A weather bomb hit us coming out of Napier on the self-named “Rustic Golf Tour of NZ”, we were heading towards Taupau Golf Club. The driving sleet and 5 degrees of temperature dampened my spirits. It said on the updated weather app, 5 degrees, feels like 2 degrees. This really puzzles me, it is either 5 degrees or 2 degrees – not a combination of feeling and actual temperature. This scale never works up the way, 5 degrees, feels like 10 degrees…This weather distraction sitting in the car park of Taupau G.C. blew us all the way down to Shannon and up the driveway of Buckley Golf Club.

There was a little break in the weather once I got the car over the hill at Woodville. If you haven’t been across this hill through the Te Apiti Wind Farm it is worth doing one day. The majestic tall white turbines stand strong all around the roadside over the hill. It is pretty cool.

This is a windy part of NZ so it was a good thinking the wind farmer who chose this location to set up their eco-business.
The temperature rose somewhat heading into Shannon and the sun made a welcome appearance.

Driving through the 2 farm gates into Buckley Golf Club you get a nice look at the course. From the attractive arrival driveway there are 3 holes in view, they looked typical country golf – flat and tree-lined with an excessive smattering of sheep with lambs in tow. The clubrooms although basic were set amongst the trees and looked fine.

There were cards for 9 or 18 holes, I wasn’t sure if this was an 18 hole course or 9, you can’t see the expanse of the course until you go around to the back of the clubhouse.

Ahh now, this looks more interesting as the flat arrival holes give way to undulating terrain and I spotted water features that may please the eye.

There were actually 16 holes, 2 holes doubled up to make 18, I hadn’t seen that before. Also, the 9 hole card was a combination of the holes from the 18, not a straight front 9 back 9 affair. You started on 16 played 17 and 18. Then 5, 10, 11, 12,1 3 and finish on 4. I liked the thinking.

By the time we sorted our clubs and teed off the weather bomb had followed us, the wind blew like an irrational teenager, which made for difficult conditions. The fairway grass was long in places where the sheep didn’t get to, so I had a war chest of excuses for my scoring on the day.

For sure, the hole of the day was “Drop Shot” into the teeth of the wind a sheer drop to the awaiting green below. It looked wet around the green so missing it could result in plugged and soggy problems. 121 metres directly down is always hard to judge. Sponsored by a septic tank company called Long Drop.

Look out for the Dangers ahead.

The holes named “Pond” and “Hazard” were inviting trouble as the hole naming committee obviously didn’t deliberate long on the choice of their handle. Although “Crocodile” left me wondering until I saw the concrete statement piece.

The course grew on me as we fought our way around in the wind, the elevated tee of “Plateau” and the short 15th were a delight to play.

A man in a ute drove towards us over the fairways to check if we had seen any fallen trees on our journey. He had a chat about something that was lost in the wind, maybe checking we had paid our green fees. He then got out of the ute to make a point and his hat flew off. He recovered it and drove away to start the chainsaw on his catch for the day up by the clubhouse.

Six par 3’s and 5 par 5’s is an unusual combination for the par 71 over 5,245 metres. But nothing is normal here, it is rustic golf in this beautiful country.

This Rustic Tour of NZ Golf brought me here unexpectedly but what a surprise to discover this local course with golf architecture in a country environment. Buckley Golf Club needs your attention if you are the area.

“Homeward” might be a typical finishing hole but Buckley is no typical golf course.

Ohakune is known as the carrot capital of New Zealand, sitting at the foot of Mount Ruapehu . Waimarino Golf Club is an 18 hole course established in 1926 in this magical mountain location.

I was in town to drop off my snowboarding son for a week on the slopes. I was not interested in the white hillside, more the little white ball. In the dead of winter I was concerned about how this golf course would play.

Surprise Surprise ! Waimarino was dry as a bone and in great condition for such a winter location. The volcanic soil grows a great carrot and the pumice like qualities make the area free draining.

A black dog warmly welcomed me and was keen to make friends. There wasn’t many others around at 3 in the afternoon as I rushed to get on the course and finish up before dark.

In a desperate attempt to elevate my game I decided to purchase some new clubs. The Clubroom sorted me out and fitted the perfect sticks for a man like me. I picked up the new driver and hyprid on my way south. I was super nervous about having 2 new clubs in the bag.

It was like a first date, highly expectant but worried that I wouldn’t know what to do. It was a good idea to have some time on my own with these 2 beautiful additions to my carry bag. I needed to get to know them before introducing them to my friends.

I stood on the 1st holding the unwrapped Titleist driver, the black dog sat at the back of the tee watching to see what I was going to do with it.

200 plus metres later I was in the middle of the fairway. Fully satisfied with my purchase.

This romance could blossom.

I got the same feeling on the par 5 2nd – a good drive in the semi rough and an ideal chance to pull out the hybrid. I’ve never used a hybrid before, would there be instant magic? What followed was a nervous swish sending the topped ball 20 metres further up the semi rough – I had answered that question pretty quickly.

This romance may take some work.

The 3rd was a par 3 – I fired right at the bunker and watched as the ball bounced out of there some 20 metres from the green. The bunkers are walled with timber. They look great but if you catch the timber watch out.

I had a mixed bag on the front nine, but a series of chip and putt pars got me out in the right frame of mind.

The 11th is the first dogleg. It is stroke hole 3 and only 287 metres. Why is that I wondered, new driver in hand. The short leg of the dog is about 130 metres up to the corner. So the sensible thing to do is hit a mid iron and then another. Or you could gaze into the eyes of your new lover and go over the corner.

You know what happens next – I watched my ball rifle into trees and not over them.

This romance may not last.

The course here at Waimarino Golf Club was a welcome surprise, the fairways were dry and soft. I never had to clean my ball and I found the greens true. 5,500 metres with a great layout and mix of long and shorter par 4’s. The par 5’s are get-able making for a good golf course to play. I ended up 13 over the card, spot on my course handicap for the day.

Playing on your own before the rule changes you would have to take the flag out when putting. I played the whole of this round flag in. I am a raging flag out man, traditionalist some may say.

Are you an innie or outie? A little petty maybe but the innies are rude, lazy and not in keeping with the spirit of the game. So I’m glad no one saw my innie day out at Waimarino.