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 from Williams. And what an awesome setting!

In a recent review of the Jack’s Point website I couldn’t believe the prices…

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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 up any hope of a good score.

The history of its development is unique… Continue Reading »

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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 view myriad native birds, sea elephants, leopard seals, sealions, New Zealand fur seals, Hector’s dolphins and our favourite – penguins… Continue Reading »

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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 competition for limited accommodation but perhaps they were the lucky ones… Continue Reading »

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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 was 208.

The purse will be upped to $175,000 at the second annual Women’s New Zealand  Open. Decision to play again at Clearwater Resort is uncertain at this time.

Read all about it at www.press.co.nz – www.nzherald.co.nz and www.thecanadianpress.com – click on sports and dig a bit –  pictures, too.

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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. Continue Reading »

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