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.
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.

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.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
(Closed in 2023)
Auckland
Jones II, Robert Trent

Visitors?

(Closed in 2023)

Nearest city

Auckland

Designer

Robert Trent Jones Jr

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
(Merged in 2017)
Auckland
Unknown

Visitors?

(Merged in 2017)

Nearest city

Auckland

Designer

Unknown

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

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).

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Auckland

Designer

Unknown

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Auckland

Designer

Unknown

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Auckland

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

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.

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).

2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
(Closed in 2018)
Christchurch
Unknown

Visitors?

(Closed in 2018)

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Kristine Kerr

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.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Blank, Ray

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Albert Raymond "Ray" Blank.

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Unknown

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.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Wolveridge, Mike

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Mike Wolveridge

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Hamilton

Designer

Unknown

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).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Hamilton

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Hastings / Napier

Designer

Unknown

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

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Hastings / Napier

Designer

Unknown

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Invercargill

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kaikoura

Designer

Unknown

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
On application
Queenstown
Darby, John

Visitors?

On application

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

John Darby

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

First nine holes at this location laid out by members in the 1930s. Second nine added in 1967.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Remarkables course: original design by John Darby & Bob Charles (1992); redesign of Arrow-nine closing holes by Greg Turner & Scott Macpherson (2009).
Coronet course: first nine designed by Scott Macpherson & Greg Turner (2010); extended to 18 holes by Scott Macpherson & Grant Turner (2021).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

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 Albert Raymond "Ray" Blank (1953). Second-nine (now holes 1 thru' 9) designed by B.V. Wright (1974).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Turner & Macpherson

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Remarkables course: original design by John Darby & Bob Charles (1992); redesign of Arrow-nine closing holes by Greg Turner & Scott Macpherson (2009).
Coronet course: first nine designed by Scott Macpherson & Greg Turner (2010); extended to 18 holes by Scott Macpherson & Grant Turner (2021).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Not a Jack Nicklaus design (as many suppose), but another excellent design from New Zealander, John Darby.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Taupo

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Taupo

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tauranga

Designer

Unknown

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tauranga

Designer

Unknown

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).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tauranga

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Tauranga

Designer

Unknown

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).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Wanganui

Designer

Unknown

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).

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), who worked with the great Alister Mackenzie on the design of Royal Melbourne (1926).

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Wellington

Designer

Unknown

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.

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

Visitors?

Private club

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Tom Doak

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Whangarei
Coore & Crenshaw

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw.

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.

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Unknown

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Whangarei
Doak, Tom

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Tom Doak

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Unknown

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

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.

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

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Matt Dye

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Whangarei

Designer

Unknown

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

Find a course

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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

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