Club History
Akarana's beginnings were in the late 1920s
when a group of enthusiasts founded the club on the Winstone
farm in Mount Roskill. The course has remained on the same
site since the club’s formal incorporation in 1927.
There are suggestions that the great course
architect of the era Dr Alister McKenzie
may have run an eye over the site when he visited New Zealand
and Australia in 1927 after finishing his work at Royal Melbourne
and playing a part in the layout of Titirangi.
However what Dr McKenzie may or may not have
advised has been enhanced by one his disciples Chris
Pitman in the three new holes he built for Akarana
in 2003.
The evolving course layout based
on the Master Plan by Chris Pitman
The course has never been one of great length
nor does the club own much land in Auckland’s bustling
inner west so the great feature of Akarana has always been
its compactness.
The club's land has been further encroached
upon with Transit New Zealand planning to build the extension
of State Highway 20 through what was the old second tee, the
back of the first green and the practice fairway. What was
supposed to be underway in 2002 finally got under way in 2006
- the club has been proactive with Transit and completed a
fine course and clubhouse redevelopment in 2003.
New hole signage has been
erected throughout the course |
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Akarana now has two distinct nines. The shorter inner
loop with a par of 34 has one of the great holes in
Auckland golf, the par three 8th which measures 176
metres from the blue tee to a narrow green with bunkers
on the left and water on the right.
The longer outer nine, which has out of bounds on
the left of six holes, has the two longer par fives,
two demanding par fours in the 13th and 15th, the
testing par three 16th and an exciting short par 4
to finish which produces many birdies.
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The full layout measures around 5800 metres
from the back tees but the course rating is over par at 70.6
and the slope is 124.
Since the new layout was brought into play
in December 2003, the best score on the championship course,
without placing, is just four under par, a 66 from Joon
Sang Chung from Redwood Park in the final round of
the 2005 Auckland Anniversary
Championships.
The new layout and the condition of the
course drew high praise from many visitors during 2004 including
Bob Glading, the former New Zealand Open
and PGA champion who was a guest of the club for the Dewar
Cup in December. The club was delighted that Bob took the
time to write the club after his day at Akarana and was very
praiseworthy of the new look layout.
Akarana has featured some of the great names
in Auckland golf during its 78 years. One of the most famous
was Jim Bissett, after whom the premier interclub
competition trophy is named.
The most prolific club champion has been
Vic Pirihi, whose 12 victories started in
the 1970s and were very nearly added to as recently as 2001
when he lost the final. The Pirihi name remains one of Akarana’s
most famous. Vic, at the age of 68, is still a regular, still
competitive and has been close to shooting his age in recent
weeks. He was a member of the New Zealand Seniors team (over
55) to the Asia Pacific Masters in Singapore last year. His
son Mark has also been a club champion, Auckland’s
Champion of Champions and a provincial representative, while
another son Carl is a member too.
Among those to have achieved national honours
are P.G.F (Pax) Smith who was a national
amateur champion in the 1930s and Bruce Rafferty,
a four time club champion and one time professional, who was
in the New Zealand amateur team in 1967.
The club’s current senior Auckland representatives
are the 2004 club champion Brent Fabish
and 2003’s winner Tony Simpson.
The most promising player in the club though is 13
year old Seve Ha, the national under
15 champion and an Auckland under 23 team player.
Seve, who starts at Mount Roskill Grammar this year,
has been a scratch handicapper for over a year and
at the recent New Zealand Under 23 championships in
Hastings he beat two of New Zealand’s Eisenhower
Trophy team from last year when he finished in a tie
for 30th shooting 294 for 72 holes.
Among the ladies membership is 13 year old Jane
Lee who was a member of the Auckland senior
women’s team at last year’s inter provincial
tournament in Palmerston North.
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Seve Ha |
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In 2004 Akarana changed its constitution
to a structure whereby a board of directors set the policy
for the club’s direction and that policy is enacted
by the staff led by the General Manager / Course Superintendent
Steve Hackett. Working with Steve are the
Golf Director Rex Gould, a PGA professional
and the Head Greenkeeper Stephen
Galvan.
The club likes to consider itself progressive and
forward thinking and has just installed a “Tiger
Target” driving range on the old first
fairway. The club will always be short of land for
a full sized practice area so this covered mini
range is the ideal compromise for both warming up
before a round or for more in depth practice or
a lesson with our PGA teaching professional Peter
Hay-McKenzie.
Akarana is one of the closest quality golf courses
to the middle of Auckland and has a busy and involved
membership. The clubhouse, opened in 1994 and open
7 days a week, is one of the busiest in Auckland
golf and famous for its daily conviviality.
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Players can now warm up
only metres from the first tee. |
But membership is constantly evolving and as some leave,
vacancies are created and the club is always welcoming of
new members at a subscription rate that is extremely competitive
compared to other clubs of similar size and quality in the
city. Akarana invites you to come and visit soon.
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Here are some significant dates in this club's long and proud
history;
- 1927 First AGM. Three year lease of land from G. Winstone
- 1936 Provision made for Life members. MrC.M.Cox made first
honorary life member
- 1942 Ladies granted weekend playing rights during the
war. Course rental reduced
- 1950 The club buys the golf course and clubhouse.
- 1957 Clubhouse extensions completed
- 1964 More extensions
- 1968 Anniversary Tournament replaces The Akarana Winter
championship
- 1969 Extensive course earthworks
- 1971 Club hosts the NZ Ladies Open
- 1977 Golden Jubilee 1992 Old Clubhouse must be replaced
- 1994 New Clubhouse opened
- 2003 Significant course changes (Motorway)
Life
Members
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Mr EB Treacy 1991
A great golfer! |
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Mrs D Moir 2002 |
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Mr P Haslam 2002 |
Mrs AC James 1971
Mrs E MacKenzie 1979
Mr JKH Goulding 1990 |
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Members Playing Rights as per 2006 Programme
Full Playing Members (including
Ladies) At ALL Times the golf course
is OPEN but excluding times the golf committee has set aside
for specific competitions i.e. Men’s day, Ladies Day,
Corporate Days and any other event scheduled b the Golf Committee.
Mid-Week Members Monday
to Friday only and excluding public holidays. Also excluded
are times the golf committee has set aside for specific competitions
i.e. Ladies Day, Corporate Days and any other event scheduled
by the Golf Committee.
Partial Weekday Lady (category closed
from October 1st 2004). Discontinued from 2005 No
new members accepted in this category. Play limited to Monday,
Tuesday & Thursday’s only. Not eligible for club
competitions.
Veteran Men - Have the same
rights as Full Playing Members.
Veteran Women - Have the
same rights as Full Playing Members.
Nine Hole Ladies - Play
Limited to nine holes on Monday: All Day, Tuesday: All Day,
Thursday: Until 12 noon, Friday: 8.24am to 8.42am from the
10th tee only, Sunday: after 3.30pm.
Junior Boys and Girls (under 20)
- At times set aside by the golf committee only.
Student Members - At times
set aside by the golf committee only.
Country Members - Have the
same rights as Full Playing Members.
Honorary Members - Have
the same rights as Full Playing Members.
Permanent Members (closed category)
- Have the same rights as Full Playing Members.
Corporate Members - Have
the same rights as Full Playing Members.
Life Members - Have the
same rights as Full Playing Members.
Social Members or Limited Members
- Have no course use but can pay a Green Fee of $50.00 for
Non Competition Golf.
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RECIPROCAL RIGHTS
On the days that the Club is hosting official
Auckland or National Championship events, reciprocal times
may be available at most Auckland Clubs, ONLY by prior arrangement
through the Akarana Office. On days the Club is hosting Mens
Senior or Reserve Pennant competitions, reciprocal rights
are available only at clubs playing in the same section as
ourselves – also by prior arrangement through the office.
Reciprocal rights are NOT available for 18 hole events which
do not involve course closure, nor are they available when
Akarana is closed for participants in club or invitation events.
RECIPROCAL PLAYING ARRANGEMENTS
Reciprocal playing arrangements have been
made with the following clubs:
Note: where noted, please observe the Reciprocal rights for the club as they are specific for that club.
CANADA: Gorge Vale Golf Club
located at 1005 Craigflower Road, Victoria BC. - visit www.gorgevalegolf.com
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION***
MELBOURNE: Spring Valley
Golf Club, Clayton South
NEWCASTLE: Merewether
Golf Club, King St., Adamstown
QUEENSLAND, AUS : Peregian Springs Golf Club,
Peregian Beach, Queensland - visit www.peregianspringsgolfclub.com.au
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION***
QUEENSLAND, AUS : Horton Park Golf Club,
Maroochydore, Queensland
Horton Park is the premier Golf Course on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Boasting 18 challenging holes, a day and night driving range and fully equipped pro shop, Horton Park Golf Club is a 'must play' when you're on the Sunshine Coast.- visit www.hortonparkgolfclub.com
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION (98kb pdf)***
SYDNEY, AUS : Cromer Golf Club,
Toronto Avenue, Cromer
SYDNEY, AUS : St Michaels, Little
Bay, Cromer (02) 93110068 - visit www.stmichaelsgolf.com.au
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION (232kb pdf)***
TASMANIA: Mowbray Golf
Club, Launceston
BAROSSA VALLEY: Gawler
Golf Club, Gawler, South Australia
NORFOLK ISLAND: Norfolk
Island Golf Club
FIJI: Fiji Golf Club,
Suva
ROTORUA: Rotorua Golf
Club, Arikikapakapa, (07) 348 4051
WANGANUI: Wanganui Golf
Club, Clarkson Avenue, Belmont, Wanganui, (06) 344 4481
Fax: (06) 344 4246, email: wanganuigolf@paradise.net.nz
Holes: 18 Par: 70 (men) 74 (women) Length: 5639m (men) 5136m
(women)
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION (98kb pdf)***
WELLINGTON: Shandon Golf
Club, Petone, (04) 939 6305
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION (17kb pdf)***
CHRISTCHURCH: Waimairi
Beach Golf Club, (03) 383 0408
***CLICK FOR RECIPROCAL RIGHTS INFORMATION (125kb pdf)***
TIMARU: Timaru Golf Club,
Levels Golf Course, (03) 688 2012
DUNEDIN: Otago Golf Club,
Balmacewan, (03) 467 2099
Members are reminded of their responsibility
to make a prior booking at these clubs and to provide proof
of their Akarana membership by producing their current membership
card.
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