Debussy: Tapora

Friday was grey and wet as we drove from Wellsford to Tapora Golf Club, stopping at Port Albert on the way to feel the wind and look at the rain pouring down on the jetty where we heard someone had just caught a 26 lb snapper. Len was easily able to resist the urge to hook one like it.
Motorhomes can park overnight for free here and it is a nice little spot with picnic tables and clean toilets.

A comforting coffee at a wet Port Albert!

The sealed road eventually turned to gravel and by the time we reached the golf club the colour of our bus was unrecognisable being covered all over in a thick layer of mud. There was already 1 motorhome and 1 caravan parked at the 9 hole golf club where the sub is only $120 a year, one couple being from Katikati and the other from Te Puke. They are not golfers but you can park in their little grassy carpark for free and use the shower (in the mens!) and toilets. The rain eased to drizzle and we hoped that the bus wouldn't get stuck while it sat there. Because it is quite a drive out there we had decided that we would play golf whatever the weather so after a quick lunch we got out the wet weather gear and set off for our 18 holes - green fees only $10 each.

It was very paddock-like being hard to tell in places where the division was between the fairways and the rough and the ball was often diverted sideways with the rough patches on the greens but it was an interesting layout with hills out the back and seeming more like an 18 hole course with the lengths of the fairways. It took us much longer to play than normal, maybe because I had to take so many shots. Not a good day for me! I don't think many people play on the course as I didn't see anyone elses divot all day and no one else was out there. Wally, who is "Mr Tapora Golf," was there working and made us feel very welcome. Friday nights they open the bar and cook fish and chips for the locals so I had a night off cooking and we joined the 10 or so that turned up for a good craic and nice company.