Golf: Swinging into party mode

Friday is a special day in the history of Western Bay golf.

The nine-hole Renner Park course set in the idyllic Oropi countryside will celebrate 10 years of operation in providing well priced pay-as-you-play golf for casual players and a growing membership.

The course has come a long way since its humble beginnings. The natural banks and hills were incorporated into the course to ensure there is plenty of variety among the two par-3, five par-4 and two par-5 holes that make up the nine holes.

Renner Park Golf chairman of the board of directors Colin Leech says overall the course has improved out of sight.

"It used to be a dump, a mud hole. The course does get a little bit damp during the winter months but the greens are very good, the fairways are very good and we are looking at upgrading the greens," Mr Leech said.

"We usually do one a year and No8 was the last one we did and we are looking at No4 next on the agenda. We are redeveloping two of our tee areas on No4, which is just about ready to use again, and up on No5. All you see up there is a mess as we have taken out pine trees up there to let more sun and light on to that teeing area and we are pushing the ladies tee out a little bit."

What you do see after a hike to the top of the fifth tee is a magnificent vista across the course, showcasing some innovative new water features, the easy walking undulating fairways and the lush Oropi countryside.

The stream that runs beside the course on its southern boundary provides a pretty interlude for golfers to look at as they walk the fairways with some magnificent native plants now fully matured that were planted by the Environment Bay of Plenty. It has occasionally flooded parts of the course, but is more of a feature than a hindrance.

Visitors are welcome to play the course at any time with Friday's after work golf and barbecue twilight evenings hugely popular with the club's growing membership base and casual golfers.

Friday night 10th anniversary celebrations - $10 for nine holes, $15 for golf, food and drink in the bar.