Peter Thomson might be best known for winning his five British Opens, yet he also occupies a special place in the history of tournament golf in New Zealand. Between 1950 and 1971, Thomson and his good mate Kel Nagle dominated the NZ Open, winning 16 between them, nine of them Thomson’s. Two of those nine titles (1955, 1965) came at Auckland Golf Club, and Thomson developed an affection for the layout.
In 1980 he was appointed the club’s ongoing design consultant. Thirty years on Auckland is a high-quality private members’ course, and with a little tweaking it might again become a challenging par-72 fit to test the best professionals in a championship.
Long stands of tall pines, some of them up to 80 years old, dominate much of the rolling landscape, which has changed significantly since local player Mahal Pearce won the last Open held here in 2003. Most of the poa annua grass greens have been reshaped. The fairways have been converted to couch grass. The bunkers were rebuilt in 2008 and a new irrigation system completed in late 2009. This has dramatically improved the playing surfaces, and has even helped dry out parts of the course that were traditionally ‘wet’ areas because of the clay soil underneath.
The club has also had a name change. In 2010, Auckland’s centenary year, the Queen granted it the ‘Royal’ prefix.
As might be expected of a royal course, the surfaces are impeccably maintained and complement a design that provides a variety of playing options from tee to green. Conservative and aggressive players are both well served here. The 3rd, a 359-metre par-four, is the first of many examples of a hole offering two clearly defined routes to the green.
This dogleg-right fairway features six bunkers on the inside corner of the dogleg, and long hitters will be tempted to blast their drive over the sea of sand. It is a carry of 241 metres from the back tee; if successful, it leaves you with a short and straightforward pitch to a two-tiered green. The cautious player, who follows the line of the fairway away from the bunkers, will have a longer approach to the green but a better angle to any flag position.
The back nine opens with a classically designed par-three. The 10th hole is only 103 metres from the back markers and many might reckon it a pushover. But hollows and bunkers surrounding the green severely penalise any poor tee shot that misses the putting surface. It’s wisest to aim for the centre of the green, make two putts and move on, for this wee hole produces as many bogeys and double bogeys as it does birdies.
The same can be said of the next hole: a 249-metre par-four. The green is certainly reachable for long hitters but the smart play is to hit a 200-metre shot to the centre of the fairway, then pitch on to the green with your second. Players shooting straight for the green must contend with a water hazard flanking the entire right side of the fairway and a deep gully (with a bunker at the bottom) that cuts in front of the green. This leaves a narrow entrance to the putting surface. Only the straightest of long drives will earn an eagle putt here.
Royal Auckland is a private members’ club but tee times can be arranged for members of reciprocal clubs.
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MEMORABLE HOLES 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 17th WHERE TO GO 30 Hospital Rd, Otahuhu, Auckland BOOK A ROUND (09) 276 6149, www.aucklandgolfclub.co.nz OTHER 120 GREAT COURSES NEARBY The Grange (3.5 km), Titirangi (21 km), Muriwai (54.8 km) WHERE TO STAY Mt Richmond Hotel & Conference Centre is 4 km from the course in Otahuhu East. BEFORE/AFTER YOUR ROUND The Auckland Harbour Bridge Experience is a 90-minute jaunt over, under and around the famous landmark, showcasing views of Waitemata Harbour and the city skyline. You can go one step further with a bungy jump off the bridge. |