Te-Arai Links – World Class Golf Facility In New Zealand

Playing The North Course: 

When you’re ready to head to the tee, you’re shuttled over to your respective course. On this occasion, we played the North Course. Before teeing off, you can fill your water bottle with still or sparkling water, grab a snack from the clubhouse, or roll a few putts on the additional practice green.

From the very first tee, the North Course announces itself as something special. To the right, the beach stretches out, visually stunning, even if it’s not in play and the undulating links fairway is a vibrant green, with barely any distinction between where the fairway ends and the green begins. The ground conditions are just that good. Most holes are typically framed by massive pine trees, expanses of sand, tussocks, or a combination of all three. The opening hole is a short par 4, just enough to settle the nerves, but with enough subtlety to make you think: can I drive the green with my first shot of the day? (I couldn’t!) I found myself in the sand on the right, hitting up to a raised green. In hindsight, a long iron down the short stuff was the smarter play.

Generally, the fairways are wide, giving you a sense of freedom on most holes, a feeling that you can swing away without fear, but also a quiet warning not to get complacent. Judging distances on a new course always takes a bit of adjustment.

The greens, though, are the true test. I’d read that Doak personally shaped some of them, and it really shows. The fourth and seventh greens, in particular, are the links type green you would expect at course of this calibre, undulating, and certainly not straight forward. Standing over a putt, I found myself grinning. These aren’t the kind of greens you see every day. I don’t think I’ve ever putted from 30 metres off the green before. They’re designed to make you estimate and get creative, almost like a marble run. For me, that actually took the pressure off and made the round feel even more relaxed. I absolutely loved it.

The Layout: A Journey Through Dunes and Pines

The North Course is a masterclass in routing. After the opening holes, the course weaves through a landscape of dunes, pines, and sandy waste areas. There are moments when you feel completely alone with the land, the only sounds the wind and the distant surf. The inland holes, especially four through seven, play through a natural bowl, a feature Doak and his team used brilliantly. We saw other golfers but  at times you had a sense of seclusion. Nothing else mattered, it was just you against the course. Golf was all that needed your focus. 

But just when you think you’ve left the ocean behind, the course sweeps back toward the water. The eighth and ninth holes are dramatic, with views that stretch to infinity and Great Barrier Island looming on the horizon. The par-five eleventh is a personal favourite: forest on the left, massive dunes and sand blowouts on the right, and a green that demands both strategy and nerve.

Throughout the round, I was paying particular attention to the variety. Some holes invite you to play using the contours to feed the ball toward the target. Others demand precision and a deft touch around the greens. It’s a course that rewards creativity and punishes predictability.

Notable Holes Include:

I just want to be clear, there are no bad holes on this course. But if I had to pick my favourites, these would be the standouts:

1st Hole (Short Par 4): As mentioned earlier, the North Course opens with a relatively short par 4 (about 257 metres from the middle tees). It’s a great chance to get off to a good start while soaking in the spectacular surroundings.

4th Hole (Stroke Index One Par 4): This is a real test and is considered the stroke index one hole. It’s a par 4 (around 350 metres from the middle tees) that leads to one of the course’s most challenging greens. The landing area for the tee shot narrows right at the 200 to 250 metre mark, framed by sand and wasteland on each side. Tom Doak himself worked on this green, and it’s a “small, extreme two-tier green” that can easily lead to a three-putt.

9th Hole (Par 5): The par 5 ninth was probably my favourite (maybe because I played it well?!). You need a long, blind tee shot to get up and over to the down-sloping fairway. There’s a road or path that sits between the top part of the hole and the rest. I managed to absolutely smoke one, hit the road, and carried on down to the flatter part of the hole. The only reason I know it must have hit the road is because I was left with a 90-metre second shot on a par 5, I kid you not! It had eagle written all over it, but I walked away with a birdie. A birdie is a birdie, so I’ll take it.

11th Hole (Long Par 5): A true test, this long par 5 really demands accuracy, either hitting it straight or keeping it along the left-hand side, the “high side.” There are strategically placed bunkers (and wasteland) right at that annoying length where you think you’ve hit a perfect shot, only to find yourself in the sand. If you miss to the right, the green looks like it’s up a mountain. Trying to get distance and height from the sand or wasteland is like trying to run with a parachute.

The final three-hole stretch has it all: scenic views, playing back towards the water, and finishing alongside the coast to a punchbowl green.

16th Hole (Drivable Par 4): Coming back out of the forest, you tee up from an elevated block and hit back towards the ocean. There’s a big slope short of the hole and pines down the right side. It’s very drivable, which makes it a delicious prospect, but it’s tricky, you can actually hit it over the green, so you need a little luck to find the right length.

17th Hole (Par 3): This one is visually spectacular, with a beautiful ocean backdrop, cross breezes, and bunkers all around. It demands real commitment to the shot and is easily the most memorable of the par 3s.

18th Hole (Par 5): As you walk up the final fairway, you’re treated to views that remind you just how special this place is, rolling dunes, glimpses of the Pacific, and stretches of wasteland. The 18th isn’t designed to beat you up; it’s a chance to use your creativity and enjoy the last moments of your round. The punchbowl green finish is the perfect spot to shake hands and start reflecting on the day.