Day 3 Taupo to Palmerston North – Rangatira Golf Course
We didn’t rush out of the door this morning with only just over three hour’s drive time from Taupo to Palmerston North we had plenty of time to sleep in, play 18 holes and still get to Palmerston North for dinner.
We checked out at 9am and headed up the road to the Sunday Farmers Market for coffee and bacon sandwiches for breakfast. After walking the market circuit, purchasing a jar of Lemon Honey, getting our take-out coffees and Bacon Sandwiches we were on the road by 10am, heading to Rangatira Golf Club, just north of Hunterville.
Weather
5 degrees Celsius again but with a clear day promised. We had great visibility of snow covered Mount Ruapehu & Mount Ngauruhoe. The desert road delivered it’s unique beauty with golden grasses against grey terraces and mountains. There really is nowhere else like it in New Zealand, so to having a clear day to travel this route was a bonus.
The Course
Rangatira Golf course is built on three levels with stunning views of the Rangitikei River and to finish a ride back to the carpark in an electric cable car, the only golf course with a cable car in New Zealand. Situated on State Highway One 12kms North of Hunterville. The club is a winner of the Golf Rankings ‘Hidden Gem’ award. Rangatira was designed by Doug Leng-Ward and was opened in 1964 and notably has no bunkers…..yey.
18hole, Par72 for men & Par74 for women. Yellow tees, slope 112 (vs 119 at home), 5281metres (5775yards). White Tees, slope 107 (vs 124 at home), 5620metres (6146)yards. Note, yellow & white tees apart from 3 or 4 holes are the same.
Because this was our third round walked in 3 days after a winter with very little golf and I had a poisoned finger injury we decided to play Ambrose from the white tees. It was fun but we might have scored better if I’d been on form. I think Scott well and truly carried the round. We finished with gross 76, Ambrose Net 71.
The course although played across three levels of plateau is flat. The fairways are tree lined and the views from parts of the course simply breath-taking. There are no bunkers and no water hazards so a very straight forward round of golf. Anywhere else this hole layout would be dull and unchallenging but in the setting on the cliffs above the Rangitikei River it is fun and enjoyable.
Best holes?
We think # 7 would be the signature hole, this is the transition hole from level 1 to 2. We played a hole similar to this one at The Judge in Alabama. Teeing off well above the fairway, it’s a 458m Par 5, with dense planting on the cliffside to the left. Trees along the right and when you reach the green the viaduct across the river and white cliff backdrop.
#8 is a Par 3, which plays along the cliff to the left into a green surrounded on the right and back with a steep hillside. Driving the ball to the righthand hill sent it running down onto the green and close to the pin. We assessed landing on the green from the tee, but it slopes steadily front to back with risk of the ball rolling off a drop at the rear left.
#13 is fun also. When you leave the 12th green the sign directs you to a steep track and the views from here are outstanding. Halfway down the track is the white & yellow tees. You still can’t see the green way below and this is where some local knowledge would be of benefit. Scott’s drive was to the left in the trees, mine was in the middle of the fairway but a distance shorter than Scott’s. Once we reached my ball after another length of very steep track we were faced with an approach to the green guarded by two large and solid trees. Tricky indeed. We managed a par on this hole but with luck rather than good management.
You play holes 1 through 6 at the road/ carpark level. Then 7 through 12 on level 2 and finally 13 through 18 at river level.
Post round clubhouse
Part of the attraction to play Rangatira is the well talked about Cable Car. Once you have completed the 18th there is a short bush track to the base where you wheel your trundlers onto the car and then once seated in the passenger area hit the up arrow and enjoy a steep but scenic ride to the top just near the carpark and clubhouse. I can absolutely confirm you would not play this course without this benefit.
Sunday the clubhouse was not open and the green fee payment is an honesty box so nothing to report here. But the bathrooms were tidy and clean and open.
Food, beverage, accommodation and other activities
Just after the desert road the first rural town is Taihape and here there are 2 or 3 good cafes. On the main street is Soul Food with plenty of parking close by. We stopped for coffee and found they had their log fire blazing which was very welcome. The service was friendly and the coffee good.
Once in Palmerston North and checked into the Cornwall Lodge which is located on the corner of Fitzherbert Avenue and Ferguson Road, very close to the central square we walked out to find eateries. When we travel we often have researched where we want to eat in each place, that’s part of the fun of these golfing holidays, the eateries we get to try where-ever we are. But for Palmerston North we had come unstuck, we could not find any great reviews or suggestions and even friends came up empty. So after walking the full perimeter of the CBD we narrowed the choices to Navajo Steakhouse for, as advertised, Steak meals and Haru for Japanese.
We had a drink at Rosie O’Grady’s Irish pub and that was busy and fairly standard and then went to Navajo for dinner. The meals were large but well cooked. My steak was medium rare and the mushroom sauce was very tasty and fresh. The vegetables were seasonal and cooked perfectly. Scott had the Beef Brisket which was just too large, the coleslaw was fresh and tasty and the garlic mash tasty. Even though it was very busy the service was friendly and timely. I think we would consider this a dependable and comfortable dining option were we to return.
Our accommodation is very comfortable, spacious and not noisy which we had worried about when we realised what corner it is situated. We have been very comfortable here.
The Golf summary – 33/35
