Te Arai Links is a must-visit destination for anyone in search of the World’s best golf.
Positioned alongside a pristine New Zealand coastline, Te Arai Links is a world class golf destination. Boasting two pure links golf courses designed by Tom Doak and the other by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw.
Te Arai Links is a scenic 90-minute drive from the Auckland CBD, or 25 minutes by helicopter. While only a short trip north of New Zealand’s largest city, you’ll find yourself in another world – surrounded by trees, sand dunes and coastal views over one of the country’s most stunning, white sand, surf beaches.
Te Arai Links comprises two pure-links golf courses, nestled into the undulating coastal landscape – each offering different perspectives of the stunning sea views and islands beyond.
As you walk and marvel at the beauty of the courses, you’ll see and hear the sound of crashing surf, and smell the salt in the air as you enjoy all the special details and hospitality on offer.
North Course
The North Course starts and finishes on the ocean, but the unique character of the course will be found inland. The green of the par-4 5th hole, and the next tee, sit high on a ridge adjacent to an ancient Māori Pa, or hill fortress, built from the largest dune on the property, while the 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th greens sit in a shared bowl amongst the dunes.
It is odd having to apologize for a golf course that ‘only’ features the ocean for seven of the 18 holes, but that is how spoiled golfers have become by the best of New Zealand’s modern golf courses. The North Course promises to be near the head of the class.
Designed by Tom Doak, the same designer as sister course, Tara Iti (ranked #6 in the world), you can expect the North Course near the top of its class. Playing very differently than the South Course, with more inland golf and unique green shapes.
Course Yardage:
Championship: 6,931 (6,337 metres)
Back: 6,413 (5,861 metres)
Middle: 5,904 (5,397 metres)
Forward: 5,003 (4,574 metres)
South Course
At Te Arai Links we have been given a great gift, a uniquely special site for golf, comprised of sand dunes and landforms sculpted by the wind, adjacent to the sea.
Te Arai’s landforms vary from heaving sand ridges and meandering valleys to rumpled contours reminiscent of the classic seaside links on which the game began. These contours are the foundation and inspiration for the golf holes of Te Arai Links. The holes are as varied in appearance and character as the land itself. There are highly individualistic, some might even say, quirky holes like the shortish par fours at three, six and sixteen, each reflecting the drama and unique character of the landforms that created their concepts. There are more traditional yet equally dramatic holes like the inland second, the tenth and eleventh; and there are the visually spectacular seaside holes at seven, eight, nine and fifteen through eighteen.
There are lengthy holes and finesse holes. There are holes with varying shapes and sizes, with character and golf strategies based upon the natural contours we discovered on site.
The South Course at Te Arai Links has sixteen ocean view golf holes and eight holes bordering directly on the sea. Without question, it will be a photogenic and visually stunning golf course.
Course Yardage:
Championship: 6,843 (6,256 metres)
Back: 6,422 (5,870 metres)
Middle: 5,918 (5,410metres)
Forward: 5,075 (4,640 metres)
The accommodation options at Te Arai Links all share a luxuriously understated aesthetic and uncompromising build quality.
We tailor a range of high quality golf packages, encompassing the very best golf courses in New Zealand. Offering self drive itineraries, chauffeur driven, helicopter transfers or private jet options – the choice is yours. Simply contact us with your New Zealand golf vacation requirements.
