Hukanui Golf Club – Finishing with Walnuts on Masters Weekend

November 28, 2020 Ken Orr

A morning spent watching the third round of the Masters spurred me into the car and off to golf. A little known Waikato nine hole course in the countryside was a mystery box.

I was surprised to see the club rooms open in the afternoon at Hukanui Golf Club. I was more surprised that the friendly welcome was all genuine. Following the financial transaction the lady in the club talked me through the layout of the course. I headed off down the laneway towards the first, excited by the prospect.

The first is right next to the road, “Roadway”, not Roadhole, it was a drive you don’t want from the first tee. The noise of the busy traffic drew your attention. The group in front were walking the road line peering across the tarmac.

With the tee shot sorted and in the fairway, I found that the green isn’t too far from the passing cars either. A small green which was soft and slow.

Number 2 was into the wind and a challenging hit, 189 metres – with the road still on the left. Following a lavish swish of my hybrid from the tee, I headed off to peer across the tarmac. It was a beautiful high draw that bounced down the road, missing the oncoming traffic thankfully. 3 shots out of my 4 handicap for the nine dropped on the 2nd, this could be a tricky round.

My confidence was still high, I’d scored my best round in the year of lockdown down at Clarks Beach a few days before. Five over the card on the course, that made me feel like a golfer.

Okay, the classic hole names of Homeward Bound and Westward Ho were nowhere to be seen. But we got “Long John” on the 3rd, is this a Treasure Island pirate reference – it could be my new most cringe-worthy hole name.

It was a long par 5, of course. Right-hand dogleg needing a powerful draw from the tee. I imagined the laser tracer thing that follows a drive at the Masters on the TV, bending perfectly around the corner. Nailed it! Visualisation works after all.

The 4th was another par 5, called “not so Long John” – no it wasn’t – but it was shorter and a great driving hole over a ridge to a blind fairway. I nearly hit a random foot golfer.
The club has opened up to footgolf, which is cool and will provide much-needed revenue. The footballers have no idea how hard a golf ball is, so it may end up in disaster.

I was enjoying the course and the conditions but my excitement following the clubhouse lady’s description had lessened at little, nice course but maybe not great.

I was wrong, the uphill short par 4 fifth hole was a great golf hole – fairway bunkers to ask you the question and a hidden gully to stop you laying up. There were wonderful views from the hilltop green. It started a run of 5 holes that were excellent.

The 152 metre downhill 6th, “Beehive” was buzzin’ from it’s elevated tee. I had been told that the 7th over the gully was the course’s signature.

The Canyon

We cracked a can of zero alcohol beer for the occasion and let 2 foot golfers pass through, (very short are these soccer players). If you want a bit of fun at the supermarket ask them why they need a supervisor to the check out to allow you to buy zero alcohol beer, it’s beer you see.

So “Canyon” is the risk or reward hole of the day. Drive over the gully, canyon might make you think of the place in America, not quite as big here at Hukanui Golf Club.

The hole is all risk, OB on the left, trees on the right, a narrowing fairway leading into the green protected by a great deep bunker. Don’t hit the driver, there is no reward.

Just as hole names were improving, we got a “Deception” – the 8th needs a high fade over the corner. DJ was doing it around Augusta all day so why not me. Visualisation saw a perfect DJ like drive ( minus about 100 metres or so)

Walnuts

At the last you get “Walnuts”, the road comes back into play on the left and the clubhouse is 2 paces from the back of the green. You could put your drink order on your ball ready for a quick thinned tee shot. 123 metres to the green it is a lovely way to complete the course.

I was even more pleased to see the bar was still open, not normal for a country course later in the day. Sitting at the back of the ninth enjoying a real beer was very pleasant indeed.

The club claims they have the best 9 holes in the Waikato. I tend to agree, but I’ve only played one other. It ranks up there on the Top 10 NZ Nine Hole Golf Course list.

The course is tidy, the layout is challenging and the clubrooms are very friendly. Cheers Hukanui Golf Club for a great day out.

Waikato

Walton Golf Club – One Tree Five to the green

November 19, 2020 Ken Orr 3 Comments

By accident, on this day I discovered Walton Golf Club. The hidden gem of New Zealand golf courses. A claim made by many but not always backed up. This course could be the real thing.

Following an overnight stop in Taupo, I searched for a course heading north that has appeal on this rustic tour of NZ golf courses. Breakfast on the lake was amazing. I had a quick look at the Lake Taupo hole in one challenge, it was packed with suckers trying to hole out for cash. Like the traveller rigged fairground games – heads they win – tails you lose.

Today’s decision of where to play my round of golf was not dictated by the weather gods. It was the warmest day of the year so far.
When you head north out of Taupo you pass Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, I slowed knowing that quality lies behind the walls. But this not for today’s challenge, I was going rustic.

I made the decision to pass 2 courses, Tokoroa Golf Club and Putaruru Golf Club, before stopping in Tirau, the corrugated capital of New Zealand. Tirau Golf Club was CLOSED! Arghh bloody coring. The greenkeeper came over to offer an apology that we missed out on the chance to play, he suggested Walton Golf Club. Only a little way up the road near the Cambridge area.

We drove merrily along in search of Walton, through some beautiful countryside with horse stud farms dotted all around the area.

The tree-lined arrival into Walton was a hint to what we had in store ahead of us. The car park looked busy for a little course in the countryside on a Monday. Was there some International COVID
defying event taking place?

There were many ladies in purple around the clubhouse, luckily they were finishing up their round. So we had the course to ourselves mainly.

Lathered in sunscreen for the first time this season and the smell of fresh blossom put a pep in my step.
Golfers should not like trees. I don’t study trees and have little expertise in this field. I do know Onewhero Golf Club has too many macrocarpas.

But here at Walton I maybe have loosened my dislike of a tree. Someone has taken great pride in planting a vast collection of trees here, plenty of cherry blossoms, and well-manicured conifers, a magnolia or two plus more species I need help with. It was a pleasure to see such a spectacular spring day be reflected in the trees all around the course.

There were recognizable tall tall pines trees and wispy
willows plus a rhododendron when needed. The course could easily host a garden tour visit as well as golf.

No hole names here today at Walton Golf Club. The 1st had a nice elevated look at what was coming up. A par 5 first up is always good news in my opinion.

Following a long time sitting in the car getting to a golf course, I always think a wee warm-up should be included before starting the round. I didn’t do that and struggled to find the fairway pulling my driver into a different culture of trees on the first few holes.

The course is longer than most rural courses at 5,725 metres a par 72. There are no easy wins here, the 7th, a par 5, the par 3 8th and the 9th heading back up to the side of the clubrooms was a nice run of holes. All with good bunkering.

I’m not sure of my favourite hole on the course. The 10th through to the 13th was enjoyable. Ending with a cool water pump windmill thing at the back of the green.

After this, the course had more trees and a great outlook in front of me. It was certainly a very pretty part of the course. This golf course had a charm all the way around and it seemed to me that it was comfortable in its own skin.

The greens had been cored 5 weeks before – the Tirau Golf Club greenkeeper told me, so they were hard and difficult to hold the ball on. You needed to drop most approaches onto the front edge. That said they were very true and made for good putting. With my new found putting religion, I enjoyed the short game today.

The area is new to me, the farmland surrounding the course was a good looking affair and well-groomed. There are views out the distant mountain ranges. A thoroughly pleasant place to play golf. I might have found a golf course that has missed the limelight, but maybe the locals like it that way.

Adding Walton Golf Club to the Top New Zealand Golf courses list was an easy decision. I felt the community in the trees, the love in the fairways and all of this with one greenkeeper.

As toilet situations go, they were in pretty locations. Fine loo’s to match the rest of the course. So if you got to go, go to Walton. You will not be disappointed with this country golf course in the heart of the Waikato.

Wellington

Karori Golf Club – Naturally Golf, are they nudists?

November 8, 2020 Ken Orr

Karori is the largest suburb in New Zealand. So there. Karori Golf Club is 8 km’s from here on the road to Makara, an area known for mountain biking and rural living.

The course is set down in the valley and is in a beautiful countryside setting. I was a member at Karori for a few years and really love playing here.

Normally coming out of the winter the course can be a little damp underfoot but I found it in excellent condition today.
The membership in the years gone by was strong and the club was humming, but it is getting harder to operate a golf course now. I had a quick chat with the course manager who is working hard to grow memberships and keep the club moving forward for the community to enjoy.

The tag line at Karori Golf Club is Naturally Golf, to reflect the semi-rural location, the course easily moulds into the environment. A peaceful place to play your golf and no cell coverage! I wonder if they get a nudist crowd showing up mistaking the message? With dwindling numbers maybe “Naturally Golf” could bring a different crowd, a nudist NZ first perhaps….?

The first at Karori is a hole that I dream about. A dogleg to the right where hitting too well and straight will put you in trouble with the trees. You could use an iron to get up to the corner or “slide” your driver around and over to leave an easy approach. I go for the slide and rarely execute it. But I never fail to play it out in my mind on the drive through the country lanes to the course.

The course favours someone with a power fade like me – I used to have more of a squirting slice when I played here. Two holes in the first 3 are right-hand doglegs, called “Bent” and “Seriously Bent”?

The par 3’s

The par 3’s here are all good. 3 crackers on the front nine. Number 2 over the tall tall tree, requires a high confident blow early in your round, to land on a large plateau green. The gettable 4th is inviting a good short iron at the pin.

The 6th with first look at the wind turbines

Followed by the treacherous 6th, “Shorty’s Heartbreak” which may be some peoples vote for best hole on the course. Only 121 metres from the blues, but don’t be short or the stream and steep gully will take your ball.

Only one par 3 on the back nine, the 13th is usually into the prevailing wind and deceptively longer than it views.

Before I go any further I need to discuss the hole names here at Karori. I don’t remember the hole names from my days as a member. They may have been there but I can’t recall them. I may be going mad.

I had my own name for the 9th, It is officially called the “Big Dipper.” My name for the number 1 stroke hole was a little cruder. So these must be new?

The ninth needs a monster of a drive off of the elevated tee. Outta the screws or your approach will be difficult across a large gully. Miss the fairway and you are laying up. A par here is a great result.

The making of the course is the variety of holes and the challenges they bring. The back nine is the best of the 2 sides. With a combination of holes, some requiring a solid drive others shorter par 4’s requiring a thinking man’s golfer.

My favourite hole is the 12th looking down at the shortish 258-metre par 4 knowing one great blow will get me on the green. The green slopes back to front willing you take it on. The fairway bunkers can be in play if you mis-fire. “Dizzy Heights” makes my Best golf Holes in new Zealand list.

The 2 bunkers on 12th are the only ones on the back nine and matched with only one bunker on the front on the par 5 7th.

I love the drive off of the 15th, “High and Mighty” says it all as you look out over the pond at the green far far away– I don’t think I have parred this hole in many years trying. A long iron is usually required into a tricky green if your drive gives you a chance.

The 17th is a hole that I know the driver is not needed. At 297metres if you get too close to the green, trees and a gully make it a tricky approach. A sensible 7 iron leaves a 9 iron – this is a test of how comfortable you are with your manhood to play sensible and measured golf.

The left-hand dogleg on the 18th is a great way to finish, hitting over the blind corner and down a steep slope. Local knowledge is an advantage. The tight little green sitting behind an overhanging tree needs an accurate and confident finish to your round here.

You will not find a friendlier golf course in the area, so if you need an afternoon out of the city, Karori Golf Club is your best option. It can be a little hilly for those not match fit, but this adds interest across the excellent course design.

Wellington

Mornington Golf Club – Up and down for a bit of Frisbie Golf

November 2, 2020 Ken Orr

Mornington Golf Club is a true municipal course. I was first seen with a golf club in hand on the municipal golf course of Knightswood in Glasgow. These courses are – not country – not rustic – not local – not a community – but municipal. Probably council workmen will cut the grass – maybe with a little less passion than a local club. At Mornington Golf Club, you pay at a parking meter by the first tee – a long way from the picture on the website of a green fee custodian in the 1920’s taking green fees.

I didn’t know much about this course, never really felt the need to play here. It is a golf course for everyone and was born in 1915. This was the vision of Robert Cameron, a Scot and maybe the originator of the first public golf course in New Zealand. The history of the course has to commended by bringing golf to the common man. I am one of those, but who isn’t really?

I met one fella walking his dog, “ Lots of golfers out today!” he barked, the man, not the dog. It seemed like an odd thing to bring up, on a golf course.
Another man had a dog with him as part of the four-ball, actually a five-ball with the dog. He played a hole with his dog by his side, I watched him chunk a chip and then another one and then he barely made the green with his next chunk. The dog looked dismayed and wandered away, missing the blasted putt up the green. It gave him no chance of making a two-putt for his up up up and down down down.

I heard his partner ask what were you in for there? “Put me down for a 6” he announced, even the dog looked embarrassed.

There were Frisbie Throwers on the second fairway, throwing down towards me as I teed up. What’s going on? This place is just a big shared park. Then I recognized the metal Frisbee catcher on the fairway. It is actually a Frisbee golf destination shared with an actual golf course.

True community cross usage. If you are having a bad round bring a Frisbee and maybe a dog or a kite.

I puffed all the way around here, the course is a collection of greens, tee boxes and hills. Trees are added in because they grew here. But it is a fantastically irritating golf course.

Lots of short par 4’s from one side of a steep valley up to the other. Looking down the barrel of a 224-meter par 4 normally is a thrill. But the greens are up in the sky at the top of a hill. Tee off into the hillside in front of you, hit a blind approach and pump your legs up the hill to find out where it landed. REPEAT UNTIL you go home.

There is a treat of a 203-meter par 3, early in the round, making the walk to the elevated tee still enjoyable.

The ninth is a hoof of a hole off of the top of the course down into a valley and up to an elevated green. A par 5 that you’d like to think you’d reach in 2 at 409 metres.

This part of the course is shared by the inner city loop track as if dog walkers and Frisbee chuckers weren’t enough, ramblers were added.

I got attacked by a magpie on the 11th – the noise I made was something I was not proud of. I quickly tapped in my putt to get away from the little bugger. Play with your sunglasses on top of your hat like eyes in the sky that will keep them away. Apparently.

The greens were soft and large, easy to land on in the main. The putting surface was okay but it took a lot of concentration to focus on the “just get it in” mentality.

You whip across the busy Adelaide road to finish your round. The course has a long history from its inception and works well for a community alongside the bowls club and other rec areas.

But it is not a place for a leisurely day out. The hills were a nightmare and the set up was nothing short of annoying. You do get some great looks out across Wellington as you move up and down the course.
So take a moment to enjoy them before tackling another hill climb.