Pukekohe Golf Club

Pukekohe Golf Club: Just south of Auckland as you head down Highway 1, you can turn off the main road, go west and arrive at the very pleasant, classically laid out, parkland golf course of Pukekohe. The layout's two nine-hole loops are lightly lined with a wonderful variety of trees, with ample space between the nicely undulating fairways.

The best combination of holes comes early on. The attractive short par-3 4th (David) needs a well aimed shot across a rock-lined, lily-filled pond to find the eye of the green. Get par here, and you may be tempted to strike out at the par-5 5th (Goliath), which is played downhill from a wonderfully elevated tee.

With its array of good-width and tighter holes, some straightaway, others doglegging, some tree-lined, others more open, some undulating, others flatter, Pukekohe provides an enjoyably varied array of parkland holes.

There are several shortish par-4s at Pukekohe, with several doglegging holes that gleefully resist attempts to overpower them with a driver. This said, big hitters will enjoy the challenge of trying to drive the pond that flanks the leftside of the par-4 13th (Narrow Neck).

Good bunkering features most prominently around the greens rather than along the fairways, while beyond the course, rolling rural countryside rather than housing is what's in view. The closing par-5 duo throws up a good birdie opportunity at the 17th, but a tricky approach into the small final green, with Karaka Road in close attendance on your right.