“The Kiwis Love Their Golf”
Name: Tom
Hometown: Chicago
Where: New Zealand
When: February-March 2009
Reason for trip: Sabbatical to recharge my batteries with my wife
There were many, many good stories from this trip, but here’s something that most people might not think about when they think about New Zealand: Golf. I mean great golf. Beautiful golf. The Kiwis love their golf and have some great courses to play. I tried three different courses at various spots but the "must do" was Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay. It's rated by Golf Magazine as the 41st most beautiful golf course in the world...and after playing it, I'm wondering what the other 40 must look like.
This course is on a private resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You drive on a winding, climbing, private road for 20 minutes just to get to the pro shop.
Then the fun begins, hole after beautiful hole. Many of the holes are on a high bluff that looks DOWN on the Pacific. If you hook your drive on the 14th and it goes out of bounds, it will land in the ocean 10 SECONDS LATER because that's how high up you are!
It's a resort so it's not overplayed and the course is in pristine shape. It's one of those golf moments where you are in awe of the scenery and layout, and you don't care (as much) about your score. Bring some extra balls, you will lose some. You hit your tee shot over ravines on more than half the holes. Their rental clubs were superb so I only had to pack my golf shoes.
Once you play this course, you will talk about it (or brag about it) with friends for years to come. I didn't wait to do this as I took a picture on my iPhone while I was playing and emailed to my friend back home just to rub it in. He was in awe and mad at the same time. Loved it.
This place is friendly and they are proud of what they have to offer -- 18 holes of beauty and bliss. My wife doesn't golf, so she spent the afternoon at the resort's spa. Everybody won!
Since I've returned, I have long forgotten the lost balls and have etched in my mind the great shots, the long putts that went in and the awesome beauty that is Cape Kidnappers.
Go. You won't regret it. Thanks, Corinne, for insisting that I check it out.
Hometown: Chicago
Where: New Zealand
When: February-March 2009
Reason for trip: Sabbatical to recharge my batteries with my wife
There were many, many good stories from this trip, but here’s something that most people might not think about when they think about New Zealand: Golf. I mean great golf. Beautiful golf. The Kiwis love their golf and have some great courses to play. I tried three different courses at various spots but the "must do" was Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay. It's rated by Golf Magazine as the 41st most beautiful golf course in the world...and after playing it, I'm wondering what the other 40 must look like.
This course is on a private resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You drive on a winding, climbing, private road for 20 minutes just to get to the pro shop.
Then the fun begins, hole after beautiful hole. Many of the holes are on a high bluff that looks DOWN on the Pacific. If you hook your drive on the 14th and it goes out of bounds, it will land in the ocean 10 SECONDS LATER because that's how high up you are!
It's a resort so it's not overplayed and the course is in pristine shape. It's one of those golf moments where you are in awe of the scenery and layout, and you don't care (as much) about your score. Bring some extra balls, you will lose some. You hit your tee shot over ravines on more than half the holes. Their rental clubs were superb so I only had to pack my golf shoes.
Once you play this course, you will talk about it (or brag about it) with friends for years to come. I didn't wait to do this as I took a picture on my iPhone while I was playing and emailed to my friend back home just to rub it in. He was in awe and mad at the same time. Loved it.
This place is friendly and they are proud of what they have to offer -- 18 holes of beauty and bliss. My wife doesn't golf, so she spent the afternoon at the resort's spa. Everybody won!
Since I've returned, I have long forgotten the lost balls and have etched in my mind the great shots, the long putts that went in and the awesome beauty that is Cape Kidnappers.
Go. You won't regret it. Thanks, Corinne, for insisting that I check it out.
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Posted by Down Under Endeavours at 6/26/2009 8:10 AM 
Categories: New Zealand, New Zealand Golf, New Zealand Golf packages, Postcards From The Edge
Categories: New Zealand, New Zealand Golf, New Zealand Golf packages, Postcards From The Edge
Cape Kidnappers is certainly the most spectacular course I have ever played or have seen in my life. It certainly rivals Pebble Beach. Words and photos cannot convey just how great it is. You just have to experience it for yourself. Make sure you bring a few extra sleeves of balls, as a shot carrying over the green will likely wind up in the Pacific. And that's ok. A ball well spent.
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