The Honesty Box at Roxburgh
One of the curiosities of golf are the honesty box courses- where the club economics, or remote location means there is no full time administration open to take green fee payments.
Often these courses are only nine holes and have fairly modest club houses and facilities.
Members pitch in and contribute to the up keep of the courses.
Nevertheless one should not be too quick to dismiss these courses.
This ongoing article is intended to celebrate and share with all Travelling Golfers the joy of coming across another Honesty Box course..
1. Roxburgh GC, New Zealand
Roxburgh GC hole 4 tee
Roxburgh Golf Club is located on the road from Queenstown to Dunedin on New Zealand's south island.
The course is defined by the rocky schist outcrops that dominate the landcape.
It is somewhat of a 'links type course' meandering through the ancient metamorphic terrain.
Roxburgh can be likened to Arrowtown Golf Club, which is another personal favourite in a similar landscape.
Roxburgh is a short course- 4372 metres for men off the tips and only 4079 metres for women.
It is a unique golfing experience, and great fun.
Roxburgh GC- hole 17 tee shot
2. Vik Golf Club, Iceland
Vik GC- hole 4
Located in the seaside town of Vik, the nine hole golf course of the same name is routed hard against the base of towering basalt cliffs only 500 metres or so from the ocean.
The club was established in 1992 and the course designed by Hannes Thorsteinsson, one of Iceland's professional golf course designers.
Vik is a relatively simple course, with no airs and graces- but it can be challenging all the same.
It is all pretty low key- there is even an honesty box for green fees when times are quiet, and it is possible to hire clubs..
With the wind howling some holes play long, and others are tight- play the 9 holes again and you will benefit from knowing the lines of play.
The course is great fun and not to be missed for any golfer who travels to the area for the sightseeing.
But whatever you do, don't miss Skogafoss Waterfall, the power of the sea at Dyrholaey, the puffin birds, Solheimajokull Glacier, and the black beach..
3. Augusta GC, Western Australia
Augusta GC , WA
Not far from Margaret River, the Augusta Golf Course threads its way through a forest of peppermint and grass trees.
It boasts views of the river mouth and open sea.
It is very much a natural course with minimal earth works
The movement in the land remains much as it was in the 1920s when the course was conceived.
Augusta is generally ranked as the no.1 sand green course in Western Australia.
..and 35th best of all courses in Western Australia by Top 100 Golf Courses.com
And it is an honesty box course!
Thanks to Morgan and Bridget Sant for their contribution.
4. St Andrews Golf Club, New Zealand
St Andrews GC, New Zealand
There are two golf courses in New Zealand named St Andrews Golf Course.
There is or was a course in the South Island named St Andrews, but sadly it closed in 2018 due to lack of business.
There is however another St Andrews course on the north island at Hamilton Golf Club.
That course is in good condition!
Thanks to Morgan and Bridget Sant for their contribution.
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