32 Centennial Drive,
Taupo, Waikato
Office
+64 (0)7 378 6933Pro shop
+64 (0)7 378 6933Fax
+64 (0)7 378 6932Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
James Morgan (Head Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined parkland. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Rural countryside.
Designer:
The Centennial course dates from 1973; the Tauhara course from 1931.
18-hole par-72 Tauhara course (5667 metres). The easier Tauhara course, Taupo Golf Club's original course, dates from 1931 as a 9-hole layout, which was extended to 18 in 1954.
-38.677687
176.100315
2 km NE of Taupo centre
From Hwy 1 at the northern end of Taupo town centre, turn into Spa Road, heading east. Follow Spa Road (which becomes Centennial Drive) and after 1.5 km golf is on your right (about 200 metres after AC Thermal Baths). 3.5 - 4 hour drive from Auckland.
Taupo Golf Club (Centennial course): Located next to the lakeside holiday resort of Taupo, here you'll find a wonderfully natural and well layed-out parkland course. Lake Taupo itself is not in view from the course, but the attractive surrounding rural countryside provides some very pleasant views.
On the front nine loop, several holes are defined by tall eucalyptus and pines, interspersed with smaller trees of many varieties. The second nine-hole loop on the Centennial course (as distinct from Taupo's shorter Tauhara course) becomes more open, so much so that the final few holes occupy an almost moorland environment.
The course is relatively easy to walk. There are some pleasant undulations but nothing too onerous. On the 15th hole a fumerole (short-pipe) gives vent to some thermal activity (rising steam) - never far away in these parts.
Modest bunkering gives some good opportunities to bump and run your approach shots onto the greens. With relatively slow greens to putt on, a good short game should help in getting as close to the pin as possible.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Worth booking ahead to ensure tee-time availability, especially at weekends.
Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
Lake Taupo is one of New Zealand's busiest outdoor recreation areas, where every imaginable watersport is provided for on the large and impressive lake. The much visited Huka Falls are just north of Taupo and geo-thermal baths and spas can be found throughout this area.
No
Taupo; Wairakei Intl.
No
No
Taupo; Wairakei Intl.
No
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
