Pukekohe

Formed in 1912, Pukekohe Golf Club enjoyed something of a nomadic existence during its formative years, laying down roots at several locations before finally finding a permanent home within an old Karaka dairy farm.

Irishman and former engineer Charles Redhead – who would eventually design or redesign other top Kiwi courses such as New Plymouth, Rotorua andManawatu – was engaged to lay out the fairways on the new course and it duly opened for play on 29th April 1939.

Commander John Harris made several changes in the mid-1960s, resulting in major modifications to holes 6, 13 and 14, all of which had been subject to flooding from time to time.

Grant Puddicombe’s Canadian design company was called in to implement further improvements in 2003 and this work entailed expanding lakes (on holes 4, 6 and 14) and removing a significant number of trees around the course.

A favourite hole of many is “Lookout,” the 439-yard par four 12th, where the S-shaped fairway suits a slightly faded tee shot, allowing the best approach to a long, offset green that’s protected by a small bunker to the left and a steep bank to the right.