| |
 For
some, golf is a passion and the ultimate in relaxation.
Others sometimes believe that they called the game 'golf' because all
the other four-letter words were taken.
But hackers and heroes alike look for three things in golf courses and
New Zealand has them all - accessibility, climate and price. Throw in
beautifully maintained greens and fairways and spectacular natural scenery
and you have golfer's paradise.
NZ has more courses
per capita than any country in the world - over 400 of them - and only
2 of those fall into the 'invitation only' category. Another great thing
about having a round or two is the 'apres-golf' - friendly locals with
whom you already have something in common will make you welcome at the
bar. And, if you want to watch a great golf tournament, the NZ Open
is held in December, alternating between Wellington and Auckland.
You may opt for
a complete golfing holiday (which Travel Online can arrange for you)
or simply have the occasional whack as you travel around the country.
Either way you won't have to drive a fair way to drive a fairway. But
enough bad puns for now, let's tee off…
 Climate
& Cost
 New
Zealand's temperate climate means you can play golf all year round in
all parts of the country and the cost has to be the cheapest in the
world, even before you take the exchange rate into consideration. Although
a few resorts have premium weekend rates as high as $NZ100 per round
(including cart), the average fees are NZ$20 - 30 with cart extra. Some
country courses charge as little as NZ$10. Allow NZ$15 to 30 for cart
hire.
In the following sample of clubs and courses around the country there
is a price guide of 'low' (under NZ$25), 'medium' (NZ$26 - 45) and 'high'
(over NZ$45).
Gear
Hire
It's safe to assume
that the larger towns and cities will have a resident professional as
well as hiring of clubs, shoes, pull-carts or golf cars. Of course you
may like to bring your own gear, or maybe buy it when you arrive. There
are many on-course and off course sports shops that, because of the
exchange rate, could provide some real bargains.
Resort
Golf
 NZ
has several luxury golf resorts, all set in wonderful surroundings.
The Formosa Auckland Country Club has the longest (over 6000m) and most
challenging PGA-rated course. Also in Auckland is the Gulf Harbour Country
Club which hosted the 1988 World Cup.
Stunning Millbrook Resort is in charming Arrowtown in the South Island.
Both these courses were designed by one of NZ's best golfers, Bob Charles.
Terrace Downs, in Methven near Christchurch, is nearly complete and
the famous Wairakei International Course in Taupo is adding luxury hotel
accommodation.
Sample
Courses
We've chosen around
40 of the 400 courses on offer and all are 18 hole courses. Distances
are from the championship tees and are in metres.
|
North
Island: Northland
Region
|
| Kaitaia
Golf Club |
| A magnificent
course set among the sand dunes at the end of Ninety-Mile Beach
with superb greens. Unfortunately there's no cart or club hire,
but the local hospitality makes up for it - there will always
be someone there to open the bar and you can get a game virtually
and day of the year. |
| Green fees:
Low |
| Length: Men
5593m Par 72; Women 4921m Par 72 |
| Kerikeri
Golf Club |
Well-placed
bunkers help make this one of the best courses in Northland. With
five Par Fives there's plenty of birdie opportunities.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low |
| Length: Men
6100m Par 73; Women 5308m Par 73 |
| Waitangi
Golf Club |
Superb sea
views complement a pleasant and relaxing course which features
fairways defined by native manuka trees. Very pleasant indeed.
Bookings essential in peak holiday times and Wednesday and Sunday
mornings. |
| Green fees:
Low |
| Length: Men
5358m Par 70; Women 4918m Par 71 |
|
Whangarei
Golf Club (Mt Denby)
|
Arguably
the prettiest course in Northland. Known locally as Mt Denby,
the course is in the suburb of Kamo.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium |
| Length:
Men 6023m Par 72; Women 5357m Par 73 |
| Gulf
Harbour Country Club |
About an
hours drive north (or 45 minutes on the ferry) this is one of
New Zealand's newest and most spectacular courses. It was host
to the 1998 World Cup, the couch fairways offer excellent lies
at all times and the elevated nature of the course provides magnificent
sea views (also offers a challenge when the winds reach 15 knots!)
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High and vary from weekday to weekend. |
| Length: Men
6483m Par 72; Women 5290m Par 72 |
| Formosa
Auckland Country Club |
Also recently
opened, this course is probably New Zealand's most difficult course
from the championship tees although there are tees to accommodate
all levels of player. The course features couch fairways, large
and plentiful bunkers, ample but not excessive water, over 4000
palm trees and by far the largest greens in the country. From
most holes there are spectacular harbour or estuary views. There
is accommodation in 50 on-site villas and an opulent clubhouse
with a five-star restaurant.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High with special rates for members' guests. |
| Length: Men
6492m Par 72; Women 5149m Par 72 |
| Titirangi
Golf Club |
Attractive,
tree-lined, challenging and enjoyable with a great collection
of par threes which run to all four points of the compass.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length: Men
5870m Par 70; Women 5083m Par 72 |
| The
Grange Golf Club |
This tree-lined,
parkland course has hosted two NZ Opens and has two of the best
finishing holes in Auckland.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length: Men
5974m Par 70; Women 5205m Par 73 |
|
Pukekohe
Golf Club
|
One of the
most testing courses in the region with some of the best par fours
in Auckland.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
5981m Par 71; Women 5168m Par 73 |
| Remuera
Golf Club |
Auckland's
most central course, this is a well-maintained course that is
still maturing (two lakes are recent additions). It hosted the
1994 NZ Open at short notice and drew praise from players and
officials.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length: Men
6128m Par 72; Women 5239m Par 73 |
| Chamberlain
Park Municipal Course |
The country's
oldest public course providing an interesting test of golf.
No pre-bookings. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length:
Men 5678m Par 69; Women 5040m Par 70 |
For
accommodation in Auckland, click
here.
|
North
Island: Bay
of Plenty/Rotorua/Taupo
|
| Tauranga
Golf Club |
Located beside
the Tauranga racecourse means an interesting game on race days.
It's an easy walk, which can produce a good score. Was regularly
the site for the New Zealand PGA Championships.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
5590m Par 71; Women 5154m Par 72 |
| Rotorua
Golf Club (Arikikapakapa) |
Sitting
beside the renowned Whakarewarewa thermal wonderland this course
features many native and exotic trees. It's a fun course with
many traps for the unwary including mud pools.
Bookings recommended (it's a busy tourist town). |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length:
Men 5433m Par 69; Women 5011m Par 70 |
| Wairakei
International Golf Course |
Just north
of Taupo this course was once one of the country's top courses.
It's been recently restored to its former glory and is a must
for any golfer visiting the area. The championship and standard
tees make it interesting for all levels of player.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length:
Men 6414m Par 72; Women 4748m Par 72 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
North
Island: Hawke's
Bay/Eastland
|
| Poverty
Bay Golf Club |
A fine course
with narrow fairways and well-placed bunkers. The first 12 holes
are gentle, the last six a real challenge.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length: Men
6115m Par 72; Women 5309m Par 74 |
| Napier
Golf Club/Waiohiki Links |
This club
is over a century old and the course has a full fairway watering
system to ensure excellent conditions even in the drier months.
A well-laid out and attractive course.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
5951m Par 72; Women 5312m Par 74 |
| Hastings
Golf Club/Bridge Pa |
Full fairway
irrigation (this is a dry area) and a succession of interesting
holes (the 390m 18th provides a real championship finish). There
is also a driving range.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
6257m Par 72; Women 5504m Par 74 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
North
Island: Waikato/Taranaki/Wanganui
|
| Ngaruawahia
Golf Club |
Excellent
drainage means fast greens and being only an hour south of Auckland
this course attracts many city golfers. Interesting without being
intimidating the course sits beside the Waikato River.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low (members only Saturday and Tuesday mornings from February
to October). |
| Length: Men
5995m Par 72; Women 5275m Par 73 |
| Hamilton
Golf Club (St Andrews) |
One of the
country's top layouts, also on the Waikato River. Superb conditions
all year round on a course that has hosted 3 NZ Opens.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
6078m Par 72; Women 4914m Par 72 |
| Taumarunui
Golf Club |
Only basic
facilities but a challenging course set in a beautiful, deep valley.
No pro shop or rental facilities. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length:
Men 5648m Par 71; Women 5085m Par 73 |
| New
Plymouth Golf Club/Ngamotu Links |
Under the
shadow of Mount Taranaki this is one of the best and most popular
courses in the country. No weak holes and many superb ones on
a course that has hosted every major NZ event.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low (great value!) |
| Length:
Men 6082m Par 72; Women 5306m Par 72 |
| Wanganui
Golf Club - Belmont |
A very old,
mature course that rates highly among experienced golfers.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length:
Men 5939m Par 70; Women 5136m Par 74 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
North
Island: Manawatu/Wellington/Wairarapa
|
| Manawatu
Golf Club |
Another of
the country's top courses which has hosted every major event.
An undulating, tree-lined layout that rewards accuracy with greens
that run fast and true.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
6050m Par 72; Women 5117m Par 74 |
| Carterton
Golf Club |
This course
is built on river flats and features attractive wetlands. The
124m par three 12th is a great hole. The green is surrounded by
trees and you have to get on your hands and knees to see the result
of a tee shot.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length:
Men 5665m Par 71; Women 5047m Par 72 |
| Paraparaumu
Golf Club |
New Zealand's
premier course. A genuine links, set amongst sand dunes, this
course looks as if it grew there. A first-class test of golf,
this has been a regular home for the NZ Open for the last 20 years.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High on weekends, lower during the week. |
| Length: Men
5919m Par 71; Women 5208m Par 73 |
| Miramar
Golf Club |
Wellington's
only inner city club (runs beside the airport). It's a mixture
of flat land and dunes and wind is pretty sure to come into play.
There is also a floodlit evening driving range.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High on weekends, reduced mid-week. |
| Length: Men
5635m Par 70; Women 5078m Par 70 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
South
Island:
Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast
|
| Nelson
Golf Club |
| With magnificent
views of the sea and surrounding mountains, the course features
fairly narrow undulating fairways and fast greens. Bookings recommended.
|
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length: Men
6323m Par 72; Women 5474m Par 72 |
| Westport
Golf Club |
The nearby
headland to this coastal course is called Cape Foulwind and the
breeze can indeed present an interesting and enjoyable challenge.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length:
Men 5617m Par 72; Women 5047m Par 72 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
South
Island:
Christchurch/Canterbury
|
| Christchurch
Golf Club/Shirley |
Has hosted
13 NZ Opens and is considered the Number 2 course in the country.
Challenging, sloping greens in an 'English' setting of long-established
trees.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length:
Men 6360m Par 73; Women 5460m Par 74 |
| Russley
Golf Club |
An extremely
well-presented, well-bunkered, tree-lined course. Challenging
but not intimidating.
Bookings essential. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length: Men
6048m Par 73; Women 5497m Par 74 |
| Waitikiri
Golf Club |
This delightful
course is perhaps the tightest in the country. Superb greens with
an English flavour - great place to have a hit and unwind.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
6064m Par 71; Women 5376m Par 73 |
| Methven
Golf Club |
Being on
the way to the Mt Hutt ski area, this is a social centre during
the ski season. Not a 'championship' layout but is enjoyable with
magnificent mountain views and colourful shrubbery.
Bookings recommended (visitors welcome on club days). |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length:
Men 5701m Par 71; Women 5182m Par 73 |
| Timaru
Golf Club/The Levels |
The best
course in the South Canterbury region with undulating, well-bunkered,
tree-lined fairways.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length: Men
6031m Par 72; Women 5321m Par 73 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
South
Island:
Dunedin/Otago/Southland
|
| Otago
Golf Club - Balmacewen |
The oldest
club in New Zealand - an enjoyable and challenging layout (quite
steep) with a variety of terrain, shrubbery and bird life, excellent
greens and a friendly atmosphere.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
5948m Par 71; Women 5174m Par 73 |
| Invercargill
Golf Club/Otatara Links |
Off the beaten
track for many tourists, but highly recommended for serious, thinking
golfers.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Low. |
| Length: Men
6078m Par 73; Women 5320m Par 74 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
|
South
Island:
Queenstown/Fiordland
|
| Millbrook
Resort |
A long course
by NZ standards, but has tees for all levels of golfer. Set in
truly magnificent surroundings the course also has private villas
and a hotel complex.
Bookings recommended for people not staying in the resort. |
| Green fees:
High. |
| Length: Men
6412m Par 72; Women 5683m Par 72 |
| Queenstown
Golf Club |
Overlooking
Queenstown, Lake Wakitipu and towards the Remarkables Range this
is one of the world's most beautiful courses. The course itself
is pretty good and the hospitality matches the surroundings.
Bookings recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
5733m Par 71; Women 5105m Par 74 |
| Cromwell
Golf Club |
| This course
offers two distinctly different nines - one with wide fairways
and strategically placed trees. The older, second nine has large
pines guarding many of the fairways. Another thinker's course.Bookings
recommended. |
| Green fees:
Medium. |
| Length: Men
6210m Par 73; Women 5245m Par 73 |
For
accommodation in the area, click
here.
Finally, although
non-golfers would have probably tuned out by now, if you believe a game
of golf is a good walk ruined, check out our NZ
Walks section for some great, un-ruined walks.
|
Contact
Information
|
|
Phone:
|
+61
7 3876 4644 |
|
Fax:
|
+61
7 3876 4645 |
|
Email:
|
[email protected] |
|
|
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