Following a long and draining season, New Zealand shot put champion Tom Walsh is enjoying his break away from the sport by heading out on the golf course.
Walsh linked up with Kiwi golfing great Sir Bob Charles at the Harewood Pro-Am tournament in Christchurch on Wednesday.
This is the second consecutive year Walsh and Sir Bob have paired together for the Pro-Am event, the day before the Charles Tour season tees off in Canterbury.
The 26-year-old Walsh said it was a pleasant change to trade the shot for a golf ball heading into the summer.
"I go through periods where I don't play at all, due to competing and travel, but I try to play once a week," he said.
"Somedays are better than others, but I can get the ball around the course alright."
During a recent holiday to Fiji, Walsh found time to hit up the golf course.
Sir Bob hadn't been out on the golf course in a month, following recent trips to the UK and US.
But the last time he stepped on the course, he faced some of the sports' greatest.
"I played some golf recently with Gary Player. We played three rounds in Scotland and half a dozen rounds in Florida with Jack Nicklaus.
"That was a month ago, but I haven't played since being back in New Zealand."
Meanwhile, Walsh is coming off his most successful year yet in shot put, winning the world indoor champs, claiming gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and cementing first place in the Diamond League series.
Just over a year out from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Walsh is trying not to get complacent, as winning gold on the biggest stage is his biggest priority.
"I think I have proven that in the last two years with winning the world champs, the world indoors and being very competitive by winning lots of Diamond League events.
"When you get comfortable, lots of people can get complacent and I'm in a comfortable position, so I need to keep pushing and striving to get better."
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