Maramarua Golf Club is an 18-hole country course at 40 Golf Rd, Mangatawhiri, just off State Highway 2 near Pokeno and roughly 30 minutes south of Manukau. It is a par-71 layout on mostly flat, walkable land, open to the public seven days a week, with a driving range, putting green, pro shop and a licensed clubhouse. This guide sets out what the course is like to play, what it costs in the current season, how membership works, and the practical details you need before booking a round.
Where Maramarua Golf Club Is and How to Get There
Maramarua Golf Club is located at 40 Golf Rd, Mangatawhiri (postal address RD2 Pokeno), a short distance off State Highway 2 in the countryside between south Auckland and the northern Waikato. For most Auckland golfers it is about a 30-minute drive from Manukau and roughly 45 minutes from the central city, which makes it one of the more accessible rural courses for players who want to leave the busier metropolitan clubs behind for a morning.
The setting is the main draw. The course sits in open farmland with gentle contours rather than dramatic hills, so it plays as a genuine country round: quiet, uncrowded and easy to walk. If you are still deciding where to play in the wider region, it pairs naturally with other courses south of the city such as golf at Pukekohe, and you can read a shorter overview of this club on the companion page covering Maramarua golf.
Key Points
- Type: 18-hole, par-71 public country course.
- Location: 40 Golf Rd, Mangatawhiri, off State Highway 2 near Pokeno (postal RD2 Pokeno).
- From Auckland: about 30 minutes from Manukau, roughly 45 minutes from the city centre.
- Length: about 5,574 m from the blue tees; shorter yellow and orange options available.
- Facilities: driving range (grass and mat), putting green, short-game area, pro shop, licensed clubhouse and cafe.
- Green fees: (18 holes weekday), (18 holes weekend), (9 holes).
- Contact: 09 232 5702, [email protected].
Contact and opening details
The club office can be reached on 09 232 5702 or by email at [email protected]. Club golf on Saturdays typically starts in the morning, with casual green-fee times available later in the day, so visitors are best to call or book online rather than turning up unannounced on a competition morning.
The Course: An 18-Hole Par-71 Country Layout
The championship course at Maramarua is an 18-hole, par-71 layout that measures about 5,574 metres from the blue tees. The land is mainly flat with gentle elevation changes, which keeps it an easy walk for players of any age, but the challenge comes from tree lines, well-placed bunkers and out-of-bounds areas that guard several greens. Wide fairways reward confident driving on the longer holes, while the shorter par 4s and the par 3s put a premium on accurate iron play and sensible club selection.
| Tee | Par | Length | Slope (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue (men) | 71 | 5,574 m | 113 |
| Yellow | 71 | 5,394 m | 114 |
| Orange (mixed) | 67 | 3,157 m | Not rated |
The tee options let the course suit a range of abilities: the blue and yellow markers give a full-length par-71 test, while the shorter orange tees at par 67 make for a gentler round for beginners, juniors and anyone easing back into the game.
How the front and back nine play
The course is a traditional two-loop layout of two nines. The front nine rewards steady driving and gives you a chance to build a score before the turn. The back nine mixes in shorter, more technical holes where thinking about your landing zone matters more than raw distance — a good drive out of position is worth less here than a shorter shot in the right place. Because the fairways are generous but the trouble is specific, course management pays off: leaving yourself the correct angle into a green often saves more shots than trying to overpower the hole. If you are still learning how scoring works, our explainer on what a birdie is in golf is a useful primer before you keep score here.
Course condition through the seasons
Maramarua has a solid reputation for its condition, and the way it plays changes with the weather. In dry summer months the fairways firm up and give plenty of run, so the ball travels further off the tee and approach shots release more on landing. In wetter periods the ground holds shots more and the course plays longer. The greens are generally kept at a medium, fair pace rather than being tricked up for tournament speed, which makes the course approachable for higher handicappers while still testing better players.
Current Green Fees and Visitor Information
Maramarua welcomes casual players and visiting groups, and its green fees are among the more affordable in the region. In the current season the standard rates are $40 for 18 holes on weekdays and $45 for 18 holes at weekends, with 9 holes charged at $25 any day. Members can bring guests at a reduced rate, and a discount card is available for players who visit regularly.
- 18 holes (weekday): $40.00
- 18 holes (weekend): $45.00
- 9 holes: $25.00
- Member’s guest (18 holes): $30.00, maximum three guests per member
- 4-round discount card: $120.00, usable any day, one per player
- Motorised cart hire: $45.00 for 18 holes, $22.50 for 9 holes
A motorised cart is worth considering in summer or for players who would rather save their legs over 18 holes; you can compare the options in our guide to golf carts in New Zealand. Group rates are available for larger bookings on request.
Booking your tee time
Tee times can be booked online through the club’s booking system or by phoning the office on 09 232 5702. For large social groups, corporate days or events that need catering, book well ahead so the clubhouse and kitchen can be reserved for your group. Weekend mornings are the busiest because of club competitions, so midweek is usually the easiest time for visitors to get a preferred slot.
Membership Options and What They Include
Maramarua offers a range of membership tiers designed to fit different budgets and schedules, and its full-playing subscription works out to roughly $16 a week — modest for unlimited access to an 18-hole course. The figures below reflect the club’s most recently published annual schedule; confirm the current-season price with the office before joining, as fees are reviewed each year.
- Full Playing (7-day): $830 per year — unlimited access and entry to all club competitions.
- Midweek: $498 per year — Monday to Friday access, suited to retirees and flexible workers.
- 9-Hole Women: $498 per year.
- Colts (19–24 years): $498 per year.
- Juniors (under 19): $110 per year.
- Under 35 / Over 35 pay-as-you-play: $250 per year plus $15 per round.
- Corporate: from $1,620 for two cards (no handicap attached).
Subscriptions run for 12 months from the date of joining, and an administration charge applies if you pay in instalments rather than in one payment. Full and midweek members receive an official handicap, priority booking and eligibility for inter-club pennant golf within the Auckland district.
Fees and Membership at a Glance
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 18 holes (weekday) | .00 | Standard green fee |
| 18 holes (weekend) | .00 | Standard green fee |
| 9 holes | .00 | Any day |
| Member’s guest (18) | .00 | Max 3 guests per member |
| 4-round discount card | 0.00 | Any day, one per player |
| Cart hire (18 / 9) | .00 / .50 | Motorised |
| Full Playing membership | 0 / year | 7-day, unlimited |
| Midweek membership | 8 / year | Monday to Friday |
| Junior (under 19) | 0 / year | — |
| Corporate | from ,620 | Two cards, no handicap |
Handicaps, affiliation and inter-club golf
Being an affiliated member gives you more than course access — it puts you into the national handicapping system, so your scores are tracked and you can enter regional competitions on a fair footing. If you are new to the idea, our guide to what a handicap is in golf explains how the number is calculated and why it matters. Affiliation also typically brings green-fee benefits when you visit other affiliated clubs around the country, which adds value if you like to play different courses.
Practice Facilities and Improving Your Game
Practice options at Maramarua are better than many small country clubs offer, which makes it a practical base for working on your game as well as playing. The club has a driving range with both grass and mat hitting surfaces, a putting green and a short-game area, plus a pro shop for gear, hire clubs and advice.
| Facility | Who it is for | What you use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Driving range | Members and public | Warming up and working on the full swing and ball flight |
| Putting green | All players | Judging green speed before you tee off |
| Short-game area | All players | Chipping and pitching from around the green |
| Pro shop | Retail and hire | Equipment, club hire and fitting advice |
| Changing rooms | All players | Getting ready before and after a round |
If you are travelling to the course and want to warm up first, it helps to know how a purpose-built range works; see our overview of a driving range for how to use practice time well.
The Clubhouse: Food, Bar and Functions
The clubhouse is the social centre of the club and a comfortable place to eat before or after a round. An on-site cafe and kitchen serve meals and refreshments in a relaxed, country style, and the licensed bar is a natural spot to settle the round over a drink. The clubhouse also has banquet space, which the club hires out for private functions, corporate days and community events, so it works as a venue as well as a nineteenth hole. For groups, booking catering in advance is the difference between a smooth day and a scramble at lunchtime.
Tournaments and Competitions
Maramarua runs a full calendar of competitions across the year, drawing players from both the Auckland and Waikato regions. Events are run to Golf New Zealand standards, so they are a fair test whether you are chasing a trophy or simply want structured, competitive golf.
- ANZAC tournament: a fixture of the autumn calendar.
- Women’s championship events: long-running women’s competitions with a strong club history.
- Midweek opens: regular events for players with flexible schedules.
- Christmas tournaments: social 9- and 18-hole rounds to close the year.
- Multi-round challenges: longer strokeplay formats for dedicated competitors.
Entry is generally open to affiliated members, and some events welcome visitors — the office can confirm eligibility and entry for any given date.
Equipment and Preparation Tips for the Course
A little preparation makes a country course like Maramarua more enjoyable. Because the fairways firm up and give run in summer, and hold more in winter, adjusting your expectations for distance and roll each visit is worth doing before you tee off.
- Footwear: shoes with good traction help on grass fairways, especially after rain.
- Ball choice: a durable, mid-compression ball suits the mixed local conditions.
- Transport: the course is walkable, but a hire cart saves energy over 18 holes in the heat.
- Warm-up: use the range and putting green first so your yardages and green speed are dialled in.
If you are building or trimming your set before you play, it is worth knowing the limit the rules put on your bag — our guide to how many clubs you can carry covers the 14-club rule and what to leave out.
Common Mistakes Visitors Make
The most common mistake is turning up on a Saturday morning expecting an open tee, when club competitions usually have priority; midweek or a pre-booked weekend slot avoids the wait. A second is assuming the flat land makes the course easy — the trouble is specific rather than obvious, so ignoring bunkers and out-of-bounds off the tee costs shots. A third is over-clubbing or under-clubbing because the ground was firmer or softer than expected; check how much run you are getting on the first couple of holes and adjust. Finally, groups that want food often forget to arrange catering ahead of time, which the club needs notice for.
Who Maramarua Golf Club Suits
Maramarua suits players who want a relaxed, affordable country round within easy reach of Auckland rather than a manicured resort experience. Beginners and juniors are well served by the shorter orange tees and the practice facilities; mid-handicappers get a fair par-71 test without punishing green speeds; and social groups and corporate parties are catered for by the clubhouse and function space. It is a strong fit for regular players who value a low weekly membership cost and for visitors passing between Auckland and the Waikato who want a quiet, well-kept course to break up the drive.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Maramarua Golf Club open to the public?
Yes. Maramarua welcomes casual green-fee players seven days a week, though booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends when club competitions have priority in the mornings.
What are the green fees at Maramarua Golf Club?
In the current season the standard fees are $40 for 18 holes on weekdays, $45 for 18 holes at weekends, and $25 for 9 holes any day. A member’s guest pays $30 for 18 holes, and a 4-round discount card is available for $120.
How far is Maramarua Golf Club from Auckland?
The club is at 40 Golf Rd, Mangatawhiri, off State Highway 2 near Pokeno. It is roughly a 30-minute drive from Manukau and about 45 minutes from the Auckland city centre.
Does Maramarua have a driving range and carts for hire?
Yes. There is a driving range with grass and mat surfaces, a putting green and a short-game area, and motorised carts are available for hire at $45 for 18 holes or $22.50 for 9 holes.
How much does membership cost at Maramarua Golf Club?
The most recently published schedule lists full 7-day playing membership at $830 a year and midweek membership at $498, with junior, colts, women’s, pay-as-you-play and corporate categories also available. Confirm the current-season price with the office, as fees are reviewed each year.
