Whitford & Formosa Golf Club

After leaving Sue's on Monday morning we headed East along the scenic Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay, St Heliers, Achilles Point and further along the coastal road to Half Moon Bay, Bucklands Beach and then Musick Point which you reach by driving through the Howick Golf Course - no, we didn't play but Len did put his fishing rod out at the rocky point. But like the other Chinese lads fishing there he had no bites. There are great views to be had along the coast though of Rangitoto, Waiheke and other islands out to sea just beyond the various channels.

A great view of Auckland from Tamaki Drive

After a bit of a detour to pick up our new cover for the bus, which we want to use when it is parked up for the 2 months we're in the UK, we continued on to Whitford, parking up for the night at a farmlet/ orchard POP, south of the village. There was no NZMCA wings sign on the gate as is the norm for POPS but we drove in anyway, the Indian lady telling us that although they are not a POP anymore she was happy for us to stay. And we were more than happy to pay $10 for power which helped keep us lovely and warm for the quiet and peaceful night in the country.

Tuesday we were on the road again intending to head to Miranda but just down the road we found the Formosa International Golf Course which we thought we would just drive into for a look as it would be too wet and expensive to play on. However after advice from the golf Pro about the special deals on Groupon and with the help of our Samsung Galaxy we were able to buy the needed vouchers - $55 for the 2 of us to play plus we can have another game for free at a later date! That's a great deal as it would have cost the 2 of us $90 for a game normally. However the conditions were pretty bad with the rain showers alternating with fine patches and the ground being totally muddy and slushy. What a mess we got in with the mud flying up into our faces and eyes with a lot of shots (and I did plenty!) I think I'm a fine weather, short course golfer!

T on the tee & L in the s***!

The course had lots of large clover-like bunkers surrounding the greens - sometimes 5 or 6 - and there were lots of water hazards, one in particular that we had no idea was there. Also the fairways were those ones designed for Pros - instead of leading on to the greens there would often be long grass for some distance in front of the greens as well as all the long grass and rough along the edges that are very hard to get out of! On a nice day when the ground is dry the course would be beautiful and great for good golfers I 'm sure with the back nine holes having amazing views out over the water to Waiheke Island.