http://www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com/wp Liz's New Zealand Blog Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:00:03 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Please visit me now at www.peopleandplacesblog.com for New Zealand golf and touring news. Look for excerpts from "Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand" at www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com. Thank you. http://www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com/wp/travels-with-liz-and-new-zealand-news-has-moved/ Having brought to fruition several award-winning wines from New Zealand's northernmost vineyard and winery, Vintner Ben Dugdale shares some hilarious insights into preparing for the big holiday rush and I quote:"December has arrived - is it me or has the year gone way too fast? This pace can't keep up ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/holiday-report-from-karikari-estate-winery With beginnings in the United States and in New Zealand since 2006, the First Tee New Zealand mandate is: "To impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and education programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf." - Exciting and worthwhile objectives. And ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/the-first-tee-new-zealand-golfing-for-kids/ One of my favourite golf courses is Jack's Point in the alpine wonderland near Queenstown on the South Island. "Tremendous course," agrees Steve Williams, Tiger Wood's long term caddy in an interview with the Southland Press. Having walked some of the greatest courses in the world, this is awesome praise ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/golfing-new-zealand-look-at-the-prices/ Extract from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand Only ninety minutes north of Christchurch...the Hanmer Springs alpine spa village is almost totally encircled by forest, foothills and mountains of the Southern Alps. Although the nearby Waiau Gorge is a great place to bungy-jump, a visit to the Hanmer Springs ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealand-golf-destroyed-by-the-wrecker From colleague Robert Walters, Editor of BunkerShot.com and YouTube.comGOLF - Rob directs this documentary on the history of the oldest public 9-hole golf course in America: the Dutcher Golf Course in Pawling, New York. Stepping back in time...Historic Dutcher Golf Course http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/down-memory-lane-at-dutcher-usa/ Extracts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand ...North from Wellington off Highway 1 is Paraparaumu Beach The Paraparaumu Golf Club course...though rather short...has punishing roughs, fast greens and fearsome bunkers...Just pray for a calm day as forceful coastal winds off the Tasman Sea give Paraparaumu "big teeth" to gobble ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealand-coastal-course-at-paraparaumu-beach-has-big-teeth-good-scores-rare/ Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand New Zealand's South Island is noted for a superb eco-tourism area -- the Catlins. A 60,000 hectare place of awesome natural beauty, ranging from deserted beaches, dense forests, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and great walking tracks. There's always a chance to ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealands-southern-coastal-courses-offer-great-opportunity-to-play-golf-and-spot-penguins/ Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand Hopeful of a pleasant afternoon, we purchase tickets in Christchurch to ride the Tranz-Alpine Express through the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps for an afternoon at Greymouth on the West Coast. A local old-timer at the station tells us the ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/exciting-golf-game-in-new-zealand-set-aside-to-take-tranquil-train-ride-or-so-we-thought/ Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand Driving the high country Crown Range Road in Central Otago we soon find ourselves on what was once a Maori trail that later seemed to be paved in gold...Along the way we pass what, at first, looks like Tibetan prayer flags ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/golfing-new-zealands-south-island-on-what-was-once-a-maori-trail-that-later-seemed-to-be-paved-in-gold-we-pass-a-string-of-womens-brassieres-of-all-shapes-and-sizes-golf-ahead-or/ Extracts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand As often happens during an unplanned road trip, we stop at the first accommodation sign we see when we're ready to call it quits. At Murchison we lay claim to the last available cottage...closely beating out another couple caught in the ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/chilly-at-times-i-wish-id-brought-long-wool-underwear-to-golf-in-new-zealand/ Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand ...Play a different course almost every day of a two-week vacation on the Coromandel Peninsula and still have plenty of time to swim, stroll long stretches of soft sand beach and visit the many small towns that dot the 72-kilometre coastal ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/great-golfing-at-new-zealands-coromandel-and-rotorua-areas-zorbing-is-an-interesting-challenge-too/ Extracts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand 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 ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/golfing-in-new-zealand-beyond-the-black-swamp-roa/ January 28th to the 31st are the 2010 dates for the 92nd New Zealand Open. What a superb location on the South Island near Queenstown with the Remarkables mountain range forming a backdrop, and played on The Hills, Jeweller Michael Hill's private course. Offering US$600,000 in prize money, the Open ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealand-open-golf-championships-to-be-held-january-28-to-31st-2010-at-jeweller-michael-hills-private-course-at-arrowtown-near-queenstown-on-the-south-island/ A FREE EVENT - August 22 - 30, 2009 The biggest winter sports event outside the Winter Olympics, will feature over 800 of the world's top athletes competing in 26 snow sports including: ski racing, curling, snowboarding and skating. Plenty of off-snow activities in Queenstown and nearby Wanaka. Check out the ... http://www.wildwestcoastpublishing.com/wp/queenstown-hosts-winter-games/ Does anyone else have a commemorative watch celebrating the 2009 Michael Hill New Zealand Open? Not only is your watch one of only 500 specially crafted for the Open but you likely had the opportunity, as I did, to meet one of the many attractive and charming salespersons at the Michael ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealand-golfing-highlights-of-the-2009-open-at-the-hills/ [caption id="attachment_631" align="alignleft" width="118" caption="Maungatautari"][/caption] Of all the mountains in the world, New Zealand's Maungatautari is unique. At one time its forested slopes and pristine bush streams nurtured a wide variety of invertebrates and indigenous birds, many flightless, like the iconic and vulnerable kiwi bird, but today, a 47-kilometre-long fence encloses what ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealands-unique-wildlife-conservation-project-protects-endangered-species-from-preditors/ Harwarden Club Captain Tim Elms describes golfing at one of the South Island's best and charming rural courses: "I've been asked to give you a bit of information on our golf club - Hawarden Golf Club here in Hawarden, North Canterbury, New Zealand. We have a very nice and challenging 9-hole ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/one-of-new-zealands-south-island-treats-is-golfing-at-harwarden-golf-club-and-enjoying-a-tour-of-the-area-on-a-vintage-steam-train-from-waipara-through-the-dramatic-weka-pass/ New Zealand Women's Open Golf Tournament at Clearwater Resort winner French golfer Gwladys Nocera takes home the NZ$150,000 purse. Focused and capable of coping with high winds that bombarded the course midway through the final round, she plans on returning next year to defend her title. Her 54-hole total score ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/one-of-new-zealands-south-island-treats-is-golfing-at-harwarden-golf-club-and-enjoying-a-tour-of-the-area-on-a-vintage-steam-train-from-waipara-through-the-dramatic-weka-pass/   [caption id="attachment_519" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="circa 1908"][/caption] Long sought after, at last New Zealand Golf succeeds in staging the inaugural New Zealand Women's Open Championship to be held on January 30th to February 1st at the beautiful Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch. The purse of $150,000 is made possible by the Women's Golf ... http://www.peopleandplacesblog.com/new-zealand-golf-stages-inaugural-womens-open-championship/