A community course in the rural town of Whatawhata. Te Kowhai Golf Club was my second choice of a quick 9 whilst driving upcountry. I pulled over at Ngahinepouri Golf Club but it was closed for a tournament. That was 2 courses in one morning that turned me away due to an overabundance of golfers.

I am 43 courses into the 393 across New Zealand, just over a tenth of the way there. It is time to pick up the pace. The thought of quickly running around New Zealand and playing 393 golf courses has had a reality check. I need to keep my head down and swing hard to get closer to my golfing goal.

I have a new golf coach, I’ve had a couple of the coaches leave from the Institute of Golf at Ellerslie. Maybe the challenge of me is too much for these men.

The new coach, Ross speaks my language, a fellow Scot. Already I have seen improvement in my ball striking. The journey is looking positive to the single figure mark. But I need to apply myself and commit to getting this done.

The chap in the clubrooms at Te Kowhai Golf Club suggested I take a card to help me find my way around. “You’re on your own out there – a private round at no extra cost!” The front of the card at Te Kowhai has a picture of a nice bird. At first, I thought it was a Kowhai, but it turns out the Kowhai is a tree!

The front of the card is much prettier than the back.

This course has flat narrow fairways and many trees. I soon squashed my first thought of how I would make easy work of this little course. How wrong I was. Midwinter and slightly long fairway grass were not forgiving to a poor skinny drive looking for a bit of run-up. The greens were perfectly fine and flat to putt on. Easier than Waitomo’s earlier that morning.

A straight par 5 to start off was followed by long par 4’s 380, 345 and 254. No, it is not a typo 254 metres, the trick here is that if you don’t get into the right-hand side of the fairway at about 215 metres you are confronted by a wall of trees.

If I had an opinion, I’d shorten the par 4’s add 3 more par 3’s call it a 12 hole course and let the community enjoy an easier set of challenges in this lovely setting. Or am I just a little grumpy that I couldn’t quite get the measure of this course?

I noticed my clubhouse keeper had let 2 others onto the course, his lies about my own private round rung in my ears. Not alone I stood on the 9th dis-satisfied with my golf but pleased to have stopped at Te Kowhai Golf Club.

The ninth was a tough hoof into the strong wind 162 metres and the well-struck hybrid still didn’t get up to the green. A chip and a putt and I was back in the car to head home, a little tired. Nothing that Bat Out of Hell blaring at me from the stereo wouldn’t cure.

Waitomo is famous for its extensive underground caves, I was here for a different reason. Waitomo Golf Club is in the Waikato Region. Established in 1912 the course is a fine example of NZ rural golf.

I was playing at Waitomo because I was heading back up to Auckland on my own with some time to kill. Rising early that day I planned to get a start on Taumarunui Golf Course. The car park was FULL at 8 am, there was a gaggle of golfers warming up. The friendly team in the shop said the Maori Cup was on and I wouldn’t get a tee slot for a few hours.

Golf in New Zealand is not dead, this would be the second course I found today that was fully booked.

I pulled over at Waitomo Golf Club, straight off of SH3 just passed Te Kuiti not knowing what to expect. The kiwi golf legend, Phil Tataurangi played here as a boy. There is some great reminiscing here of his childhood learning golf at Waitomo Golf Club.

It was a cracking sunny day – no good for my glow in the dark golf balls. An unexpected parcel arrived at my office desk some time ago with 6 balls in it. Strange balls, not ordered by me. I have subsequently discovered they are glow in the dark. These could have been a massive advantage if Waitomo Golf Club was actually in one of their famous caves.

The caves are filled by the most amazing glow worms and tourists who are boating through the caves or black water rafting if they are more adventurous.

Self serve Eftpos, the first time I’ve seen that on my travels. But I still prefer the cash in the honesty box malarkey. It feels right to push your little envelope of cash into the hole.

I love an obvious opening hole and even more so if it is downhill- downwind – with a wide fairway — short —okay you get the picture. The first was stroke hole 18 and ticked all the boxes.

Lookout ahead

The other pet love of mine is the way in which each course deals with the blind tee shot. We know about Warkworth and Helensville’s bells. Akarana has a periscope on the 3rd – you can see nothing more from peering into it in search of your upfront group.

At Waitomo on the 3rd, there is some excellent steps and a platform. This would be my favourite type of checking tool.

I played the first 4 holes behind a 3 ball ahead. At the 5th tee, the male in the group came over to ask if I wanted to play with him. The two ladies were in competition mode and he was the third wheel!

Glen was great company around the rest of Waitomo. He was a rural man, working and living in the Waikato and loving life. I enjoyed his company and thoughts on the future of golf. Making the game accessible and easy for new players in a community was key to his thinking.

The signature hole at Waitomo Golf Club is the 6th. A par 3 beautifully framed but a menacing 137 metres. A firm favourite on the list of New Zealand’s Best Golf Holes.

Waitomo is a great feeling golf course. Farm life surrounds you and there are stunning views across the King Country. I was still getting used to my new driver & hybrid – struggling a bit to get into a rhythm. The greens were a bit bobbly after coring and sanding. I didn’t worry too much, I was enjoying the countryside and the company.

One thing that should be eliminated from our great game is an uphill par 5 that is also the 18th and last hole. We don’t need a final physical test after a good day out. A rule changed required from our Royal and Ancient friends, please. Score early around Waitomo and save some energy for some tough closing holes.