Be exposed to the golf courses in New Zealand that New Zealanders play and experience every day. It is easy to play golf in New Zealand.
Our newer resort golf courses such as Jacks Point, The Hills, Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers are spectacular both in their golfing and their location. Notable golf tournaments are played at all New Zealand golf resorts which gives you the experience to walk the footsteps of the world’s best golfers
Everyone wants to play at the very best but we want to introduce some special golf experiences at heartland New Zealand golf courses on which the New Zealand golfing community plays. You can mingle with the regular New Zealand golfer at, for example, some of the Queenstown or Hawkes Bay golf clubs.
There are over 400 registered New Zealand golf courses -uncrowded and special and with our small population that gives us a very high ratio.
We have many links golf courses on our long coastline but links courses are replicated inland too, in our rural towns and cities such as in Arrowtown. Our old rural courses were often built prior to much housing and our New Zealand golfers delight in their clifftop sites and brilliant locations, wide open for the golfing community to use. These rural golf courses are often the centre of the town’s social life and activity.
The tournament quality Matt Dye designed Carrington Club is New Zealand’s Northernmost resort golf course. Its unique feature is that although it has an oceanside location it plays like an inland golf course complete with rolling hills, vales and natural water hazards. The natural contours of its location are impressive on the gentle sloping lower levels of a hill, adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. Luxury on-course lodge and villa accommodation available.
Kauri Cliffs - Northland area
Considered perhaps New Zealand’s most prestigious golf course. Designed by David Harman, the course is stunningly situated overlooking the Cavalli Islands on 4000 acres of rolling coastal farmland. Kauri Cliffs blends and harmonises with the natural features of the land and is spectacular.
Supremely luxurious on-course villa accommodation available of the highest premier standards.
Gulf Harbour Country Club - Auckland area
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. this oceanfront course has spectacular views of the distant islands of the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City. It was the scene of the 1998 World Cup of Golf, the New Zealand Open in February 2005 and will be host again in November 2006.
Luxury Lodge accommodation available within five minutes walk.
Formosa Auckland Country Club - Auckland area
Situated on the beautiful Pohutukawa Coast and designed by Sir Bob Charles the course was modeled on the Augusta National Golf Course home of the US Masters. With its clifftop and coastal fairways, encompassing views of the Hauraki Gulf along with hundreds of pohutukawa (The NZ Christmas Tree) and palm trees it is a picturesque course.
On course luxury villa accommodation available
The Lakes Resort Pauanui - Coromandel Peninsula area
Situated on the picturesque heavily forested Coromandel Peninsula with its white sand beaches and glorious off shore vistas. This course, a little slice of paradise nestled in a sun drenched valley and surrounded by forestry is New Zealand's newest golf resort. This visually stunning valley with its abundance of wildlife and wetlands inspired the creation of this natural course. It is a tribute to its' designers - Sid Puddicombe Associates. Luxury lodge accommodation available within 5-20 minutes drive at Pauanui and Tairua.
Wairakei International Golf Course - Taupo area
A mature course set in the heart of Wairakei Scenic Tourist Park, the course has been rated by US Golf Digest to be in the Top 20 courses in the world outside the USA. Opened in 1970 Wairakei lies on natural rolling contours and was developed to meet the rigorous designed standards required for world class golf. It is the natural beauty and sheer experience of the property that make this one of New Zealand’s truly great courses.
Luxury off course accommodation available nearby.
Kinloch Club - Taupo area
Jack Nicklaus played an exhibition in New Zeaamd 45 years ago and fell hard for the place. But despite having designed courses in 30 countries, Nicklaus had not left his mark on the Land of the Long White Cloud until now. After 4 years of planning and construction overlooking moody Lake Taupo in volcanic terrain, Nicklaus has completed The Kinloch Club. The course rumbles across a dramatically undulating landscape punctuated by exposed rock. Its fairways are contoured and conditioned for ground play and flecked with dishevelled bunkers.
Cape Kidnappers - Hawkes Bay area
In January 2004 New Zealand’s Tom Doak designed, newest golf course opened. The Pacific Ocean rolls beneath and every hole has an ocean view. Doak’s minimalist approach to design is evident as little earth has been moved in the course’s natural creation. Cape Kidnappers is a special site with links to New Zealand’s important Maori culture and to Captain Cook who named the cape but it is most famously known for its often visited gannet colony. Exclusive off course accommodation available nearby.
Bridge Pa (Hastings Golf Club) - Hawkes Bay area
Hastings golf Club located in Maraekakaho Road, Bridge Pa, is ranked amongst the Top 10 New Zealand golf courses. You'll find a round of golf at Bridge Pa a challenging and enjoyable experience set amid picturesque surroundings. There is excellent accommodation in Havelock North and a luxury lodge only 5 minutes from the course.
Napier Golf Club - Hawkes Bay area
Napier Golf Club, over the years has been the site of many New Zealand and inter-provincial tournaments, in fact hosting the first ever New Zealand Open in 1907.
Centrally located on State Highway 50, the Waiohiki links provides an easy walking 18-hole championship course, which is a challenging test of golf for both the beginner and low handicapper. A huge variety of accommodation is situated in nearby Napier.
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course - Wellington area
It is a true links test with the best in design, shot making and world class greens. It has been the scene of the NZ Open on ten occasions. Played and praised by local golfers and visitors alike, Paraparaumu is a rural course of international standard and is the only New Zealand course played by Tiger Woods.
Exclusive off course accommodation available where Tiger stayed.
Clearwater Resort - Christchurch area
The course reflects the nature of the low lying Canterbury Plains with the backdrop of the Southern Alps evident in the distance. The home of the NZPGA championship and was designed by John Darby and Sir Bob Charles. The course combines elements of links golf inspired by the great Scottish courses with parklands golf reminiscent of the Florida courses .
Luxury on course villa accommodation available.
Pegasus Golf Club - Christchurch area
Set near the foothills of the South Island's magnificent Southern Alps, Pegasus in North Canterbury is in one of New Zealand's most picturesque and diverse landscapes. The central feature of the Mapleham development is the 18 hole golf championship length course, master planned by Francis Whitaker of Mason and Wales. The course has been sculpted along the lines of traditional inland courses and has been carefully designed to preserve the area's existing topography. Enriched by mature trees, swathes of native grasses, wetland areas, waterways and 11 feature lakes Pegasus Golf Course sits comfortable in its pastoral environment.
Terrace Downs High Country Resort - Christchurch area
It is an experience to play here. Close to high country sheep farms and in amongst the Southern Alps it seems suspended above the milky Rakaia River Gorge with deep views down from several tees and greens. Mt Hutt famous for its skifield, majestically overlooks this latest golf resort of international standard.
Luxury on course villa accommodation available.
Jacks Point - Queenstown area
With a backdrop of 2300 vertical metres of the razorback Remarkables mountain range and an armchair view of an outstanding lake and mountain panorama Jacks Point Golf Course is not only one of the most spectacular in the world but as an 18 hole, par 72 championship course it offers golfers of any calibre a challenging and unforgettable experience. The course works with nature, not against it. Designed with minimal excavation it measures 6338 metres (6986 yards) from the championship tees and is built on the most spectacular of Jacks Point terrain, weaving through tussock grasslands, dramatic rock outcrops , steep bluffs and native bush to the edge of Lake Wakatipu.
Millbrook Golf Resort - Queenstown area
Designed by NZ’s golfing great Sir Bob Charles and set amongst exquisite mountain scenery, Millbrook is a wonderful golfing indulgence. Scratch golfer or high handicapper will have a great round here. Golfers of all levels have been polishing up their putters and heading out to Millbrook to test their skills on the new 9 holes that are now in play. The new holes were designed by the former golf touring pro, turned course designer Greg Turner to bring a whole new layer of strategy to the course. Four holes from the origiinal Sir Bob Charles designed course have been taken out of play for reconfiguration adn realignment. By late 2010 Millbrook Resort will boast 27 holes of golf with three interchangeable nines: The Remarkables Nine, The Coronet Nine and the Arrow Nine. Superior on course villa and lodge accommodation available.
The Hills - Queenstown area
New Zealand's most exclusive privately owned course. The Hills was designed by Darby Partners and opened in 2007 to host the New Zealand Open. Set over 500 acres of land across a glacial valley, The Hills is home to an incredible array of flora including native brown top grasses and wild native mountain tussocks. Sculptures created by New Zealand artists complement the natural beauty of the course's lakes, waterways and wetland areas. Winter snow and frost conditions provide the ideal climate for the finest grasses suited to the modern game of golf.
Arrowtown - Queenstown area
Arrowtown is rated 20th best course in New Zealand and is a a must play while in Central Otago. This picturesque and unique course is set in one of New Zealand's most historic, scenic regions surrounded by mountains. The 18 hole course has superb views from every fairway. Each hole has its own attraction and the diverse and challenging course nestles among towering trees, historic cottage ruins and natural hazard huge boulders -all legacies of the area's pioneers. Arrowtown's link with its goldmining past is reflected in the names of the holes: Sons of Fortune and Golden Arrow which border the once goldbearing Arrow River. Queenstown and Arrowtown have a myriad of accommodation places.
Kelvin Heights (Queenstown Golf Club) - Queenstown area
Queenstown Golf Course locally known as Kelvin Heights is situated in a peninsula setting, surrounded by the clean waters of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu. It is in the amphitheatre of the Remarkable Mountains and offers a unique opportunity to play on what is internationally regarded aas one of the most picturesque golf courses in the world. Queenstown has a myriad of accommodation places.
Otago Golf Club - Balmacewan - Dunedin areaEstablished in 1871, the Otago Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the Southern Hemisphere. The undulating championship course, Balmacewan is recognised as one of New Zealand's finest. It has hosted some of the greatest players of our times. The club's invitation is for you to join them. A warm welcome and a true golfing experience awaits you.
Email us to take the first swing towards your New Zealand golf vacation.