Remuera

The present day course at Remuera Golf Club has evolved through the years, with architectural input from a number of different sources.

W.S. Ralph first put the site to golfing use in 1934 when fairways were formed from the rough scrub and bush. Within a short space of time, two courses emerged on the property, one a public facility and the other a members’ club.

By the mid 1970s, only one course remained with fairways arranged by an Auckland firm of architects named JASMAD. When opinions were expressed that this course was too tight, a local designer named Harold Babbage was called in to remodel the layout.

Today’s Remuera course is a delightful parkland track with a real sting in its tail. The long par three 17th is a tough cookie to take on from the back tees and it’s sandwiched between testing par fives at holes 16 and 18 where birdies are seldom seen.

The Canadian design firm of Puddicombe has been involved in recent upgrading work to the course and Grant Puddicombe kindly provided us with the following comments:

“We were commissioned by the Remuera Golf Club in 2004 to develop a master plan and strategic plan to redevelop the golf course. We have been doing a fairly extensive remodeling and have completed the reconstruction of holes 1 to 4 and 16 to 18 as well as the practice area. We will be continuing this redevelopment program by doing one or two holes at a time. Temporary greens were constructed on two of the holes to ensure the course continues to operate as a functioning 18-hole course throughout the redevelopment.”