The busiest municipal golf course in New Zealand, 18 holes right on the Northern Motorway. Takapuna Golf Club was the home of North Shore Golf Club until 1959 when the government scared them away with a motorway to service the newly built Harbour Bridge.
As a par 71, it is short in places 5,249 metres to get around. It can play 3 or so under your handicap. In the main, it is a flat track, and considering the number of rounds played each week it is in good condition.
The starting hole here is a downhill par 4 just under 300 metres, which should shake out the early nerves -the fairway is forgiving too. A flat approach to a bunker-less green. Nothing to fear here.
There are 2 short and flat par 3’s in the next 3. The 2nd is a simple hole but the 4th has plenty of character. A long bunker all down the left side of the green, which will save you from the creek that runs the length of the hole.
Behind the 4th green is the motorway, a well struck thinned nine iron might get you there. It comes into play on the 6th and down the length of the 7th. I’m sure the odd ball has made it onto the fast-moving motorway, this Health and safety issue closed some holes at Chamberlain Golf Club. But we know that was because the council want to cut it up anyway.
Once you pass along the 7th you move away from the hum of the passing cars. The 7th is stroke hole 1, a 488-metre par 5 with a narrowing approach to the green. It’s a nice hole and the commuters and truck drivers get a good view of your effort to bout.
The 8th is “Tricky” another short par 3 – it’s not that tricky to be fair.
One of the oddest holes around is the 9th a dogleg to the right 268 metres. It is difficult to go over, or around so you really should be positioned left and long enough to see the wee green. But life hack, the driving range fence is directly in front of you so smash a driver at the fence. you might get a bounce off onto the green. But nonetheless, you get a free drop-in perfect position.
The front nine is about 500 metres shorter than the back. You should be carding a good score by the halfway point. There are 2 short par 3’s and 3 par 5’s in the second half.
It is quite a pretty back nine. The most beautiful part is the 18th – walking up to your second shot to the uphill green you can see the beer garden. Nothing prettier than that!
The course at Takapuna is a place for anyone to play our great game. Easy walking, flat greens not much trouble and a well-priced affair.
Here’s cheers to municipal golf in all its glory.
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