South Head Golf Club is a simple country course, with rolling fairways. It is not hilly but has many an elevation change throughout the course. I have heard a lot of courses class themselves as a “hidden gem” – this could be the truth here at South Head Golf Club.

What makes it a gem is the location, a quiet country course with views across to the Kaipara harbour. The variety of holes here is excellent and the condition of the course is well above expectations.

This is the home course of Steve Williams, Tiger Woods caddie for many years. Locals tell tales of the day Tiger caddied for Steve around South Head before his wedding. That’s a recommendation enough to get out to play the magical course located here.

It was a warming day and the kiwi sunshine is always a threat to my Scottish skin. I bought a hat. Leaving some of my hard-earned foldies with the club.

The slopes on the course mean that local knowledge would be a helpful advantage. The first hole slopes left to right and there is an elevated green to challenge your shot-making. I started poorly, didn’t register a par until the 6th. Local knowledge probably wouldn’t have helped.

The 2nd is a tough 183 par 3 and 2 holes later a 160-metre uphill par 3 is deceptively difficult. The 5th is a long par 5 called Perseverance, that says it all really.

I was glad to get to the 6th a shorter par 5 but called Westward Ho. Come on people do we need a Westward Ho on every course in the country?

The 9th was a great looking hole from an elevated tee, this was my first look at birdie – for 2 reasons. Following a good drive and expert gap wedge, I was 6 feet away. the other reason was the turkeys taking up residence on the fairway and in the rough.

There should really be the use of the turkey bird in the golfing vocabulary, maybe a triple-bogey could be a turkey?

If the 9th was good looking, the 10th took the cake, Eagle’s Nest, a par 3 over water to a bunker guarded green. I had another birdie putt here to no avail.

Birdie Alley

The fun really begins on the 12th, the next 3 holes are nicknamed birdie alley. This could be right up my street. Yardage of 256, 258 and 285 metres it was a chance to have a go from the tee.

The 12th green was missed on the right, I couldn’t get up and down, 13th same story BUT on the 14th we stood up on the tee box, wind behind and no real idea where the green was. Both myself and the boy put our drives on the green, he was 5 feet away. So the story now becomes all about whether he nails his first-ever eagle.

It got tense as he stroked a firm putt at the shrinking hole, somehow the golfing gods sucked it into the cup! Wild celebrations ensued and a 2 written firmly on the card. Good work son!

I really liked the set up of the 17th – only 376metres of par 5. Great view from the tee box of the narrowing fairway and the overhanging tree and the fairway bunker. A wise man may play a mid-iron to avoid driver disaster. Wise men shouldn’t play golf, have a rip!

The 17th is firmly on my list of top holes of New Zealand – named Eccles Highway after the man who designed the course, this is a hole to be proud of.

Hat’s off to South Head

A friendly clubhouse topped off a wonderful day out at South Head Golf Club.

Daylight saving pushed the sun down time out by one hour. Excellent news for golfers! Redwood Park Golf Club was chosen as today’s challenge. I hummed and hawed about a coastal course on a sunny spring day. The wind looked stiff in some places which turned my attention to tree-lined choices.

Redwood Park is in Swanson, West Auckland. I got to the carpark and it was filled with cars – another good sign for golf in this land. The temperature was rising at 2 pm in the afternoon and I looked forward to seeing what this course had in store for me.

The clue was in the title, Redwood Park, towering Redwoods dominated the terrain. A Redwood is a tall tree with a wide trunk, there is no illusion that you are going through a Redwood if you are heading towards it. The trunk will take your ball.

There were a few Juniors and parents out in front of me so I knew the round could be slowish once I caught up with them. I decided to take my time and enjoy the surroundings. There was plenty of wildlife in the ponds and trees to enjoy all around this beautiful course.

I stood up and looked at the beautiful first hole. Feeling comfortable with the new driver in hand, I swung for the stars and sent a shocking fade up the 1st into the rough. The subsequent blind shot at the green was short but a tidy up and down got me off on par.

Now I don’t rabbit on about my shot-making or lack thereof. But the 2nd was a 211 metre par 3. Into the stiff breeze, I had to use the driver. Not for some time had I hit a driver off a par 3.

I swung again with confidence, a peach of a contact sent the ball 10 feet from the hole. Playing alone there was no one else to see my genius. Did I nail the birdie – no I did not.

The Eagle!

The 3rd was a 462 metre par 5, again a chance test the driver off the tee, I hit a riper. Sitting in the middle of the fairway the new hybrid was unleashed with success and I stood over a 75 metre flick to the green. This is the perfect distance for my 57 degree old rusty. I watched on as the ball took 2 bounces and dropped into the hole.

WOW, an eagle 3 and I looked around to see if anyone may have noticed – there was nobody within 400 metres. I high 5’ed my self – like an arse. I was 2 under after 3 holes. Why oh why am I on my own?

I dropped 4shots in the next 6 holes to keep me honest. 2 over after 9. There is plenty of interesting holes around Redwood Park and I was enjoying the variety.

I have a liking for a tee box that has to be found back up in the trees. The 7th was a short walk up through the Redwoods to an elevated tee. It was a great view and I hit a smart drive to compliment the setting.

Number 8 was a cracking par 3, the 9th was a lovely par 4 and 10 was a par 3 over a large pond. This course was really taking my eye as I tiptoed through the Redwoods. I was 2 over the card after 10 holes, which is unheard of, so I knuckled down to concentrate on getting into the clubhouse with a season-best score.

I had a couple of nervous bogeys on 11 and 12. But a par on the next par 3 and 2 short par fours got me to 4 over after 15, I should have birdied 15 at 247 metres it was asking for it.

I met a man on an electric golf bike, he was coming up a hole behind me. We had a long chat about electric bikes, walking the course and the state of NZ golf. We agreed the game was healthy and I eyed up his bike for a future purchase when I might want to rush around a course. Look here for how cool it is.

Walking the last 3 holes, I tired badly, dreaming of the bike. Luckily I managed to hold together a bogie on each of the last 3 to come in 7 over par for the round.

A wonderful-looking 76 on the par 69. I deserved a beer, so I bought one and sat on the great deck and marvelled at the Redwoods.

Redwood Park Golf Club is a great golf course, it is well established and challenging. Take yourself out to enjoy the trees and all this course has to offer.

Nice periscope

Warkworth Golf Club is just off Matakana Rd – a stand out and exceptionally friendly welcome from everyone you meet.

My addiction to a trundler continues. Shamed and remorseful as I write this confession. The excuses fill my head with the carry bag lying empty in the boot of the car.

…I have to trundle …just one more time.. 

Look at the size of my picnic, I couldn’t carry all that.

I need an umbrella with me

I need my 4 iron and 3 wood just in case I remarkably learn how to use them mid round. 

I have extra layer of winter clothing which will be heavy … I need to wheel around…

It was a perfect winter’s day for golf, but still I find myself asking for a trundler. The man in the shop pointed out the best trundler in the fleet, “she runs real good this one. “

We were given expert advice on the course and it felt that your experience was front of mind from the Warkworth Golf Club staff.

The front 9 is an absolutely beautiful sweeping and hilly way to start a round, before you get a flat run on the back nine.

Don’t be fooled by the card, short par 4’s on the front that seem appealing until you take on a few very up hill challenges. 

The heritage of the course is obviously Scottish, “Highlander” a long way up the hill, the “Wee Brae”, a great driving hole, “The Burn” a down hill tee shot to prepare for a straight up hill 2nd. Plenty of walking to be done early in the round. I think the Burn referred to the creek straddling the fairway or was it to let you know the feeling you will have up the back of your legs as you get up to the green?

Ding-a-ling offers chance to attack a cool little green on a short par 4 and there is a bell to announce you hit the green like a happy clappy sales motivational tool.

In general there is not a lot of rough at Warkworth Golf club, some places on the course should be avoided but just off the fairway isn’t too bad most of the time. Here had been a bit of rain in the week , so soft greens and a slight sponge to the fairways was still acceptable conditions for winter golf.

The Par 3’s are good value, the 7th is a nice looking 154 metres over a water feature. The 16th ” ruins many a good round” 156 metres with the option of missing the green and finding OB.

We sat with the local crowd and enjoyed a drink in the sun at the end our round. You can feel that the club is in good hands and the atmosphere is welcoming. I totted up the card, a tidy 83 on the par 72.

The trundler may have helped?

Do I really need to carry my bag out of some sense of personal pride?