Day 10 Whanganui to New Plymouth– Waverley Golf Club
We have had to adopt a very fluid attitude to this holiday, whilst noting that holidaying for Golf in September in NZ may not be a good choice. We awoke again to grey, heavy drizzle in Whanganui. With resignation we cancelled our 9am tee time and instead decided we would head off to New Plymouth, see if the weather improved as we moved north and play it by ear.
We drove around to Whanganui (Belmont) Golf Club just to take a look and it appeared very wet underfoot, not too many cars in the carpark for 9am on a Sunday. We were not convinced to revert to plan A.
The Weather
In Whanganui, grey with heavy drizzle, Waverley- grey and windy, New Plymouth- clear blue skies, sunshine, no wind and views of Mount Taranaki.
The Course
As we approached the small South Taranaki town which is approximately 44kms north of Whanganui there was a sign claiming Waverley Golf Club to be ‘The Best Country Golf Club in New Zealand’. Bold claim indeed but who could pass that by?
This is what their website says
About Us
One of the “black sheep” courses of NZ, W.G.C is a hidden gem with black sand that shapes this great gold land.
Renowned golf course architect Tom Doak has rated W.G.C as the 10th best in NZ in his book Confidential Guide to Golf Courses vol 5.
This is after evaluating the world’s best courses and in 2018 our Waverley country course made the cut.
W.G.C was established in 1965. It was all cleared mainly by members using their own DC3 Oliver tractor with a blade on the front.
The course was designed by Ernie Southerden, a pro golfer from Napier, and has developed into what it is today.
With its natural contours, W.G.C is a must visit!
An 18 hole Par72 course. Ladies yellow tees, slope 108 (vs 119 at home), 4722metres (5164yards). Men’s white tees, slope 112 (vs 124 at home), 5537metres (6055)yards.
Natural contours was correct! Might be a short walk compared to previous rounds but not flat. We were up and down hills all day. It was tough walking for us townies with fairways mown through paddocks. Most shots were played with ball either above or below your feet. If you missed the fairway at least you could tee up (placing) on some good strong tussocky grass. We did move our balls a bit more than normally allowed mainly to avoid playing off sheep poo. Now this may be making you think it’s a terrible track with nothing to compel you to play there but that is where the mistake would be made.
Yes it’s rough in patches and hilly but it was interesting. No hole felt the same as many more managed courses do. The views in some parts of the round were really fun. From holes 7, 8 & 9 you can see the ocean. From some holes you view the awe-inspiring size of the Waipipi Wind Farm. The 10th plays along to the Waverley Racecourse and everywhere are sheep.
The greens were well grassed, no disease or patches but slow.
We arrived to find it was club champ day, but were told not until 11am so we were welcome to tee off beforehand. So we did. We got lucky, there was one of the women members there whose playing partners had not shown up so she played with us and the local knowledge was helpful.
The wind came up almost on que so we got to experience this rural links course in full stride.
Best holes?
Both Scott and I agreed that if we played the course a second time we would enjoy it more. We would be less focussed on where the ball was landing and would probably appreciate the holes more. I need to warn you, there is a tremendous amount of blind play. Nothing intentioned to be punitive and we did mostly find our balls as we crested hills. A couple of Scott’s wild tee shot’s disappeared into farmland or wilderness but that was player not course.
#12-Tom Thumb. Par 4. 260metres (ladies), 300metres (men) approach is uphill between hills to a steeply sloping green. Fun Fun Fun. Scott pared it, I have a 6.
The Golf summary – 44/50
Food, beverage, accommodation and other activities
We’ve splashed out and are staying in the Penthouse Apartment on Liardett Street in New Plymouth. The views are amazing, it’s spacious and super handy to all eateries and galleries.
New Plymouth has a lot on offer for restaurants and we are here three nights so hopefully we try a few goodies.
Our first night we met friends who are also in town this weekend and had drinks and burgers at Frederic’s. It was a short walk along the beautiful waterfront. Very simple menu but done well.