 POVERTY BAY GOLF COURSE
18 holes: Men Par 72, Ladies Par 74
Blue 6115m | White 5916m | Yellow (Ladies) 5309m
Poverty Bay is a links-styled golf course built over an old system of sand dunes near the ocean at Awapuni on the south-western edge of the city of Gisborne. Most of the holes run parallel to the nearby beach, following the troughs of former dunes. Free draining sandy soils allow play in even very wet weather. Dry summers produce long runs. Gisborne’s two prevailing winds are north-westerly (warm and dry) and southerly (cold and wet), so the wind direction on the course can be completely about face from one day to the next. The greens are amongst the best in New Zealand. The fairways are sprinklered and have an undulating topography. Strategic areas of uncontrolled rough give the course its reputation as a links. Although a provincial course, Poverty Bay is extremely highly regarded and the venue of several national tournaments.
"Poverty Bay, in my opinion, is a gem. It's topography and location make it a very unique New Zealand links golf course. The club should be extremely proud of what the greenkeepers are presenting. I always suggest to golfers that if they are heading south, then Poverty Bay is a must. A great course."
ADAM JONES
Leading NZ Course Superintendant, Course Construction & Renovation Specialist.
Hole One, par 5, at Poverty Bay Golf Club
FRONT NINE HOLES
2648 (yellow) | 2907m (white) | 3008m (blue)
1: Yellow Stroke 4 421m | White Stroke 8 456m | Blue Stroke 8 474m
Hole 1 is a straight shooting par 5 with a tricky twist in its tail caused by a large pine tree
overhanging the approach to the green on the left side. Bunkers left and right
2: Yellow Stroke 15 117m | White Stroke 16 150m | Blue Stroke 16 157m
Hole 2 is a cleverly designed par 3 with bunkers at front and on both
sides, cunningly positioned to scoop up and punish the timid and errant.
3: Yellow Stroke 2 346m | White Stroke 6 346m | Blue Stroke 6 351m
Hole 3, par 4, cuts between two water hazards, the lake and the
reservoir, with slices and hooks equally waterbound. Dog-leg left. Green surround slopes away on three sides.
4: Yellow Stroke 13 280m | White Stroke 4 360 | Blue Stroke 4 372m
Hole 4, par 4, heads back the other way with groves of trees creating
concern left and right before dog-leg right. Bunker on right. Steep slope at rear of the green.
5: Yellow Stroke 6 427m | White Stroke 14 463m | Blue Stroke 14 483m
Hole 5, heads directly back to the Pro Shop with much undulation and
strategically placed trees to make it a less than straightforward par 5. Deep bunker on left.
6: Yellow Stroke 18 118m | White Stroke 18 118m | Blue Stroke 18 125m
Hole 6 is the course’s shortest hole where wind strength and direction
can determine reaching for anything from a sandwedge to a 6 iron on this bunker-besieged par 3
7: Yellow Stroke 9 279m | White Stroke 12 307m | Blue Stroke 12 315m
Hole 7 is a tricky right-bending par 4 where big-hitters can be
punished in trees and rough terrain on the left and the more timid
caught short behind trees on the right. Bunkers left and right.
8: Yellow Stroke 11 282m | White Stroke 10 329m | Blue Stroke 10 335m
Hole 8 is a straight par 4, problematic if playing your second from in,
or behind trees, at driving distance on both sides. Bunker on right.
Tricky two-tiered green.
9: Yellow Stroke 16 378m | White Stroke 2 378m | Blue Stroke 2 396m
Hole 9, is a long par 4 (ladies par 5) with a large overhanging tree
creating a blind spot just short of the marker on left. Rogue trees
play a significant role on both sides. Bunkers all round.
BACK NINE HOLES
2661 (yellow) | 3009m (white) | 3107m (blue)
10: Yellow Stroke 10 283m | White Stroke 17 283m | Blue Stroke 17 295m
Hole 10, a short par 4, heads north again. Green is best approached
from the right, but watch the trees. Three bunkers.
11: Yellow Stroke 14 133m | White Stroke 7 173m | Blue Stroke 7 178m
Hole 11, a longish, narrow, tree-lined, par 3 gauntlet. Errant shots
left, right and over-the-back can be severely punished. Bunker on right.
12: Yellow Stroke 5 399m | White Stroke 11 457m | Blue Stroke 11 497m
Hole 12, aptly called “Hades”, is a par 5 that can be either heaven or
hell. Out-of-bounds beckons on the right, trees and deep rough to the
left. Green is tucked right, out of sight, behind a grove of pine trees
and protected by two bunkers. Keep left is the local rule.
13: Yellow Stroke 12 276m | White Stroke 5 336m | Blue Stroke 5 350m
Hole 13, par 4, is the start of the “Devil’s Triangle” and again hugs
the course boundary with deep rough and tall trees left and right.
Approach is from a shallow gully.
14: Yellow Stroke 17 254m | White Stroke 15 308m | Blue Stroke 15 314m
Hole 14, par 4, faces directly south which means the green is makable
in a strong northwester. Unprotected out-of-bounds is compelling. Tall
timber on the left. OB just two metres from back of green. Two bunkers and sloping green.
15: Yellow Stroke 7 315m | White Stroke 1 376m | Blue Stroke 1 384m
Hole 15, par 4, and you’re heading home. A big slice may put you on the
local speedway track. Steep dip in fairway, and trees on left and right
can undo your approach. Bunkers left and right.
16: Yellow Stroke 3 319m | White Stroke 9 339m | Blue Stroke 9 352m
Hole 16, par 4, has unseen water hazard to the left. Big drives right
can be caught behind tree line. Sloping green has bunkers right front, and left.
17: Yellow Stroke 1 379m | White Stroke 3 379m | Blue Stroke 3 379m
Hole 17, par 4, calls for long drives to iron out the
dog-leg left with a forest of pines catching short balls in this
direction and nasty trees, bare earth, tree roots and deep rough on
right. OB on right all the way to the green. Bunker right and left.
18: Yellow Stroke 8 303m | White Stroke 13 358m | Blue Stroke 13 358m
Hole 18, par 4, calls for driving accuracy to avoid over-hanging pine
on left and “The Ditch” which parallels fairway on the right all the
way to the green. Practise fairway may save big hooks left. Bunkers
front left, and both sides of green.
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