DANNY DE HEK Entrepreneur Decision Maker Connector Podcaster EducatorNew Zealand is a golfer’s paradise with over 400 public and private golf courses, including many championship and resort courses that are on par with the world’s best.

DANNY : DE HEK has compiled this summary to assist visitors in planning their golfing holiday itinerary.

The welcome mat is always out for visiting golfers and members of overseas golf clubs are usually treated as guests, particularly if they have a letter of introduction from their home club. As a general rule our courses are relatively uncrowded during weekdays but it pays to make an advance booking at the city clubs and exclusive resorts.

The breathtaking scenic panoramas of snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests and seascapes are part of the magic of New Zealand’s golf courses. Our prolific small town country classic courses are laid out on rural terrain as varied as nature itself. Sand-based links courses curve around windswept coastal dunes. City courses are sculptured with stately avenues of native and exotic trees. The world-class resort courses provide sweeping cliff top coastal views or million-dollar mountain vistas as the perfect backdrop to emerald green fairways and manicured greens.

Most importantly our courses offer a huge choice of pleasant, peaceful environments where you can enjoy a great day out without making a deep hole in your pocket. Green fees are quite cheap by international standards starting from as little as $15 per round for country courses. As a general guideline expect to pay $20-30 for public urban courses, $40-80 for private courses and $100 or more at championship courses and resorts. In most cases members of New Zealand clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Golf Association will pay a discounted fee. Major clubs have trundlers, clubs and carts for hire. Golf courses are typically 5,600-6,600 metres in length with the men’s par at 71 or 72 strokes and women’s at 73 or 74. With a total of 400 golf clubs, New Zealand has one club for every 10,000 people – one of the highest per capita ratios in the world.

Dress standards vary but by and large are quite liberal. Casual clothing is only acceptable on public courses. Smart walk shorts with long socks can be worn on most courses but neat trousers and loose fitting shirts are the norm.

In the summaries below we have identified New Zealand’s golf courses and their physical addresses. In country areas any Information Office or petrol station will be able to give you clear directions. Within each geographic region we have made general comments about the course quality, playing conditions and facilities of a number of the popular and prominent courses as a guideline for what you can expect to find.

As a golfing visitor you are spoiled for choice with many fine courses that offer a test of skill in a pristine environment. So why not swing by New Zealand sometime soon and explore the highways, byways and fairways of our clean, green land.