The giant sequoia – the largest tree species in the world – makes it really easy to find the club house at the Bright Country Golf Club.

“What a gorgeous course,” you think as you walk toward the tree to pay your green fees. Eighteen holes on a par 72 course over 6,097m; the excitement is building. And there’s your mate, waiting for you with a golf cart – brilliant! Gotta love a golf cart.

A quick social debrief – it's been years since you’ve seen him, what a great place to catch up – and you’re on to the first hole. It’s a par five open driving hole – a nice way to ease into it.

Tree-clad-mountain views add to the playful atmosphere as you step up to the tee and take the first swing, and bang! Right down the middle of the fairway.

The swing of your clubs has loosened your shoulders and the fresh air is doing you good. You chat about old school friends, family, and life in general, and before you know it you’ve dog-legged alongside the creek, made it through a difficult dome-shaped green on the fourth, gone over a dam, avoided a few ponds and you’re on the ninth.

Halfway and on par on a course you’ve never played before.

“Not bad,” you think to yourself. You don’t play all that often and your mate is two over, so you’re secretly gloating.

“I’m loving this course,” you say with a smile, and your friend nods in agreement. The fairways dip and curve gently in all manner of directions, keeping you on your toes.

The topic of conversation has moved on to the inevitable Facebook gossip – who’s with who, who said what, who had what done – and it’s entertaining you both, perhaps a little too much because the eleventh trips you both up with a two-tiered back-to-front sloping green. The ball rolls everywhere except where you want it and your par three turns into a double bogey.

Ahh, not to worry. You’re still beating your mate, and you’re both now talking about how ‘next time’ you’ll hit it this way and birdie this one and eagle that one, etcetera etcetera, and now it’s time for beers back at the club.

Over a few drinks, old mate is telling you about his bike ride up over the country’s highest road to check out the alpine views. He says it must be some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. He can’t get enough of it. He's going to drive home that way after he squeezes in a bit of trout fishing.

He’s given you ideas, and when the day begins to fade and farewells are done, you head back to the house to see what the others are keen for. What will you do tomorrow?