Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand - Key partner for the 2025 Ultra-Luxe New Zealand Golf Tour
With the recent launch of New Zealand’s first Ultra-Luxe Golf Tour, Luxury Adventures is conducting some Q&A’s and will be able to unveil an exciting preview of the upcoming tour. In this series of interviews, we have the honour of getting some insights and connecting with the individuals who will make this journey a truly exceptional experience.
Cape Kidnappers occupies a breathtaking peninsula at the southern end of Hawke’s Bay, extending 10 kilometres into the South Pacific. The golf course and adjacent resort, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, occupy a 6,000-acre working sheep and cattle station protected by over 10 kilometres of predator proof fencing.
Today we will be discussing ‘golf at the edge of the earth’ with Eric Smith, who is the Head Golf Professional for Cape Kidnappers.
Thanks for having us Eric, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you have been involved in golf as a career?
It’s a treat to have this conversation and share an in depth look into what makes Cape Kidnappers so special.
I grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where my dad introduced golf to me at a young age. I would spend hours with my Golden Retriever, Zach, hitting balls in the back yard which he would then return. When I saw the opportunity to study Golf Management at University, I jumped at the opportunity to turn a passion into a career. Upon graduating, my goal was to work alongside the best professionals at elite golf facilities within the United States. My career path has led me to work in Monterey California, Scottsdale Arizona, Key Largo and Palm Beach Florida, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts and most recently Kiawah Island South Carolin. The ability to gain best practices in a variety of operations and learn the intangible skills from the industry’s best mentors has shaped me into the professional I am today.
After traveling New Zealand for three months in 2017, I quickly realized the spectacular variety of golf in this country. When I saw Cape Kidnappers was looking for their next Head Golf Professional in 2023, I knew I was ready to offer my skills deserving of a top 100 golf course in the world.
Where is Cape Kidnappers located, & could you let us know some of the history of the location & course?
Cape Kidnappers is located in the coastal town of Te Awanga in Hawke’s Bay on the East Coast of the North Island. Built in 2004 by Tom Doak, Cape Kidnappers is considered by many to be his crown jewel in his renown catalogue. The name Cape Kidnappers comes from an incident during Captain Cook’s 1769 voyage when Māori traders are said to have seized Cook’s Tahitian cabin boy who they thought was being held against his will. When Cook’s men fired on the Māori canoe, the cabin boy escaped and returned to the ship. Hawke’s Bay has an abundance of first-rate wineries and has just been named as a wine capital of the world in which there are now only 12.
What types of unique features or design elements of Cape Kidnappers stand out to you for its players & visitors?
When you’re playing atop coastal cliffs that are 400 feet above the ocean, everything is perceived on a grand scale. Not only are the variety of holes you encounter during a round some of the most unique you have every played, but upon finishing, you see how they form a cohesive unit that challenges even the most experienced golfer. We have 15-minute intervals between tee times so while most courses are trying to cram as many players into the day as possible, we only have 4 groups tee off in an hour. This provides the feeling of having the course to your own without disruption and allows everyone that visits Cape Kidnappers to immerse themselves in a once in a lifetime experience.
What practice facilities are available (driving range, putting green)? What brands are available for club rental?
We offer a fantastic practice facility looking out into Hawke’s Bay just behind the clubhouse. It features a full driving range, a chipping and pitching green as well as a practice putting green replicating the many contours you will see out on the course.
We offer both Callaway and Titleist rental clubs for use during your time on the course.
What’s the typical experience like for a golfer playing a round at Cape Kidnappers?
As you come through the front gate, just off a coastal road in Te Awanga, you are immediately introduced to the property, driving among ancient riverbeds and native Toe Toe plants. Weaving through canyons and taking in breathtaking vistas during the 15-minute drive, you’ll also see a few of the 2,000 sheep and 1,500 cattle that reside on the property as we are a working farm in addition to a world class golf course and lodge. Upon arrival to the golf course, your clubs will be loaded onto a golf cart, and you will be introduced to the clubhouse, modelled after a traditional sheering shed. Inside, you will find a fully stocked golf shop with the best brands in golf, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and the dining facility featuring a full bar and classic meals in an intimate setting showcasing the heritage of Cape Kidnappers through pictures on the wall.
After you gather supplies from the golf shop and warm up, you embark on one of Tom Doak’s greatest designs. Players will instantly be challenged by a diverse set of holes, placed among the farmland and coastal cliffs for an experience like no other in the game of golf. Make sure your phone is fully charged as there are photo opportunities around every corner to remember your journey here at Cape Kidnappers.
Do you have a favourite hole or stretch of holes on the course? Any tips for players?
You simply can’t beat the views you experience on the 15th green and the 16th tee box. I could spend the entire day watching the shorebirds ride the thermals off the cliffs. From a design standpoint, the variety of holes you play on the front nine are second to none. We have three epic par 3’s on the front nine, giving you ample opportunity to add your name to our hole in one board.
A few tips to consider… Doak challenges you visually on every hole but often leaves a generous bail out area. He certainly shows you where not to hit it so if you play away from danger, you’ll be able to manage the golf course to the best of your abilities. The course is difficult so don’t get down on yourself when you make a mistake, we all do. Rather, soak up the views and enjoy the walk with good company.
In addition to golf, what are some of the unique features of this property?
The property is so much more than just a world class golf course and lodge. Over the sprawling 6,000 acres, we host the world’s largest colony of gannets (a migratory bird with a wingspan up to 2 meters). There is also Cape Sanctuary which is New Zealand’s largest privately owned and funded “mainland island” conservation project. Over 600 kiwis roam the property and over 1,000,000 native trees have been planted since 2006. As a working farm, you will often see the farmers with their dogs, rounding up sheep to be sheered or watch lambs stay close to their mother’s side during lambing season. With such care for the natural surroundings, you will truly be transported to a unique place on earth not often seen.
Last but not least, New Zealand is one of the most sought after locations for golfers looking at taking a golf vacation, what makes New Zealand such a great destination for travellers in your opinion?
First and foremost, the journey in getting to an island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean just adds to the experience. Nature here is celebrated and respected. You won’t find massive houses built along the coastline, rather the occasional small “bach” community which are modest beach homes used on weekends and holidays ensuring the land remains as natural as possible. As you travel the country, the landscape is ever changing and often, many sights seem too good to be true. New Zealanders are incredibly kind and caring people that curate community values and celebrate the indigenous Māori Culture. To top it all off, New Zealand has the second highest golf course per capita ratio in the world and growing. Well known course architects have stamped their name on the best layouts in the country in addition to some incredibly charming “farm courses” that have been built by locals. I tell everyone that New Zealand is a place you must visit at least once in their life. Some of us are lucky enough to call it home.
Stay tuned for more in-depth conversations with key suppliers for the Ultra-Luxe New Zealand Golf Tour and get ready to embark on a luxurious journey filled with world-class golf courses, stunning landscapes, and unparalleled experiences. If you have any further questions email steve@luxuryadventures.co.nz or To find out more about the tour click here
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