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Bewitching Golf , Story and Illustrations by Ruth Newbury-Swash

Thirteen-year-old Belinda lives in New Zealand together with her mother, her best friend Tui and Marmalade the cat. Fed up with her life, bored and lonely, she is inexplicably haunted by the death of her father when she was just a baby and her first memories were beginning to form. One day, as she kicks up leaves in the gutter, she discovers a magic pink golf ball and starts to dream of her future as a champion golfer. Perhaps, she would be a champion golfer just like she's seen on the telly. For, it is a world of adventure, a strange environment where the unexpected is common, where past mythic worlds present themselves in dreams to guide her in her quest.

Set in the lovely Whangaparaoa peninsula north of Auckland, we see Belinda emerge from a girl who is alienated and disconnected to one who is hopeful and more in touch with herself and the world she inhabits.

  Ruth H. Newbury-Swash,  in her own words:

I am a fifth generation New Zealander, sixth child in a family of seven brought up in Dunedin, South Island .

I’ve lived the last twenty years on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula north of Auckland. My husband, Bill, and I love it here.  We have a yacht, enjoy sailing in the Gulf exploring islands, live up the hill from Gulf Harbour near where the next Americas Cup racing will be held where we both enjoy meeting and making friends with boaties from here and other parts of the world.

I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Auckland University.  I’ve worked as a cartoonist, written human-interest stories for a local paper.  In particular, I enjoyed my discussions with girl golfers  displaying much talent and ability.
We live in a cottage close by the sea.  I never tire of watching changing patterns and colours in the sky, reflections on water, rain squalls rushing across the bay, stunning rainbows, wind-surfers enjoying a storm, little sailing boats on calmer days, and glorious sunsets above the westerly hills.  My garden has lots of trees, lemons, limes, nuts, bananas, and many flowers, bromeliads, succulents and cactus. I grow a few vegetables and herbs relishing their freshness.  I play tennis three times a week, an occasional game of inferior golf, enjoy swimming in the sea over summer.  I love walking and tramping in the bush and exploring beaches and islands in the gulf near where we live from our boat.  Once a week I inexpertly sculpt in clay small creations with a sculptor friend who fires them up for me.  I sketch and occasionally paint and read, read, read.

As a teenager I did fine arts at the Otago Polytechnic then came up to Auckland to Elam Art School, returning later to Auckland University as a mature student.
                                                               

Bill and I have grown up children, three sons and one daughter from both our previous marriages, and one gorgeous grandson.  I am very much a family person, enjoy catching up with my own brothers and sisters and spending time with my children and their friends.   We enjoy doing things with friends and family, tramping, eating out, attending live shows, music concerts, orchestras, think I’m a lucky person.  We have two cats to tell us what to do.  

About Bewitching Golf in the author's own words:

I hope people of all ages will enjoy my book and that it may inspire some to reach for the stars, realise inner hopes and dreams;  help encourage young women to grab themselves a golfing career, have fun jumping obstacles and traps set to stop them snatching a fair share of all the good things, rewards, fun and excitement out there waiting for them. 

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