South Head, Muriwai golf in the rain!

Wet, wet and wet is what it has been like over the last few days and because we have been trying to still get out and do things we are feeling pretty soggy. If we are not careful this will be the start of "cabin fever" although, to be fair, there have been the odd intermittent blue spots in the sky until today when we have had really heavy downpours.
Monday morning we drove out to South Head Golf Course on the Kaipara Harbour umming and ahing as to whether we would play because of the very grey sky and threatening rain clouds. There were only 3 cars at the course and we decided to give it a go with the rain deciding to pelt down as soon as we had paid and got the clubs out of the bus. Not the greatest of starts and I played accordingly all day - don't think I'm a wet weather golfer but I did have a lot of fun skimming some old balls over the pond on the par 3 10th hole until one finally skimmed itself to the bank on the other side! No photos of this unfortunately!
However the course itself is an out of the way gem and well worth playing on with its rolling hills, trees, nice gardens, ponds and spectacular views (although rather misty when we played) from the back nine. Because of all the rain we have had it was very soggy underfoot but still better drainage than others we have played on.

Brief blue out from Muriwai!

There was no time left for fishing so Muriwai Beach Motor Camp was our next stop and we booked in for 2 nights being desperate to do lots of washing and drying. Also we had been persuaded to enter the Open Golf Tournament at Muriwai Golf Course on Tuesday which at $30 entry fee was cheaper than normal green fees so we thought we may as well give it a go! If only Len had played as well as he did at South Head he would have won the top prize but that was not to be and I was no help having about my worst game for the year partly because I found all the plentiful deep bunkers but at least no-one knew me. We played with 2 Malaysian men, one of whom was a club member, and they were easy company.
We enjoyed the links course until it threw down with rain from the 12th tee onwards - the puddles on the greens were immense and the balls just stopped in the middle of them which doesn't help the scores at all. We now have very soggy golf bags (not quite quick enough to cover them up) and wet weather gear and are looking forward to some sunshine which looks like it won't come until next week! At least all our washing is done and nicely dried.

The black sands of Muriwai (golf course top right)

We walked down the beach with its striking black sand and Len fancied fishing from the flat rocks down the end if the weather was better in the morning and I hoped he was listening to my warnings about all the Chinese fishermen who seem to get washed off them! It wasn't put to the test though as it continued to rain through the night and was still showering this morning - not the best day for fishing.