Full name of the club: Pakuranga Golf Club
Physical address of the club: 199 Botany Road Howick
Brief history of the club: The club started in 1971 having been developed from farm land and the farmhouse serving as a clubhouse. Finances permitted a new Clubhouse to open in 1979.
The club's course development and membership grew and its financial structure strengthened. April 1999 saw the opening of an expanded Clubhouse.
Various course improvements have been completed over the years.
In 2014 the club sold 2.5Ha of land to ELIM College who plan to construct netball, tennis, football and hockey fields and club and completed a state of the art Coaching Studio.
Pakuranga Golf Club is a financially sound, friendly and social golf club.
Key personnel: Pakuranga Golf Club is proud to have associations with some of New Zealand's most promising players. Cecilia Cho joined the Club in 2006. At 14 she won the 2009 and 2010 NZ Women's Strokeplay Titles. She collected 15 titles in 2009 and in 2011 became the world's No.1 amateur woman golfer, the first woman from New Zealand to hold that mantle. Cecilia turned professional in 2012 and has recently won her first Tournament.
The Keh sisters Munchin and Wenyung, look likely to follow into the professional ranks.
These girls have been tremendous ambassadors for the Club. Siyi Keh and two 13-year-olds - Rose Zheng and Jessica Huang - are continuing the tradition are Auckland Women's representatives.
Course description: The picturesque tree-lined course is a delight to play and it is easy to forget on occasion in this green oasis that you are so close to the city.
Pakuranga Golf Club's stretches to 6,033 metres off the Blue championship tees, playing to a par of 72. There are tees to suit all abilities, with the Men's White Course measuring 5,727 metres and the Ladies Yellow Course 5,072 metres.
After an opening par 5, the front nine contains a variety of testing par-4s and two forgiving short par 3 holes. If you arrive at the turn with a good score, beware the 10th, which is one of the hardest rated holes on the scorecard.
A relatively forgiving four-hole stretch between holes 13 and 16 of three par-5s and the uphill par-3 15th give a chance to redeem wrongs done earlier in the round before tackling two difficult par-4s to finish the round.
The Club has a practice area and members and green fee-payers can use the range - balls are available. There is a chipping and pitching area, while right in front of the Clubhouse is a large and inviting practice putting green.
Best hole: Hole 17 - 363 metres, par 4. This hole is a very difficult hole to play with trees lining both sides of the fairways so accuracy of the tee is critical.
A drive right of centre gives the best approach and avoids the fairway bunker on the left. There are two bunkers to the right of the green, but distance control is just as important as accuracy, with an approach shot to the correct level leaving a far easier first putt on the two-tiered sloping green.
Best feature of the course: The Pakuranga Golf Club offers members and visitors alike a unique golfing experience. Being closely located to the main eastern arterial routes with ample parking is a big plus. The park-like course is very picturesque with a lake and lots of bird life while the slightly undulating fairways means a round of golf is not too onerous.
The clubhouse facilities are very accommodating with an excellent course panorama from the upstairs lounge that can be enjoyed whilst partaking of a coffee or dining in the cafe.
Course would best suit what type of player: The Pakuranga Golf Course is ideally suited to golfers of all ages and abilities. A relatively flat course in park-like surroundings, it is popular with 9 holers breaking into the game while definitely challenging for those low handicappers playing off the blue tees.
The course layout is welcoming for the ever increasing number of retirees who play competitive golf on three days of the week.
Cost of membership: The Pakuranga Golf Club's full playing membership category is experiencing unprecedented growth at the moment. A big plus is the inclusion of a Golf Club Passport in with the annual subscription that gives members to right to play 2 games per year at 6 other clubs in the Auckland area. Full membership is $1,535pa with numerous packages to suit all types of golfers.
Cost of green fees: 18 Holes - Affiliated member - $50. Non - Affiliated - $70
9 Holes - Affiliated member - $40. Non - Affiliated - $30. Green fee special on Mondays and Tuesday (except Public Holidays - $30)
