There is nothing like Wellington on a good day. It was a very good day when I ripped back my curtains. I was on a rustic tour of NZ golf courses. Is it me that is rustic or the golf courses?
Titahi is more than rustic, 9 holes of a community golf course near Porirua only a short 15 minutes from central Wellington. On a cracking morning like this one, it was definitely the best way to start my day.
Funny thing, I lived in Wellington for 10 plus years, I did not know this course was here. I visited Porirua many a time but never ventured around the coast a little bit to discover this great wee 9
hole golf course. It is short at 5,133 metres for the gents.
There were a couple of groups out in front of me when I got there. The man in the shop let me know these slow buggers might get in my way. I made the decision to just go easy, enjoy my own company and soak up the surroundings.
This is the home of the 2005 US open champ – Michael Cambell. This club is obviously exceptionally proud of the success this New Zealand golf legend had.
Cambo was a natural golfer and stood next to the greats to win a major and compete for many more in his golden era. Cambo visited my son’s school in Queenstown with the US Open Trophy, I realised that day how hard it would be for a kiwi lad to beat the rest of the world at this crazy game. And more difficult to beat Tiger Woods on the day who was his closest rival.
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I spent a little time on the practice putting green. The view from here was awesome, a glimpse of the water and the sweeping course looked beautiful. I was still focusing on getting my putting game on track. Dr. Bob Rotella would be proud, as his words played over in my mind. Just put it in clear your mind and hole the putt.
The course felt on the municipal side, a course for everyone of all abilities. But not unloved, with massive sweeping fairways on the edge of the bay. It offered up some interesting stances in the fairway.
The course was in good condition, the greens were a little on the soft side but flat and true. A little links-like with limited trees to annoy a poor drive.
The view from the 3rd tee shows off the course and I felt pleased with my decision to visit Titahi Bay today. A 265-metre par 4 that makes you think you are good enough to reach the green.
The 4th was a lovely driving hole, I enjoyed a birdie on the 4th, following a sweet 8 iron to a few feet.
The golf here offers you good risk and reward dog legs 281 metre 5th and 239 metre 7th. The opportunity to score well is on offer but not a giveaway.
On the 5th I lipped out for birdie number 2 in a row. High confidence and high on the location, I was loving the game of golf today.
The 8th is a par 3 into the prevailing wind at 190 metres it needed a bullet of a hit to make the green.
Sitting up on the 9th tee ready to play the number 1 stroke hole, the elevated tee was a nice spot to reflect on a golf course that I’d put on the top of my 9 hole golf course list. A tractor was swooshing across the fairways breaking my silence.
I could have been swayed by the weather or the presence of Cambo. It may have been sitting there on the final tee 1 over the card for 8 holes.
Heading up the hill to the 9th green in front of the clubrooms is a difficult approach. I had a messy double-bogey 6 on the 9th but this didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the course.
Titahi is a must-play when the sun is up in the Wellington sky. Unassuming but impressive none the less, you’ll feel much better about life after a couple of hours here.
