Teeing off from a wooden pallet over a river, chipping into water troughs, navigating rolling hills and dodging the odd cowpat – the Kaimai Classic isn’t your typical golf tournament.

But it’s one that this year has raised more than $20,000 for Kaimai School.

Sponsored by James Bell Bower real estate, the annual fundraising event invites golfers to play 12 holes on 58ha of the Midson’s family sheep and beef farm.

“It is essentially golf on a working farm,” sales consultant James Bell said.

Bell, who has been one of the greenkeepers for the past 10 years, said the tees and greens were mowed a week before the event, and the holes were a 200mm pvc downpipe set flush with the ground.

“When you play, you don’t need to use a putter. You just have to chip the holes.”

Trading manicured greens and groomed fairways for more rugged terrain, the Kaimai Classic course means golfers have to be driven to their tees.

For the fifth hole, for example, golfers tee off from a wooden pallet over a river “fairway”.

“Another hole is just a sink basin, and the first hole is a cow’s trough,” Bell said. “It just blows people away.”

The tournament begins with a corporate day for businesses, which sponsor a team to enter for the day, followed by a community day.

The corporate golf day includes an auction, with items including a signed rugby jersey by Black Ferns Portia Woodman and signed rugby balls by Black Ferns Jorja Miller and All Black Damian McKenzie up for grabs. All proceeds go to Kaimai School.

Bell said businesses this year raised more than $20,000.

“It all comes back to the community. It’s a big thing to do for a small rural school.

“We couldn’t do it without the support of the community and everyone mucking in for a great cause.”

Shania Cooke tees off. Photo / Supplied

The event has been held on a section of the 380ha farm, owned by Mike and Julie Midson, for more than 25 years.

Their son, John Midson, said it was the family’s way of giving back to the school.

“It’s pretty fun,” said Midson, who plays every year in the community day.

While he has never had a hole in one, many golfers have.

“One of the holes is a water trough with a net in it, so of course someone is going to get one in there,” he said with a laugh.

Kaimai School principal Matthew Jackson said funds raised from this year’s event would go towards a Beat Station music programme, designed to empower teachers to bring the joy of music into their classrooms.

Past events have helped fund new rugby posts and soccer goals, as well as the school’s skate park.

“It makes a huge difference to what we can achieve. It means that rather than focusing on the must-haves, we can invest in some of the nice-to-haves for the kids.”

Jackson thanked the school’s Parent Teacher Association, who were the “masterminds” behind the event, and the Bower Group for coming on board as major sponsors.

“Being a country school, we are so closely tied to our community and to have a day where people can come and not only have fun, but have the intent of supporting the school is incredibly humbling.

“Everyone was there for the school. I can’t wait for next year.”

– Content supplied by Bower.