“
Personally, I love this time of year – heat, humidity, stress and finally the point at which  you realize you cannot do anymore and that sweet moment when you decide to kick back and relax, because, hey, its Christmas, bro – take it easy…

And then, in the serenity of dawn on December the 25th, before the kids rustle and bustle, the dog looking between you and the door cos it wants a pee then bounce back in to the warm spot on the bed.  The unusual quiet, broken only by a coffee machine gurgling cheerfully on the stove. The moments before the storm of present opening, loud, cheerful greetings of relatives, endless cups of tea, and then that moment…This is when that slightly unbalanced relative says something like:

“‘Crikey, this is a bit full on. Got anything to drink?’

“You know full well that the New World Environmentally friendly bag he came with did not have a doodle bear or bionicle for the kids, because, dear reader, they don’t clink together like that…and you know that a Brandy Alexander before 9 in the morning will bring the day crashing about you like a toga party in Dunedin and you’ll be as popular as Paul Henry at Susan Boyles record release party. But this is the one day of the year, when (technically) this behaviour is within the Rules of Social Engagement.

“You gently remind the mother in law and those relatives who are listening, that this is;  a) Christmas, b) once a year, c) when did we last see cousin X? d) the kids are too transfixed with the latest video game/remote controlled car/bike/Lego thing to notice their old man having some fun. 

Later you reinforce the point that a) whilst, technically, drinking on the roof could be considered dangerous, we do have robust deck chairs, b) we’re not endangering others as all our 9 Iron shots are indeed making it clear of the neighbours and no one is currently on that school field and c) what you need to realize that if my 12 year old can make that jump to the pool from the roof, genetics tells me that I can make it too.

“Some time later, in the ambulance, you cheerfully txt your life partner that you’re feeling much better and feel fortunate that you’ve solved her problem of not having enough chairs and food to go round, and you wish everyone a merry Christmas and hope to do it all again next year..You note that the paramedic is rummaging round in a draw muttering something about needing some more morphine.

“

Of course, none of this has much to do with Karikari Estate, which by the way, is going great guns. Last week I agreed to sponsor The Media Design  AUT Graduation Evening Exhibition (Auckland University of Technology.) I was happy to do this as it was being held at the old Carrington Hospital (which used to be what we call a Mental institution – albiet in hushed tones) and the fact that Karikari Estate’s sister company is the Carrington Resort (and on more than one occasion, it has been mentioned that the similarities were quite uncanny…) Also, I felt particuarly alturistic that morning so what the hey?”

“As always,” Ben says: ” I always appreciate feedback – and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask at info@karikariestate.co.nz.”

And from both Ben and myself we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope all enjoy the holiday period as responsibly as you can. Don’t forget to visit the Carrington Resort complex and Karikari Estate Vineyard and Winery when travelling up north to the North Island’s Karikari Peninsula.

Be sure to read more about touring and golfing New Zealand at my website and blog: wildwestcoastpublishing.com.

What could possibly go wrong? It’s a perfect mid-October spring morning in New Zealand with the sun beaming down from a cloudless sky. Heading north from the Auckland airport with golf clubs safely stowed in “Silver,” our Toyota hatchback rental, Geoff and I are all set to play a round of golf before day’s end. No problem.

Only thirty minutes north of Auckland off Highway 16 we turn west to Muriwai Beach. From a high cliff overlooking a beautiful cove on the Tasman Sea, gannets ride warm thermals above the light surf where children belly-board back to the sandy beach below. The Muriwai Golf Club is just a stone’s throw away and promises to offer a great beginning to our golfing tour. From the clubhouse the view across to Oaia Island, the offshore “haystack,” looks like a giant stepping-stone to infinity from Muriwai’s gradually descending and gently rolling fairways.

While waiting to sign in to play this reasonably priced par 72, 18-hole course, we review the score card. Remembering all distances in New Zealand are in metres, we add ten percent to the metric length then roughly convert to what is still called “yardage.”

“Sorry,” says the cheerful Lady Starter in a kindly manner that shows she’s often the bearer of negative news. “The course is fully booked today.”

So close to Auckland, we should have known to call ahead to reserve a tee time. We’re very disappointed.

“There’s always tomorrow,” replies Geoff confidently. “Could you book us in for an early round in the morning?”

“Most certainly, though I should mention, we’re expecting blustery west winds and heavy rainfall, but no matter how hard it rains, Muriwai never closes. What time would you like?”

From past experience we’d learned wind and rain make miserable golfing partners. Sadly we wave a limp goodby and head north, hopefully to better weather.

Learn more about touring Northland in the “Birdies” book.

To follow in Chapter One:

Beyond The Black Swamp Road…

Some Scottish History…

Like Father Like Son…

The Maori Legacy And Rainy Cape Reinga…

A Cluster Of Courses

Reviewers say the “Birdies” book is a good read filled with suggestions for accommodation, dining and side trips to interest the whole family.

ORDER: Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand online at www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com or e-mail info@wildwestcoastpublishing.com for special discounts.

by Liz Clark, Author of “Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand”

Fairway view - Great Exhibition Bay to North Cape

Meandering through a magnificent 100-acre seaside layout in sub-tropical Northland, Carrington Club New Zealand’s most-northerly Golf Club Resort is proud to be a member of “The New Zealand Golf Tourism Cluster” – one of the country’s premier golf course resorts.

In 2003 when the Carrington golf course was in its final stages of completion, my partner and I first met E. J. McDougall, the Pro at Mangawhai Golf Club. “Big Ted,” who’d represented the nation in seven World Championships, spoke so enthusiastically about all aspects of Carrington that we were not at all surprised to later learn he’d become their Club Professional.  Now in retirement, Ted still remembers recommending we visit Carrington, meet the folks and view the work in progress. At that time Matt Dye, renowned U.S. course designer was finalizing layout alterations that ensured conservation of the recently restored natural wetlands. We could only dream of playing a round or two at that stage.The Carrington course is noted as likely the longest in the entire South Pacific. This awesome par 72 is approximately 6417 metres (7267 yards) from the Black “Tiger” tees and from my Reds, 4619 metres or just over 5000 yards. Plenty of power or Maori mana seems necessary to play long and straight from any tee.

Tiwhaia Maori Carving

Recognizing the importance of mana, Carrington pays respect to the culture and beliefs of the indigenous Polynesians, the New Zealand Maori, in a very special way. Next to each set of tees stand Tekoteko (carved figures) designed and crafted by local Maori craftsmen – Master Carver Takirirangi Smith and Carvers, Paki Wilson and Paki OCarroll. These commissioned carvings are best understood from the Maori story of creation and the pre history legends of New Zealand – Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud. I think of these particular images as representations of Nature’s fearless forces. Like many other icons, hopefully just a touch or light rub will exude enough mana to turn a duffer like me into a lean mean golfing machine. One can only hope.

Marnie McGuire, a noted Kiwi Professional golfer with a career highlight in 1998 of winning the Women’s Australian Open after leading the tournament from start to finish. Of the Carrington course Marnie says: “The views are absolutely stunning and the set-up of the course is top class. You can challenge yourself and change the course by teeing off different tees which alters the look of every hole. It is a wonderful resort with a laid back, friendly New Zealand feel to it.”

Carrington’s colourful and detailed course and “yardage” book shows distances in metres. For club selection I convert metres to yardage simply by adding 10 percent. From the Black tee, the Par 5 No. 14 “Grinder” is one of the longest in the country at 605 metres (667 yards) but thanks to Matt, the Par 3 No. 7 “Punawai” may be one of the few holes to give us high handicappers a chance for par. The Red tee is just 63 metres (70 yards) over the edge of a large bunker to the widest face of the green while the other tees play much longer over the water to a green surrounded on three sides by wetlands.

Carrington has much more to offer golfers. From the 9th hole one can drive up a path in state-of-the-art “IQ” Club Car carts to Carrington Farm’s Karikari Estate winery and vineyard for a tour and wine tasting. This young winery has won over twenty medals in its first two vintages, all thanks to Winemaker, Ben Dugdale, Vineyard Manager, Ed Brodrick and their entire team. Another path leads down to Karikari Beach below the vineyard. Nestled among 15-metre high dunes, Carrington’s secluded and seemingly endless stretch of white sand shoreline offers views across Great Exhibition Bay in the South Pacific to New Zealand’s northern-most land mass – the North Cape Peninsula.

In a climate much like areas along California’s warm southern coast, this 5-star Qualmark resort complex boasts luxurious accommodation and fine dining with menus offering the best of local ingredients. Freshly caught seafood is the ultimate. According to the season tuna, broadbill, snapper, kingfish, kawai and terakihi are featured on the menus of Michelin-trained chef, Mark Oliver. Local scallops, Rangaunu and Whangeroa oysters as well as Houhora mussels are delicious treats at Carrington’s elegant restaurant.

Located at Maitai Bay Road on Northland’s Karikari Peninsula, the drive is only about four hours north of Auckland. If touring north up Highway 1 through the popular tourist centre, the Bay of Islands, it is little more than an hour from Kerikeri.

As well, Air New Zealand conveniently operates daily flights to the nearby Kaitaia airport where Carrington will arrange pickup. Another option is to arrive directly from Auckland by helicopter.

Close to nature in every way, Carrington Club offers the ultimate golfing challenge. One round leads to another then another, especially with an exchange rate that greatly favours many other currencies. A round is a reasonable NZ$135, carts NZ$40 and club hire from NZ$20. Rates are reduced for Carrington guests enjoying a the comfort and elegance of the Lodge or Villa accommodation.

After a flight on Air New Zealand from either Vancouver, B.C. or Los Angeles LAX, the plan for my next trip is to get all the kinks out with a stroll along balmy South Pacific shores then after yet another golf lesson – get out on the course and Break 100!

Photographs courtesy of Carrington Club.          Copyright 2008-Liz Clark

To order my “Birdies” book go to www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com and click on “Order Here.” PayPal available.

View from 13th tee across 14th fairway

Sherwood Park Golf Club is a vibrant and progressive golfing venue situated in a rural environment with full greens, tees and fairway irrigation. Like all similar facilities it has sprung from humble beginnings and is nowa leading and arguably the fastest growing Golf Club in New Zealand.

The original Club was at Sherwood Rise in the eastern suburb of Onerahi andconsisted of 9 holes on a 27-acre site. The Club prospered and after 16 years in 1967 it became obvious to all concerned that expansion was necessary to cope with the demand for golf as a leisure activity. No suitable land was available locally so a new property was acquired on the west side of town at Maunu, the present site. This park-like setting amid native flora and fauna is on land below the ancient volcanic cone of Maunu Mountain and the original name of Sherwood Rise gave birth to the new name of Sherwood Park.

The farm land as it was then, was transformed into an 18-hole golf course, utilizing the old farm dwelling as the clubhouse. With great foresight, the course was planned for a future clubhouse on the present site which has views of the beautiful Whangarei Harbour and beyond. Many hours of voluntary labour have contributed to the first-class golfing venue that now exists. The course is a challenge for anyone from Tiger Woods to your elderly grandparent.

Probably the most talked-about holes on the course are the 13th and 14th. The par 4 13th requires an accurate tee shot to set you up for either a lay-up shot short or to the area beside the two lakes on the left, or to set yourself up to have a go at the guarded and elevated green. The par 3 14th can be daunting. You are playing almost straight back over the lakes you’ve just negotiated on the 13th. The prevailing wind swirls and often the flag on the 13th green is waving in the opposite direction to the flag on your target green, making club and shot selection a challenge.

Nine of Sherwood Park’s holes have an Out-Of-Bounds and all are on the righthand side. Several of the boundary fences are ancient stone walls built by the early settlers in the area. For the big hitters, the 1st, 10th and 15th holes provide a chance to drive the green, but anything too wayward will be disastrous!

There are a lot of hardy souls who play at Sherwood Park. Even when some might consider the course unplayable in abysmal conditions, they play on regardless.

Three top golfers stand out among many who have risen to the top of their sport. They are Kevin Billington, Dale Clarke and Gary-John Hill. Kevin is now in his 50’s but still wins Club Championships, Open Tournaments and plays rep golf for the Northland province. Dale has had numerous achievements most notable being Sherwood Park course records: 63 off the Blue Competition tees.

When Dale returned from pursuing a Professional career in England he re-set the record off the Black Championship tees with a whopping 5 under par 65!

Sherwood Park Champion, Dale Clarke

Now living in Melbourne, Australia he’s taking up a position at the Melbourne Golf Academy where he’ll prepare for the Australasian Tour School Qualifying in November, 2008

Gary-John Hill is about to start a three-year Golf Scholarship at the South Eastern Louisiana University in the USA. He’ll be playing NCAA Golf around the USA for the next three years.

Gary-John Hill

Visitors are always welcome at the Sherwood Park Golf Club. And even though they’ve risen slightly – click on Club information – green fees are still modest with club rentals at NZ$20 and Electric golf carts at NZ$30 per round.

Overseas Visitors who are planning are lengthy stay and want to consider short-term membership should contact Steve Byles C.E.O. to discuss fees. Phone: (09) 434 6900 ext. 2   email: sherwood@golf.co.nz

by Derek Clarke, Club Professional/Director of Golf-copyright 2008

Photos courtesy of Sherwood Park Golf Club

On Derek Clark – from my”Birdies” book:

“Derek recalls his own youth, twice winning the Northland Junior Championship in the 1970’s. Young Dale has won this Championship three times — like father, like son, I say. He’s also won the Caltrex Eagles New Zealand Junior Championship a few years ago as did two other ‘young guns’ now of international note: Michael Long and Michael Campbell.” 

I describe my encounter with the 13th and 14th holes in the first chapter of my book “Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand.” 

To purchase the “Birdies” book go to www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com and click on “Order Here.” PayPal available.

View of Bream Bay from Waipu's 10th tee

WHERE THE COAST ROAD REJOINS HIGHWAY #1, we arrive at Waipu near the sandy shores of Bream Bay, named by Captain Cook and known as Uretiti in the Maori language. Uretiti Links — the Waipu Golf Club, is a par 72, 18-hole course. With multiple tees you can play the course as long as 6050 metres, or as short as 5181 metres.

Lucky are locals who can play all year. A wee bit of frost may tip the trees during a day or two during the winter months of June through August but nary a snowflake will be seen.

Located alongside the crystal waters of Bream Bay, some fairways play so close to the sandy beach that an errant shot might find its way into a very large sand trap. Had we driven straight from Auckland airport up the main highway rather than along the coastal road, we would have reached this golfing haven in only two hours. The logo for the Waipu Golf Club is the Scottish thistle. No wonder…

Club Historian, Warwick Aston, confirms the Club was officially established in 1934 by descendants of early Scottish pioneers who first settled on Canada’s eastern seaboard in Nova Scotia then sailed on to New Zealand in the 1850s and established the Waipu community. These Scots likely brought the game to New Zealand tucked tight in their cultural baggage. And with very reasonable green fees at Waipu, they brought a bonnie bargain with them as well.

Wises New Zealand Guide: A Gazetteer of New Zealand reports this exodus from Scotland took place during a particularly difficult period when tenant farmers were cleared off the highlands by the Duke of Sutherland. The recently renovated Waipu House of Memories museum holds much of the history of these stalwart pioneers. 

WAIPU CLUB HISTORY - Information provided by Warwick Aston, Club Historian-copyright 2007

The Early Years

The Waipu Golf Club was formed in 1934 at the instigation of Messrs. D.H. McKay and A.H. Rees, both of whom had played the game in other districts. About 30 members were recruited and play started on the property of A.W. McKay on the Braigh Road. D.H. McKay was the first president and A.H. Rees the first secretary and Club captain.

The paddocks became very wet in the winter so two years later nine holes were laid out on the farm of Mr Rod McAulay near the Waipu River bridge. Members continued to play there until 1954. Among the stalwarts of the Club in those days was Mr D.J. McLeod who, though over 60, learned to play the game and continued it for many years. Others were Messrs. D.R. Mackay and J.R. McKay who both played until past 80 years.

 On The Brynderwyns

For 12 years from the mid 1950s to the mid 60s the Club played on Mr Murdoch McLean’s property on the lower slopes of the Brynderwyns adjacent to State Highway One. Mr McLean’s cooperation enabled golf to survive in the area. Prominent members at this time included Ian and Joan Matheson who for many years were Club captain and secretary respectively.

The New Course

From 1966 the Waipu Golf Club has occupied 52 hectares of coastal land between Waipu and Ruakaka. The course extends down to the dunes of Uretiti Beach on Bream Bay and boasts magnificent views of the bay and the offshore islands.

The Club has to thank farsighted executive members such as A.J. Finlayson, president at the time of the change, for their vision. The Hon D.N. McKay played a major part by achieving a lease on this crown land, with the right to purchase after five years. There was active support from most of the Club’s eighty members who used chainsaws, slashers and bare hands to clear fairways and subscribed to non-interest bearing debentures for development work. A lot of development was undertaken, at very favourable rates to the Club, by Somners Ltd., whose heavy machinery proved invaluable.

Nine holes were developed for a start (the present 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, and 18th) and members paused for lunch before going round the second time. Sheep were grazed for a short time and dairy cows were wintered on Nos 10 and 15 fairways. Then a 12 hole course incorporating Nos 10, part of 14 and then 15 was played briefly, followed by the move to 18 holes. The layout had been planned right from the start by Mr H.G. Babbage, a golf course architect. We still play the course to his plan with only minor variations.

Into The 1990’s

Over the past 25 years many improvements have been made. One of the first was to replace the wee clubhouse that we had brought from the Brynderwyns (see the painting hanging in the clubhouse). Many members worked on the new structure with the late George Gauron as “Clerk of Works”. There was reticulation of water to greens and tees. In 1987 – 1988 the clubhouse was extended, in 1989 a covered area added to the southeast side of the clubhouse and in 1990 a new tractor and gang mowers purchased.

By 1998 a major course development programme had been commenced. It started with the felling of many old pine trees and is continuing with the establishment of “Black” tees, and the development of further bunkers and grassed mounds and new greens. Upgrading of course machinery and the irrigation system are also under way.

View of Bream Bay across 18th Fairway

Representative Golf

Our most prominent golfer of the 1960’s was Jack Connell who had previously represented Northland with distinction. In the 1970’s Anne Butler (nee Berry) regularly achieved Northland honours and was a New Zealand trialist. In the mid 1980’s Julie McConnell played out of Waipu for a short time and represented Northland. Since 1988 Margaret Aston has been a regular Northland representative (12 of the last 13 years). Margaret currently has the ladies’ best score of 70. The men’s best score (”Blue” tees) of 67 is held jointly by four golfers – Marcus Wheelhouse, Glen Goldfinch, Phil Hunter and Terry Pulman. The first two set this score in the Bream Bay Classic in a year when five of the six man New Zealand team competed.

The Classic has become recognised as one of the major men’s tournaments on the Northland – North Harbour – Auckland circuit since its inception in 1987. In 1993 the tournament was extended to 54 holes. Over the years no golfer has approached the success in this event of Kevin Billington who has carried off the trophy many times. Waipu Golf Club teams have achieved success in most of the Pennants competitions and other team events staged by the Northland Men’s and Women’s Associations. …a most notable season was 1999 – 2000 when the men’s team won both the Northland “A” Grade Pennants (matchplay) and the Northland final of the “Montana” Interclub Challange (the top teams strokeplay competition in Northland).

Photographs courtesy of the Waipu Golf Club

The above extracts are from my “Birdies” book. To purchase go to www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com and click on “Order Here.” PayPal available.