PARAPARAUMU BEACH - 17 POINTS

At one stage on my tour of New Zealand it looked like I wasn’t going to get to play at Paraparaumu Beach because there was a competition on the course the day I was in the area. There was uproar on my social media channels with people complaining I couldn’t possibly miss such a wonderful course. Well, thank goodness we managed to juggle things around to get a round in. To have missed it would, indeed, have been a travesty.

You can go down a real rabbit hole on the question of what is or isn’t a links golf course. But there is no doubt that Paraparaumu Beach is a true links. The course is actually slightly inland from the coast, but the rectangular site is pure, sandy links ground, including all of the wonderful undulations and bumps that sort of terrain gives you.

The course was designed by Alex Russell and opened for play in 1949. Russell created something very special. If you build a course perched on the edge of the ocean, the setting gives you a lot of built-in advantages. But it’s credit to Russell that he managed to create a links course packed with memorable holes despite never seeing the sea.

The routing is fascinating. You start with holes 1-6 which go up and down the middle of the property, before doing an entire lap round the outside on holes 7-14, before heading back through the middle of the course. It’s a fantastic layout which uses the site to full effect.

This course encourages a ground game, but sometimes you will need to find an aerial route to navigate over trouble in front. Nowhere is that more evident than on the short fifth hole. This par 3 has a green perched on top of a plateau with huge run-offs short, left and right. Frank Nobilo took a 7 here in the 1989 NZ Open, going from one side of the green to the other, ending his chances. Easily done!

The four par 3s at Paraparaumu are simply excellent. The second is a classic Redan and the fourteenth is an enjoyable, downhill par 3 framed by the Tararua mountains behind.

But the highlight for me was the sixteenth which has gone straight in as one of my favourite par 3s anywhere. It is called Wairuatika, or True Spirit, and it really does encapsulate the challenge that is Paraparaumu. It’s only a short iron from the middle tees to the long narrow green perched on top of a dune. Once again, anything short, left or right is in trouble. It has a spine running down the middle which can easily confound you. One of the best par 3s in the world.

There is a nice mix of short, medium and long par 4s. Needless to say though, just because some are short doesn’t mean the test is always straightforward. The eighth is a good example. Moreare Iti (Little Danger) is just a driver/wedge hole on a still day. But I imagine it will always be a relief to hit the tiny green with a bunker lurking short right.

There are so many good par 4s but a couple really stand out and would genuinely grace any links course in the world. The thirteenth (see picture at top) is a long par 4 on the northern edge of the property. When I was there, the hole was playing at 420 yards from the middle tees, and slightly into the wind. The green is all uphill from ‘Russell’s Ravine’ in the fairway. Once again, left and right have deep runoffs so nothing less than flawless execution is required to get on in 2. Miss the greens on any side and a heroic up and down will be needed.

The seventeenth is another difficult par 4. There is a high road or a low road to choose from the tee. The tougher shot is up the left, but you are then rewarded with a view of the green and a better line in. Take the low road and you will have to navigate all kinds of trouble and will be hard-pushed to reach the green. It’s a wonderfully strategic hole.

The par 5s on the course are maybe a little less spectacular but the last is a reachable par 5 which finishes underneath the clubhouse terrace and works well as a closer. I imagine there have been a few eagles here to win matches and break hearts.

I really enjoyed my afternoon at Paraparaumu. Thank goodness I managed to get the round in - it would have been a real shame to miss this fantastic course.

They have worked hard over recent years to further elevate the experience here. Some long grass collars around greens have been removed, paths have been hidden and the ground firmed up. I think that if they continue on this road (I would remove some more of the collars of rough at the edge of run-offs) and get the course running really fast, then it could go into the very top echelons and the world top 100.

New Zealand has seen the creation of many modern resort courses and Paraparaumu more than holds its own in this company. It’s a great strategic test and feels like pure, authentic, golf. It also comes with a more manageable green fee than many other courses and the club is really focussed on giving you a great golf experience. There can be do doubt that they have succeeded with this.

BOOKING THE COURSE

Paraparaumu is a very welcoming club and one of the best value golf courses in New Zealand, or anywhere. It’s NZ$200 a round - that’s just under £100 - for international visitors. New Zealand residents pay just $100 which is sensational value. Tee times are usually available 7 days a week. You can book tee times for the immediate future only here or just give them a call or email for times further out.

TOUR TIPS

Paraparaumu is about a 45 minute drive outside of downtown Wellington so many will choose to base themselves in the city. I stayed there the night before my round, but then headed up the coast towards Waverley afterwards, staying at Whanganui, so I didn’t really see much of the immediate area.

I stayed in Wellington at the The Tryp Hotel, which was a good place - centrally located, with nice rooms.

There a few good dining options too, including the Ortega Fish Shack - the menu changes daily and you are assured of a great meal and brilliant service. Ceviche is available every day and if fish isn’t your thing there’s a great steak frites too! - and the Noble Rot Wine Bar - the wine list is extensive, and excellent, but the sharing plates that you can order to go with your drink elevate the experience.

If you are looking for another game in the area then Royal Wellington is worth stopping in at too.

If you are in Auckland and pressed for time, it’s worth knowing that there is there is a small airport near to the club with daily flights with Air Chatham. One to consider if you are looking for a quick in and out!

CONTACT DETAILS

Paraparaumu Golf Club
376 Kapiti Road
Paraparaumu Beach
Paraparaumu 5252
New Zealand

Phone - +64 4 902 8200
Email - golfshop@pbgc.co.nz
Web - www.paraparaumubeachgolfclub.co.nz

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