Maramarua Golf Club Inc.

How to play the Maramarua Golf Course

First hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The first hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 274 metre par four and is the number 17 stroke hole index. It is a straight forward hole where you tee off from an elevated tee and the green is on about the same level as the tee. But to get to the green you walk down the hill and back up it. In the summer it is a driveable green to the long hitter but in the winter you will be left with a shot just under 100 metres to the green which you are unable to see because you are hitting slightly up hill. The biggest trouble on the hole is if you miss it badly on the right you will be finding yourself with tree trouble. But if you miss it badly to the left you will more than likely find yourself with a clear shot over the trees from the adjacent thirteenth fairway. But sometimes your drive can leave you in a position where you don’t have a full second shot and you will have to improvise to play your chip shot. Once on the green you will face putts that have tricky little breaks in them from left to right or right to left depending on which direction you are putting from. On the whole it is a relatively tame hole to begin with and the single figure player would be disappointed if he didn’t walk off with a birdie.

Second hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The second hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 132 metre par three and is number 15 stroke hole index. It is a very different hole played in the summer to the winter. In the summer the ground to the left and right of the green gets so dry that if you don’t hit the green on the full your ball will bounce left and right down the slopes. It leaves a very difficult chip to get up and down for your par. But in the winter the ground is so wet that if you miss the green left or right it doesn’t move far and sometimes plugs in the ground. There is a mound that runs across the green on the front left hand side that also causes the ball to have a severe kick to the left in the summer. But sometimes it can kick the ball towards the green if you hit the side facing the green. For the single figure player it is only a pitching wedge to an eight iron in the summer depending on the wind direction but in the winter into a strong south westerly wind it can be as much as a six iron. The tee is slightly elevated and you have a full view of the green. Once on the green you will face lots of slopes as the green slopes from back to front and is slightly two tiered. Most players would be happy with a par on this hole, but a very good tee shot can lead to a birdie as can a long putt being holed.

Third hole at Maramarua Golf Club looking from 220 metres to the green

The third hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 438 metre par five and is number nine stroke hole index. It is a slight dog leg from left to right. The tee shot is blind as you are hitting up a slight hill. A straight drive is required because if you miss it left you will be chipping out of the tall trees on the left and if you miss it right it will leave you in a dilemma whether to hit down the first fairway or go under, through or over the trees to get back to the third fairway. It plays a lot different in the summer to the winter. In the summer the single figure handicap golfer can easily reach the green in two shots with a mid to short iron as long as he/she hits a straight drive. In fact any straight drive could run an extra 50 to 100 metres. The only problem is the fairway slopes to the right and if the drive is badly sliced it could run into the trees on the right meaning your second shot would just be chipping out back to the fairway. In the winter the hole is out of reach into two shots except for the extremely long hitters. Two well struck shots will leave the single figure player with a short iron for his third. Once on the green you are faced with a green with a huge slope on it from back to front. And it has a slight false front on it as well. If you leave the ball above the hole you can be faced with a slick downhill putt from left to right. The single figure player would be looking to make birdie here but a par is still a good score.

Fourth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The fourth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue Tees is a 308 metre, par four and is number thirteen stroke hole index. The main trouble on this hole is the water hazards down the left hand side. But it is tree lined down the right hand side so a shot in the fairway is the best option as it generally is on any hole. For the single figure handicap player that is a long hitter he usually tries to drive the green and give himself a chance at eagle which in the summer he is more than likely to hit than in the winter. But if he doesn’t hit the green he can leave himself with a tricky chip shot to get up and down. The smart option is too laid up with a mid to long iron and give yourself a short wedge shot for your second. For the golfer with a severe hook it is a difficult hole because there is a tree positioned right of the fairway about 60 metres from the tee. But it can be hit over so it is not really a problem to the skilled drawer of the ball. This hole changes in the winter to the summer within winter a shot hooked badly wouldn’t have enough roll out to go in the water but in the summer it more than likely would. The wind plays a huge part in the hole as well and usually blows hard off the right hand side and from behind. But occasionally the easterly makes it a much longer hole than it usually is. Once on the green you will find the green slopes from back to front with a huge right to left break or left to right depending on which direction you are putting from. Holing putts less than ten feet on this green can be tricky. The single figure player would be disappointed if he didn’t birdie this hole but on some occasions a par is a great score.

Fifth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green

The fifth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 465 metre par five and is the number five stroke hole index. The main trouble on this hole off the tee is the hazard all the way down the left hand side that stops about 90 metres short of the green. It also is well guarded on the right hand side by trees and some of them are rather tall. The fairway way has a severe slope to it from right to left and in the summer when the grass has turned to brown and is tinder dry a drive that seemingly started down the centre of the fairway can end in the hazard on the left. But in the winter it is not a problem keeping you ball in the centre of the fairway because parts of the fairway get so wet that on a fully hit drive the ball still plugs in the ground. So a drive missed well to left will find the hazard and will properly mean a penalty drop but if you are really lucky you may be able to play it back out to the fairway. A drive missed well to the right could mean just chipping back to the fairway but you might be lucky to find a gap through the trees to get back to the fairway and still have a chance of hitting the green in three shots. For the single figure handicapper the green is in reach in two shots with a fairway wood or long iron but sometimes in a very strong tailwind it can be reached with a mid iron. But if you choose to lay up you will be faced with a short wedge shot or a bump and run chip shot to a green that slopes severely from back to front. There is a bunker on the front left and bunkers on the left side of the green that you will have to watch out for. Also on the right hand side there are lots of small trees and it leaves a very difficult up and down. Once on the green you need to give yourself an uphill putt because a downhill putt is very hard to judge the speed. Also putting across the green has severe breaks from right to left and left to right. The single figure player would be looking to make birdie but par is still a good score.

Sixth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The sixth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 149 metre par three and is number eleven stroke hole index. It is played off an elevated tee to a green that has bunkers on the left hand side that have some very high lips on them so they are best avoided at all times. You get a full view of the green from the tee with it being elevated. There are some medium height level trees on the right hand side that are about 60 metres from the tee but don’t really cause any problem to the skilled drawer of the ball because he can easily clear them. There is a huge hill on the right hand side that will kick the ball that has been missed to the right hand side on the green and sometimes next to the pin in the summer!! So the miss on this hole is definitely to the right. But in the winter the ground is so wet the ball won’t bounce anywhere. Club selection on this hole for the single figure player can be from as little as a pitching wedge with a strong westerly behind the player to a five iron with a strong easterly wind in your face. Once on the green you will be faced with a green with some very tricky breaks. The green slopes from right to left and some of the putts can be very quick!! A birdie on this hole is very good and can be achieved with a great tee shot or a long putt holed!! A par is always a good score on this hole with a birdie being a bonus.

Seventh hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green

The seventh hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 336 metre par four and is number seven stroke hole index. The tee and the green are on the same level but about just over 200 metres from the tee there is a dip in the fairway. Also there is a water hazard on the left hand side of the hole where the dip is in the fairway which will catch out the single figure golfer that has a bad hook. Also on the right hand side there is a large tall tree about 200 metres from the tee that will come into play with the player that slices the ball. And a real bad slice can land in the hazard on the right, but you can also be lucky and have a clear shot to the green. In fact the single figure player would be better to hit a long iron or a rescue wood that wouldn’t reach the dip in the fairway and it would still leave a mid to short iron to the green. But in the winter only the extremely long hitters would reach the dip in the fairway and you will be playing a mid iron to the green. For the second shot if you managed to avoid the tree on the right and the hazard on the left you will only have a short wedge to the green in the summer but it is a blind shot. There are bunkers on the left and right of the green but they only have a small lip on them so if you have a good lie you should be able to get up and down. And there is a hazard on the far left for the player who hooks really bad!! The green is one of the biggest in area on the course so you will need to be exact with your approach shot if you want a small birdie putt!! Once on the green you will be faced with another green that has tricky breaks in it. The green also has little humps and hallows to putt through. A par is a good score on this hole but a birdie is very achievable as well.

Eighth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 135 metres to the green

The eighth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 371 metre par four and is the number one stroke hole index. This hole is a dog leg to the left and has a large lake in the front of the green. It is the number one stroke hole for a reason. It is well tree lined down the left hand side and also the right. There is also a hazard down the left hand side that a badly hooked drive will land in. The single figure player that hits a slightly drawed or faded shot in the middle of the fairway will leave a mid to short iron to the green in the summer but in winter a well struck drive down the middle could mean you still have to lay up because it is a huge carry over the water hazard in front of the green that if emptied would have hundreds of balls in it!! This hole on the second shot is extremely intimidating to even the skilled player having to carry the water hazard to make the green and has ruined many a good start to the front nine!! Apart from the water hazard at the front of the green it doesn’t really have much trouble at the right, left or back except for the badly sliced shot that could land in the hazard on the far right hand side. The green is two tiered with a severe downhill slope in the middle. When the pin is placed on the top tier it increases the difficultly of the hole because there is not much margin for error between landing on the top tier, just missing the top tier and having the ball roll to the bottom and landing over the green that will leave a very difficult up and down for your par. But when the pin is placed on the bottom tier you can use the slope off the huge hill in the middle of the green to roll the ball back towards the hole and a birdie is very achievable. The green slopes majorly from back to front!! With the huge almost vertical slope from the top tier to the bottom tier!! If the pin is on the bottom tier the putting isn’t too hard but it is best to have an uphill putt. Because downhill putts can get away on you very easy. Side hill putts also have a lot of break in them and can be difficult to read. But if you are on the top tier and putting to the bottom tier you really have little chance and have to hope to hole a fifteen footer or more back up the hill for par. If the pin is on the top tier and you manage to land your ball on the top tier depending on where the pin is a two putt should be achieved but is not guaranteed. But if you are on the bottom tier putting to the top tier it is an achievement to two putt!! There have been some horror stories of four and five putting on this green!! A birdie is an awesome score here, a par is brilliant and a bogey won’t hurt you at all.

Ninth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The ninth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 508 metre par five and is the number three stroke hole index. It is one of the longest par five holes in Auckland especially in the winter. It is one of the most intimidating tee shots in Auckland Golf with SH2 running all the way down the right hand side and is out of bounds beyond the fence line!! And from the tee until about 280 metres out down the left hand side are three water hazards!! So there is no bail out on this tee shot and you just have to hit a straight shot!! If you are confident with the driver then hit it but I don’t think it is the smart play at all because you are bringing in the Out of Bounds on the right and the hazard on the left into play. A long iron or rescue wood could be a smart and safer option. This hole like every hole plays a lot different in the winter to summer. In the summer with the right wind the extremely long hitter can reach the green in two shots with a wood or long iron. But in the winter you can hit three really good shots and not make the green. The wind is a huge factor on this hole and when a westerly blows at about 30mph the whole hole becomes even more difficult!! But when the wind blows from the north easterly direction the tee shot is much easier and the green is very reachable for the low handicapper in two shots. If you managed to find the fairway the job is only half done with the internal out of bounds now coming into play on the left from 135 metres to the green. But there is still a lot of room to lay up your ball up in the fairway.  The fairway slopes from left to right so a hooked shot will counteract the slope. But a slice will keep going with the slope. It is best to lay up to the left hand side of the fairway because that will open up the green. But if you are on the right hand side of the fairway you will have to come over the green side bunkers that surround the front and right side of the green and the green is also surrounded by two bunkers at the back. Over the green is also out of bounds!! The low handicapper will face between a wedge and a seven iron in the summer for his third shot but in the winter into a strong head wind it could be as much as a three iron or he may not even reach!! The green is slightly sloped from back to front with a severe slope on the front right when putting from the back of the green it can fool a lot of players with the ball sometimes run off the green!! The easier pin placements are when the pin is placed on the left hand side with the slope on the hill to the left of the green kicking the ball right in the summer months back onto the green. The hardest pin placement in my opinion is when the pin is placed on the front right directly over the front right green side bunker and on the back right makes it hard as well. This entire hole requires lots of concentration with a par being an extremely good score and sometimes a bogey is nothing to turn your face up at either. But in the right conditions a birdie is very achievable!! But ask players who have been a member here for a long time and they will tell you about a disaster that they have had on this hole!!

Tenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The tenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 386 metre par four and is the number four stroke hole index. It is a slight dog leg from right to left with the fairway sloping from right to left as well. It is tree lined on the left and right hand sides from the tee to green but the trees get more denser from about 150 metres into the green on both sides of the fairway. If you can play the ball from right to left you will utilise the slope of the fairway and get more run out on your shots in the summer. But the shot played from left to right can be just as much affective on this hole. The wind also has a huge affect on this hole with an extremely strong west to south-westerly making the hole play extremely long and a north easterly making the hole play extremely short. The single figure golfer could find himself with a wedge to a very long iron or even a three wood for his second shot pending the wind direction. In summer like most holes the hole plays much shorter but in winter the hole can sometimes be out of reach to even the single figure golfer. The green is slightly raised in the front meaning in the winter the ball that seems to of certainly made the green can stop in the slope before the green. There is also a large tree that is just off the fairway about 90 metres from the green that comes in to play if you miss the fairway to the right hand side.  It you miss the green on the right hand side you will face a relatively easy chip shot depending on the lie. But if you miss the green on the left or long you will face a chip shot that is blind and will make getting up and down difficult. The green slopes from left to right and has some very tricky to read breaks in it. The green is also quite long meaning if you are on the front of the green and putting to the back pin placement you could easily three putt. A par is a good score on this hole with a birdie being a bonus.

Eleventh hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The eleventh hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 173 metre par three and is the number twelve stroke hole index. There are trees and scrub all down the left hand side and a tree plantation all down the right hand side just up to the green. It you hit over the green too far it is out of bounds. The hole has a right to left slope on it so once the ball hits the ground in will more than likely bounce left. So a fade is the shot to play here to counteract the slope. But a draw can be played if you aim it just on the tree line on the right and curve it back. In the summer it can be as little as a six iron down wind and as much as a two iron into the wind. But in the winter it is usually a four iron and sometimes a two iron or rescue wood into the wind won’t even make the green. A good shot in the winter won’t run forward much as the ground in front of the green becomes very soft. Chipping from the right and back of the green can be tricky due to the downhill slope. But chipping from the left is back into the slope and is much easier to control. Putting is extremely difficult on this green as it slopes from right to left quite severely. There is hardly a straight putt on this green!! If you are on the front and the pin is on the back you will be happy with two putts. A birdie on this hole is excellent and a par very good.

Twelfth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 160 metres to the green

The twelve hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 336 metre par four and is the number ten stroke hole index. You can’t see the green from the tee because you tee off on a slight downhill that goes up and then down to a gully. There is out of bounds all the way down the left hand side with some small trees all the way down the right hand side to about 200 metres from the tee and a small tree that is about 200 metres on the left just off the fairway. On the right there is a tree plantation to about 100 metres off the tee. And after that there is various trees scattered down the right hand side of the fairway to the green. And there is one big tree to the right that guards the missed tee shot to the right and will mean you just have to play out to the right or chip back to the fairway if you get behind it. Again this hole is a lot different from winter to summer. In summer on a strong westerly wind the single figure golfer can drive over the gully onto the flat of the fairway. In a very strong north easterly wind the hole can play very long. But in winter you will only make the gully. The second shot is usually a blind shot to the green hitting off an uphill lie. In the summer it is a short wedge to a mid iron. But in the winter it can be a mid to long iron. The green has no real trouble around it but if you miss it way over the back you will be out of bounds. But the green is a tricky one being two tiered and it is similar to the eighth hole in that way but the slope is less severe. And the bottom tier is much smaller than the top tier. This makes putting very difficult if you are on the wrong tier. Sometimes even though you are on the bottom tier putting to the top tier the putt doesn’t need to be struck as much as you think. If you are on the wrong tier putting to the other tier a two putt is very good. A par is still a very good score on this hole but a birdie is very likely as well.

Thirteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The thirteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 295 metre par four and is the number sixteen stroke hole index. It is similar to the first hole as the tee is on about the same level as the green. But to get to the green you have to walk down and up a steep hill which is more severe than the first hole that runs parallel to this hole. This hole like all holes plays very different depending if it is into a head wind or down wind. Into a very strong west south westerly wind it can be as much as a drive and an eight iron in the winter. But in the summer with a strong northerly wind behind your back the single figure player if he hits the ball straight and long can possibly roll it onto the green. On the left hand side there is a hazard that comes into play for the extremely bad hooked shot properly only the very high handicap will visit it. But from about 120 metres from the tee on the left is a large tree plantation that is best avoided but sometimes you can manufacture a shot from it and get it on the green.  On the right hand side there is a big tree about 100 metres from the tee which could cause a problem for a golfer with a severe hook. But the skilled drawer can hit over it. From 100 metres from the tee to up to the green on the right hand side there is small to medium length trees that will cause you problems if you miss it just to the right. And right next to the green on the front right there is a very large tree that also causes lots of problems. If you miss way right you will have a clear shot from the first fairway. But you will need to hit it high to clear the large tree near the front right of the green. The second shot can be very difficult into a strong west south westerly wind because the back of the green is very exposed and it can be hard to get you balance while playing your short iron shot and you sometimes have to take two more clubs than usual. There is no real trouble around the green but it is better to miss on the left because if you miss on the right or back there is a huge slope that makes getting up and down tricky. Once on the green you will find the front of the green has a slight false front and the green has a little slope from back to front. It is quite a big green so you just hitting the green is half the battle and sometimes you are faced with a birdie putt over forty feet and it can be hard to two putt. All in all it is a simple hole that the single figure handicapper should birdie but if you get out of position a par can be a good score.

Fourteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The fourteen hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 157 metre par three and is the number fourteen stroke hole index. The tee and the green are on the same level but to get to the green you have to walk down through a valley. In the summer time you can bounce the ball back onto the green off the mound at the back because the ball will roll back down. But in the winter it rarely rolls back. The low handicap player can uses as little as an eight iron downwind when the strong south westerly wind is blowing but as much as a three iron into a strong easterly wind. You must carry the ridge to reach the green. If you don’t the ball will roll back down the slope and you will be left with an extremely difficult chip shot to get up and down for you par. There is not really much trouble around this hole with no bunkers and water hazards but there is a small tree on the left which can cause some problems if you miss short left. Once on the green you will be faced with putts with small tricky breaks in them. And the green has a small ridge in it that runs through the middle of it meaning some putts can be extremely quick coming down it. And when the pin is put on the front part of the green it makes it extremely difficult to get the ball close. The low handicapper would be content to walk off with par but a birdie is also achievable.

Fifteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 220 metres to the green

The fifteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 390 metre par four and is the number two stroke hole index. This hole is one of the toughest holes on the course for a reason. In the summer the low handicap golfer can easily drive down the ridge to the ninety metre mark and hit a wedge into the green. But in the winter a good drive and a long iron or fairway wood will still come up short of the green, leaving a short chip to green to get up and down for the par. Like all holes the wind plays a huge part in the hole and when it is blowing from the north east the hole plays much shorter than when blowing from the south west where it whistles right down the hole in the players face. There is trouble down the left hand side in trees but if you hit a bad hook you may still have a second shot because the trees open up at about 250 metres from the tee. There is also trouble down the right hand side with trees and about 250 metres off the tee there is a plantation of trees that you would not want to go in because it would mean just a chip out back to the fairway. Once up at the green there is trouble on the left with a big slopping hill and small trees that would make a ball going down there very hard to get up and down. And that is if you can find your ball at all. There is also trouble with small trees over the back of the green but it takes a really bad shot to get there. Once on the green you will find a green that slopes from back to front with some very tricky breaks. And the front part of the green is like a false front and when the greens are running very quick it will roll right off the front down to the fringe. This is a very hard hole that if you walk off with a par you will be very happy but in calm conditions you can also achieve a birdie but in extremely windy conditions a bogey is a good score.

Sixteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from 200 metres to the green

The sixteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 449 metre par five and is the number eight stroke hole index. This hole is a sharp dog leg from left to right. You tee off from a very elevated tee and the green is on the same level as the tee. The dog leg turns sharply left to right at about the 200 metre mark. When the tees are played right at the back the player that slices the ball will have to flirt with the tree on the left with their tee shot. Also at the 200 metre mark off the tee the fairway becomes flat after a huge rise up the hill. In the summer time the low handicapper can drive his ball over the hill and it can roll out to 300 metres but he better hit his drive straight because if he slices it he will be out of bounds and if he draws it too much he will be through the fairway in the trees. But in the winter it will take a very good drive to reach the top of the hill and you will have no problem worrying about your ball rolling through the fairway too much. Again the hole changes pending the wind conditions. When it is blowing south westerly the hole plays much short to when it is blowing north easterly. The trouble down the left hand side is a clump of trees about 180 metres off the tee and once the hole dog legs there are small to large trees all down the left hand side until ninety metres from the green. The trouble down the right hand side is Out of Bounds that runs from the tee to the green and there is a clump of trees placed at the 200 metres from the green that prevents the long drivers from taking a more direct line to shorten the dog leg. The second shot is very difficult as well and becomes more difficult in the summer because the ground gets so dry that a shot just missed slightly left rolls right down to the bottom of the hill leaving a blind shot for their third. But a second shot missed right can roll out of bounds off the slope to the right. The green can be hit in the summer with a mid to long iron but in the winter it is out of reach for the shot hitters and the very long hitters can reach sometimes. The smart option is to lay up to the ninety metre mark and hit a short wedge into the green. Once on the green you are faced with a big green that slopes from back to front and it is slightly two tiered. The green like the rest of the greens has some very tricky to read breaks in them and the wind also plays a huge part in the putting because it is the highest part of the golf course. A par on this hole is a great score but a birdie or even an eagle can be achieved by the low handicap player!!

Seventeenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The seventeenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 250 metre par four and is the number eighteen stroke hole index. It is a driveable hole for single figure handicap player in the right conditions but for the average golfer it is out of reach but on strong tail wind and when the ground is extremely dry in the summer a long straight drive can roll onto the green. You tee off out of a narrow Shute with trees on the right and one big tree on the left that cause the player problems if he has a bad slice. The slope of the fairway is severely from left to right that in the summer if the ball lands in the middle of the fairway it will roll into the right rough. Also up at the green there is a huge clump of trees on the left hand side that the player trying to drive the green has to take on if he is to drive the green. But if he can draw the ball in from the right hand side he won’t have to deal with the trees and will also counteract the left to right slope that becomes more severe up by the green. In the winter the hole is only driven by the extremely long hitters. And a drive that lands in the fairway most always stays there. You can also be faced with a very difficult chip shot over or under the trees on the left to try and get the ball on the green. Some people tee off with a mid iron to leave a full wedge into the green. The hole is tree lined all down the right hand side and on the left hand side if you hit a really bad hook there is small trees that will mean if you hit in there you will just have to chip back to the fairway. Also the green is above the fairway meaning that if you are short in the fairway you will have a difficult chip shot up the hill to the green. Once on the green you will be faced with a green that slopes from left to right with tricky breaks in most of your putts. This is a very easy hole if played the right way and the single figure player will be disappointed if he doesn’t walk off with a birdie. Most players in the club can say they have made at least one eagle on this hole at some point in time!!

Eighteenth hole at Maramarua GC looking from the tee

The eighteenth hole at Maramarua Golf Club off the Men’s Blue tees is a 350 metre par four and is the number six stroke hole index.  It is a great finishing hole and is tree lined down the left and right sides. You tee off on an elevated tee down to the fairway. It favours a draw for the right handed player off the tee but you can still play a fade if you take the trees on. There is also a water hazard on the left hand side that will catch the badly hooked drive just over 200 metres off the tee. If you miss the ball too much to the right off the tee shot it can be okay because your ball will land in the fourth fairway and will leave you with a clear shot to the green as long as you can clear the trees. Again the wind plays a huge factor in the hole and when it is played into a strong westerly wind it can be a drive and a long iron but when it is blowing a north-easterly wind it can be just a drive and a short iron. And in Summer like all the holes on the course it plays much shorter to the winter where a drive down to the 135 metre marker is very good. The hole plays uphill to the green and it is usually one more club than you think it is. Once on the green you will be faced with a green that slopes from back to front and there is a false front on the front of the green that will roll the balls back off if not cleared!! There is also out of bounds on the back right of the green. The green has some tricky breaks in it from right to left and left to right and the outside deck up top off the club house in the Summer time often sees a little bit of friendly heckling from the players watching that have finished their rounds!!

Maramarua Golf Club is well worth playing and is situated less than an hour from the Auckland CBD and Hamilton CBD and just under two hours from Tauranga. It is a must play golf course for all serious golfers!!