There aren’t many better places for summer holidays than The Coromandel. Golfer Pacific writer Peter Thornton discovered that the region is also a mecca of quality golf courses.

Summer road trip with the golf clubs

You know that feeling when you can’t get a song out of your head. The words of George Ezra’s ‘Shotgun’ have been the soundtrack to my summer. ‘There’s a mountain top that I’m dreaming of, if you need me, you know where I’ll be.’ The mountain top I’m dreaming of is Mt Pāuanui.

It’s first thing in the morning, with a blue sky day, and I am standing atop of the mountain looking down at that incredible view of Pāuanui Beach. It’s a magic moment that I share with my three kids and wife.

Pāuanui Beach is a special place for our family. We came here for our summer holidays for more than 20 years, we owned a bach here for around 10 years, and it has always been our happy place.

It’s been six years since I have been back, and it is a fitting location. This weekend, we are celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary, and it was here, on the southern end of the beach, where I proposed to my girlfriend and now wife. Twelve years and three kids later, we are back.

A fantastic test of golf

First up for the golf is the Lakes Resort, around a 10-minute drive from Pāuanui Beach.

Lakes Resort Pauanui -- the course is nestled in a unique valley setting and meanders its way through picturesque natural native wetlands and lakes.

I have a good history with this place. When I was working for Phillip Leishman’s television golf show back in the day, the Lakes Resort was the ‘home club’ of the show. We spent many hours filming here creating profiles and tips with the then director of golf Richard Ellis.

It opened in 2006 – around six years after Gulf Harbour Country Club and Formosa in Auckland – and was regarded as one of the top 10 courses in the country. It’s not at that standard now, but Lakes is still a fantastic test of golf and a great experience.

My old man is in the Coromandel during our stay and he and my uncle Tony (TJ), along with a good mate Geoff Rickerby, come together on a clear and warm summer’s morning.

Caption: An aerial view of The Whangamata Golf Club which is one of the best club courses on The Coromandel.

We chuck the balls in the air, and Geoff and I team up to take on the old fellas in a matchplay contest for the beers. Geoff makes two birdies in the opening three holes, and we are looking good.

But things changed abruptly. TJ – who hasn’t played a lot of golf in recent times – is the star turn. We gave him five shots at the start of the round, but he didn’t need them.

He made a fine downhill putt for par on the fifth and backed it up with a brilliant birdie on the sixth. There was more to come from the old boys.

Dad delivered a clutch birdie putt on the par five eighth and then made par on the ninth. This wasn’t going to script. We count them up at the turn and dad and TJ had won five holes in a row.

The front nine is where you need to do your scoring here, as the back nine plays tough.

One of the best holes on the course is the par three 10th – particularly if you are playing off the black tees where it is around 190m and all carry over the largest lake on the property.

There is no doubt that holes 12-15 is the hardest stretch of the course. The 12th has a blind tee shot over trouble, the 13th is a tight dog-leg par four and the 14th is the best hole on the course. It is a long par four with trouble on both sides of the fairway. There is nowhere to miss. The par five 15th has to be one of the toughest par fives in New Zealand.

By now, we are fighting to stay alive. I make par on the 13th and have a six-foot putt for bogey on the 14th to continue to the match. It lips out and we go down 5 and 4.

It is never nice shaking hands on the 14th green, but we have to take our medicine. Things could have been different as Geoff and I win the final four holes with the match already gone.

Sitting in the grandiose clubrooms, sipping on an ice-cold pint of Asahi, the old boys are rapt. They played nicely and gave us an old-fashioned hiding.

There is one person you don’t want to lose to at golf at that is my old man because you will hear about it forever.

A spectacular setting

For all the years of coming to Pāuanui, Grand Mercure Puka Park was a bastion of luxury and quality on the hill. So, to be unpacking my bag to stay here is a pinch-yourself sort of moment.

It doesn’t disappoint. The kids are shrieking with joy when we arrive at our accommodation, and they are still talking about walking down to the restaurant for breakfast.

With the chalets nestled into the native bush and the soundtrack of birds and cicadas, and the waves in the distance, it is a spectacular setting.

Our kids lived in the swimming pool and spa and ran amok on the tennis court.

We get settled in and have an unforgettable dinner to mark our wedding anniversary. Our fish of the day is snapper, fresh off the boat. It is perfectly cooked, and the flakes fall off your fork. The kids’ highlight is their chocolate sundae. The food and service throughout are from the top drawer.

It’s the sort of meal where you wish it could go all night, but we retire back to our rooms for a quiet glass of Pinot Noir and some rest.

If you haven’t stayed at Grand Mercure Puka Park, then you must experience it for yourself.

“I have never seen water that colour before”

On the second morning, we head north to Whitianga to take a tour on the Mercury Bay Discoveries boat. As we walk down the jetty there is not a breath of wind, and the sun is sparkling on the harbour.

The affable host Adam Collier welcomes us on board with a plethora of quality dad jokes – like “you’ll find your lifejackets under your seats; we got these from the Titanic”.

Adam is a superb guide, and he offers great insight to the region. First stop is into Cathedral Cove. The walking track has been closed for the past two years following damage to the track from Cyclone Gabrielle. Sitting on the back of the boat soaking in the sun, it’s an amazing spot.

We whip out into the open ocean and arrive at the Orua Sea Cave. We are fortunate as the wind is light today and we have 10 minutes in the iridescent cave. It is a transcendent and mesmerising blue. I have never seen water that colour before.

On the way home, we jump off the back of the boat into Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve for a snorkel. With blue maomao and snapper just below you, it was an incredible feeling to be paddling in this water.

We spend the afternoon on Hahei Beach – which is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of New Zealand – and head home.

A walk down memory lane

Caption: The stunning view looking down to Hahei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula.

It’s day three and I am back where golf started for me. In the heart of Pāuanui are two quality pitch n’ putt courses – The Lakes and The Pines. This is where my dad introduced me to the game of golf when I was six years old.

I know every inch of these courses and I can’t wait to take a walk down memory lane.

My best score across these two courses (which both have a par of 29) is 65 so naturally the goal is trying to beat that number.

I start at The Lakes. There is nothing like playing a course first thing in the morning with no one else around. The Lakes has many good holes. It is longer than the Pines with three par threes (six, seven and nine) that are the best part of 200m.

The best hole on the course is the third, and rates as the hardest. It is 136m from the tee into a green that is flanked by water all down the righthand side.

The fifth is the first chance to pull out the driver. The par four is narrow from the tee but at 280m it is a gettable hole. I find the green in two and my birdie putt comes up just short.

Another signature hole is the eighth. The hole, named Postage Stamp, is only 105m but it is a good challenge with water surrounding the green.

I walk down the road and finish my round at The Pines, the first course to be designed in Pauanui.

Standing on the first tee is a nostalgic moment. The hole runs parallel with the airfield, and I can’t tell you the number of times I sliced my ball over that fence when I was growing up.

Walking down the first hole, I pause for a moment. I realise just how much I love this place. This town, this beach, this golf course. The sites, the smells, the memories, it just feels like home.

I strike the ball well at The Pines, but my course record is not in danger today.

There have been several good changes made to The Pines in recent years.

Caption: It is always a good feeling when you hit the dance floor at the 8th – the hole known as the Postage Stamp at Pauanui Lakes.

The par four fourth hole used to have a large pine tree which blocked the green and it has been removed. It is only 210m and drive-able from the tee. The seventh – which measures 187m — has been rightfully changed from a par four to three. And a longer tee box has been built at the eighth which adds 20 metres and makes it a decent challenge.

The Pines must be one of the better pitch `n' putt experiences going around.

My three-year-old boy Toby joins me as I finish my round. It’s a full circle moment as he plays on a golf course for a first time.

Caption: Peter Thornton’s three-year-old son Toby on a golf course for the first time at Pauanui Pines.

Toby makes a couple of nice putts and chases after his ball. Hopefully he’ll fall in love with the game like I did on these humble links all those years ago and never look back.

Sadly. It’s time to pack up and head for home.

Our experience in Pāuanui has been first class. It is my favourite place in the world and on this adventure to The Coromandel we made memories for a lifetime.

Three of the best

The Coromandel has quality golf courses all over the Peninsula.

Caption: The sun going down at The Dunes in Matarangi.

The Dunes, Matarangi – The nine-hole course was expanded to a full 18-hole layout in 2006. Those changes are almost 20 years old now and are well bedded-in. From the opening signature hole, where the green backs onto the beach, you know you are in for something special. The Dunes doesn’t disappoint, with stunning views and a quality layout.

The beautiful setting of the par three fourth hole at Tairua is a signature hole on the course.

Tairua Country Club – Tairua is a game of two halves. The opening nine is open and fairly forgiving while the back nine is tighter and testing. It’s a course that all levels of golfer will enjoy and there are several memorable holes. The par three fourth is a lovely 110m drop hole that is surrounded by trouble. But two of the driveable par fours – the ninth and the 13th – are the ones you will be talking about over a cold beer in the clubhouse.

Whangamata Golf Club (Titoki) – This course has humbled many good players. One of the characteristics of Whangamata is the elevated tees which offer great views of the layout. There is a plethora of special holes here. Two of my favourites are the par four 7th which doglegs right. Big hitters can take on the treeline for a chance to hit the green. On the back nine, the par four 16th is another brilliant hole. You hit from an elevated tee and big hitters will look to carry the creek. Whangamata is an enjoyable round from start to finish.