The first rounds of golf have been played at New Zealand’s newest golf course situated in the Waipā district.
The $15 million Tīeke Golf Estate is the former Lochiel course renovated over three years for the Riverside Golf Club by Phil Tataurangi and Brett Thomson of Mahi Tahi Golf Projects.
Experienced golf professional Richard Ellis, who is the course golf director, said his number one tip for golfers playing the course was to “practice your putting.”
“There will be no excuses you have one of the biggest practice putting greens you will ever see,” he said.
The big undulating bent grass greens and their surrounds will test golfers’ putting and short game skills and most players will find it’s the bad chip shot and three putts that blow the score out, said Ellis.
Ellis and general manager Warren Collett have a combined nearly 100 years golf knowledge.