Three generations of the McDonalds, Sarah and David (back) with kids Lucy, 10, and Ella, 12, with grandparents Joy and Mickey.
Three generations of the McDonalds, Sarah and David (back) with kids Lucy, 10, and Ella, 12, with grandparents Joy and Mickey.
With golf becoming an increasingly popular sport, especially with younger players, Jodi Bryant visits the Pines Golf Club to look at how it has evolved from its early days and what is behind its accelerating membership.
Nestled into the coastline of Parua Bay near Whangārei and flanked by the magical backdrop of Mt Manaia and Mt Aubrey is what’s become known as one of the most picturesque and friendliest golf courses in the country.
But what many don’t know is that the Pines Golf Club derived from the Onerahi Golf Club, located at what was then known as Sherwood Rise and consisting of nine holes on 11ha.
In 1967, because of club membership growth and the land deemed unsuitable, it became clear that a new venue was needed.
With no appropriate site available in the vicinity, the club split with half moving to Maunu re-naming itself Sherwood Park Golf Club, in reference to its Onerahi origins. Meanwhile, the other half – hailing from Whangārei Heads and Onerahi – sought a closer venue.
Pines Golf Club patron Murray Ross’ family owned a farm at the end of Sherwood Rd, what’s now Ross St, and he recalls using a tea tree stick with his brother to hit a ball around, sparking his interest in the sport.
“My mate Dave Logan acquired a set of right-hand clubs, which we used to use but, of course, I was left-handed but that didn’t stop me, I thought, this game is great!”
A view from the Pines Golf Club.
Televisions had just come out in New Zealand, featuring the game, which furthered their interest and need for a more local club. Enter the Scott-Davidsons, who offered land on their Whangārei Heads farm.
By 1968 the funding had been raised and the Pines, named after the farm with some of the original trees still standing today, began as a nine-hole course (now the second nine) with another nine holes gradually added to make an 18-hole course.
Farm owner and first club president Jim Scott-Davidson later conceded that “playing golf was better than milking cows”.
But it’s been a labour of love building the course to what it is today. Ross recalls, in its early days, because of its sea-level terrain, the Pines was looked down on as a swamp by other local clubs.
In fact, during winter, because of poor drainage and the fact many of its members were farmers undergoing calving season, it closed for several months.
Thomas McDonald, 14, is pictured receiving his trophy last weekend for winning the Northland Intermediate Champion of Champions.
But through ongoing voluntary hours – the three generations of the McKenzie family, in particular, instrumental in donating their time, machinery and diesel, its members have cleared and contoured the land to, not only sustain year-round, but be described as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country.
Measuring 5350m, it combines short par-3s with testing par-4s and par-5s and, although it isn’t long, there are more than enough hazards and design quirks to keep it interesting.
Hazards are generally 70% air (hence the name) and tidal creeks that feed into Parua Bay.
It is also one of the best summer courses in the north, says ladies club captain Bronwyn Coulton.
“A lot of golf courses suffer this time of the year because the fairways die off but because of the kikuyu grass, we don’t need to irrigate the fairways.
Youngest member Ella teeing off.
“We also have a lot of holiday visitors this time of year. The views and location are absolutely priceless. The golf just kind of ruins a good walk with a good view some days,” she jokes.
Besides the visuals, one of its key features is the culture of the club, she emphasises. “One of our biggest assets is the crew of volunteers, including kids. Parents always bring them to working bees giving them the message that what you take out of the sport, you put back in.”
Pines’ members strive to make the club a family-friendly one and are passionate about promoting the game to the next generation, with members – both senior and junior – teaching the sport at schools. As a result, 59 or its 282 members are juniors (21%).
“With our juniors, what we’ve created is a real family atmosphere. The parents sit and have a drink and catch up with each other while the kids play. Then the kids come in and have a feed.
“We’ve created a gathering point for families. In fact, we have three families where three generations play at our club.”
Murray Ross with a photo of the Pines farm circa 1955.
Back in the day, golf was more for businessmen and women, but mainly men as the women were stuck at home with the kids, saysRoss. “Historically, men would go off for hours in a day and you wouldn’t see them, it was quite a selfish sport, but we’re changing that and making it a family sport.
“It allows parents to spend quality time with their children and that’s a culture we’re encouraging.”
“It is hard for young mums to get out and play,” adds Coulton. “But if we can get their kids into playing, that will help. We need to make sure we’ve got life coming through and young blood.”
With only 50 female members (18%), the club is working on building its female membership and will be hosting a She Loves Golf later this year. She Loves Golf is part of Golf New Zealand’s ambition to inspire a love of golf for women and girls by creating an enjoyable and social experience.
Treasurer Shane Phillips says the 282 membership is up from 229 (23%) at the same time last year and attributes it to a number of factors:
“My personal view regarding recent growth is that, one, the weather has certainly been kinder to us in 2024. As a low-lying course, we can get very wet, and the cyclone had a major impact on the course.
“We had a dry winter which meant the course was in excellent condition. We recently completed stage one of a drainage project which should help going forward.
“Two, we have a reputation for having a great atmosphere in the clubhouse. We have some great characters at the club that create the atmosphere and, three, we know what our strengths are and don’t try and change the recipe.
“We’ll never compete with flasher courses in town, but we focus on our strengths.”
He also cites an attractive price point for both members and visitors.
“If we look at the recent quarter of the 2024 calendar year, we can comfortably say it is the best Q4 that the club has had in the last 11 years, which is as long as we have been tracking playing statistics,” he says, adding that over 5000 rounds of golf were played at the club in the fourth quarter, more than 50% higher than the previous year.
“What is also really pleasing is the strong growth in visitors to the club – up over 60% on last year. In the last three months, we have had visitors from over 90 golf courses around the country, from Kaitāia in the North to as far away as Ashburton and Kaikōura in the South.”
Three generations of the Te Whata whānau: Walter (left), Robyn, Donella and Kase.
With members’ ages ranging from 5 to 90-plus, the club’s traditional January opening day took place last week at their Sunday Club Day with the youngest member teeing off, and each year concludes with the oldest member taking the final putt.
Many events for both beginners and veterans are held in between, and the pinnacle event is the Twilight Series running every Tuesday during daylight saving.
Phillips puts the club’s success down to the passion and dedication of the green-keeping crew (which was voluntary for many years), their army of volunteers and bar staff.
“The aim of the club is quite simple; grow the number of rounds of golf being played at the club, grow the number of members and create the most enjoyable atmosphere in Northland. So many people work incredibly hard to make this a reality.”
Being one of the only golf clubs with a licence allowing alcohol on the course is a drawcard but, for those who prefer to wait until the 19th hole, the clubhouse – the original farmhouse – offers all the treats with the convivial atmosphere the Pines is renowned for.
Golf jargon for rookies
Ace: Hole in one.
Back Nine: The second nine holes of an 18-hole round of golf.
Backswing: The first half of your swing from the start until you reach the top.
Divot: Used to describe the hole left after hitting the ground during a shot.
Fairway: The closely mown part of a golf hole. You want your drives to land in the fairway.
Fore: Golfers scream “FORE” if their shot is headed towards another player. It’s a warning to duck and/or protect your head.
Forward swing: The final piece of your golf swing. You have your downswing, backswing, and forward swing. The forward swing is after you make contact with the ball.
Front nine: The first nine holes in an 18-hole round of golf.
Four-ball: A two-person team format – both players play the hole and the best score on the hole is the team score.
Green: The closely mown grass where the hole is located.
Handicap: A golfer’s handicap measures their ability as a player. It’s calculated by entering scores. If a golfer has an 8-handicap, they should typically shoot around 80 on a par 72 golf course.
Interlocking or overlap grip: Describes one way golfers grip the golf club – for a right-handed player the pinky of your right-hand goes between the index and middle finger of your left hand.
19th hole: The restaurant or bar located at the golf course.
Par: The “goal” score of each hole.
Putter: The golf club used once you reach the green. Designed to roll the ball smoothly on the ground.
