South Head Golf Club

It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of David Verry. David joined South Head in 1996 and became a good friend to many members at that time. In 2000 he left NZ to pursue his career as a commodoties' broker and moved to California where he built his new home to which he was always ready to welcome his old South Head friends. David will be sadly missed but remembered as a true friend and wonderful host.

The 2021 Venison Day took place on Sunday 8th August and once again the attraction of superb venison meat pack-pack prizes, kindly supplied by Claude & Shawn Gyde, ensured a massive field of 131 players would not be deterred by the odd gale-force winds or the occasional burst of rain. The course was in beautiful condition especially considering all rain that had fallen in the week leading up to Venison Day.

Tommy Wu of Titirangi had the round of the day shooting 75 off-the-stick to claim the Men’s Division One Gross prize. Larry Kapinga was just one shot back on 76 and fellow South Head members Haki Heke & Tom Pardoe were next best with 79’s.

In the Men’s Division Two, South Head members Chris Rust and Shaun O’Mara both shot 79’s with Chris claiming the top prize on countback. Mal Brennan finished third with an 81.

Promising South Head junior member Tyrell Waru claimed the Men’s Division Three with 83, four shots clear of Waihi member Francis Gascoigne (87). Matt Dillon of Tapora was third on 89.

Fabulous venison meat-packs, thanks once again to Claude & Shawn Gyde, were handed out as prizes for the three best gross, net and stableford scores along with longest drives and nearest the pin winners in all divisions. Thanks also to Hunting Lodge Wines for providing a well-matched bottle of Merlot Malbec wine to the top prize winners on the day.

Once the golfers received their performance-based prizes, there were also plenty of venison meat-packs handed out at random to players who were still in the clubhouse and hadn’t already won a prize. This meant a huge proportion of the field ended up with venison in their fridge on Sunday night (note to future players – it is worth your while to stay still the end of prizegiving).

Special thanks to Dick Mayor and Tony Beach for manning the BBQ throughout the day to ensure all golfers walking off the 11th and 18th greens were well-fed. Thanks also to Greg Taylor and Hill Farms for assisting with prizes for the raffle that sold out in record-time.

Division Winners:

Women's
1st Gross: Vaha Fapiano (78)
1st Net: Debbie Gascoigne (69)
1st Stableford: Vicky Chen (41)
Longest Drive: Cindy Fu
Nearest the Pin: Aprile Everitt

Men's Division One
1st Gross: Tommy Wu (75)
1st Net: Steve Hawkins (73)
1st Stableford: David Waru (35)
Longest Drive: Steve Hawkins
Nearest the Pin: Greg Bishop

Men's Division Two
1st Gross: Chris Rust (79)
1st Net: Shaun O’Mara (70)
1st Stableford: Mal Brennan (37)
Longest Drive: Frank Moore
Nearest the Pin: Mal Brennan

Another massively successful Kaipara Maori Tournament took place on Saturday 27th March with a field of over 170 golfers enjoying South Head golf course and the hospitality of the tournament organisers.

In some testing windy conditions Jesper Bengtsson from North Shore took out the Men's Division One Gross prize with the only sub-par score of the day, a 1-under 72. Mark Anderson from Muriwai was second with 74 and Pupuke member Simon Eccleston finished third with 76. Father and son duo Marty & Haki Heke were the best placed South Head members both finishing 4th equal with 77's.

In the Women's Silver Division South Head member Sara Jasmat held off a barrage of Muriwai members to win with a superb even par 74. Julitta Lam and Fleur Reynolds from Muriwai finished 2nd and 3rd respectively with scores of 75 and 81.

Sara also claimed the Women's Overall Net prize of the day with a net score of 69, while fellow South Head member Billy Tapurau won the Men's Overall Net prize with a net 67.

A special moment during the prize-giving was the awarding of a special blazer and framed scorecard to Haki Heke for his course record 64 earlier this year.

The full list of division prize winners is below:

Men's Division One
First Gross - Jesper Bengtsson - North Shore (72)
First Net - Tim Herbert - Clarks Beach (70)
First Stableford - Gregory Bishop - Warkworth (36)

Men's Division Two
First Gross - Mark Davidson - South Head (80)
First Net - Paul Timinis - Clarks Beach (72)
First Stableford - Richard Benson-Cooper - South Head (36)

Men's Division Three
First Gross - Billy Tapurau - South Head (87)
First Net - Tommy Popata-Katene - Clarks Beach (74)
First Stableford - Murray Christensen - Waipu (37)

Women's Silver Division
First Gross - Sara Jasmat - South Head (74)
First Net - Mary Chantry - Tauranga (71)
First Stableford - Julitta Lam - Muriwai (38)

Women's Bronze Division
First Gross - Eleanore Webber - South Head (95)
First Net - Tania Black - South Head (73)
First Stableford - Jackerlin Wong - South Head (35)

Level 3 Restrictions

Due to level 3 restrictions the clubhouse at South Head Golf Club is closed until Thursday 18th February.

South Head Golf Club members can play on the course but please stay in your bubbles and keep well clear of the clubhouse, greenkeeper sheds and the house beside 14th tee.

Flagsticks have been removed from the greens.

The weather is looking pretty wet for the next three days so hopefully the course will get a well-deserved soaking during level 3 and we are able to open up again on Thursday. Will keep you updated.

Stay safe

Check out these amazing photos of South Head Golf Club during (and after) the epic downpour on Sunday afternoon 3rd January. Approximately 66mls of rain fell during the deluge but thanks to fantastic drainage the course was in perfect playing condition soon after the rain stopped (the during and after photos were taken just an hour apart). Thanks to Kelly Alex for taking these great shots.

Haki's Record Breaking Scorecard

Haki after shooting 64

NEW COURSE RECORD - MEN'S CLUB TEES
Massive congratulations to South Head Member Haki Heke for shooting an amazing 64 off the white tees on Sunday 3rd January 2021. This breaks the old record of 66 by two clear strokes. Haki scored 34 on the front nine after an early bogey on the 2nd hole was well and truly wiped away by birdies on the 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th holes. Haki then blitzed the back nine in 30 strokes with four straight birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 14 before capping the round off in style with an eagle on 17 and a safely navigated par on 18.

AND WHAT A GREAT DAY WE HAD, WITH TWO TRULY EXCEPTIONAL CHAMPIONS IN FLEUR REYNOLDS AND HAKI HEKE. WELL DONE TO BOTH OF YOU, AND TO THE REST OF YOU WHO CAME ALONG AND ENJOYED A VERY SPECIAL EVENT THANKS TO JK's GOLF and HUNTING LODGE WINES. CHARLIE AND THE BOYS HAD THE COURSE LOOKING AN ABSOLUTE TREAT AND IF YOU WEREN'T HERE YOU MISSED OUT, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!!