My Golfing Journey (Backward FLOG)

 

Those moments when you served and had golf as your occupational hazard.  I took up golf back in late 80’s using my dad’s old Ben Hogan Golf Clubs. I wasn’t a Golf Nut then as I played to have fun. In 1992 I was on Tui and myself and Richard Goobs Gilvray arrived back in Auckland late Sunday.  Navy Champs was the next day (2 full rounds).  My dear wife wasn’t happy as she had a right to be.

Anyway, armed with my very old clubs I won The Simpson/Drummond Cup with a blistering round.  At the time my handicap was a paltry 31.  My nett round was 56. (16 under par for handicap) My handicap was drastically cut to a healthy 24.

After many funny mishaps my depleted clubs were retired, and I bought a new set. In the mid 90’s I was on the RNZN Golf Society committee and handicapper (before computerisation) Soon after I was elected to be Club Captain (for 2 years)

Anyway, courses I played on, with small ditties on each.

My very first foray into golf was as a kid in Palmy.  There was a 9-hole Public Course called Brookfields and we as a family would chase the little white ball there.  I was hopeless but it was fun.

Auckland Courses (mostly trips to other courses with RNZN Golf Society): -

Waitemata GC (Devonport) At the time it was the home course for the Society (it used to be Pupuke).  Nearly every Wednesday you’d find me slogging away. Over the next 7 years my handicap dropped to 17.6 what I called a handicapper’s handicap.

Waitakere GC.  What a testing course – up hill down dale.  Like all courses a great test of skill.

Formosa GC. East Auckland.  At the time touted as the premium golf course in New Zealand.  Frankly poorly laid out and not groomed well. I remember getting to the green on the Par 5 Thirteenth in two and parring it.  Never wanted to go back.

Pupuke GC.  Another up hill down dale but with more generous fairways.  I bought my house on Forrest Hill Road across from the Par 3 16^th so would play occasionally.  I was a paid-up member but only managed at the most to get 3 rounds in, as my job in MCM kept me away from Auckland on weekends. Oh, and on the par 5 5^th I hit my longest ever drive, 345m.  Still bogeyed the hole, lol.

Takapuna GC.  Not a memorable course but played it often solo.

Gulf Harbour GC.  I organised a subsidised round for Golf Society members.  Green Fees were $55 a head, and with a subsidy made it affordable for all.  Memory says at least 12 played.  Now that was a world class golf course.  My claim to fame was parring all four Par 5’s.  I’d go back again for sure.

Muriwai GC Links Course.  Only played it once, putting it in the Too Hard basket.

Other Courses. Aotearoa first. North to South.

Waitangi GC: - Beautiful course and up there as Must Play.  We were based in Bay Of Islands with Monowai survey.  Every weekend a good bunch of fellow golfers (about 10 – 12) would be dropped off at Paihia and head up to the Course. In my memory there was never a bad day or round.  Of note, POWTR Ian Aldridge introduced Night Golf to Waitangi.  Some crazy nights.  Usually there was a spirit bottle handy.

Waihi GC.  Between Ruakaka and Waihi on the main highway is my Number 1 course I have ever played on.  A true jewel.  The Par 5 13^th is by far and away the toughest golf hole in the country.  Uphill and into the predominant westerly wind.  When I was stationed at Marsden Point for a few weeks I’d get a round done every two or three days.

Mangawhai Heads GC.  Another sweet seaside course.  More normal layout than Links.  You need to have you’re A Game as it is very tight.

There was a golf course I played in Hamilton late 80’s.  Then I think it was called Fairfield, but Mrs Google won’t find that name.  It was a public Course.  No great memories.

Umanu GC (Mount Maunganui) Interesting course made more noteworthy as being under the flightpath of the nearby airport.

Taupo GC.  Played this in 2020 with Kim Hinaki and Neil Worthington. We were in Taupo for our 45^th reunion for Class 2/75.  Only managed 9 holes as too tuckered out from wets the previous night.

Whanganui GC.  Would have to be the hardest test of golf for me ever.  I had about a dozen golf balls in my bag and ran out of them after 12 holes.  SIGH!!

Hawkestone GC.  Located between Marton and Feilding this little course was a nice change.  Like some I played, you play 15 dedicated holes and replay the first three to make up 18 holes.  A great all-weather course, worth a play.

Feilding GC.  Played this once.  Has a nice layout but not a major challenge.  My claim to fame was birdieing the signature Par 3, my only ever Par 3 birdie.

Palmerston North GC.  There are three courses in Palmy.  Orlando Gardens Public Course (never played it), Palmerston North, and Manawatu.  I play Palmy often as I can as it is a great layout.  Biggest issue is wind, as Palmy has plenty.  Practically an all-weather course with good drainage.

Manawatu GC.  I have never been tempted to play this course as the Green Fees are horrendous.  However early this year an old sea mate (Steve Barlow from Mosgiel) invited me out for a round at Manawatu.  He shouted my round and club hire and off we went.  I must admit, this course was up there with Waitangi.  I had my best round since winning the Simpson/Drummond Cup in 1992.  Hit 12 fairways in regulation and parred on my handicap most others.

Buckley GC (Shannon).  Fun course.  Like Hawkstone she has 15 dedicated holes and three shared.  More a fair-weather course as drainage is non-existent.

Pahiatua GC.  Another wee gem.  5 minutes north of the Mangatainoka (of Tui Brewery fame). Never tire of playing there. Rate it highly.

Rarangi GC (Blenheim) as Captain Navy for NZ Defence Interservice Champs.

Nelson GC.  Like Umanu, this course is also under the local airport flightpath.  And another links course.  Much like Umanu in layout.  Nothing memorable, sadly.

Templeton GC (Christchurch) Three memories. Same layout as Waitemata. Fantails. Chipping a seven iron onto a par 4 from 50 metres. 18inch putt for birdie.

Shirley GC.  Monowai was in Christchurch for Navy 50^th celebrations and Navy Champs were held there.  My two endearing memories.  Out driving Richie Ngawhika, and 11 holes where a draw was better than a slice (which was not good for my game).

Chisholm Park GC (Dunedin) Also a links course.  Played once also and had fun despite the brutal onshore wind.  Played with my Boss Nick Quinn as we were in town for business.

St Clair GC.  Got to say of all courses I played on this course is by far and away the most aesthetic. Also, once again, we were on Monowai late 80’s and played it several times.  Of note.  In the Bar there is a plaque with 6 trophies on it, one for each Hole In One one of the members .  Also, my Dad’s old clubs were breaking under the strain, not much seeing your club head flying further than your ball.  In most of my golf rounds I had the pleasure to play alongside Len Bilton (Father Time) who only used two clubs, a Five Iron and Putter. LEGEND!!

And that wraps up New Zealand courses.  Now the international ones.

Tonga GC (Nukualofa) Nice little boutique course.  Nothing spectacular except one of our team hooking his drive and hitting a Utility Vehicle with a few hefty Tongan lads on the tray. We were ready to leg it.  Oh and you couldn’t stand still on the greens for long as fire ants were prevalent and had a  nasty stinging bite.

Eastlake GC (Sydney).  Once again on Monowai and had the weekend off for leave.  A few of us were given a heads up that the Eastlake course was open for green fees. So, Saturday morning we were dropped off. JAGC (Just another Golf Course)

Port Vila GC (Vanuatu) I was in port on Tui 1992. This little seaside links course was by far and away the funniest round I played.  The prerequisite was to have a bottle of spirits and those that lost the hole had to slurp a slug.  By the 14^th hole fair to say bottles were empty and mirth was had by all.  At the 19^th Hole we continued our slurping and at the same time teed off all our balls into the sea. Expensive exercise but fun.

Norfolk Island GC.  Another boutique course with lovely warm temperatures and a gentle sea breeze.  Was dropped off by boat from Tui, and another bevvy run.  6 cans each.  Very cold at start and by the 6^th or 7^th hole very warm (yuk).  At the clubhouse they had raffles running and the boys won a fair share, mostly Russian Vodka from ships stopping by.  As the boat wasn’t due back until sun up we crashed on the wharf (bloody cold and uncomfortable).

 Oh and my Resolution Dit.  I used to place a coir shot mat on the platform over the winch drum and practice hitting balls into the sea whilst underway. Never really helped my swing but a good time killer.

And of course (no pun intended) stopping at the golf range on the Taupo Foreshore is always a must do.