Northland NZ for a week of Golf & Food cont.

Day 3- Kauri Cliffs Golf Course

I’ll be honest, I could feel the nerves building as soon as I got out of bed. Ranked number 43 in Golf Digests Top 100 courses, with fifteen holes looking at the Pacific Ocean, six of which are played alongside cliffs which plunge to the sea why wouldn’t I be terrified.

We were booked off the first tee at 11.30am so we left Kerikeri around 10ish to ensure we had plenty of time to make the most of their practice & warm up facilities. The drive from Kerikeri to Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay, Northland is really only just over 30minutes, but a good 10minutes of that is on shingle road through hilly farmland as you steadfastly head for the cliffs.

This course is not for drop-ins. You must have a tee booking and tee times are generously distanced at 15minute intervals to ensure you can play without pressure. I use the word pressure with my tongue firmly in my cheek. The moment you stand in front of the pro-shop there is no remaining doubt that the day will be tough.

The staff were all lovely, we were greeted in the driveway by a caddie who welcomed us, gave us directions to the carpark and then met us there with our golf cart. In the pro-shop we also had welcoming and friendly service, given directions to the practice areas and the first tee, and then allowed to take our time preparing for our tee time.

Even the practice range and putting greens have exceptional views.

Weather

Clear blue skies, temperature a manageable 22 degrees C. Windy! Actually, let’s revise and say strong winds.

Kauri Cliffs was designed and built by David Harman (late) from Orlando, Florida. The par 72 championship golf course measures 7,139 yards / 6,528 metres and offers five sets of tees for all skill levels.

Unlike most courses that can boast a single signature hole, Kauri Cliffs has many and you’d be hard pressed to agree which one is the best. # 1 is just an impressive way to start.

But every hole had views and interest….#7 out to the Cavelli Islands, numbers 10 to 13 inland…..

I played the Ladies Classic which is a blend of Red & Yellow tees. Slope rating of 129. Distance 4,951metres. Scott played Green Tees, slope 131, distance 5,511metres.

I was extremely happy with my 95gross and Scott was frustrated with his 83.

Best holes?

15, 16 & 17 without a doubt.

Visually daunting and not for a player that can’t be dead straight! As you stand on the tees your heart sinks and your tummy flip flops. I think it would be almost better to have had a rubbish card up until this point so that care was thrown to the ‘howling’ wind. But alas for me every shot was still counting. Scott was possibly in a worse position needing every shot of his to claw back one or two earlier ones. The fairways slope steadily and steeply down to the greens which are somehow positioned in thin air over sheer drops to the Pacific Ocean. Bunkers, ravines and slopes, golf can be so cruel. Scott managed to not embarrass himself with one over, par and then one over. I managed a lucky one over, very very lucky par and then gave a shot back with 2 over on 17.

What can I say, everything people tell you about Kauri Cliffs is true, challenging and fun without being punitive.

Visually exceptional and had the condition been better, worth the $350 a round. There was however evidence that even the golf playgrounds of the wealthy have been affected by zero international tourism. The Greens were in a sad condition and suffering from disease and some parts of the course felt tired and in need of a cash injection.

Still, I would highly recommend this for a great day out. Because they limit the players per day there is the ability to stop after nine and enjoy lunch and a drink before heading out again. We did this and the food and service were very nice. That along with the golf course and ocean vistas is pretty special.

The summary – 43/50