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ARIKIKAPAKAPA, ROTORUA GOLF CLUB
To us, golf is, after all, a game and a pastime, neither so serious that it should take
precedence over more important matters of human necessity. Its not that we play any
better on courses laid out on otherwise not-very-productive land that isnt needed
for or is unsuitable for housing or vital human resources. No, we have no interest in
being the Jimmy Carters of golf, and we aspire neither to winning the Nobel Peace Prize
nor the Skins Game. But we do take good pleasure in playing in a "unimproved"
environment, in seeing and understanding what the course architects first saw, in
confronting the randomness of the natural hazards, bumps, dips, trees, water, bunkers, and
geysers.
THE PAR 3, 170-YARD (155-METER) 14TH AT ARIKIKAPAKAPA: The Arikikapakapa course at the central North Island town of Rotorua is adjacent to the famed Whakarewarewa thermal area, the Yellowstone Park of New Zealand, a sulfur and brimstone playground of geysers and bubbling mud holes. By law, the Arikikapakapa course may not redevelop its land, itself undermined with thermal activity. There are holes incorporating dormant geysers and sulfur sinks, and pot bunkers which are inactive fumeroles. The fairways rise and sink with mounds and moguls like ripples in a counterpane, making what would be a flat course into an interesting test with few level lies. Nearest HOME AT FIRST lodgings:
If you would like to play Arikikapakapa as part of your New Zealand vacation, contact Home at First anytime.
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