AN OLD CLUB ON A NEW SITE
From small beginnings great things grow; such is the story of our Club. Our origins date back to 1926 with two small golf clubs in the district, the Everslie Club off Beach Road, Papakura, and the Manurewa Club on Nathan's property in Hill Road, Manurewa. Both clubs played on sheep farms and competed harmoniously with their woolly friends. The depression deepened, wool prices fell, and farmers were forced to run cattle rendering both properties unsuitable as golf courses.
A solution was sought and it was hoped to jointly secure a lease, then purchase a property. A site was found and a meeting called for members of Everslie and Manurewa on 24 February 1932, where rules were drafted, lease confirmed, and an agreement reached to transfer assets of both clubs. The application was signed by 15 men and 16 women, the name Manukau chosen by ballot - alternatives being Mahia and Manurewa. Official Opening Day of the Manukau Golf Club was 23 April 1932.
The club survived the War Years from 1939-1945 with U.S. Marines, mainly from Texas, stationed at Hill Road, Manurewa, making full use of the course, assisting with maintenance, and taking part in the club’s social events. Ongoing tree planting and course improvements added to its reputation as a popular country club that was becoming the chosen venue for many talented golfers.
The club’s esteem continued to grow and produced many top national and provincial amateur golf talents during the early ‘70’s and ‘80’s. The men’s senior Pennants team secured the title 10 times between 1970-1985. It was therefore no surprise the club won the inaugural Interclub competition in 1973, known as the “Ranfurly Shield” at the time. The club won this prestigious competition again in 1982 and retained it until 1986. Not to be outdone, the women produced several national representatives and won the inaugural Veterans Trophy in 1973 and entered a top tier Pennants team in 1987, winning the division.
The club was moving from strength to strength with the turn of the century, and started seeing success on the golf course not repeated since the formidable days of the '70's and '80's. Significant investments were made into the course and club infrastructure. By 2011, the club had unfortunately fallen on hard times and accumulated more than $3 million dollars of debt. With memberships down, there was little chance of escaping through normal trading activities. One of New Zealand’s largest companies came knocking with an offer exceeding $40 million for the club’s land.
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
Following much discussion, scrutiny, and education, a vote of the Manukau Golf Club members was taken in December 2012. A staggeringly high 90 percent of the membership voted, with 84 percent in favour of the sale and development of our new course. The club purchased 60-hectares of farmland on Alfriston-Ardmore Road, near Ardmore Airport, approximately 7-minutes’ drive from our original home in Takanini.
Architect, Brett Thomson of RBT Design, was engaged to lead the transformation. Thomson's pedigree included helping John Darby design Jack's Point and The Hills, before moving to work under his own banner. Former PGA Tour winner, Phil Tataurangi joined Thomson in a consulting role. A challenge of the site was its former use as a potato/corn farm and running dairy cows – it also only had 6-metres of fall from east to west.
It needed man-made undulations and interest, and this was achieved by importing significant quantities of fill and the creation of several lakes. A nearby hillside - iconically Kiwi with a deep green colour in the winter, browned off in the summer and dotted with sheep, provided the inspiration the golf course would take.
The grass types selected were a strategic decision with the goal of providing excellent playing surfaces across all closely mown areas year-round. The out of play grass-types create a stunning seasonal contrast and varying textures. 50,000 indigenous plants to the area were installed during the build, plus burns and ridges, giving the course a unique links-style feel. An easy walk, understated and sustainable, very playable yet challenging, offering everybody a chance to score well – beware the prevailing south-west winds.
The clubhouse construction began late-2015, preceded by a Maori dawn powhiri and sacred rock burial, serving as a cultural acknowledgment of this special project. An undercover driving range, multiple practice green areas, golf shop and cart barn, and full hospitality offering were completed during the course build.
We left our long-time home at Takanini on 31 August 2016, and started play the next day - 1 September 2016, at our new home: Windross Farm Golf Course.
OUR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE
Within weeks of opening for play, Windross Farm secured New Zealand’s first ever LPGA Tour event - the 2017 McKayson New Zealand Women's Open.
Plagued by extraordinary weather conditions for the Final Round – much of the North Island experiencing winds gusting up to 120km/h, it became an unusual finish with the leader’s group only completing 6-holes. They would come back on Monday to complete the tournament.
It was 20-year-old Canadian, Brooke Henderson, who secured her first win outside of the United States, coming out on top by 5-shots at 17-under par. Finishing solo in second was China’s Jing Yan at 12-under par, followed by Hee Young Park of the Republic of Korea in third and American Jennifer Song in fourth.
Third round leader Belen Mozo of Spain finished in a tie for fifth alongside fellow countrywomen Beatriz Recari and Australian Su Oh. Tournament host and hometown hero, Lydia Ko, tied for 22nd place at 5-under par.
“That is the toughest conditions I have played in terms of winds, rain and delays,” Henderson said. “I feel mentally drained by it but running on adrenaline to know this trophy is mine.”
Windross Farm offers the unique opportunity to play the same golf course that has challenged some of the world's best.
Kia hora te marina,
Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, Kia tere te karohirohi.
Ma Io koutou e manaaki, e tiaki, i nga wa katoa.
May the seas be calm,
May the shimmer of summer Glisten like the greenstone, Dance across thy pathway.
May your God bless you and protect you for all time.