Find a course:

    Best golf courses: New Zealand

    New Zealand: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.

    Rating key

    5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s! 5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this. 4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars. 4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit. 3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars. 3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game. 2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available. Unrated: Well regarded course not yet visited by the Where2Golf team. Private: A course for members and their invited guests only. Stay & Play Golf Resorts: Golf Clubs and resorts with onsite accommodation

    Course name

    Rating

    Visitors?

    Nearest city

    Designer

    i

    Arrowtown
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Romans & Wright

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Original nine (1936) laid out by Reg Romans and B.V. Wright. Second-nine (1971) designed by B.V. Wright.
    Bay of Islands
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Layout designed by club members. First nine in 1974; extended to 18-holes in 1977.
    Boulcott's Farm
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Wellington
    Pitman, Chris

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Wellington

    Designer

    Original designer of layout on present site unknown. Full redesign by Chris Pitman (2012).

    Cambridge, NZ
    2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
    Visitors welcome
    Hamilton
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hamilton

    Designer

    Unknown
    Cape Kidnappers
    5-PLUS: In the world’s elite - has few peers; one of our top-rated 5s!
    Visitors welcome
    Hastings / Napier
    Doak, Tom

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hastings / Napier

    Designer

    Tom Doak

    Carrington Estate
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Dye, Matt

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Matt Dye
    Chisholm Links
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Dunedin
    Evans, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Dunedin

    Designer

    Current layout the result of extensive remodelling by John Evans (designer) in collaboration with John Humphries (course superintendent) in the 1980s.
    Christchurch (Shirley)
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Various

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Present site established in 1900; course designer unknown. Recent improvements by Peter Thomson.

    Clearwater, NZ
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Darby, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    John Darby in consultation with Bob Charles.
    Cromwell
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Blank & Wright

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Cromwell's original 9-hole course redesigned by A.R. Blank (1953). Second-nine (now holes 1 thru' 9) designed by B.V. Wright (1974).
    Dunes, The (Matarangi)
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Charles, Bob

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Bob Charles
    Formosa, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Charles, Bob

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Bob Charles

    Grange, The (NZ)
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    (Merged in 2007)
    Auckland
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    (Merged in 2007)

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Unknown

    Greenacres
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Nelson
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Nelson

    Designer

    Current course location dates back to 1959, with the full 18-hole layout opening for play in 1966.
    Gulf Harbour
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Jones II, Robert Trent

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Robert Trent Jones Jr

    Hamilton GC, NZ
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Hamilton
    Gillies & Duncan

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hamilton

    Designer

    Current course laid out by H.T. Gillies and Arthur Duncan (1913).
    Hastings, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Hastings / Napier
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hastings / Napier

    Designer

    Unknown

    Hawke's Bay, NZ
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Hastings / Napier
    Harris, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hastings / Napier

    Designer

    Commander John Harris
    Hills, The (NZ)
    4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Darby, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    John Darby
    Howick
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Unknown

    Invercargill
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Invercargill
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Invercargill

    Designer

    Unknown
    Jack's Point
    5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Darby, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Contrary to some rumours, Jack's Point is not a Jack Nicklaus design, but another stunning design from New Zealander, John Darby.
    Kaikoura
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Kaikoura
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Kaikoura

    Designer

    Unknown
    Kaitaia GC
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Wardell, Goldie

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Goldie Wardell
    Kauri Cliffs
    5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Harman, David

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    David Harman

    Kinloch, NZ
    5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
    Visitors welcome
    Taupo
    Nicklaus, Jack

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Taupo

    Designer

    A Jack Nicklaus signature design.
    Lakes Resort - Pauanui
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Puddicombe, Sid

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Sid Puddicombe Associates
    Lakeview, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    Unknown
    Levin
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Palmerston North
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Palmerston North

    Designer

    Unknown
    Manawatu
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Palmerston North
    Redhead, C.H.

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Palmerston North

    Designer

    Original design by C.H. Redhead, an Irish engineer (1928). Further improvements by H.G.Babbage (1955).
    Mangawhai
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Dale, Harry

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Harry Dale
    Manor Park
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Wellington
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Wellington

    Designer

    Unknown
    Manukau
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    (Closed in 2015)
    Auckland
    Various

    Visitors?

    (Closed in 2015)

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Recent alterations designed by Greg Turner (1998) and Chris Pitman (2006).

    Methven
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Unknown
    Millbrook
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Charles & Turner

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Original design by Bob Charles. Redesign of closing holes of Arrow-nine and design of the Coronet-nine, Greg Turner (2009).

    Mount Maunganui
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Redhead & Dale

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    C.H. Redhead & H.P. Dale
    Muriwai
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Bourke, Glasgow & Sim

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    John Bourke, Alex Glasgow & Malcolm Sim

    Napier
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Hastings / Napier
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hastings / Napier

    Designer

    Unknown
    Nelson
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Nelson
    Various

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Nelson

    Designer

    Since 1905 the layout has continually evolved on its present site.
    New Plymouth
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    New Plymouth
    Redhead, C.H.

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    New Plymouth

    Designer

    Existing layout designed by C.H. Redhead in 1933.
    Ngaruawahia
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Hamilton
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hamilton

    Designer

    Unknown
    North Otago
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Dunedin
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Dunedin

    Designer

    Unknown
    North Shore, NZ
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Unknown

    Ohope
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    Unknown
    Otago (Balmacewan)
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Dunedin
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Dunedin

    Designer

    Unknown
    Paraparaumu Beach
    5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
    Visitors welcome
    Wellington
    Russell, Alex

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Wellington

    Designer

    Current design by Alex Russell (1949).

    Pegasus, NZ
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Kerr, Kristine

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Kristine Kerr
    Poverty Bay
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Hastings / Napier
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hastings / Napier

    Designer

    Unknown
    Pukekohe
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Unknown

    Queenstown
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Unknown

    Remuera
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Babbage, Harold

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Original course dates from 1934. Current layout resulted from a significant redesign by Harold Babbage (1968).

    Rotorua
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    Unknown
    Royal Auckland & Grange
    5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
    On application
    Auckland
    Hood & Souter

    Visitors?

    On application

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Original design at this location was by the club's professional Fred Hood, with bunkering advised by D.G. Souter. Significant subsequent alterations were made by English course architect C.H. Redhead (1924), Peter Thomson (1975, 1989, 2002) and Mike Wolveridge (1984). RAGCC's new 27-hole course was designed by Nicklaus Design.

    Royal Wellington
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    On application
    Wellington
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    On application

    Nearest city

    Wellington

    Designer

    The current layout dates from 1972.
    Russley
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Clements, Joe

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Original design by Joe Clements (1928). Various people have added later improvements.
    Sherwood Park
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Unknown
    Southland
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    (Closed in 2018)
    Invercargill
    Turner, Greg

    Visitors?

    (Closed in 2018)

    Nearest city

    Invercargill

    Designer

    Recent improvements and four new holes laid out Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson.
    St Andrews, NZ-South Is
    2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Unknown
    St Clair, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Dunedin
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Dunedin

    Designer

    Unknown

    Tara Iti
    Private: A course for members and their invited guests only.
    Private club
    Whangarei
    Doak, Tom

    Visitors?

    Private club

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Tom Doak

    Taumarunui
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Taupo
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Taupo

    Designer

    Unknown
    Taupo (Centennial)
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Taupo
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Taupo

    Designer

    The Centennial course dates from 1973; the Tauhara course from 1931.
    Tauranga
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Rutter, Fred

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    Original design by Fred Rutter (1914), with later significant changes made over the years. Recent improvements by Alex Glasgow (1994) and Jeff Asche (2002).
    Te Anau
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Unknown
    Terrace Downs
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Cox, David

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    David Cox in consultation with Canadian designer, Sid Puddicombe.
    Timaru
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Wolveridge, Mike

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Mike Wolveridge
    Titirangi
    4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    MacKenzie, Dr Alister

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Dr Alister MacKenzie redesigned the course (1926), which remains largely the same to this day.

    Tokoroa
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Taupo
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Taupo

    Designer

    Unknown
    Wainui
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Puddicombe, Grant

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Canadian course architect Grant Puddicombe of Puddicombe Golf.

    Waipu
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Babbage, H.G.

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    H.G. Babbage designed the layout when the Club moved to its current location in 1966.
    Wairakei Intl
    4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Taupo
    Harris, John

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Taupo

    Designer

    Collaborative design by Cmdr John Harris, Mike Wolveridge and Peter Thomson.
    Waitangi
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Unknown
    Waitikiri
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Christchurch
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Christchurch

    Designer

    Unknown
    Waitomo
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Hamilton
    Redhead, Babbage & Dale

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Hamilton

    Designer

    Harold Babbage, C.H. Redhead & H.P. Dale.
    Wanaka, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Queenstown
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Queenstown

    Designer

    Unknown

    Wanganui (Belmont)
    4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
    Visitors welcome
    Wanganui
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Wanganui

    Designer

    Unknown

    Waverley, NZ
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Wanganui
    Southernden, Ernie

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Wanganui

    Designer

    Professional golfer Ernie Southernden from Napier laid out the course at this location (1965).
    Whakatane
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Tauranga
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Tauranga

    Designer

    Unknown
    Whangarei
    3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
    Visitors welcome
    Whangarei
    Unknown

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Whangarei

    Designer

    Unknown
    Whitford Park
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Eccles, Jack

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Jack Eccles and the original Whitford Park Development Committee laid out the course.

    Windross Farm
    3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
    Visitors welcome
    Auckland
    Thomson, Brett

    Visitors?

    Visitors welcome

    Nearest city

    Auckland

    Designer

    Brett Thomson (of RBT Design) in collaboration with course consultant Phil Tataurangi.

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