This is the black sand course, a true links masterpiece on Muriwai beach.

I hadn’t played a full round of golf since April at Jack’s Point. Today I jumped in the car and headed to Muriwai Golf Club. The car hadn’t moved far since the awesome news that Delta was in the community and we were living with the virus. We were not living with it, we were hiding from it in our apartment.

If any game on earth is the game of the pandemic, it is golf. There is no risk, none, that you will be grabbed by Johnny COVID when wandering the fairways of a golf club. It seemed okay for the public to exercise on a golf course with their dog, or partner, or bubble but don’t bring a wee ball or an iron stick with you, elst you’ll end up a statistic.

I have played Muriwai Golf Club before, in the rain, heavy rain at that. My return to the club was thrilling, there was not a puff of wind and the sun was very welcome on my face. The people here are friendly, nice beach town people.

I moved fast to the 1st tee to get a lick on, it was a late start but there would be plenty of light to see me around. The 1st is upon an elevated tee looking out across the course and the ocean, I was glad to be right here.

It is one of the easier par 4’s, 322 metres with a downhill tee shot. The par 4’s across the course are all longish, the shortest of the collection is 319 metres. I would pick, that with the wind blowing hard, the length of a par 4 would become irrelevant, taking the win downwind and taking your medicine into it.

As I got to my ball resting in the middle of the 1st fairway, not the rough, a bunker, or sand dune, I remembered what I love about Muriwai. The grass is awesome, it is Kikuyu. I am no student of grass, but this stuff
is lovely. Tightly shorn Kikuyu fairways give you a perfect lie every time.
I popped the ball on the green and walked up to the elevated surface.

The green looked amazing, so true, and right up my alleyway. I had a new putter in hand and in a positive frame of mind for my evening on these greens. There was nothing wrong with the previous putter, I just like this one more.

Will it change my fortunes?

I once went to dog training classes (with a dog, not on my own) the lovely trainer commented after the first session, “ the dog doesn’t need training the owners do.”
Similar idea to the putter and its owner I think.

A solid par secured on the first, and off to the second, a par 5. The par 4’s being long and not easy scoring holes contrasts with the par 5’s. Four of them on the course, not all gettable in 2 but with good course management, these are your best opportunity to get a respectable round on the card.
The sweeping dogleg 2nd heads back to the clubrooms and starts a run of holes where the ocean isn’t as evident. I claimed another par, thrilled with my opening after such a long layoff.

There are 4 par 3’s at Muriwai Golf Club, the 3rd is the longest at 175 metres, a fair clip indeed. The par 3’s are all unique and a good scoring chance if you’re on your game.

The course which was built in the late 1950’s – it has been a favourite of many over the years. A top 20 contender in New Zealand for sure amongst those who keep score. I rate it highly on my Top NZ Golf courses list.
The location is serious links, the condition of the grass and the greens plus the magical black sand bunkers give it an edge. The black sand is very black when it is raining, it looks cool.

I was puzzling over what keeps Muriwai from challenging the top 10? Why is Paraparaumu Beach better? The difference is found on the stretch through the 2 long par 4’s of the 4th and 5th and onto the par 5 6th finishing with another long par 4 at the 7th . This stretch is nice but not exceptional, simple holes with none of the clever challenges of other top courses. It doesn’t mix it up enough to deliver a true golfing great. But I’m being a bit picky.

Or it could be the ridiculous Kikuyu grass.

In a past paragraph, I lorded the grass here as the reason you have to play. But a word of warning to those that are not students of grass like me. The rough has long Kikuyu grass, not the deep hard to find your ball rough. But the grass grows up from below itself, is that possible? What I mean is that your ball sits on top of the mess of kikuyu waiting to devour your clubhead.

I’d forgotten this and foolishly took a recovery club out on the 7th to recover from a poor tee shot. I swiped madly at the ball and watched as the ball popped upwards and backward – the grass
sucked my club under and I was sucked in. I don’t recall hitting a shot backward before.

Writing the double bogey on the card on the side of the 7th green was disappointing. My assessment of the course at this point was nice but average. I had a sweat up and trudged up the wee hill to the
8th tee. Ahh now, this is class, playing straight back at the ocean a par 3 to rival the best that you’ll find. Links bunkering and a small sloping green to tangle with, this is links heaven.

At 143 metres the length means nothing when the wind blows, they talk about pitching wedge to driver is the range of club choices due to the wind. No wind today, I’ll take the win on that one.
The 8th gets this course back on track, the 9th adds more to the story. Heading back to the clubrooms, the approach to the green needs your attention elevated with sloping drop-offs on each side. A
Norfolk Pine behind the green frames the picture well.

I picked up more water at the shop, I was beginning to falter in the heat. My golf fitness was being put to the test as I moved swiftly to the back 9.
I enjoyed the start of the second half, it felt more like it should. And then the 12th took my fancy, a par 5 that looked at one with nature and the god of links.

A dogleg to the left with a sweep of spindly trees and bunkers all the way up the fairway, making it a really good golf hole. 4 greenside pot bunkers were the icing on the cake. I secured a par making it 3 out of 3 pars on the long holes so far, my plan was working.

The greens today were in fantastic condition, not slick but so true that you had confidence in your stroke every time. The new putter was playing along nicely and was put to the ultimate test with a 7
foot birdie putt on the last of the par 5’s, the 14th . I popped it in, and walked off the green grinning at my one under across the four par 5’s.

This was not the same story on the par 3’s where I couldn’t equal the accuracy. Even the short 103 metre 17th couldn’t yield a par.

This is a cracking wee hole – uphill only a gap wedge in hand but a scary shot to the undulating green, the green is quite big but if you miss it like me, you’ll struggle.

I stood buggered on the 18th needing a par to go around bang on handicap, a fine feat given the layoff. But the 18th is 374 metres, beautiful to look at but a tough way to finish.

It took a whollop off the tee and a fully flighted 5 iron to the back tier of the green. This finishing hole is one of the best around, missing short or right is not an option on your approach. The gallery on the clubhouse balcony will be watching too.

The Kikuyu also means you don’t get the run up of Scottish links, normally a bump and run will get you up onto a green but the Kikuyu grabs the ball and gives you nothing if you are short. The trusty new putter got me home in par and everyone was happy.

I was impressed with Muriwai Golf Club, one of New Zealand’s finest places to play. A quick mention of the hole names, every hole has it’s own name. No Temptation or Devil’s anything in sight. “Long Tom Kirkup,” “Where’s Joe,” “Don’s Leg” and “Thar she blows!” have a personality not borrowed from someone else. Be your own golfer people, with your own name, good work Muriwai. I personally would put the 12th ahead of the 8th on my best holes of NZ list. But you should go and make up your own mind.

A journey of 40 minutes north of the Harbour Bridge will land you on the Hibiscus Coast and into the township of Whangaparaoa.  Known as the “bay of whales” it is a fantastic place for a golf course. On this Saturday afternoon, a stiff breeze populated the Whangaparaoa peninsular. My coach, Ross, said practising your new driver set up would be fine on a windy day. “It adds to the challenge.” He didn’t know I was going to Whangaparaoa Golf Club.

Situated out on the peninsular the course is not for the weak walker. I’d suggest a cart here may be a decision worth taking. There is a nice parkland feel to the area without an overabundance of trees. 

The first 3 holes can trick you into a false sense of what will lie ahead. A straight forward start to the round should be capitalised on. This course needs a precise driving day, the fairways are tight. Not particularly small targets but miss at your peril. Housing, Out of bounds and wetlands threaten to take you ball at the first sign of weakness.

The 4th is the start of these mind games. Wetlands all down the right side of the fairway, from the tee it is daunting as you have to drive over the corner of the wetlands. Don’t drive too far or you’ll shoot through the fairway. Miss the green and the steep slopes will make you pay.

Fitness Challenge Ahead

” Long Haul” is number 7, a full 448 metres uphill, mentally challenging physically challenging and a bloody long way. There is another hole coming called “Upward Struggle”, but only after you’ve faced “I’ll be Damned”, even the hole naming committee knew what this course was all about.

Even, “Looks Easy,” the 11th  isn’t that easy. But don’t worry Coronary Hill is the 12^th a wonderful looking hole if you can see through the sweat weeping from your brow.

Now you may get a sense that Whangaparaoa Golf Club is not for the faint-hearted. You need some internal fortitude to stand on tee after tee wondering what will be thrown at you next. The 13th is called “Roller Coaster”, they certainly know how to name a hole around here. 

The signature hole here could very well be “Splash” the 14^th, over a lovely lily pond to a green protected by a bunker. It is a nice rest bite as you make your way around this course.

Whangaparaoa shares a fence with Gulf Harbour Country Club, my partner briefly played Gulf Harbour following a wayward tee shot. A more affordable neighbour, green fees are manageable at Whangaparaoa. The course is great value for money and in a stunning location.

The course is in good condition and looks well-frequented. Play with a member if you are heading this way. Local knowledge will increase your enjoyment of the challenging layout.

I was confident all day to put my recent accelerated practice into play. But the course is not for those between swing changes. I would not enjoy this golf course as my regular haunt. The focus required off the tee would drive you mad. The wind was substantial today and this just added another dash of doubt.

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

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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?

This rural course just 10 minutes from wine country of Kemu. Good to see a carpark full as I pulled up to Helensville Golf Club. Surrounded by farmland and a little off the beaten track you would wonder whether this was a true country course. 

The set up here is great, nice club rooms and bar. I grabbed a quick sausage roll before kick off – a sausage roll can set you up for a good round. There are many culinary opinions on the humbled sausage roll. I have observed overly lite crumbling films of pastry, bite into this in the wrong wind conditions and puff! the air will fill with shard’s of flying pastry. A sausage roll loaded with vegetables, who are you trying to please? Buying a pre-round sausage roll you want firm pastry and sausage inside, not carrot and sweetcorn – it’s not a veggie filo after all. So hats off to the Helensville kitchen a good job well done!

Following a bit of banter with the fellow in the shop. He gave me good info about the course. Unusually so, people who know their surroundings tend to assume you should be just as clued up. He helped me into a trundler for the day. Shh don’t tell anyone.

Helensville’s front 9 loops around the outside of the course and the back nine loops inside. We talked about there being too many courses in the area to be sustainable for everyone. Maybe he was right; maybe we need to work harder to bring our game into the modern environment and more appealing to the world as it is today.

Helensville Golf club was a friendly old place, mostly everyone we met were keen to share a word or two. There had been a bit of rain during the week and winter was coming, so to speak. But the course showed no signs of this. An easy walk in the main through established tree lined fairways. The greens were in great nick, sand based and true to putt on from 1 to 18. Underfoot was damp but the fairways provided a great surface to play from.

I hit a lot of fairways today off the tee. Thereafter I struggled to get down for a par. One day all of the moving parts will move together. Once I got to the 14th I threatened to play well, but too late to make an impression.

Every golf course has it’s amen corner, 3 in a row that frame the course’s identity.

The signature 6th hole is lovely 163 metre par 3 over a water hazard to a 2 tiered green. Followed by the par 4 7th, OB all down the left, making for a squeaky bum tee shot to a tight fairway.

The 8^th is a par 5 and stroke hole 1 – Out of bounds down the left side of the 475 metre slightly up hill hole – it sweeps around to the right- the approach shot into the green is tough to an uphill plateaued green which you won’t see unless you skirt with the OB on the left. A 5 there is worth talking about. Didn’t get a 5.

You can hear the cow bell from the 12th as you play around Helensville, reassuring you that there is life out there.

I was playing off 15 following my anniversary tournament nightmare; I shaved 3 shots off this to post a net 68 on the par 71 course. 
The balcony at the upstairs clubhouse is a perfect spot to watch the players come up the 18^th we drank a refreshment and took in the late afternoon sun, until a vicious hail storm chased us away home.