Course
Opened – 1997
Course Designer – Robert Trent Jones Jnr.
Special Features - some stunning holes requiring tee shots across the ocean - 16th and 17th.
General Playability - Wind is everything here, fairways are quite generous but the wind can make it very hard with undulating and exposed greens
Undulating/Flat - quite a few elevated tees and greens with some holes playing severely up or downhill.
Treelined/exposed - exposed
Many / few water hazards - water hazards will come into play on the 7th and 9th and the ocean on 17th (648 yard par 5)
Changes to the Course – no changes since 2005 NZ Open
Greens
Type of grass - Creeping bent
Height of cut - 3 mm
Speed/stimp reading – 10
Any specific comments – undulating andexposed to coastal winds. Speed is being controlled to allow for problems from wind which is a big factor here. Quite receptive.
Fairways
Type of grass – Windsor Green Couch
Height of cut – 10 mm
General width and contouring – Wide fairways
Any specific comments - some severe slopes will mean that balls gather in similar positions irrespective of drives.
Tees
Type of grass – Septon Brown top
Height of cut - 8 mm.
Any specific comments - collar is one hand machine width.
Collars
Type of grass - Septon Brown top
Height of cut – 8mm
Any specific comments -
Rough
Type of grass – maintained rough is Rye/fescue/poa - unmaintained is Fescue
Semi-rough - Height of cut – 25mm
Intermediate Height of cut – no intermediate rough this week due to generous faiways
Rough - Height of cut – 90mm
Any specific comments – outside of this the natural fescue rough is not maintained to give links style presentation in some places
Weather
In advance – fairly dry
Forecast for tournament – Good until Wednesday, then heavy showers and possible thunderstorms Thursday and Friday. Fine
Other Features
Closing holes overlook the Hauraki Gulf where the America’s cup was competed during 2001.
