Golf, Golf & More Golf...                 

TO AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF GOLFERS,
NEW ZEALAND IS THE WORLD'S NEWEST PLAYGROUND!        

We have many lovely, old courses, but now also are attracting the top course designers and many world-class golfers as well.  The reasons are numerous:  Golf here is less expensive than in most countries in the world. New Zealand offers over 380 courses, the highest number of courses per capita anywhere in the world.  And, the fact that a round of golf can be played at pretty much anytime during the day is a great magnet, as tee times are not difficult to obtain.

No matter what experience you have as a golfer there are opportunities for you to experience the thrills, challenges & excitement that golf in the Southern Hemisphere can provide.

"For anyone seeking a pure experience that brings you back in touch with the values of the game, New Zealand delivers the kind of balm for the soul that so many of us have sought in Scotland, only to find, upon arrival, busloads of people like us instead." 
Jeff Neuman, Links Magazine, September/October 2005

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course
New Zealand's most magnificent golf course opened on the ridges of spectacular Cape Kidnappers in January 2004. It was selected as the "Best New Course" built in 2004 anywhere in the World by Travel and Leisure Golf magazine. And, Cape Kidnappers is now the Top Rated Golf Course In New Zealand according to Golf Digest (May, 2005) and Golf Magazine (August, 2005). And, Esquire Magazine (August, 2005) has called a round at Cape Kidnappers one of the "Top 10 Life-Enhancing Experiences" in the World!

The 18-hole championship course was designed by Tom Doak and is owned by American Julian Robertson, the owner of Kauri Cliffs. The course sits on the ocean peninsula better known as the home to the world's most accessible gannet colony. The play is seaside golf at its finest with the ocean some 500 feet below. The fairways are fast and firm, the rough is impossible, and the conditions can be windy, so the player who can hit straight and control trajectory will master the course. 

"Perched on fingers of land nearly 500 feet above Hawke's Bay, this vertigo-inducing course, created by ravines and patrolled by gannets, belongs more to heaven than to earth," said writer Brian McCollen of Travel & Leisure Golf.

Located just 30 minutes from The Masters Lodge. Jeremy Carlsen - Director of Golf;
Phone: ++646 875 1900; email: proshop@capekidnappers.com; Par 71

Hastings Golf Club
The Hastings Golf Club is better known both nationally and internationally as "Bridge Pa". It was established in 1898.  This 18-hole championship course is beautifully tree-lined and set in 200 acres of park-like surroundings. The 6220m layout is one of the best groomed in the country year in and year out. The magnificent fully irrigated fairways are a mix of common couch with imported fescue and native rye grasses that result in an always-green ¡°two grass¡± mix that rivals Royal Melbourne.

The course is fully matured and offers excellent practice facilities including a 6 hole beginners' course, two full length practice driving fairways, a sand-bunkered practice chipping green and a full sized practice putting green.

Located within 20 minutes of The Masters Lodge, the course, office and pro shop are open 7 days; full bar and catering facilities are available daily except Mondays. Manager - Greig Herbert; Course Professional - Ross Morpeth; Phone: ++646 879 7206; email: hastings@golf.co.nz; Par: 72

Napier Golf Club
Established in 1896 and playing much longer than its 5962m from the blue tees, "Waiohiki¡" is a strong and strategic test of golf that will not disappoint the better player. The Napier Golf Club hosted the first ever New Zealand Open in 1907. Kapi Tareha, the first Maori to win the NZ Amateur, was a member in the 1920's.

Fairways are wide and very gently undulating, lined by a mix of trees that includes poplars, pines and natives. Many of the greens are huge, with a depth of 5 or more clubs.

Located just 15 minutes from The Masters Lodge, it is an 18-hole championship course providing challenging golf for all. General Manager - Tanya Dearns; Club Professional - Kim Southerden; Phone: ++646 844 7913; email: napier@golf.co.nz; Par: 72

Hawkes Bay Golf Club
Twenty minutes drive south-west of The Masters Lodge will bring you to one of the surprises of Hawke's Bay. The youngest of the five major golf courses in the Bay, Hawkes Bay Golf Club was formerly known as the Flaxmere Golf Club. The course is built on 142 acres and was designed by Commander John Harris. It was opened in 1969 with magnificent tree-lined, browntop and fescue fairways and large Pencross greens.

The tranquil setting has attracted much wildlife to join you on your way around the course. Tui can often be heard in the trees, while at ground level the doves gather to watch the golfers amble by. There are also wild duck, plover, heron and the very noisy pied stilts, which regularly nest in and populate the water hazards about the course. In addition to the wildlife, the course offers magnificent views, with Te Mata peak to the east and the Northern Ruahine mountains to the west. The course is long and features 37 bunkers and several water hazards.

Manager - Kerry Brosnan; Phone: ++646 879 8890; email: hawkes.bay@golf.co.nz;    Par: 73

Maraenui Golf Club
Maraenui is located just 5 minutes from The Masters Lodge.  A 5-iron from the sea and protected from the warm summer sun by tree-lined fairways, this course offers tightly sculptured fairways and creative bunkering. Whether you are long or short off the tee, Maraenui requires accuracy and skill. Manager - Allan Shaw; Phone: ++646 835 8273; email: maraenui@golf.co.nz; Par: 72

 
And, Have You Tried Field Golf?

Te Pohue and Wairunga are challenging 9-hole golf courses popular for their rural farm settings. Te Pohue, 40km north of Napier on the Napier-Taupo highway and Wairunga, 40km south of Napier, have many obstacles including sheep and cattle on the fairways and tui in the bush. 

Wairunga's 220 hectares are still operated as a sheep and cattle farm and the Romney ewe flock now maintains the fairways. The lodge and golf course stand at an altitude of 480 metres above sea level. The course provides views to the Pacific Ocean and the stunning white cliffs of Bare Island. In addition to the golf, there is a croquet lawn, petanque court and swimming pool. Owners - John & Paulette Parker; Phone: ++646 874 6839; email: wairunga@xtra.co.nz.

Te Pohue operates on an honour-box basis with access freely available to golfers.  Secretary - Mrs. Coles; Phone: ++646 839 1610; email: tepohue@golf.co.nz.

 
Other Outstanding Courses In New Zealand

In the Northland, Kauri Cliffs combines one of the toughest tests of golf you will find anywhere, with spectacular views of the Bay of Islands.  Designed by David Harmon, Kauri Cliffs is one of New Zealand's highest rated courses, No. 49 in Golf magazine's 2003 list. Only 45 minutes away, you can play Waitangi, a short, not too demanding challenge, but with views you will never forget. The Kaitaia Golf Club in Ahipara, at the foot of Ninety Mile Beach, is a hidden gem!

In Auckland, you have resort-style golf at nearby Formosa and Gulf Harbour, both venues in recent years hosting professional events, or the more traditional New Zealand challenges Titirangi, Remuera and The Grange.

The Central North Island offers many options.  Rotorua Golf Club, better known as Arikikapakapa, is known for its boiling thermal mud pools on course, so hitting straight is important.  Within an hour's drive from Rotorua, you can visit Mount Maunganui Golf Club and see surf and white sand running for miles. 

You can go to Taupo and play Wairakei International, a thinking golfer's course, and one of our very best.  The course opened to much acclaim in 1970 and was ranked as high as 17 outside USA by Golf Digest in 1996.  And, Golf's most-acclaimed player, Jack Nicklaus, opened his first Signature Golf Course in New Zealand with the unveiling of The Kinloch Club on the shores of Lake Taupo on 16 March 2007!  Nicklaus has designed over 300 courses in 30 countries. Kinloch, though, was a special project for Nicklaus who became endeared to the region many years before through his passion for fly-fishing. The Kinloch Club is one of only 25 around the globe to be included in the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, a collection of Signature Courses in destinations hand-picked by Nicklaus himself as the best of his designed courses!

In the Lower North Island, Paraparaumu Beach is a popular pure links course.  The course has been host to 10 New Zealand Open Championships, most recently including Tiger Woods.  Rated for many years as one of the top 100 courses in the world by Golf Digest, it is definitely worth a visit.

The South Island features golf courses in most towns, but if based in either Christchurch or Queenstown you have a range of options. In Christchurch, you will receive a warm welcome at Christchurch and Russley Golf Clubs where many major events have been played.  You can try Terrace Downs or the new resort course of Clearwater that is only minutes from the airport.

In Queenstown you can play at Queenstown Golf Club, famous for its scenery, or Sir Bob Charles'- designed resort course at Millbrook.  And, from the back tees, Arrowtown Golf Course is the toughest 5,860-yeard course you'll ever play, and more fun than golf should be.  Not too far away you can experience Central Otago at Cromwell, Wanaka or Alexandra golf courses. And, the Invercargill Golf Club at Otatara is certainly one of New Zealand's outstanding courses as well.

This is just a starting point to give you some idea of the adventure that awaits you.  Please consult further with your travel agent, tour operator, or let us know if we can assist you in any way! 

 
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