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 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 »
Apr 12 2009
Posted by lizclark under Uncategorized
Maungatautari
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 remains of a once-wonderous living and breathing ecosystem. Why a fence? What’s it all about? 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 »
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 »
