 feet.
Somewhere along the way, golf went from being a hobby to becoming a massive part of my life. It’s also given me an opportunity to create something outside of the game itself, which is where The Golf Recipe started.
What Keeps You Coming Back?
I love everything about golf, from the manicured courses and the challenge of every shot to the biomechanics of the swing and all the technology and data available. Having spent 15 years working as a trainer and coach in the health and fitness industry, I naturally geek out on that side of things.
But ultimately, it’s the people and the community that keep me coming back. What other sport lets you compete against someone four or five decades older than you, who might actually have the competitive advantage?
That’s also a big part of what I’m trying to build with The Golf Recipe. I want to create a platform that celebrates the game, the people involved and the stories that come with it. Golf has an incredible community, and I think there’s plenty of opportunity to bring more people into it.
Give Us The Local Knowledge
Despite what my Instagram might suggest, with all the love I give Hole 1, my favourite would have to be Hole 2/11 at Horsham Downs (we’re a nine-hole course).
It’s a drivable Par 4 with the mighty Waikato River running alongside it, and at around 6am in the summer, the sun rises over the hill, making it one of the best views on the course.
If you’re brave enough, there’s a little trick where you can take on the trees dividing the 2nd and 5th fairways, opening up a much shorter wedge shot of around 65–95 metres. You’ll need to find your own way over there, though!
Where Else In New Zealand Do You Love Playing?
I’m still relatively new to golf, so I haven’t had the opportunity to play as many courses as I’d like, but I look forward to the day I can work my way around them all.
Kawerau Golf Course will always be special because it’s home, and playing under the mountain is something else, particularly knowing the course is run by volunteers. However, Taumarunui Golf Course has been my favourite experience so far, with its immaculate condition, beautiful old trees, incredible clubhouse history and the 18th tee box. I’ll recommend that course to anyone.
What’s Your Most Memorable Golfing Moment?
Last year I took on The Longest Day Challenge for Cancer Society, playing 72 holes with a mate from the club.
One moment that stands out was being 80–90 metres from the green, staring through a V-shaped gap in a tree with the pin sitting perfectly in the middle. My mate went first and hit the tree, then Ben Latham from Highcut had a go and did exactly the same.
I pulled out my 52-degree wedge, backed myself to thread the needle and absolutely flushed it through the gap, landing safely on the green and sending all three of us into fits of laughter.
My wife said she could tell where we were on the course all day because of the constant laughter over the 12 hours. Despite my ribs hurting by the end, it was one of the best days I’ve had playing golf.
That day showed me just how much you can achieve when you combine a sport you love with a good cause. It was also part of the inspiration behind taking things further with The Golf Recipe.
On Saturday 9 January 2027, we’re bringing together 20–40 golfers at Horsham Downs Golf Club for The Longest Day Challenge, with players taking on 36, 54 or 72 holes to raise money for Cancer Society Waikato.
Our team fundraising target is $50,000, and we’re hoping to turn this into something that grows year after year. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve when we get a bunch of golf enthusiasts together for a great cause!
What’s The Best Part Of Your Golf Game – And What Needs Work?
My putting and greenside bunker play would probably be the strongest parts of my game, although I do prefer my bunkers nice and deep and the pin within 15 metres!
The part that needs serious work is my short irons. I’m currently battling the shanks from around a 7-iron through to my gap wedge, with the occasional ball travelling almost 90 degrees right. Safe to say Prodrive Hamilton will be seeing plenty of me over the next couple of months!
Who’s Joining Your Dream Fourball?
I’d have Grant Fox (Ryan Fox’s dad), because I listened to him on a podcast and his views on raising a good person rather than just a good golfer really resonated with me.
John Key, because he’d be a fascinating Kiwi to have a conversation with about just about anything.
And Ryan Fox himself, because our team needs someone who can carry us while I’m busy discussing fatherhood and how we’re going to save New Zealand from itself with JK!
Honestly, though, I’m looking forward to the day im playing golf with my two sons.
What Would You Tell Someone Thinking About Giving Golf A Go?
Give it a go, and then give it another three goes after that!
Everyone hits bad shots, and that’s part of the game, but my biggest advice would be to get involved, embrace learning, join the community and enter some local events. You’ll meet some amazing people and have a ton of fun along the way.
Golf has given me friendships, challenges and opportunities I never expected when I first picked up a club. That’s what I want The Golf Recipe to be about: celebrating the game, creating opportunities for people to get involved and showing that golf can be about a whole lot more than just your scorecard.
Just remember to be the person others actually want to play with again… or don’t, that’s easier tee bookings for the rest of us!
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE GOLF RECIPE
The Golf Recipe is a golf-focused brand I’ve been building around content, community and fundraising.
The idea is to celebrate the game, showcase local golf clubs, businesses and golfers, share our own golfing journey and create opportunities to bring people together through golf.
We’re also passionate about using golf to support good causes, with our biggest initiative being The Golf Recipe Team’s Cancer Society Longest Day Challenge.
On Saturday 9th of January 2027, we’ll be hosting 20–40 golfers at Horsham Downs Golf Club, with participants taking on 36, 54 or 72 holes throughout the day. Our team fundraising target is $50,000 for Cancer Society Waikato, Bay of Plenty.
The bigger vision is to grow The Golf Recipe into a recognisable golf community and content platform, connecting golfers, clubs and businesses across New Zealand while making a positive contribution along the way.
