Kauri Cliffs Golf Club

Kauri Cliffs Golf Club is part of a resort on the north-eastern section of the North Island about four hours from Auckland. The golf course and the five star resort are set above the coastline with beautiful views out over the sea and to the islands off the coast. The golf course is a must play, in fact staying here, you can also play the Cape Kidnappers a sister resort nearby with a golf course by Tom Doak, of Bandon fame. The Kauri course was designed by the late David Harmon, and plays to 7,119 yards/ 6,510 metres, with 15 holes with views of the Pacific Ocean, six alongside cliffs a couple of hundred feet up. The routing for the course is stellar to say the least, with elevation change throughout, across ravines, through valleys, but with good sized landing areas. The back nine has some strategic holes down through the valley, but then back up for a finishing stretch along the cliffs and the coast with views out to the Cavalli Islands. They say the golf course, unlike the Cape, doesn't have any spectacular holes, maybe so, but the setting makes up for anything which might be missing in the quality of the design.