TSF Golf Club
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Thanks for all those suggestions, guys. Sounds like Rotorua Golf club and Lakeview are the go.<br />
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I can return the favour if people are coming to Nelson.<br />
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If you're a good player and want to play the best courses - I'd say Greenacres, Nelson Golf Club and Motueka.<br />
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If you want spectacular - Ta$man on the Kina Peninsula - it's really a 9 hole course, but very playable and world class views on a sunny day. Very relaxed.<br />
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Totaradale in Wakefield is also pretty relaxed - 9 holes, but again very playable.<br />
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Golden Downs even more relaxed - we were there mid-summer weekend at midday and the only people on the course. Left green fees in the honesty box. Has NZ's longest hole!!! But actually quite well maintained considering. <br />
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Redstone is a private 9 hole course. Again very relaxed. Usually hardly anyone there. It's very short and the greens are dodgy, but it's got some fun features like an island hole. For a hacker like me it's a fun course - wouldn't recommend for a serious golfer.<br />
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Waahi Takaro it's handy to Nelson city. I've played there a couple of times, but didn't really like it - mainly because I largely prefer the relaxed and deserted country courses. Unaffiliated green fees at Ta$man, Totaradale, Golden Downs and Redstone are all less than $20. I think Greenacres is about $40, Nelson probably more ($48 I checked). The others I'd think about $30, but can't remember. -
When I lived in the Rai Valley I used to play Green Acres and Nelson golf club quite a bit. They are awesome.<br />
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I reckon there are about 5 golf clubs with NZ's longest hole. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> There is a 600 metre par 5 at Wairaki, I think -
[url="http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/Schools-Stories/Tapawera-community/Golden-Downs-Golf-Course"]http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/Schools-Stories/Tapawera-community/Golden-Downs-Golf-Course[/url]<br />
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Google suggests 660 metres for Golden Downs - they adjusted their tees to make it NZ's longest, so hopefully someone did their research right and trumped the others....for now. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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$10 green fees!!!! -
That makes it one of the worls longest Par 5's.<br />
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Here are a few long Par five and Par six holes I quickly retreived from Google<br />
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[i]The Links Golf Course, Post Falls, Idaho, #9, 777 yards, par 6<br />
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Farmstead Golf Links, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, #18, 767 yards, par 6<br />
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Black Mountain Golf Club, Black Mountain, North Carolina, #17, 747 yards, par 6<br />
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Turquoise Valley Golf Course, Naco Arizona, #15, 747 yards, par 6<br />
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The Gallery Golf Club, Marana, Arizona, #9, 725 yards, par 5<br />
(longest par 5 in US)<br />
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Ashley Plantation Golf Course, Daleville, Virginia, #14, 721 yards, par 6<br />
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Promontory Golf Course, Park City, Utah, #3, 720 yards, par 5<br />
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Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, #12, 716 yards, par 5<br />
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Meadow Farms Golf Course, Locust Grove, Virginia, #12, 841 yards, par 6<br />
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Spring Lake Golf Resort, Sebring, Florida, #6, 800 yards, par 6[/i] -
<img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /><br />
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Good point, If it is straight and you can see the green, it's the ole 'I'll have a go at that'.....Three seconds later, Reload -
They probably would just have to be on good terms with the local forestry company and do some chainsawing to make it longer. You could pretty much have a tee at Murchison and only have to hit over one public road. Though would need some chainsawing on DoC lands... <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
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[quote name='Hooroo' timestamp='1369184697' post='367230']<br />
When I lived in the Rai Valley I used to play Green Acres and Nelson golf club quite a bit. They are awesome.<br />
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I reckon there are about 5 golf clubs with NZ's longest hole. <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> There is a 600 metre par 5 at Wairaki, I think<br />
[/quote]<br />
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Hole 11, the Black tees (535m) at the WHangarei course into the wind; I once played a great drive, a great 3 wood and a 5 iron into a par 5! Felt like the longest par 5 I had ever played!<br />
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As for the TSF golf day, it certainly wasnt me that won, but yeah, the conditions were no conducive to much good golf anyway, thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it! I did get lost in London the drive home though, when I was trying to stay out of London, that was fun... <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' /> -
So where's everyone's favourite courses?<br />
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I've always had a soft spot for Pupuke (www.pupukegolf.co.nz/) where I first joined up when I was 13 years old. Did 5 or 6 years there playing pennants etc and had a lot of coaching from the pro there Rory Moore. Its a nice little course in the middle of suburbia. Pretty short and tight in parts and a bit of a goat track but always had awesome greens.<br />
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I've also always been a big fan of the Grange too in Auckland as well [url="http://www.grangegolfclub.co.nz"]http://www.grangegolfclub.co.nz[/url] which I hear is most likely gonna merge with Middlemore to free up some land for residential housing etc. Not that long a course but a good thinking players course and the first place I ever broke 80.<br />
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Also love the links style courses. Locally Muriwai is always good, especially in winter but up north right on the 90 is Kaitaia Golf Course ([url="http://www.kaitaiagolfclub.co.nz/"]http://www.kaitaiagolfclub.co.nz/[/url]) which I reckon is magic. Links course with country charm. -
Because i am a flash fluffybunny (who is shit at golf) these are the two ip lay the most here in Cairns.<br />
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I have a silver membership here, the beautiful Paradise Palms Country Club<br />
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[url="http://www.paradisepalms.com.au/pages/Golf.html"]http://www.paradisepalms.com.au/pages/Golf.html[/url]<br />
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It's great fun, but pretty hard, gets tight in too many places, and i refuse to go off the beaten track chasing balls, too many snakes and shit.<br />
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Or i head up to Port Douglas and tag along on a mates membership to this joint<br />
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[url="http://www.seatemplegolf.com.au/golfclub/golf.html"]http://www.seatemplegolf.com.au/golfclub/golf.html[/url]<br />
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It's pretty fucking long, and too many annoyingly placed hazards. Crocs in some of the water too. Beautiful to play though. That fat piston wristed gibbon Clive Palmer recently bought it for $7M, ridiculously cheap. -
[quote name='Chris B.' timestamp='1369184469' post='367229']<br />
If you're a good player and want to play the best courses - I'd say Greenacres, Nelson Golf Club and Motueka.<br />
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I know a bloke doing some junior golf coaching at Motueka - played with him over here for a season before he had to go back to inzid. Mad keen golfer and plays rugby for Riwaka B's.<br /> -
[quote name='taniwharugby' timestamp='1369187915' post='367241']<br />
Hole 11, the Black tees (535m) at the WHangarei course into the wind; I once played a great drive, a great 3 wood and a 5 iron into a par 5! Felt like the longest par 5 I had ever played!<br />
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[/quote]I played Royal Lytham & St Anne's last year, single hardest course i've ever played and genuinely broke me. The rough was evil, no first cut, miss the fairway or bounce off the fairway and you lose your ball (unless you're lucky enough to land in one of the 205 bunkers). The par 4 462 yard 15th into a force God knows what coming off the Irish sea was like trying to hit a ball to America. I hit the perfect booming dead straight drive off the tea, (which usually carries c230 yards) and watched it stop in mid air and come back towards me, it finished about 160 yards up the fairway, I've never felt so much like crying on a golf course. -
My favourite to have played is Jacks Point. Amazing course and the 16th hole is the best hole I have played on for 'fun' factor. It's so elevated that I hit a 400+metre drive. I've never seen a ball stay in the air that long. I can't wait to play it again.<br />
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NZ is just so brilliant for being able to play golf cheaply. Far too many courses which is great when you are travelling around the country but not good for club memberships.<br />
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I feel I must have played over 100 NZ courses but will try and find out once I get a list -
Haven't played Jacks Point but heard alot of good things. On the to do list for sure.<br />
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We have christmas down in rangiora again this year by the looks so will be taking the clubs to try a few courses down there.<br />
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Played Formosa last weekend and must say its improved abit since last time. Had some financial issues a few years back and wasnt well looked after but was pleasantly surprised on saturday. It also handled the heavy early morning rain very well. Looked unplayable when we arrived but 30mins later was all good. -
Kaitaia & Waipu are probably my fave courses (love links courses)<br />
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Kaitaia is right on 90 Mile beach, great test of golf, and as with most links courses, subject to some wild variances in the elements! A 90m par 3 into the teeth of the wind, hitting a 3 iron, standing in the clubrooms watching the fork lightning on the Ta$man and rain going sideways, and then clearing half an hour later to perfect conditions! Waipu is just south of WHangarei and I have played that course in some wild conditions as well.<br />
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St Andrews in Hamilton is also a pretty good course and was set up bloody tough with narrow fairways, 3 inch lush rough and quick greens, although my golfing memories are not good ones (played the NZ Amateur there and despite having 6 birdies in a 12 hole stretch I still managed to shoot 88) has some fantastic holes. -
[quote name='JK' timestamp='1369340473' post='367442']<br />
Haven't played Jacks Point but heard alot of good things. On the to do list for sure.<br />
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We have christmas down in rangiora again this year by the looks so will be taking the clubs to try a few courses down there.<br />
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[/quote]<br />
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Are you serious? That is where I go for Christmas (My folks farm is down there) I must play Rangiora about 4-5 times each visit. We must catch up for a round next time.<br />
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While you are playing there, go play Waimakariri Golf Course! It has some fabulous holes. Cheep but really good knick. -
Yeah serious mate. The wifes parents live down there. Not quite rangiora but more back towards Ohoka/Manderville area. Tend go down every year or so and also alternate xmas' between there and Auckland.<br />
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Usually I just fish the small rivers (kaiapoi / ashley etc) while I'm there but keen to golf it next time. Ever played Kaiapoi?
