The township of Kerikeri is populated with over 8,000 souls, the largest town in Northland. A town steeped in history, with the oldest building in New Zealand as a testament to that. Mission House has just turned 200 years old and is a great place to visit when in the area. Kerikeri is the fruit bowl of New Zealand. Abundant with Citrus, Kiwi fruit, Feijoas, Tamarillo, and plenty of avocados.
There are many reasons to visit this part of Aotearoa, but none more so than the golf courses of this region. “Winterless North” is the tagline often used, so a game or two in the colder months of the year is still on the cards.
The Golf course in Kerikeri, Bay of Island Golf Club, is one of the premier courses in the region and recognised New Zealand-wide to be of top-class pedigree. But before we journey down these fairways, I want to highlight a 9-hole course just 15 minutes out of town.
The golf course between Kerikeri and Kaikohe is Okaihau Golf Club, it sits and presents itself in an ancient valley. Step into this history of rural golf where a mere nine holes beckon your adventurous spirit. Born in the year 1928, the club still goes strong today. I just pulled up to play, no fear that the course would be too busy to let me on, I was right with only a few cars in the car park.
A rural offering of 2,647 metres for the par 36 nine holes, not long by any means reflected in my low playing handicap for the day.
First, the opening hole is a modest par 4 at 276 metres. Your drive needs to traverse over a gully with a road on the left, no need to fret, the fairway’s wide open, so even on the first swing of the day you should be fairway bound. The shot up to the first green needs to be confident due to the hill, 2 extra clubs for the distance introduced me to the soft and true surfaces. Seems like an easy way to start if you stick to the simple plan. I had a 7, not part of the simple plan.
The second hole, another short par 4, 283 metres, but a challenge indeed. A blind tee shot, and I released that the lack of local knowledge may hold me back today. It was an enjoyable run through the first holes in a rural setting with some cows watching my every move across the fences. If they only knew I had used up my handicap strokes on the first 3 holes they may have turned away in shame.
The 5th was again blind but a stripped pole pointed the way, or didn’t really it seemed to mark the middle of the sloping fairway, so a local may tell you to be right of the pole. Luckily for me, the power fade was out in force and left me in a great spot.
The sixth hole is a beautiful par 3 shooting over a gully to a target with two bunkers guarding the green and a view of the clubhouse. This was my favorite hole of the day, maybe because I had steadied the wobbly ship with a couple of pars.
I had a triumphant moment as I lasered my tee shot at the 111-metre par 3, excited for a moment that I would be closer than I was.
Onto the seventh hole, which took some detective work to find, across the car park. It’s a short par 5, a mere 411 meters, with some mighty fine trees on the left side. I made a birdie here, sending a peach of an approach toward the downhill green.
The course is not very well marked with hole names or maps, but it is a functional country course with a short and well-maintained rough. The fairways are wide, and the greens are good. And the bunkering across the course is attractive.
The onsite toilet was well-signposted and delightful.
The final shot to the ninth hole under the clubhouse is a nice way to end the round, with an American pine overlooking the green.
The American Pine stood tall observing my final endeavours on the last – following the birdie on 7th I was back on track for a on handicap round. But two solid bogies to finish put me right back in my box.
Okaihau Golf Club surprised me a little, with the $25 green fee you can play all day, in a lovely setting, with a well-thought-out golf course.
Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Announcing itself as a premier 18 holes in the region Bay of Islands Golf Club, is a must-visit when playing in Northland. As the sun peered timidly over the horizon, I headed off for an early morning encounter with the Bay of Islands Golf Club in Kerikeri.
I arrived and was greeted warmly in the shop, the gent was watching the Masters. Amidst the excitement of the Masters, the genial gent greeted me, willing to share his wisdom with a first-timer like myself. Taking time out from the Masters madness, he provided me with invaluable tips and a printed map of the course. Ah, the camaraderie of golf, where a bit of knowledge and advice can make all the difference. It is nothing much to stop and give your customer a bit of knowledge before they set off. I also was told to have a putt on the practice green to get a feel for the true and firm, but not lighting surfaces.
A straightforward par 5 first hole was welcome as I dusted off the sleep in my body. First out on a course is a treat, all mine to grapple with, awesome! The fairways immediately felt up to par, on volcanic underbelly these would be dry and very playable year-round.
A simple wee shot into the first green was received well and I stood over a birdie putt to start my round with just me and the course to know, despite missing a birdie putt, the greens proved delightful—firm, yet not excessively slick. I tapped in for a par and saw a man on the course many holes ahead of me. Geeze, he must have started an hour before me. My special moment alone with the course exposed for what it was, just another player to grace its fairways. Oh, and there over a hill I saw another group ahead of me.
Out and back to the clubhouse for 1st and 2nd and then off to the renowned 3rd hole. Following the advice I had received in the shop, I approached the challenging par 5 with care, navigating its 492 meters, complete with a dogleg left and three tiers.
A strategic hole with the playful name of “The Big Cheese,” it perfectly encapsulated the course’s delightful naming etiquette. The approach to The B.C. was well framed with bunkers and water, a very challenging and attractive hole.
A strategic hole and beautifully named, “Ken’s Folly,” the 4th is stroke hole 1- for a 282 metre par four -how unusual. The voice of the bloke it the shop rung in my ears, 4 iron off the tee get in position and take 2 more clubs to get fully up to the green. I did both those things and made green in regulation, easy peasy = 3 putted, of course.
I was enjoying Bay of Islands Golf Club, a mature and well-cared-for course for sure. While I didn’t achieve an ace on the par 3 5th hole aptly named “The Ace,” the subsequent stretch of holes showcased the course’s consistent quality. The bunkering across the course stood out, although I skilfully managed to avoid them until now.
The 9th is meaty but lovely 354 metre par 4 back up to the clubhouse. A thoroughly enjoyable front nine and by now the sun had warmed the course and me. A quick drink stop in the clubrooms to check the Masters progress and onto the back nine. The 10th tee had 3 guys on there, who didn’t offer me a place to play through, not cool. I had to push passed them as they had teed off, I was on a mission to get around in under 3 hours.
I was sizzling around the back nine until the 13th, as is always the case the 13th is the signature hole. It made me stop for breath and appreciate its beauty.
A par 3 of only 110 metres, but with a downhill drop of over 20 metres to beautiful little green surrounded by 3 bunkers and an adorable pond. These shots are very difficult to judge if you have never played the hole before. A bit like the 7th at Pebble Beach – I had played that on the simulator at the range once, so I was all ready for this challenge.
It was stroke hole 18, obviously because the locals had worked out which approach to take, and so did I thanks to the simulator. A three quarter 56-degree wedge did the job and got me out of there with a missed birdie putt for par. This hole and the 3rd might appear on the BEST GOLF HOLES IN NEW ZEALAND LIST.
The tee shot from the 14th back in the trees is a nice touch and I liked the 15th, “Timewarp” – the name was enough. It is a 281-metre par 4, tempting you to a bomb of a driver to the narrow green around the slight dogleg or drop a 5 iron into the fairway and nail the approach. I took the sensible route.
When I reached the 17th they had started club day as a shotgun start, which meant a ridiculously slow final 2 holes. This left me a tad disappointed, and I met a local man filling out his card who had the same worry, if you can’t finish your round without others getting on the course it is not ideal.
My Kerikeri adventure was a positive one, Okaihau Golf Club was an unexpected treat, would it make the Top 10 Nine Holes in New Zealand List? and Bay of Islands Golf Club certainly presented itself as a standout golf course.
Check out the Top New Zealand Golf Courses List to see where Bay Of Islands slots in.