Waiterimu Golf Club in Waikato is not easy to find, off the beaten track, with not a lot of web presence. I knew about this course from the man at Huntly Golf Club.
Coming off State highway 1 just before Huntly I couldn’t bring the course up on the maps app. I stopped on a deserted road to do some research and find the place.
A hard-working car pulled up alongside me, a worn and weathered man barked something at me. I couldn’t make out a word. I rolled down the window and spoke at him, ” I’m looking for a golf course”
He lights up, ” Are you Scots??” He told me he was a laird, the rightful owner of Castle Inch. Following this information, he affirmed, “I’ve never been to Scotland” He then rattled off a long story starting with him being born on the side of the road in America, “on Highway 66!”
His nationality was an extraordinary mix of Scots, American, Welsh, Portuguese – possibly the father of Rohanldo – and something about having a connection to the German Reich. He did look Maori.
He owned land all over New Zealand and heard this area was up for sale that’s why he was here. He also heard a rumour that an International golf resort was planned for the area, he winked at me knowingly – I was the buyer for sure.
Pulling into an empty car park is a nice feeling. I was looking forward to the nine holes ahead of me. I get more of a kick out of a true country golf course than some courses who think they are something that they are not.
Unpacked and ready to get out there, a rain shower came through and turned into a thunderous 10 minutes of a downpour. We cuddled under the clubrooms parapet until it passed. There was a great outdoor area for post-round socialising.
A healthy mob of sheep roamed freely on the course. Electric fences kept them off the putting surface. The greens were soft and smooth and pretty good really.
This little country course was no pushover, substantial par 4’s and tough par 5’s. The 9th was the hole of the day 140 metres in full view of the nobody watching from the clubrooms.
This journey was taking me to places I never knew about. The countryside here is lovely, rolling farmland. To know that this course exists in rural New Zealand is heartwarming.
The Greenkeepers were friendly all the way around and seem to maintain the fairways will dedication. Although I did get a shit lie now and again.
A Shit lie
As a course layout I was impressed, not a cookie cutter design. A local design to keep you challenged. The first was a tempting dog leg a bit early in the round to smash the driver over the corner, or was it?
Number 3 needed your attention off the tee at 389 metres with a dogleg it was deserving of number 1 stroke hole status.
The 5th is a deceptive par 3 at 162 metres. Followed by another dogleg at the 6th tee.
The 7th, a par 5, was a good driving hole narrowed by the trees in front of the tee box. A sloping fairway and tricky elevated green made the short par 5 a little harder than it may appear. The front nine suggests it is stroke 17 but playing it again on the back gives it stroke index 2 as it drops down to a par 4.
Number 8 is another par 5 longest on the course at 444 metres. But the hole of the day is the finishing hole. 140 metres back up to the clubhouse. A beautifully framed way to complete your round in front of those watching from the deck.
Time to go
A word on the loo. Was it a loo on the 5th? If you don’t need to go on course, don’t go is my humble advice. On the card it said toilet so let’s assume you can go there.
I’m not in a position to judge this or add it to the list of top 10 on course toilets. If it was, in fact, a toilet.
THE LOO?
What I will say is that on the clubhouse wall there is an amazingly informative sign making sure you know where the toilets are.
By No.10 Tee apparently, which is where the 1st tee is and also this sign.
If you are nearby Waiterimu drop in for the loo or better still a round of golf on the Kiwi classic.
I dropped my wife at Auckland airport for a business trip away. Huntly didn’t seem that far, so I headed south to the Waikato.
I arrived and headed up to the clubrooms to find someone to give my $25 green fee. There was a hot and thirsty looking collection of men settling into their chairs. The man behind the bar took me downstairs to get a card.
He told me the group in the bar were too thirsty to play more than 9 holes today. It was a stinking hot day.
“What brings you around this way?” the man asked. I looked a wee bit townie and obviously not local. I unfolded the dream to play every golf course in New Zealand at his feet.
He bobbed his head and shoulders in appreciation of the task. “There are nearly 400??” he learned and quickly processed the challenge ahead of me. “If you do one course every month – you’ll be dead before you finish.”
I agreed and rushed to the 1st tee, I better get a move on.
It was a dry intense heat beating down on the Huntly fairways. This had been the weather story for a while. The course was a light brown colour like many more in the New Zealand countryside at the height of summer.
I was sporting a new pair of golf shoes, a half size bigger than normal to allow for swelling of the plates of meat. They were exceptionally comfortable.
The front nine passed me by as I struggled to get in a rhythm. The dry course was generous off of the tee. If you hit a straight drive you would feel good with the added run metres, I couldn’t muster much of that. You had to hit the green or else the miss was magnified by the hard ground around them. The greens themselves were in good condition.
Foolishly unprepared, there was no water in my bag so at half time I was glad that the man was still around to sell me much needed hydration before he packed up for the day.
I picked water from the fridge and noticed a box of Speights. ” Can I grab a can ?” – the man wondered why I had asked that “Looks like you need it.”
On the 10th tee I demanded more from myself, I drank all the water. I will keep the very cold can of beer in my bag until my game improves.
Number 10 was a par 3, a nice hole to get the back nine started. I thinned an eight iron onto the green for par. This was the start of a good stretch of golf.
A drivable dogleg of 259 metres was a nice 11th hole. If you can find a power fade you’d be happy. Another par on 11 and following a great iron shot into the par 3 12th, there were signs I would soon crack the beer. I’ll drink it if I nail the birdie putt… Missed it.
The 13th is a tough 354 metre par 4 needing a good drive. I came off the green with another par. I was wondering if I could keep this up and I was wondering if the beer was getting warm.
The 14th was a par 5 and made for an easy 5th par in a row. I couldn’t take the risk any longer on the beer temperature and I had played well enough to deserve it.
Time for a beer
I sat on the lovely 15th tee and whipped off my sweat sodden hat and delved into the bag for the can of Speights. Yes, it was still cold. There was no one anywhere in sight, it felt right to pull off my shirt and lie back on the tee box.
I’ve never been shirtless on a golf course in my life. I must take this moment to apologise to the good people of Huntly. For the disregarding of all etiquette rules on your golf course. Any one who may have seen the sun reflect off of my white Scottish skin and wonder what was going on, to them I apologise too,
The beer and the moment was such a pleasure. I got ahead of myself ( again) and dreamt of a bogey-free back nine. 3 quarters of the can already drunk, I stood up and stared down the 15th, a mere 168 metres later I came off with a double-bogey 5. The beer and the sunshine knocked me off my pedestal.
I finished the can, put my shirt back on and made sure that I was dressed appropriately for the final stretch.
Melting back to the clubrooms, it was a tough final 3 holes, wishing for more cold Speights but no luck as everything was locked up.
I enjoyed the back nine here at Huntly, the course is well worth a visit. I was glad there were no hills to tackle in the heat of the day. I was glad I took the drive to the Waikato to experience the 18 holes. I felt the tinge of sunburn on the way home, best to keep my shirt on in the future.
The day couldn’t have been better driving into Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club. The warm Kapiti Coast sun was high in the sky and watching down on me.
The night before I slavered over the history of this golf club and watched videos of the course. This is not my style. I prefer the turn-up, play, discover and enjoy model. But I had an inkling that this was going to be momentous. I have to admit there was a little goosebump in my hotel room as I thought about what was to come.
The club president was meeting up with me to show me around. Dave Buck is a storyteller and very good golfer who started his golfing life as a caddie at PBGC when he was 10 years old.
The entrance is unassuming just through the village, near but not on the beach. The welcome is friendly and interested, not like an exclusive club showing off its silverware. In a small community town steeped in history, this is a place for locals to meet and play and pick fun at each other and sometimes to wager on their abilities.
“Alex” is hole number 1, paying tribute to the designer, his name and his work are held in high regard across the globe. This is the only golf course Alex Russell designed outside of Australia. A man from Scottish heritage, he had a pedigree for sure. The guile he used amongst these dunes to create PBGC would mesmerise even the Scots.
In the clubrooms, the history of how this club grew into a world powerhouse is on display, but not too much.
In 1949 the job was finished, Alex had created his masterpiece. Only 10 years later the first NZ open was played here, and the country took notice of PBGC. A total of 12 opens later is a story in itself.
I asked if there were plans for a future Open to return – no confidence in this idea was voiced. It would be a damn shame if we can’t get the Open back at the home of New Zealand golf.
“Alex” starts with a slightly blind tee shot as your introduction to the mind games you have signed up for. I made a good shot into the green – there was greenkeeper watering. He enjoyed a good bit of laughter as I got over my putt and a gust of wind blew my ball a further 15 feet back down the steep green. A sign of greens to come.
Dave told me only 4 greenkeepers work the land and still, it is an immaculate links beauty. The locals help out with additional work when required, like a real golf club.
I was regaled with tails of great players who have walked these fairways, – Tiger -Bob Charles – Peter Thompson – Cambo. But there are golfers from all around the world putting this golf course on their list. I heard of one American chap in the clubhouse who only had time for 1 game of golf in NZ – a good choice that man.
Tourism New Zealand has a plan to elevate Aotearoa as a world-leading golfing destination and they have chosen courses across the country to be poster boys for the campaign. PBGC is firmly in that plan and should, in my opinion, head it up.
The members often caddie for overseas visitors, this is a special offering not only to play PBGC but with someone on your bag that lives and breaths the place. Not many carry a yardage book or laser scope, just years of experience.
I started brightly with 2 pars in the first 4. I was loving being with Dave and was looking forward to pushing onto a solid score. The greens were firm and in impeccable condition, a joy to putt on with many challenges, Tiger 4 putted the 2nd so I was please with my solid 2 putts.
How many was that?
The 5th is a beautiful par 3, delicate and slim, hanging on its pedestal with deep hollows on all sides. Te Motu – “The Island”.
I ended up in the left-hand hollow from the tee, like a fool I swaggered up to the chip, unaware and underprepared – I made 2 excellent chips that ended back at my feet, still with no fear, the third chip ended up over the green and into the right-hand hollow. This story of chipping goes on, more like ping pong than golf. I’m not proud of the 9 I put on the card. I am proud of the fact that Frank Nobilo registered a 7 here, whilst leading the open. I haven’t scored 9 for a while but I do have some satisfaction that PBGC got me in the most unassuming way.
Dave had a wee chuckle going on as we left the green behind.
Glad to see the back of the 5th.
After the wake-up, I played well and really enjoyed, the combinations PBGC has for you. Tee shots need to be put the right place, seemingly normal approach shots need more care than you know and the devilish greens are firmly in control of your ball. Maybe the course was playing me rather than the other way around.
Having a local and expert on the course with me was worth a few shots off of the card. The advice was priceless. “Don’t miss left, and you don’t want to be right here, I would suggest the middle of the green would be a good place to be.”
Hole names are in both English and Maori. None more so than Morearea Iti – Little Danger. This is my favourite hole on the course. If you played it 6 times you would have a different plan each time. Dave and Leo, the GM, both agree that number 8 takes the cake. A small green stares you down, daring you to put your puny little ball on the little smooth surface. Not the most beautiful hole but a golfing challenge you will relish.
Others have different ideas on the hole of the day, which shows you the strength of PBGC right across the 18 holes.
The 8th is the story here, play the course as it was designed. Make the shots it is asking you to make. Fight against it and you will be in a world of hurt.
From the 13th at the bottom of the course, you see the whole brilliance of the place chosen to put this golf course. The view of the Tararua ranges from here is magical. “The Divide” number 13 needs an out of the screws drive across a swale then up to an elevated green. This hole is brilliant, miss short and end up in “Russell’s ravine” – however, the back of the green is even worse.
The 14th is a tempting par 3 downhill with a full view of the pot bunkers. On the 15th tee box, the hole askes for “Blind Faith” out over the dunes to a fairway you will see when you get there. What a great stretch of 3 holes. Surely the course has run out of ideas by now.
16th Tee
The 16th is not unlike the postage stamp at Royal Troon. There is no easy way to tackle the 126 metres in front of you.
The 17th is world-class, a split fairway is an idea not used often enough. Choose a safer and shorter route up the right but face a harder approach or try to reach the left-hand fairway for a much easier shot at the green.
Standing on the 18th, I felt a little disappointed that my round was coming to an end. But a birdie-able Par 5 finishing hole lifted my spirits. This hole is a favourite of many, historical finishes of the Open have been witnessed here. A plaque in the fairway shows where Grant Waite holed out for a double-eagle in 1992 using a 2-iron.
Holing out for a par on the last, I was only 2 over on the back nine, I felt like a champion, I would have gleefully started again and played another 18 holes, but we settled for a beer instead.
I met a Calgary couple who get out of their winter in the Northern hemisphere for 4 months and hole up here playing PBGC every day. If you are looking for a life hack that is one you should focus on.
The Jewel in the Crown
Is this the Jewel in the New Zealand crown? I am a sucker for a links golf course, but it takes clear design and vision to lay on a course that beats all others. The best courses in the world take you on a journey, and the very best make every moment of that journey worth the trip.
Hollows and humps, moguls if you will, dunes, pot bunkers, no need for bunkers, big greens, little greens, tiers on the greens and in the eyes after the 5th and Dave’s company all made this day out very special.
Golf is about today, the course, the weather, the company but it also is about history. It is about community and friendship. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club is all of these things rolled into one helluva golf course, which must be the home of golf in New Zealand. The best golf course I’ve played in New Zealand and straight to number 1 on the list of New Zealand’s top courses.
At the bottom (or top) of Lake Wakatipu. Kingston Golf Club is the most northerly of the clubs that make up the Southland golf district. Kingston is the southern gateway to the Queenstown Lakes district. Just under 50 km’s along the Devil’s Staircase from here will bring you into Queenstown.
I played here many moons ago when there were fences around the greens to keep the sheep at bay. I was surprised to see them gone and the course was in good condition.
We came across a full course with the annual sponsor’s tournament in play. We squeezed onto the course between the field. At the clubrooms, there were no scorecards in the honesty box. A friendly local on the course offered to go and find me one, but I settled on taking a photo of his card. We had a laugh at his score so far, as they headed off in front of us.
A straight forward short par 4 to start the round should boost your confidence. The par 4’s at Kingston are all around the 300-metre mark so quite accessible for good scoring.
An uphill par 3, number 2 was named after Michael Hills poor brother. A testing hole needing a solid shot to get you up to the green. But once up there the view back down towards the lake is remarkable.
THE HILLS
The undulating mounds at the back of the course were an interesting feature going down the 3rd. The first of 2 par 5’s at 418 metres. A nice looking driving hole with a tricky green.
3rd Green
At “Ben Nevis” the 140 metre 6th we bumped into another of the tournament players who insisted we come to the clubhouse for a beer after our round. I was beginning to like the good people of Kingston.
The 7th was a tough driving hole with a narrowing fairway. What made it tougher was the weather that was galloping up the lake at us. A quick stop to hide under trees ensued whilst we waited for it to blow through.
Here comes the weather
I can offer some advice on the 8th, a short 288 metres, asking for a ripper off the tee. Don’t take your driver from the bag. An easy 7 iron will leave you far enough back to get over the substantial tree guarding the green. I took the driver.
The clubhouse was full of people when we finished. I sometimes forget to de cloth my cap when entering the clubrooms. It is a tradition to remove your headgear in clubrooms through the land. Golf people are quick to give you notice, by looking at you and tapping their heads. In Scotland that is code for your mental/crazy.
The prize table was laden with prizes, for their biggest tourney of the year. The president came and introduced himself – we found out the club was born the same year as us ( me and the wife) 1968.
There was news of thousands of houses planned for the area and with this comes the fear that course may be taken from these good people. We met a few other local people and shared stories of great courses in the Southland area, including the deceased Oreti sands in Invercargill.
It turned out that one of the ladies in the room was a relative of the first-ever person to tee off at Oreti sands.
These clubrooms were full of a great bunch of people enjoying their big day. For me, another lucky day to play a local course which had been immaculately presented for the tournament.
The difficulty to get the community to look after the course year-round was raised. New people coming in to live but not utilizing the golf course. We can’t accept this fate, we need Kingston golf club to survive another 50 years. I’ll be back to play in the tournament next year proper. A Brilliant day out and a course worthy of being on the Best Nine Holes of New Zealand list.
The toilet didn’t make the list of top on course toilets.
It was a swift Boxing Day drive to Invercargill to visit Greenacres Country Club. Carrying a few pounds of extra weight following an excessive family dinner, I needed a good walk.
I’ve passed this course a few times previously on the way to the airport. I had the impression that it may be high end and a wee bit exclusive, but it was not quite that. It must have been the name that drove up the expectation.
There is a good 2 levelled driving range at the course, as it was boxing day the range was closed.
50th jubilee of Greenacres Country Club is coming up very soon, opened in 1969 the locals will no doubt have a great weekend celebrating.
DON”T BE SHY
The first is a straight forward par 4 at 303 metres, urged on by the signage, I lashed at a hazy boxing day drive to leave me “Embarrassed.” The aptest opening hole name I’ve encountered.
FIRST GREEN
The course was relatively busy with various groups out and about. There must have been a Boxing Day tradition for a rugby team on the course as I passed a massive group of 15 odd folks playing together. There was a lot of laughter and banter amongst them.
The course measures 5,780 metres and set amongst mature trees on a parkland setting. The front nine passed me by pretty quickly, a combination of the Christmas day indulgencies and an irritable wind were to blame.
The inclusion of another “Bonanza” was mystifying me – does anyone have any light they can shine on this title for a golf hole?
Why ?
To continue the luck I was having on the Southland trip I found the back nine had just been mowed which set up some nice playing conditions.
From the 10th I had 4 pars in a row and then a birdie. My blood was pumping at the thought of an under-par 9 holes. A swift double bogey on the 15th stopped that thought in its tracks.
One Small Step for Man
As I write this a light has gone on, the actual reason for the name of the 12th hole. At the time I thought the green might be hard to reach or it was made of cheese or once you’ve gone you will never really go back.
Man landed on the moon at the same time the Greenacres Country Club was born in 1969. A World Significant event with 2 men playing lunar golf up there a few years later. Check out the astronaut’s swing here. Play golf wherever you may be, on the moon or on the fairways of Southland.
ONE SMALL STEP FOR GOLF
The best hole on the course is the 13th. At 320 metres with a sharp dogleg to the left. Your tee shot could be a long high draw over and around the trees or a steady layup just passed the corner.
There was an irritable wind which was pretty annoying during my 4 hours at Greenacres Country Club. The course was okay, the wind and my expectations of the country club meant I didn’t quite get this course on the best in New Zealand list.
The greens had been sprayed with something that had turned them white very odd-looking. They were still true to putt on.
I preferred the back nine set up. The 18th is a lovely wee finishing hole. The four par 5’ are all challenging, long enough to be true par 5’s. A few months ago it would have been 2 good hits and a long pitch but now a drive and hybrid or long iron are getting me close to the green. My coach has done a great job at adding distance to my game. I feel a par 5 is a scoring hole for me now.
$20 green fee is good value for money for a well looked after affair. The Toilet facilities were not up to Tuatapere standards, but useful when in need.
It says boldly on the Tuatapere Golf Club welcome signage, “Southlands Best 9 Hole Golf Course.”
Only time would tell as I continue to enjoy the tour of Southland. It was Christmas Day and what a great gift to myself to have 2 hours out on this much loved rural golf course.
Located near the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a local attraction along with the Clifton Limestone Caves. Tuatapere township is 10 kilometres up the road. A little town that was gaining a reputation as a tourist hotspot. The Hump Ridge Track is a catalyst for this growth.
SCULPTURED
Tuatapere Golf Club is a flat parkland course, looked after by the members, it is in very good condition. Mature trees, a water hazard and an artistic sculpture make for a pretty place to be. The sculpture is obviously a nod to “the Hills” in Queenstown- Tuatapare for sure will be much better value for money.
10 BUCKS!
I played here a long long time ago, but I am certain that the green fees were $10 way back then. The honesty box is probably the same and signage suggests there has been no price gouging here in the South.
Bellbird Terrace is nice par 4 at the far end of the course, at one with nature and the bird song was there right on cue. 308 metres with a marvellous closed in fairway due to the hedgerow.
Long Drop
A good on course toilet is not easy to find. But here on Tuatapere Golf Course at the 8th hole, you’ll find a classy wee loo. A fresh smelling long drop with deer horns on the outside.
Best Toilet of the tour
Number 8 was named after the local river, Waiau, a par 4 with the stone and metal sculpture behind the green.
The front nine and back nine tees have a good variety. None more so than the 6th/15th, 118metres on the front directly over the water and 165 metres from a different angle on the back nine.
I got the ultimate Christmas present of a birdie 4 on the last hole. A Par 5 443 metres staring down the clubhouse. A special day for me as I headed away to enjoy a Christmas family dinner.
THE LAST
What makes Tuatapere a contender for the top 9 holes in Southland? It is certainly well looked after and the variety of front nine and back nine go a long way to getting the crown.
The course has a nice flow with a layout of 5,501 metres over the 2 sets of nine holes. A par 72 – 2 par 5’s and 2 par 3’s.
Is it the master of Drummond Golf Club? I’m not sure it is. I may have to return to the South to play both courses on the same day. A sort of shootout, finale, last chance to impress, best foot forward, head to head session.
I’ll be back to Tuatapere one day soon to put my money in the slot. A wonderful place to play a round of golf. Definitely one of the Best Nine Holes in New Zealand.
Mataura Golf Club is a flat 9 hole course. With impressive hedgerows and established trees. The recent rain had subsided enough to get the greenkeeper out. I was fortunate again on my Southland tour to get the best of conditions.
A quiet day at Mataura Golf Club, there was only one other group out on the course. The Clubrooms looked good from through the window. Although the practice putting green obviously wasn’t used much.
Practice Green.
Just over 5,500 metres for the 2 rounds of nine, the course is no pushover. 2 par 5’s and 2 par 3’s on each nine make it a par 72.
There is a neat little bridge to help you cross a gully in the 3rd fairway. It was dry but I wondered at the time if maybe there was some flooding in the area that would change the dynamic of the hole.
Following the recent flooding event in Mataura and surrounding districts, they were in a state of emergency which certainly would have covered the golf course. This was the biggest flood seen here since 1978.
My thoughts go out to the people of the area and I hope the recovery is swift for you all.
The 4th par 3 is …oh no .. Westward Ho at 139 metres on the 2nd nine it turns into “Good Hit” 171 metres.
OH NO Westward HO
Sponsored by a local Windscreen company – clever marketing with a car park close enough to the course to generate some business eventually.
After “Good Hit” came “High Tension” due to the overhead cables. They certainly came into play with your approach to the green.
There was a Bonanza on the card, not quite as common as Westward Ho. But why Bonanza? A great western show in the 60’s but what has it got to do with golf course names?
I enjoyed the last towards the clubhouse, called “Clubhouse” and “Last Chance” A par 5 needing clever placement of your drive to get a shot at the green, even laying up needed some thought to avoid the encroaching trees.
I found a surprise package at Mataura Golf Club. Surprisingly well ordered and surprisingly mature as a nine-hole rural golf course. The fairways around Mataura are quite wide and inviting. The greens were fine and flat.
Can it compete with Drummond for Southland’s best nine holes? Not quite, but I suggest if you are in Mataura bring the clubs and get out to enjoy the course.
Arriving at Tokanui Golf Club you realise you are about to “take on” the course. Located on the majestic southern coast with views out to the southern ocean and over the Mataura Estuary. Tokanui is the most southerly golf course on the mainland.
Not far from the most southerly part of New Zealand, Slope Point is an awfully exposed location. This course comes with its own unique challenge. Reading from local sources, “the course is spectacular and plays differently in a stiff wind.” Today was a wind day so taming Tokanui was not going to be easy.
This is classic links golf, no tress just open fairways and wind. The 1st was as an opening shot over the road that separates the 2 parts of the course.
First
Your tee shot is out to a humps and hollows fairway, to get you started on this little links beauty. The 2nd was a 150-metre par 3 which today required a well-hit hybrid into the wind to get up to the green.
I gave up trying to stand my bag on its legs. With the wind, it was getting blown over far too easily.
She Blew Over
Going up the dogleg 3rd, an uphill Par 5 of 362 metres it was the longest hole on the course. It was called “Toi Tois” – now here is the educational part of the story. At first, I thought it was Toes Toes – names after Toetoes Bay which is roughly where we were. But it was actually Toi Tois – was this hole sponsored by the fine wine called Toi Toi? Unlikely I thought.
Eventually, I found the Toi Toi tree – the only sign of flora and fauna on the course. So I took a picture to remind me of the Toi Toi tree…. This is not a Toi Toi.
NOT TOI TOI
Check the wine bottle label to see a lovely whispy grass which is the Toi Toi.
I then read an article about the Toe Toe grass, often misspelt Toi Toi. So was this hole named mocking the spelling? OR maybe it should have been “Toi Toi Toi” – a cry heard at the theatre to wish an actor good luck, similar to “break a leg” – I am going with this explanation until the hole naming committee chairman corrects me otherwise.
I needed all the luck I could get hitting into the wind. “Toi Toi Toi !!” I cried bent over into the wind.
“Norwester” and “South Pole” were 2 holes with names fitting for the occasion.
There had been a greenskeeper out and about just prior to me teeing off. Not another foolish soul on the course in this wind. One thing I noticed is the mower did not need any kind of catcher. The wind took the clippings and shared them with the district.
I enjoyed the “Roadhole” number 6, only 277 metres, with a challenging tee shot over the corner of the road to an elevated green.
The 7th, 8th and 9th were back across the road to finish the blustery round of golf and back in the car to find a bottle of that wine. The pleasure of playing Tokanui Golf Course was still whistling in my ears.
The card here has a grainy picture of golfers on the ninth green, but also a sponsors message from the Tokanui Tavern pointing me in the right direction.
If I were you put this course on the bucket list. It definitely makes the Top 10 Nine Hole Golf Courses of New Zealand so far.
It was club day at Hedgehope Golf Club. A lively bunch were out for the pre-Christmas loud shirt day out. People gathering quickly in the small car park. We shared a bit of banter with a man opening clubrooms and we got out quickly ahead of the pack.
The night before I had gathered directions on how to find the Hedgehope Golf Club. Asking in the local Speight’s house how far is it from here? “Oh, it’s 15 minutes out of Winton. “
Still none the wiser as I was not in Winton. Heading to Winton to find Hedgehope Golf Club, the weather was dry and overcast. Southland had experienced a lot of rain in the last month, good for growth but hard for local communities to keep their golf courses in good playing condition.
As it was club day we welcomed the sound of the mower tidying up the greens and fairways. We got the best of the conditions and the moisture dried off quickly.
The 1st hole heads down along the roadside, a par 3 to get you going, and then across the road for the next 2 holes. “Why did the Psychic Golfer cross the road?” … “To get to the other side”….
“Moonshine” was the 2nd a sweeping risk or reward par 4 at 263 metres. My hole of the day; a challenging drive to cut the corner and chase your ball up towards an elevated green.
2nd Green
After finishing on the 3rd – the longest hole on the course at 324 metres. It was back across the road for a short par 3, Glen Coe. One of my favourite parts of Scotland, an amazing heather laden valley.
3rd Tee
There were a few interesting holes on Hedgehope Golf Course including doglegs, including “dogleg” which was a dogleg.
DOGLEG
On the back nine, number 5 “Dogleg” is renamed, number 14 “Tractor Shed” a great observational name. I assume the tractor shed was built in the same location when the course came into being.
Tractor Shed
With mature trees all around and a tidy wee nine-holes, it was a pleasure to play at this community golf course. There were traditional club rooms which I am sure over the years has seen a few interesting gatherings.
Dating back to 1968 the club is a great example of golf in rural Southland. I left with a sense of pride that golf still keeps us all together, with a happy group of golfers out as a community enjoying life.
If you are looking for a breathtaking location with views to die for, you’ve found it. A friendly man in the clubhouse gave me good instructions about the course layout. I had played Te Anau Golf Club some 20 years ago – before the accident. *
I could not remember the hole by hole layout but I’ll never forget the views. It is situated at the bottom of Lake Te Anau -or is it the top of the lake, surely the lake is flat and doesn’t have a top or bottom?
The First
The 1st is a par 5 on the lakeside, a flat sweeping hole. I lost sight of my ball as I drove off the first tee. I was mesmerized by lake Te Anau. There are 2 fairway bunkers to catch that first mistimed tee shot of the day. I had not a care in the world where my ball went as I drunk in the hot mesmerising landscapes all around.
Interestingly, the 2nd is also a par 5 along the lakeside. I was glad to see the back of 2 long holes this early and good to play them when my fitness is still in check.
2 par 5’s and a short par 3 3rd was a good opportunity to score well early. A great front nine is completed when you stand up on the 10th tee heading back to the clubhouse. A shorter than short par 5 at 386 metres and surely it is birdie time. The views from the tee across Lake Te Anau and out at the tip of the Fiordland National Park are the highlight of this course. The Murchison Mountains and Mount Luxmore dominate the skyline.
Number 10 isn’t as easy as the card suggests, stroke hole 18, with a tight fairway and even tighter approach to the raised green. Miss on either side and you will be glad of a solid par. This would be my hole of the day and onto the best golf holes in New Zealand list.
10th tee
The 12th is a cracking hole, Te Anau is not the manicured course it may have been in the past, but the 12th shows off the location which is the USP for this course. Although I say that, every hole has a little bit of magic, with Lake Te Anua on the doorstep.
I’m a fan of a tee box back in the trees, even better if it is up a hill into the back of the trees. It is nice to leave your bag down below and push on up the hill with a driver in your hand.
Do you take a spare ball or mid-iron just case? You could find out of bounds or maybe the drive looks dangerous and you waive the white flag with an iron? I usually sneak another ball in my pocket and grab the 6 iron. ( with no actual intention of using it)
I tend to perform well from these situations, is it the extra oxygen fired into your ventricles as you suck in some big gulps up the hill? When you get to the top, are you on an adrenaline high, putting extra metres on your drive?
Sweeping 13th
On the 13th tee, marvelling at the vista, blood pumping through my chest and arms. I was coiled like a spring on a cold morning, I unleashed the drive of the day. No need for the extra ball!
Te Anau Golf Club should be on every man and woman’s golfing radar. The course is in okay condition, well presented but in need of a little extra love. BUT location location location is the winner here. You will not be disappointed to spend 4 hours of your golfing life on this golf course. It will appear comfortably in New Zealand’s Top Golf Courses thanks to the part of the world into sits in.
*the birth of my kids*
The journey to play every golf course in New Zealand
