Rarangi Golf Club – nestled between forest-clad hills and the Cloudy Bay beach –is the gem of Marlborough golf courses. The only truly all-year round course, Rarangi provides 18 holes of challenging golf for all grades of golfer. Tree-lined and flat with some of the most testing greens in the “top-of-the South” the course may be enjoyed at any time of the year. A new irrigation system will ensure
optimum playing conditions throughout the summer months and the free-draining soils provide dry-foot conditions in the winter months. Rarangi lies about 20 kms north of Blenheim just off the main highway to Picton. The Club has a membership of about 300 members and employs two paid greens staff – a senior Green keeper and a grounds man. The Club is managed by a volunteer committee who are supported by a willing workforce of members at working bees and carrying out everyday maintenance work freeing the greens staff for ongoing development of the course. The Rarangi Golf Club recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the top courses in the “Top-of-the-South”. A popular course for major competitions and inter-provincial events it also has a reputation for being one of the most welcoming to visitors with its friendly members and social clubhouse. Key holes on the course include:
the 4th – ‘Lone Pine’ which boasts the oldest tree on the course in a most strategic position often making the second shot to the green more difficult than the player might wish; and the sloping green places a premium on finding a spot below the flag for the first putt. the 8th – ‘ ‘ is fairly gentle dog-leg right, but get it wrong and the second shot to the long narrow green becomes much more of a problem, and again the sloping green means getting it right is important! the 12th – ‘ ‘ is an interesting par 3, just 119 metres off the club tees. Depending on the wind on the day the club used can vary from a 7 iron to a pitching wedge! the 14th – ‘ ‘ a par 4 with a very narrow driving channel between trees on the right and out-of-bounds on the left. No 1 stroke hole. It deserves its rating. the 18th – ‘ ‘ homeward bound with a fairly easy par 5. Dog-leg right off the tee and a straight shot to a sloping green. Get it right and a birdie is possible. A good way to finish a round of golf! Come and enjoy.
