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.

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.

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?

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.

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.