Dec 07 2009
Posted by lizclark under North Island Golf Courses, Northland
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: Continue Reading »
Oct 16 2009
Posted by lizclark under Jack's Point Golf Club, South Island, South Island Golf Courses
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…
Oct 05 2009
Posted by lizclark under South Island
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 Golf Club is a better bet for our longevity… Continue Reading »
Sep 30 2009
Posted by lizclark under North Island
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 »
Sep 20 2009
Posted by lizclark under South Island
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 »
Sep 13 2009
Posted by lizclark under South Island
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 train is a bit of a bone-rattler and he’s not far from wrong. After some jolts and bumps, the train sets out across those pastoral Plains and gradually climbs up into the majestic mountains.
Suddenly the train violently lurches… Continue Reading »
Sep 13 2009
Posted by lizclark under South Island, South Island Golf Courses
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 strung out on a wire fence alongside the road. A second look defies belief. Continue Reading »
Sep 12 2009
Posted by lizclark under South Island
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 »
Sep 12 2009
Posted by lizclark under Bay of Plenty, North Island Golf Courses
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 circuit then head south to Rotorua’s really, really hot spots! Continue Reading »
Sep 11 2009
Posted by lizclark under North Island Golf Courses, Northland
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 and I are all set to play a round of golf before day’s end. No problem. Continue Reading »
Feb 03 2009
Posted by lizclark under Harwarden Golf Club, South Island Golf Courses
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 course in the sheep farming area of Canterbury.
“The club has a part-time green keeper and he only does about 20 hours a week.* The remainder of the work is done by club members. Continue Reading »
Dec 27 2008
Posted by lizclark under Christchurch, Clearwater Golf Club, Golfing News, New Zealand Women's Open Golf Championship, South Island Golf Courses
circa 1908
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 New Zealand Fund which was established in 2005 during the Continue Reading »
Dec 22 2008
Posted by lizclark under South Island Golf Courses
View from the 16th
The Terrace Downs Resort and Golf Club has developed a superb 18-hole, par 72 championship course on the banks of the Rakaia River Gorge at the foot of the Mount Hutt ski-field. It’s a member of Best of New Zealand Golf Resorts where only the best in hospitality, luxurious accommodation and a finely manicured golf course qualifies for membership.
Terrace Downs pushes the limits of believability with a 6,440-metre-long course that incorporates 11 lakes and Continue Reading »
Sep 08 2008
Posted by lizclark under Cambridge Golf Club, Matamata Golf Club, Ngahinepouri Golf Club, North Island Golf Courses, Pirongia Golf Club, Raglan Golf Club, Waikato Courses, Walton Golf Club
Gaylene Eyre
By Gaylene Eyre – Kiwi High Performance Sports Trainer and Partner in Golfing Boot Camps, www.marniemcguiregolf.com
Cambridge is well known in New Zealand as being the Town of Trees and Champions. We boast a “star-studded” street full of champions. Duke Street in the central business district plays host to a Walk Of Fame featuring 25 athletes who have Continue Reading »
Aug 27 2008
Posted by lizclark under North Island Golf Courses, Northland
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. Continue Reading »
