Warning

This is Masters week so this is a warning, all non golfers will probably be bored. As we sit in our hotel overlooking Lake Taupo watching day 1 (Friday morning here) of the Masters we can reflect on our own golf of a somewhat lower standard. New Zealand has more than 500 courses and we decided to try a variety. The links course at Paraparaumu Beach which has hosted the NZ Open 12 times was a great start, we both played well and must have been concentrating because I forgot to take any photos!

On the way to Taupo is a most unique layout at Rangatira, the course has 3 levels: the top 6 holes are rather mundane and flat. The seventh is a long drive down a steep drop and the middle 6 are parkland holes with some undulation. At the 13th you hit another long drop drive into the valley and the final holes are just beautiful with a large variety of very mature trees and the backdrop of a steep river canyon.

Thankfully the members do not make you walk back to the clubhouse, instead you can take Bernies Bomb, a cable car for 4, with clubs.

Wairakei International G.C. is magnificent in every way, (too many bunkers for Clare's liking and most of them faced with palm wood, resembling the Pete Dye railway tie effect). It is a tough walk with many elevated tee boxes, definitely a golf cart style course for many, but the views make it all worthwhile.

We are taking a break from playing today, and will probably go Jet Boating around Huka Falls, so many difficult choices.
We couldn't leave NZ without showing you one of these, a real Kiwi, there aren't many left.