Clarks Beach Golf Club is due south out of Auckland. Get off at horse country through Karaka and head to the peninsula that is
Clarks Beach.
This wise old owl chose playing a sand based course in the dead of winter. Winter in Auckland is no winter at all, when you are from Scotland. We had a still and sunny day to get out on the links of Clarks beach.

A friendly bunch you’ll find here, they even waived the fee for my 16 year old and told me to have a good time with him, “he will be paying for you soon enough.”

You’ll be pleased to read I left the trundler bag at home and picked up the clubs. It felt great to get the bag on my back once again.

A flat looking course in fabulous condition. The greens looked inviting and were very true. Just over 5,000 metres the course isn’t too long with many short par 5’s and par 4’s.

I was expecting a scoring feast in these conditions and on this easy little course. On a windy day Clarks Beach would have some teeth but not today.
Or so I thought. Having negotiated the opening 3 holes in good shape the pretty little course woke up and fought back.

The 4th green is a place you don’t want to be. Double digits on the Stimp stick reading I’m sure. I stood over a 5 foot birdie putt and putted straight off the front of the green.
And then it started the hidden undulation of the greens here make securing 2 putts a lesson in patience and control. I had 4 birdie putts inside 6 feet none of which were ever going in.

The mental fatigue from staring at the devilish greens was getting to me. I would imagine in the heat of the summer you would be in an impossible position more often than not.
All of the par 3’s are attractive little numbers. The “prettiest hole on the course” number 12 is only 110 metres but a par is a treasure.
Fantastic views framing green with good bunkering all around. According to the pro tip the bunker will be your savour. Was this written by a golfer?

The par 4 7th looks easy, simple drive and shortish flip wedge into the green no drama, except there is water all around the green and close, oh so close.

Don’t be fooled by Clarks Beach Golf course . OB hugs many a hole here and the water is not a serene soothing touch to the area. The water appears to challenge your shot making on a regular occasion.

We met a lot of friendly locals, including a retired chap who wandered over to us on the 17th to pronounce “ I had 4 putts on this green yesterday!” – so it wasn’t just us. He wore a pink sun faded Clarks Beach Golf Club cap and knew the ferocity of the little course better than most I’m sure.
Utterly wonderful golf course pretty as a picture, challenging as it needed to be with friendly people to boot. A great addition to my adventure to meet every course in the land.

Course handicap of 15 today, the index moves tomorrow. I should drop closer to the mythical single figure mark following a few steady rounds.