The Kinloch Club is a privately owned, Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. It is at the small settlement of Kinloch, on the western side of Lake Taupo.
With the absence of overseas golfing visitors, the club was offering discounted fees for New Zealand residents. My friend Graeme Olorenshaw (Olly) and myself saw this as an opportunity too good to miss.
The weather forecast was good, so Olly and I made the two hour journey to the course. We allowed ourselves plenty of time for a coffee, scone, then some warm up hits, before tackling the course.
There are four tee options, with Olly and I choosing the Blue (second to back). My 12.1 index was a 15 on course handicap, Olly’s 15.0 a 19.
The course is very much a links layout, heavily bunkered, sloping and undulating fairways, with quick and multi-layered greens. Fortunately the breeze was only light. This was going to be a tough test of golf for the lads!
A tough test it was! The rough thick and unforgiving, with some holes protected by around 20 bunkers. The threat of a hole blow out and big numbers was constant.
The lads had a match amongst themselves, with Blair prevailing 2 and 1. The final hole was a par 5, with a lake protecting the left hand side. The duo finished solidly, with a par for Blair, and Olly a bogey. Blair finished with 90, Olly 99.
After a refreshing beer in the lounge afterwards, the golfing pair headed back to Hamilton, and reflected on a most enjoyable day.
