Destroyed by the Wrecker in New Zealand

Extract from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand

Only ninety minutes north of Christchurch…the Hanmer Springs alpine spa village is almost totally encircled by forest, foothills and mountains of the Southern Alps. Although the nearby Waiau Gorge is a great place to bungy-jump, a visit to the Hanmer Springs Golf Club is a better bet for our longevity… Established in 1911, Hanmer Springs is a par 68, 4979-metre 18-hole, easy walking course, but motorized carts are available. Many holes have benign names such as “The Terrace,” “The Pines,” and “The Oaks” and so they are. But the par 3, 5th hole, “The Wrecker” is ominously and aptly titled. Luckily, I make it up a nasty ridge onto the green in three and two-putt. Geoff is on in one, but the tiered green plays havoc with his usually good putting skills. We tie the hole, both with double-bogeys.

Later chatting with a member, he describes his drives as “terrifying off-the-fairway shots” on this fairly short course. Tomorrow is the Club Championship and he’s on the course trying to select just the right clubs to play, particularly the 284-metre 9th hole. He’s such a bit hitter, he’s been known to hit the clubhouse at the back of the green with his 3-iron in a favourable breeze!

Learn more in the “Birdies” book and read what follows in Chapter Seven

Sampling Hanmer’s Hot Pot…

Once in a Brew Moon…

This way to crayfish…

Tipsy in Blenheim…

Golf Cluster Courses