[haggis4U]

Be interested in thoughts on golf courses in and around Wellington.
quality, membership costs etc
Also the cost of golf equipment in NZ

[Mildred]

So glad you asked this question. Both my children are junior members of North Foreland Golf Course. Bit worried that membership might be too dear in NZ for them to play.

Sorry I didn't give you the answer!

[Moorf]

http://www.golfguide.co.nz/dist9.htm

This site gives you lots of info on costs and location. Hope it's what you were looking for.

Moorf

[haggis4U]

Moorf
You are a real Guru! :nice1
This link is just what I had been looking for.
:cheers

[Moorf]

You're v. welcome... I often wish I could get interested in golf having lived just a few miles from Gleneagles/Dollar/Kinross and St Andrews... lovely courses (we lived on the border of Clackmannanshire and Perthshire).. it just doesn't have that adrenaline rush that I love so much ;)

[Timbo]

Heres another one for you;

http://www.nzgolfing.com/

[Kenny]

Were do I start......

Hutt Valley Golf Club
Mirimar Golf Club
Pauatahanui Golf Club
Karori Golf Club
Judgeford Golf Club
Shandon Golf Club
Wainuiomata Golf Club
Te Marua Golf Club
Titahi Bay Golf Club - Michael Cambell's home course
Trentham Golf Club
Ohariu Golf Club

All of these are within 30 mins of Wellington CBD
Most of these have junior squads


Then there is :

Levin
Otaki
Carterton
Martinborough
Waikanae
Foxton
Paraparaumu

Which are within 45mins -1.5 hours


Ok..

If you are looking in the Wellington Region, you cannot get better than this.

www.Manorparkgolf.co.nz

There are better courses in the area but if it's junior golf your interested in then this is the place. Check out the junior section link.

Manor Park were the first in the country to get the National Junior Coaching Award. They currently have 13 level one coaches.

There are 3 levels of coaching.

Level one. Introduction. This is for the kids that have not played before, do not have a handicap and want some fun. There are currently 130 juniors registered.

Level 2. These are for the kids who show potential, generally have a handicap and like to play. This level and above are coached by the club professional. This level plays in the junior inter club tournaments.

Level 3 are the top junior - These guys play in National tournaments. We currently have 3 members of the Tietlist Acadamy - The top 20 juniors in the country.

Cost - Wait for it.

$70 per year for under 13's
$137 per year for 13-18's

I am one of the Level1/level 2 coaches. Meaning I take the kids that can hit the ball but need to work on a few things before moving up to the level 2 groups.

Sessions are 1 hour a week generally Sundays but there is also a mid-week group.

One week is spent putting, one pitching/chipping, one week driving and then one week (where possible) they play 4-5 holes ambrose.

Once they have a handicap, they have full playing rights on the course.

Both my sons are level 2. They get 1 hour per week from the club pro, playing rights on the course all for $137 per year.

It sounds like I am doing a sales pitch but that is not intended. The junior squad is so popular that there is a waiting list to get in. We don't need to do a sales pitch. It sells itself.


As a golfer myself, Manor park is a good challenging course and very popular. Unlike the UK, due to the smaller population, it is easy to get a tee-time on the same day. You may need to wait an hour but you certainly don't have to book 2 weeks in advance.

[Mildred]

Kenny

Thanks for all that information. I'll pass it onto my kids. Unfortunately my daughter is unable to play properly at the moment due to a broken wrist, but she's still praticing! Even doing good bunker shots one handed!!!

[Timbo]

Kenny, that is SO cheap, I almost cant believe it. My local course is Walton Heath in Surrey, but I have not played it for years due to cost (and snobbery from some members).
Maybe those clubs should get a dust down in readyness for NZ methinks.
:cheers

[Kenny]

Most of the clubs mentioned in the previous post have green fees between $20 - $30 midweek and $25 - $35 weekends.
Obviously some of the better courses such as Paraparaumu which held the NZ Open a couple of years ago (Steve Williams local course - Tigers caddy) charge a bit more but it is still reasonable.

[Kenny]

Manor Park Golf Club, where I am one of the Level 1 coaches, has now decided to put me through the level 2 training course.

So for $20 (Yes TWENTY), which the club are paying, I get coached by the NZ Regional Development Manager - Mark Brown.
Mark is a Professional who has played on the pro curcuit and has played in the NZ open a number of times.


Two full day sessions (9 - 5) on how to coach technique, pick out faults and how to correct them.

I might even be able to improve my own handicap once I know what I'm doing wrong... :( :( :laugh :laugh :laugh