Golf: Taming of wild west no gimme

When the winds blew in off the Tasman, golfers on the old par-three second hole at Muriwai would contend with scuds of spume that turned the green white.

These days the course has retreated some way inland as the sea has relentlessly claimed chunks of foreshore.

But the challenge of a true links course remains and the 75 golfers who will compete in the Freyberg Masters interprovincial teams tournament next week will have to employ all the wisdom that is supposed to be wielded by players over 40.

Muriwai with its black sands, pounding surf and extensive gannet colony is a scenic landmark on the west coast barely 40 minutes out of Auckland city. The golf course is a popular winter alternative for Aucklanders frustrated by their waterlogged clay-based layouts.

In the past 50 years the club has hosted a Tasman test match and national junior events, but the Freyberg Masters, spread over six days from Monday, is its biggest challenge so far.

General manager and long-time member Ray Barnett says the course, measuring 6169m with a par of 72, will offer a stern test, particularly if the wind blows - as it usually does.

Redevelopment over the past 10 years has resulted in a first nine that lacks some of the character of the old layout, but a second half that more than compensates with some superb holes strung along natural contours.

One thing has never changed: it pays to play between the fairway lines. The first cut of rough is punishing, caddies have been lost in the deeper jungle. Players used to spraying their drives around parkland courses should load up with plenty of ammunition before tackling Muriwai.

Muriwai is part of the North Harbour Golf Association and the Harbour team will start as clear favourites. They won the title with a spirited last-day surge at Timaru last year and are well placed to make the most of their home advantage.

Three of the team are Muriwai members, Tony Treen, Craig Pere and Rob Noffke, and they have added former New Zealand representative Phil Mosley to their strength. Pere, who was the outstanding player with eight wins out of eight at No 3 last year, is at five this time.

Auckland slipped to sixth last year but former New Zealand representative Glen Goldfinch is eligible this time to add to a lineup that already includes another national representative, Mike Barltrop.

Waikato had the tournament won at Timaru until the final day and will be a force again this time. Phil Hunter and Steve McCollam were in the team that won the Garrard Shield at Lochiel last weekend.

All of the 15 teams have their strengths and the standard is usually comparable to what is on show in the younger provincial teams. After all 40 can be a golden age for a golfer - Colin Montgomerie and Vijay Singh are both 42 and seem to be doing okay.

One feature of Freyberg tournaments is the social side with players who have competed against one another for years sharing a story at the end of the day.

Muriwai's clubhouse has a magnificent view of the setting sun. By Friday evening some may claim to have seen the legendary green flash that occurs when the sun sinks into the Tasman on a clear evening!

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Players on the Asian tour will have the rare experience of coping with a par-six hole in the Double A International Open in Thailand this week.

The fourth hole on the St Andrews Hill course at Rayong measures 802m and has two fairways split by a lake, offering several options to approach the green.