A morning spent watching the third round of the Masters spurred me into the car and off to golf. A little known Waikato nine hole course in the countryside was a mystery box.

I was surprised to see the club rooms open in the afternoon at Hukanui Golf Club. I was more surprised that the friendly welcome was all genuine. Following the financial transaction the lady in the club talked me through the layout of the course. I headed off down the laneway towards the first, excited by the prospect.

The first is right next to the road, “Roadway”, not Roadhole, it was a drive you don’t want from the first tee. The noise of the busy traffic drew your attention. The group in front were walking the road line peering across the tarmac.

With the tee shot sorted and in the fairway, I found that the green isn’t too far from the passing cars either. A small green which was soft and slow.

Number 2 was into the wind and a challenging hit, 189 metres – with the road still on the left. Following a lavish swish of my hybrid from the tee, I headed off to peer across the tarmac. It was a beautiful high draw that bounced down the road, missing the oncoming traffic thankfully. 3 shots out of my 4 handicap for the nine dropped on the 2nd, this could be a tricky round.

My confidence was still high, I’d scored my best round in the year of lockdown down at Clarks Beach a few days before. Five over the card on the course, that made me feel like a golfer.

Okay, the classic hole names of Homeward Bound and Westward Ho were nowhere to be seen. But we got “Long John” on the 3rd, is this a Treasure Island pirate reference – it could be my new most cringe-worthy hole name.

It was a long par 5, of course. Right-hand dogleg needing a powerful draw from the tee. I imagined the laser tracer thing that follows a drive at the Masters on the TV, bending perfectly around the corner. Nailed it! Visualisation works after all.

The 4th was another par 5, called “not so Long John” – no it wasn’t – but it was shorter and a great driving hole over a ridge to a blind fairway. I nearly hit a random foot golfer.
The club has opened up to footgolf, which is cool and will provide much-needed revenue. The footballers have no idea how hard a golf ball is, so it may end up in disaster.

I was enjoying the course and the conditions but my excitement following the clubhouse lady’s description had lessened at little, nice course but maybe not great.

I was wrong, the uphill short par 4 fifth hole was a great golf hole – fairway bunkers to ask you the question and a hidden gully to stop you laying up. There were wonderful views from the hilltop green. It started a run of 5 holes that were excellent.

The 152 metre downhill 6th, “Beehive” was buzzin’ from it’s elevated tee. I had been told that the 7th over the gully was the course’s signature.

The Canyon

We cracked a can of zero alcohol beer for the occasion and let 2 foot golfers pass through, (very short are these soccer players). If you want a bit of fun at the supermarket ask them why they need a supervisor to the check out to allow you to buy zero alcohol beer, it’s beer you see.

So “Canyon” is the risk or reward hole of the day. Drive over the gully, canyon might make you think of the place in America, not quite as big here at Hukanui Golf Club.

The hole is all risk, OB on the left, trees on the right, a narrowing fairway leading into the green protected by a great deep bunker. Don’t hit the driver, there is no reward.

Just as hole names were improving, we got a “Deception” – the 8th needs a high fade over the corner. DJ was doing it around Augusta all day so why not me. Visualisation saw a perfect DJ like drive ( minus about 100 metres or so)

Walnuts

At the last you get “Walnuts”, the road comes back into play on the left and the clubhouse is 2 paces from the back of the green. You could put your drink order on your ball ready for a quick thinned tee shot. 123 metres to the green it is a lovely way to complete the course.

I was even more pleased to see the bar was still open, not normal for a country course later in the day. Sitting at the back of the ninth enjoying a real beer was very pleasant indeed.

The club claims they have the best 9 holes in the Waikato. I tend to agree, but I’ve only played one other. It ranks up there on the Top 10 NZ Nine Hole Golf Course list.

The course is tidy, the layout is challenging and the clubrooms are very friendly. Cheers Hukanui Golf Club for a great day out.