Beyond the Black Swamp Road

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

It’s a perfect mid-October spring morning in New Zealand with the sun beaming down from a cloudless sky. Heading north from the Auckland airport with golf clubs safely stowed in “Silver,” our Toyota hatchback rental, Geoff and I are all set to play a round of golf before day’s end. What could possibly go wrong?

Only thirty minutes north of Auckland off Highway 16 we turn west to Muriwai Beach. From a high cliff overlooking a beautiful cove on the Tasman Sea, gannets ride warm thermals above the light surf where children belly-board back to the sandy beach below. The Muriwai Golf Club is just a stone’s throw away and promises to offer a great beginning to our golfing tour. From the clubhouse the view across to Oaia Island, the offshore “haystack,” looks like a giant stepping-stone to infinity from Muriwai’s gradually descending and gently rolling fairways.

While waiting to sign in to play this reasonably priced par 72, 18-hole course, we review the score card. Remembering all distances in New Zealand are in metres, we add ten percent to the metric length then roughly convert to what is still called “yardage.”

“Sorry,” says the cheerful Lady Starter in a kindly manner that shows she’s often the bearer of negative news. “The course is fully booked today.”

So close to Auckland, we should have known to call ahead to reserve a tee time. We’re very disappointed.

“There’s always tomorrow,” replies Geoff confidently. “Could you book us in for an early round in the morning?”

“Most certainly, though I should mention, we’re expecting blustery west winds and heavy rainfall, but no matter how hard it rains, Muriwai never closes. What time would you like?”

From past experience we’d learned wind and rain make miserable golfing partners. Sadly we wave a limp goodby and head north, hopefully to better weather.

Learn more about touring Northland in the “Birdies” book.

To follow in Chapter One:

Some Scottish History…

Like Father Like Son…

The Maori Legacy And Rainy Cape Reinga…

A Cluster Of Courses