Northland NZ for a week of Golf & Food cont..

Day 4 & 5- Carrington Estate

1.5hrs north from Kerikeri (4.5hrs from Auckland) on the Karikari Peninsular is Carrington Estate. The 3000-acre estate is both picturesque and remote. A perfect location for a get-away. Still affordable vs the closer to Auckland Kauri Cliffs and equally in my opinion as beautiful. Boasting a secluded white sand coastline, an 18-hole golf course with stunning ocean views and 900 acres of restored wetlands.

It has a very Australian feel in parts due to the giant Eucalyptus and brown landscape and then you round a corner into the native wetlands and remember you are still in NZ, only to then feel like you could be on a pacific island getaway with the well-established Frangipani around the hotel buildings.

We booked the Stay & Play package which was well worth it. $650 for one night which included “unlimited” golf (we played 2 rounds) with carts, were given a bottle of the Karikari estate Pinot Gris, dinner and breakfast included and we had a fabulously large and well-appointed suite looking out at the Golf course in one direction and the ocean in the other.

This is the second time we’ve visited Carrington Estate to play golf, but the first time we’ve stayed, and I can confirm we would stay again. The service was friendly and relaxed. The food was very good, fresh, local, and well prepared and presented. Definitely a step up from your usual Hotel restaurant. The view from the restaurant encourages you to not hurry through and the staff are happy for you to go at your pace and not theirs. The restaurant was full, and the atmosphere was bang on for a weekend getaway where you want to relax and unwind.

Weather

Day 4 (day 1 at CE) Clear blue skies, temperature around 24 degrees C. Enough breeze to take the heat out of the round of golf but not enough to be considered wind.

Day5 (day 2 at CE) again, clear blue skies, temperature 25 degrees but a brisk wind that slowly built.

The course

This is a Matt Dye designed championship-standard 18-hole Golf Course. It is 6417 metres (7267 yards) in length, par 72, and feels as if everything plays down into the wetlands. It is hilly, we had a cart for both rounds and did agree that walking would be difficult. There is some distance between the greens and tees on many hole transitions and the terrain is not resort course terrain. There is a mix of concrete path carts and mostly gravel cart paths which over the years have become rutted and not overly comfortable but when money is tight, I expect cart paths might be well down the list.

I played the Ladies Yellow tees. Slope rating of 131. Distance 4,667metres. Scott played White Tees, slope 129, distance 5,357metres.

Day 1 I played solidly and ended with Gross 95 playing to my handicap but on day 2 I dropped 5 shots and filed a 100. Scott only kept a card on day one with gross 85.

The course was not in its best condition and I would say this is due to the severe drought conditions Northland has been experiencing along with the lack of tourist golf dollars. Most of the tee boxes were denuded of grass and the fairways were also very patchy which on this course design turns it into a very punitive layout vs a challenging one. Scott hit beautifully for two days but could not get a ball to stay in play on the fairway. I also found it very very tough to keep my ball where I wanted it to be. But my expectations are considerably lower than those of a single digit player. So, where the fairways were slick and running uncontrollably, with no managed rough to assist, the greens on the other hand were slow which I struggle with.

Best holes?

6 & 7

These holes are in the wetland area, they are not the most stunning visually when you compare to some of the ocean side holes but these holes challenge your sense of courage and resolve. Standing on the 6^th tee you can see that going straight will inevitably mean you roll off the slope left into the wetlands gully but to get far enough right you need to hit over a stand of trees onto a very steep bank and then stand with your fingers crossed. Both of us manged this but to watch your ball disappear out of sight behind the trees and then what felt like full minutes later to see it rolling and gaining speed into view past what you would consider a happy place and towards the gully is just cruel. The drive around to the fairway is away from the hole so it’s noy until you drive through a bridged entrance to the fairway that you can get any sign that all is well. We managed on both rounds to still be in, but would I call it comfortably? No.

This is followed by a par 3 across the bullrushes and waters of the wetlands. It’s all carry! This is a very pretty hole which might take some sting out if you don’t make it. I’m happy to report we did.

Normally I don’t have a hole that I think is bad, but I do on this course. The number 16 par 3. Although perfectly well designed for men it was extremely intimidating for me an average female golfer. The Men’s tees are all above or in line with the green across a ravine, but the ladies’ yellow tee is a narrow strip of grass on the edge of the ravine playing fully up to the green through tall trees framing a particularly narrow shute. What can I say! I played it ok due to luck more than confidence.

There is certainly plenty of beauty on this course both ocean and wetland vistas so good or bad round it’s well worth the visit.

The other great stuff

One of the pleasures of playing Carrington is that it’s not busy so taking a detour after the ninth and heading through the tunnel and up to the Karikari Estate winery is a must. You just follow the signs in your golf cart for about 5mins and park right at the cellar door on the top of a ridge looking out to the very top of NZ.

The menu is varied and good and the atmosphere sitting in the sun drinking a glass of wine and eating good food is good for the soul. We had the small BBQ platter which had Brisket, Ribs, Chicken nibbles and the best Kransky I’ve had for a long time. Possibly in hindsight not the food of champions but enjoyable, nevertheless.

Our suite was just lovely with expansive views, perfect air-conditioned temperature, solid pressure shower and room to relax in. Just a short walk along the deck to the clubhouse and restaurant. There’s an infinity heated pool, massage on pre-book request and a beach trek for the non-golfers.

The food

Dinner at the restaurant was very very good. Scott had the smoked Eel salad and I had the Crayfish salad as entrees. They did not skimp on the Eel or Crab and both dishes were presented well with balanced flavour. For mains we had the Eye Fillet with seasonal vegetables and the Duck. Again both perfectly cooked and presented. We finished with Key Lime pie for dessert. This is not a hotel restaurant that leaves you wishing you had not bothered.

Breakfast, also included, was equally as delicious.

Lovely stay, just lovely.

The summary – 104/125 (83%)