Pencilled by Reece Witters
There’s a special kind of silence that settles on a green when someone’s about to make a fool of themselves - or deliver a moment. That was the mood at Titirangi Golf Club as eighty-eight American Express Card Members gathered around the putting green, sleeves rolled and nerves tough to disguise. The prize: a Scotty Cameron putter worth a thousand big ones, courtesy of Vollē Golf and American Express. A moment even an American Express card couldn’t swipe - only nerves of steel could. The brief was simple: sink a thirty-footer. One shot. One chance.
American Express’s Card Members Day is more than just a date on the golf calendar - it’s a gathering that brings the golf community together, rewarding card members while connecting the brands that support the game. It’s where partners like Vollē Golf step in to add to the experience, helping turn a day of competition into a celebration of connection. Because for American Express, it’s not just about golf; it’s about supporting small businesses, backing Kiwi merchants, and giving them a platform to shine.
Back on the putting green, after a series of impressive and mildly embarrassing opening attempts, neither the cup nor its lip had been troubled. That was until Alvin Ram stepped up, looking every bit like a man about to close out the Masters. He broke out a suspicious version of AimPoint, paced the line from both sides, and even adjusted for wind that wasn’t there. He came heartbreakingly close - his ball lipped out so hard it probably needed counselling.
Immediately after, Alvin’s best ball and buggie buddie, Adam Te Rangi, stepped up with a borrowed putter that looked like it had seen more garages than greens. No sign of a warm-up. No rehearsal. Just a walk-up and strike. The Vollē Origin X with custom AMEX branding (shameless product plug) rolled end over end, straight as a Sunday sermon, and disappeared into the hole. Pandemonium. Someone yelled. Someone fumbled to capture it on their phone. The crowd fizz was mega!
Minutes later, after the civilised chaos had died down, Shirlie Bardebes strolled up and dropped her own thirty-footer dead-centre. No drama - just effortless conviction. We had a playoff. The crowd regrouped, questionable heckles from envious onlookers rang out. Adam went first, cool as you like, and drained another one. The green erupted. Shirlie’s putt slid by the edge, close enough to sting but not enough to steal the glory. The mana wave celebration from Te Rangi matched the moment!
“Unreal, bro,” said Adam - two words, one cup. “That old stick’s done its dash, it’s earned its retirement. Time to graduate.” His new Scotty, still in its wrapper, looked ready for a long honeymoon.
Over on the 11th hole, Vollē’s closest-to-the-pin challenge turned into another stage of nerves and occasional precision. Dr. Alister Mackenzie’s 137-metre par three ‘Redan’, framed by native bush and a mischievous crosswind - played havoc all afternoon. Alvin, ever the technician, stiffed one early to six feet, but he was eventually outdone by Joe Graham, who hit it to three feet to claim the goods. Shirlie, still riding her form, took home the women’s honours with style. A fitting reward from an honest day’s work on the course.
The rest of the day was the kind of chaos that makes golf days memorable. The opening shot on the 11th tee saw a toe-shank so pure it nearly broke physics - proof that even at right angles, the Vollē Origin X could find distance and predictable shape. Hiroki Golf’s crew brought single-strap swagger, Fantl Golf dressed the field, Golf New Zealand and Hyundai parked a Santa Fe a little too close for comfort behind the Par three 7th, and the turn dogs were gulfed before anyone officially made the turn.
For American Express, it wasn’t just about the putts or prizes - it was about showing up for the game. “We love bringing golfers and brands together,” said Simon Ashton from American Express Director, Product, Marketing & Partnerships. “Events like this reward our card members, but they also help support small Kiwi businesses and the wider golf community that makes days like this possible.”
By the time the last card was handed in and the blue carpet packed away, one thing was clear: serious fun is the American Express standard. And Vollē are here for it.