PGC November '26 Newsletter
General News
Dear Members,
Well, here we are in November!
AGM
Upcoming AGM on Tuesday 24th November at 7pm. We encourage you to attend if you can. You will have noted communications being sent out over the past few weeks and an AGM noticeboard being formed on the wall outside the club office.
CAR PARK
I am very pleased to have the car park project completed. This came in on budget and on time. We now have 163 car parks and a far better flow with vastly improved access. Likwise, a hard stand area has been created by the greenkeepers shed allowing easier access and parking for those members with their own carts on trailers. A reminder - no vehicles with trailers to be parked up in the main car park. Even after your round - please take your cart back to the greenkeepers shed and load onto your trailer after drinks/ dinner/ prizegiving. We have no trailer parks in the main car park and you will block access. Thanks for your understanding.
WEDDING @ PARKLANDS
We hosted our first wedding last month on Friday 23rd September. The weather was stunning and the feedback was fantastic on all counts - food; credit to Head Chef Meet and his team, service; credit to Stephen and his team and the clubroom as a venue, indoors, deck and stunning back drop. A very happy bride, groom and entire wedding party. Some fantastic revenue for the club and a great event to pull off for our reputation in the local community.
18th HOLE & SH22
You may notice the greenkeepers starting to re-shape the mown fairway on the 18th. We are looking to increase the dogleg as yet another car was hit on SH22 on Sunday 26th October. Reports are that this was yet another big slice hit off the 18th tee that hit and damaged a lady's bonnet, giving her a huge fright. The two small scrappy pittosporums on the left side of the 18th were removed while we had the digger here completing the car park project.
CORING WEEK
This is an important part of maintaining the health and quality of our greens as we head into summer. In addition to the work on the greens, for health and safety reasons, we have a contractor coming in to remove the two old scrappy macrocarpa trees at the back of the 14th green that you may have noticed are roped off and have had significant branches come down in the past weeks. We also have a contractor coming in during coring week to re-lay septic fields either side of the 9th fairway owing to old leaking fields that have reached end of life'. The Course will be closed Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th (open 5pm Thursday 26th for Business House Twilight Golf).
TREATMENT OF PRACTICE FACILITY
I have included this in my section of this month's newsletter. We had a very unhappy Course Manager earlier in the month:
I am very disappointed to see the state of the practice greens down at our practice area. The amount of pitch marks was unreal the other week and I have received many reports of such over the past year. It will be a case of the actions of a few will spoil it for many...if this treatment of our practice chipping/ putting facility continues, we will have no option to shut this area down which would certainly be a shame. The greenkeepers have enough to do on the course. Please, again, repair your pitch marks, replace/ fill your divots and rake the bunkers, be it on the course or the practice facility. Thank you in advance.
You will see two photos below - the first is the practice green peppered with pitch marks (this looked shocking in person, like the craters on the moon). The second is a photo down the 1st and 10th fairways showing off our stunning course, mowed 'half and half' by the team.
GOLF SIMULATOR - INCREDIBLE MEMBERSHIP DEAL
I want to quickly draw your attention to the new (limited to first 100 sold) memberships of the Golf Simulator that we have onsite. This membership is now live and for just $99 you get a year's membership, with 1x 30 minute session included every week. This is already proving popular with members wanting to do a proper warm-up before their round on a Wednesday for example. We have heard great feedback on the difference this has made to their round, with a couple of vastly improved scores after doing a proper warm-up in the virtual driving range, from wedges through to driver.
First-in-first-served. Feel free to try it out first - just speak with the Pro Shop. You also get 20% off any other bookings (rack rates now just $20 for 30 mins, $40 per hour and $20 for each additional 30 minutes beyond this.
Lastly I just want to congratulate our Director of Golf and PGA Professional Hamish Campbell who just today won the Spark Nelson Pro-Am with an impressive score of 8 under after the two rounds. Hamish led the pack after day one with a great round of 5 under and held strong today going -3 on the day to win by 4 shots. A massive congrats mate - great to have you out there representing Pukekohe Golf Club!
Look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM and then at our upcoming Xmas tournaments and events!
Happy golfing all.
Best regards,
Tim Vaughan
General Manager
NOVEMBER 2026:
Employee of the Month – Hayden Williams
This month we are delighted to recognise our Course Manager for his outstanding work and leadership.
The course is looking fantastic, and we have received some wonderful feedback from both members and visitors who have noticed the improvements and the excellent condition of the course.
A huge amount of hard work goes on behind the scenes to keep everything looking its best, and his commitment, knowledge and leadership play a big part in achieving this. He does a great job leading his team, keeping things moving and ensuring the course continues to be maintained to such a high standard.
It is great to see the positive results of all the hard work, and we really appreciate the pride he takes in the course and the contribution he makes to the Club.
Congratulations on being our Employee of the Month, and thank you for a fantastic job!
Upcoming events:
Upcoming Events – November
There’s plenty happening around the Club this month! Mark these dates in your calendar and we look forward to seeing you out on the course.
November Events
Weds 4 November - Quiz 7pm
Thurs 5 November – Mark Vidak Memorial
Thurs 5 November - Bingo 5pm; Business House Twilight
Mon 9 November – Covic Shield Tournament Shotgun 9am
Weds 11 November - Quiz 7pm
Thurs 12 November – 9-Hole Open Tournament
Thurs 12 November - Bingo 5pm; Business House Twilight
Sat 14 November – Club Championship Finals Day
Tues 17 November - Ladies Xmas Dinner
Weds 18 November - Quiz 7pm
Thurs 19 November - Bingo 5pm; Business House Twilight
Mon 23– Thurs 26 November – Course Coring Week (no Quiz this week)
Tues 24 November - PGC AGM 7pm
Thurs 26 November - Bingo 5pm; Business House Twilight
Fri 27 November - Seniors Xmas Lunch
Fri 27 November - 3pm - Sponsors 9-hole Ambrose Event
28 November – Greenkeepers Revenge Golf event
A date to note: We have course renovations, focusing on greens and coring, as well as other work on the course from 23–26 November. The Course will be closed Monday 23rd, Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th (open 5pm Thursday 26th for Business House Twilight Golf).
What’s On at Parklands? 📢
As we head into our second year of operation, it is one of our busiest times of the year. We have many events coming up that may or may not disrupt your enjoyment of Parklands, but whenever there is an impact, we will be opening the bottle bar, with as much of a food offering as our facilities can provide.
Please see below a list of events that will impact Parklands as a venue for you, our loyal members:
Thurs 5th November - Closed for Mark Vidak’s memorial 10am-4pm
Friday 13th November - Half of Parklands will be closed from 4pm for a semi-private event
Saturday 14th November - Half of Parklands will be closed from 4pm for a 21st
Sunday 22nd November - Parklands will be closed for a private dinner 5pm onwards
Wednesday 25th November – (Coring week) - Parklands will be closed from 2pm for our staff Christmas outing.
Monday 30th November - Closed for a private event from 10am until close.
In addition to this list, we have Twilight Golf on Thursday nights, and whilst we will not be closing to walk-ins, members or general public, from 7pm we expect to start seeing them all in Parklands, so any bookings could be restricted from that time.
Our regular events will continue:
Early Birdie Steak Special - Mondays and Tuesdays 4pm - close
Quiz Night - Wednesdays starting at 7pm (no Quiz Weds 25th)
Bingo - Thursday at 5pm
I would like to thank you all for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing more of you on the deck as the weather warms up.
Stephen Garth
Food & Beverage Manager
A Special Day at Parklands –
Our First Wedding Reception!
Congratulations Sarah & Sam
We were delighted to host our very first wedding reception at Parklands, and what a fantastic day it was!
The sun was shining, the weather couldn't have been better, and our clubhouse provided a beautiful setting for such a special occasion. It was wonderful to see Parklands transformed for the celebration and to be part of such a memorable day.
A big thank you to everyone involved in making the day such a success. It was a fantastic milestone for Parklands, and we look forward to hosting many more special celebrations in the future.
We had the most amazing day, and everything went so smoothly. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the atmosphere was incredible. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day!
A huge thank you to you, Stephen and your team for everything you did to make our wedding so special. Everyone was so lovely, and we had so many guests comment on how great the venue and staff were. We really appreciate all the hard work that went on behind the scenes. - Sarah & Sam
Hours of Operation
Parklands kitchen will generally be open the following hours
(Bar Open from 10.30/ 11am daily)
Mondays: 7am - 6pm
Tuesdays: 7am - 6pm
Wednesdays: 7am - 9pm *
Thursdays: 7am - 9pm *
Fridays: 7am - 9pm *
Saturdays: 7am - 9pm *
Sundays: 7am - 9pm *
(* last orders by 8.30pm)
We will endaevour to advertise any changes and special events each week for the week ahead. We are licensed to stay open later, and subject to numbers/ demand will stay open longer on the busier nights.
Your Social Pass – Just $45 for Lifetime Membership!
Join the Pukekohe Golf Club and Parklands social community with our one-off $45 Lifetime Social Membership!
Enjoy access to our clubhouse, restaurant and bar, member-only pricing on selected drinks and food specials, plus invitations to exclusive social events throughout the year.
It's the perfect way to enjoy everything Parklands has to offer without needing a golf handicap.
Join today! Email admin@pukekohegolf.co.nz or simply ask at the bar. It only takes a minute to become part of our community!
Celebrate Summer at Parklands!
With summer just around the corner and Christmas and the New Year fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start planning your next celebration at Parklands!
Whether you're organising a staff Christmas party, corporate function, end-of-year get-together, birthday, engagement, family celebration or simply catching up with friends, Parklands offers a relaxed and welcoming setting for any occasion.
Enjoy delicious seasonal catering, full bar service and beautiful views across the golf course, with our team on hand to help make your event easy, enjoyable and memorable.
Planning a Staff Christmas Party? We still have some availability for Christmas functions, but dates are filling quickly. Get in touch soon to secure your preferred date and celebrate the end of the year with your team.
As we head into the summer season, Parklands is also a great place to bring family, friends and colleagues together to celebrate those special occasions.
Contact the Club Office on 09 294 8822 today to find out more or enquire about a booking.
Competition during October saw Club Champs in full swing starting with Stroke Play. Senior’s was taken out by Jack Bull; Intermediate’s by Chris Bassett; Juniors by David Naidu; and C Grade by John Aston. Congratulations to you all. We’re now well into the Match Play with semi finals taking place this weekend. Best of luck to those still standing.
Later this month Pennant trials commence. Once again, we have teams entered in Bissett Shield, Championship x2, and Handicap Pennants x2. If you haven’t already indicated your desire to play Pennants with the respective managers (Cameron Kerr & Neil Richardson), please do so.
Happy golfing and enjoy the warmer spring weather.
Don & Paul
Men’s Club Captain / Vice
Jack Bull
Senior Stroke Play Champion 2026
Chris Bassett
Intermediate Stroke Play Champion 2026
SCORECARD RETURN – MARKER TO ENTER SCORES IN DOTGOLF
The Golf Committee have agreed to implement the following scorecard return process for all forms of stroke play. This also applies to match play if the terms of the competition require the scorecard to be returned:
· Hard Copy Scorecard – paper version card
o Exchange your scorecard with your marker/opponent
o After play of each hole, the marker records the players score and agrees it with them, including penalties. Record your own score as a record
o At the end of the round, both player and marker agree hole-by-hole scores, sign their own card as the player and signs as the marker for the card they marked
o The marker enters the hole-by-hole scores in dotgolf for their player
o In stroke play, an 18-hole scorecard is required to be returned if 9 or more holes have been played. Returning your scorecard is not a choice; it is mandatory. A 9-hole round requires 9 holes to be played for scorecard return. Dotgolf determines your handicap index by averaging the best 8 score differentials of your last 20 scores posted. Bad scores generally won’t count.
o Golf is a game of player integrity; it is expected we all bring our best gamesmanship to the game and correctly record strokes and penalties taken – and take only 15cm when placing is in play
o Refer to Pro Shop staff if there is an issue in entering scores in dotgolf
· Digital Scorecard Return
o Obtain your scorecard by scanning in at the Pro Shop counter
o Set up your marker detail in your phone (or data input device)
o After each hole, agree your score, including penalties, with your marker and record the score
o At the end of the round, agree your final hole scores, sign or commit your score and ensure your marker attests to that score
o Ensure they witness what you commit to dotgolf
· Players
o Marker - ensure you have visibility of your player throughout the hole and count the strokes taken, including penalties
o Player – ensure your marker or a witness has visibility of your play
o At the end of each hole, agree the score while play of the hole is fresh in the minds of both player and marker
Our golfing calendar is coming to a close; our official closing day is 17 November. We have one competition to run after that date - the deferred Margaret Hughes Trophy which is to be played at Waiuku on 25th November. Thankyou to all who competed in competitions throughout the year and good luck for prizegiving.
Pennant season is soon to commence; hopefully the rough we are currently playing in helps set handicaps to make us more competitive. But the rough is not about that, it is about preparing the course for the upcoming summer and keeping our course greener longer. I have been asked the question "when are we in the rough given there seems to be 2 cut lines". Clean & Place is in play on your own mown fairway currently. While that is in play, "own mown" sets the boundary between rough and fairway. As soon as the grass is longer than the actual fairway, you are in the rough - regardless of the fact there might be even longer rough further out. That first-cut boundary also applies if your ball finds a bare area where the grass level would be equal to or lower than the actual fairway. You are still in the rough when you have crossed that mow boundary, do not move your ball unless you are electing to take penalty relief..
Enjoy your summer season of golf.
Regards
Jenny and Gael
Ladies Captain / Vice
Did You Know… When your ball on the Putting Green is moved by Natural Forces.
When wind speed is high, it always pays to mark and lift your ball if it is on the putting green surface. Why?
Rule 9.3 states “if natural forces cause a player’s ball at rest to move, there is no penalty and the ball must be played from its new spot”. There is an exception; if you have marked, lifted and replaced your ball on the putting green and wind or gravity then moves your ball, you replace the ball on its original spot on the green (which is estimated if not known). Be safe and mark that ball; if you don’t and the wind sends your ball off the 16th green to the bottom of the gully, that’s where you play from.
Course Update – Getting Ready for Summer!
Dear Members,
As we move through the season, our team continues to work hard across the course to maintain playing conditions and prepare the turf for the months ahead. Our general maintenance programmes remain a key focus, with attention being given to all areas of the course to ensure it continues to present well and provide an enjoyable challenge for members.
General Course Maintenance
Our regular maintenance programmes are continuing across the course, including mowing, trimming, weed control, bunker maintenance, irrigation management, and general presentation work. We are also keeping a close eye on turf health and soil conditions, adjusting where necessary to support strong, consistent growth and improve overall playing surfaces.
These ongoing tasks are essential in maintaining the quality of the course, and the team is committed to keeping all areas in the best possible condition as we progress through the season.
Greens Maintenance
The greens remain the major priority for the team. Regular mowing, rolling where required, moisture management and monitoring of turf health are all part of our ongoing programme to maintain smooth, consistent and healthy putting surfaces.
We continue to monitor green speed, firmness, and moisture levels, balancing the need for good playing conditions with the long-term health of the turf. Maintaining healthy greens requires consistent attention, and the work being carried out now is important in ensuring they remain resilient and perform well throughout the season.
Preparing for Coring Week
With coring week fast approaching, preparations are well underway. This is one of the most important maintenance periods on the golfing calendar, as it allows us to relieve soil compaction, improve air movement through the root zone, encourage deeper rooting, and improve the movement of water and nutrients through the soil profile.
While coring can temporarily affect the putting surfaces and may take some time to recover, it is an essential investment in the long-term health and quality of our greens. The work completed during this period helps create a stronger growing environment and supports better playing conditions over the months ahead.
The team is preparing equipment, planning the work program, and ensuring everything is in place to complete the process as efficiently as possible. Following coring, our focus will shift to recovery, including appropriate fertiliser applications, irrigation management, and sanding to encourage quick and healthy recovery.
We appreciate that coring can be disruptive to the playing experience in the short term, but we thank members for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.
18th Hole – Course Safety Improvements
As part of our ongoing commitment to health and safety, we are beginning work to redirect the 18th fairway further to the left, increasing the dogleg of the hole.
This change follows a number of wayward tee shots travelling towards the road, creating a potential risk to passing vehicles and road users. By adjusting the direction of play, we aim to reduce the risk of golf balls landing on the road and help prevent potential accidents or damage to vehicles.
Members may notice a change in the way the fairway is mown, with the mowing lines gradually reflecting the new direction of play as the fairway moves further to the left.
Thank you for your understanding as we continue to make improvements to course safety for our members and the wider community.
Hayden & The Greenkeeping Team
From the Office Team:
It’s been a busy few months in the office!
Following on from the annual subscription drive, we’ve been taking entries for various tournaments such as the Twilight Golf Series, and it’s been great to see so many familiar names signing up. September’s Ladies Pairs tournament was a highlight, and at the time of writing, we’re busy preparing for the ‘The Bespoke Living Room’ 9 Hole Tournament this month.
We’re also celebrating a big milestone: one year since Parklands opened its doors. It’s been a real journey of discovery for all of us, not only in delivering great service but in building new systems to keep up with everything a new venture brings. We’ve learned a lot, and we’re proud of how far we’ve all come.
As we head towards the summer, we’re seeing the course get busier with people taking advantage of the better weather and longer nights and fielding enquiries and bookings about Christmas functions.
See you around the Club!
The Office Team
Leigh & Elvira
📱 Follow Us on Social Media!
Our social media pages are the quickest way to keep in touch with what's happening at the club. Give us a follow, like our posts, and share them with your friends and fellow members to help spread the word.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram today— we'd love to see you there!
Term 4 junior golf is well underway, and it’s great to see another strong turnout with 40 kids involved in our junior program.
We’re currently running two classes on Tuesdays and two on Sundays, along with plenty of individual lessons throughout the week.
The program is going really well, and it’s awesome to see all the kids enjoying themselves, improving their golf, and having plenty of fun along the way.
It’s been great watching the juniors develop their skills and confidence, and I’m looking forward to another enjoyable term of junior golf!
Diego Rosson, PGA Trainee & Junior Golf Coordinator
HC GOLF – PRO SHOP NEWS
Hi everyone,
Firstly, I'd just like to say a big thank you to all the members who came along and supported our long weekend sale. We really appreciate your support, not just over the weekend, but over the past two years we've been here at Pukekohe Golf Club.
Before we know it, Christmas will be here, and we've got plenty happening in the pro shop and around the golf club as we head into summer!
New Summer Stock & Footwear
We've had plenty of our new summer range arrive, including the latest men's and ladies' golf shoes.
Just remember, we can't stock every shoe from FootJoy, Ecco and Asics. However, if you see something you like that we don't have in store, we can certainly look at ordering it for you.
We can help you work out the correct size and get the shoes you're after, so don't be afraid to ask.
Titleist Ball Fitting – Wednesday 18th November
We've got Jayden from Titleist coming back for another ball fitting day!
We only have 8 spots available, and this was extremely popular last time, so make sure you get in quick.
It's a great opportunity to find out which Titleist golf ball is best suited to your game. Jayden will take you through the fitting process and help you find the right ball.
Give the pro shop a call to secure your spot.
Titleist Club Fitting – Tuesday 1st December
Jayden will also be back on the 1st of December for a Titleist club fitting day.
A perfect opportunity to treat yourself to an early Christmas present!
A lot of our members have already been fitted by Jayden and can't speak highly enough of him. He's extremely knowledgeable and very good at what he does.
Again, bookings are essential, so give us a call at the pro shop.
New Cobra Offset Driver
We've also got the new Cobra Offset driver in store.
If you're someone who struggles with a big slice and doesn't have the time to spend hours working on your swing, this could be the driver for you!
It's an extremely forgiving driver designed to help straighten up your ball flight and hopefully find a few more fairways.
We've got a ladies' demo and two men's demo drivers available, so come in and give one a try.
MGI Electric Trundlers
Just a reminder that we've got MGI electric trundlers available to demo.
If you've been thinking about getting one, come down and take one out for a spin on the course. It's the best way to see how they work before making a decision.
Time for New Grips?
With summer just around the corner, it's a great time to check the grips on your clubs.
If they're starting to feel a little worn or slippery, come and see us.
We're fully stocked with a great range of grips, including:
Golf Pride – the world's number one grip brand
Infinity grips
Iomic grips
SuperStroke putter grips
The SuperStroke putter grips have been extremely popular, and we've got a good range available to suit different putting styles.
Come down, have a feel and see what works best for you.
Director of Golf Update
Club Championships
We're right in the thick of things with our Club Championships at the moment, and there's already been some fantastic golf played.
I'm looking forward to seeing who comes out on top over the coming weeks. Best of luck to everyone still involved!
It's certainly a busy time of year around the club, and with summer just around the corner, we're expecting things to get even busier.
Tee Time Bookings – A Reminder to Members
One thing I'd just like to remind everyone about is making sure you cancel your tee time if you're no longer able to play.
We've noticed quite a few occasions recently where members have booked tee times but haven't turned up or removed their names from the booking sheet.
As we head into the busier months, tee times are becoming more valuable, particularly during our popular playing times.
If you can't make your booking, can you please remove your name from the tee sheet as soon as possible? This allows another member the opportunity to jump into that spot and enjoy a game.
We completely understand that plans change and things come up at the last minute, but we'd really appreciate everyone's help with this.
Thanks Again!
Finally, thanks again to everyone for your continued support of HC Golf and the golf club.
We've got a busy few months ahead, and we're looking forward to another great summer of golf at Pukekohe.
See you all out on the course!
Hamish & the HC Golf Team
Used or Unwanted Golf Balls
Have a few spare golf balls sitting in your bag or garage? We’d greatly appreciate any donations of used or unwanted balls for our Junior Programme.
The Pro Shop is collecting them for Diego to use during junior coaching sessions. They’re always put to good use!
Thank you in advance for supporting our young golfers!!
Thanks to our 'Newsletter' Sponsors...
654 Karaka Road, Karaka, New Zealand 09 294 8822
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