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Cape Kidnappers

High atop a windswept plateau, this former farmland is now a championship style course and boutique resort. With the Pacific Ocean and famed gannet colony the 5,000-acre property allows guests to experience true Kiwi rugged and rural luxury.

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Cape Kidnappers' World-Class Course

Backed by a generous American billionaire, Cape Kidnappers has rightfully earned its place among the world’s elite golf courses. Designed by renowned architect Tom Doak and nestled on Hawke’s Bay’s dramatic cliffside, this former sheep station offers a truly unforgettable golfing experience.

True to Doak’s minimalist philosophy, the course was designed with minimal earth movement, preserving the natural landscape. Instead of traditional links terrain, Cape Kidnappers features a series of ridges that slope towards the sea, creating a breathtaking seaside setting.

The course’s firm and fast fairways, combined with often windy conditions, demand precise shot placement and trajectory control. Players will navigate treetops and navigate along the edges of deep ravines, all while enjoying stunning panoramic views of Hawke’s Bay. One of the course’s most thrilling features is the opportunity to tee off into the ocean, watching the ball plummet 500 feet below for nearly 10 seconds.

While the generous fairways at Cape Kidnappers may tempt players to aim directly at the pin, it’s essential to factor in the wind to ensure optimal shot placement. Doak’s masterful design creates a course that appears more challenging than it actually is, offering a rewarding experience for golfers of all skill levels.

As with many of Doak’s designs, bunkers are strategically placed on one side of the green or another, presenting players with a choice: play safe or take a risk for a potential birdie. For high-handicappers, the safest option is to aim for the green, while mid-handicappers should also prioritize safety but may be tempted to aim closer to the pin. However, it’s crucial to resist the urge to change one’s aim at the last second, as this is a common architectural trick designed to test a golfer’s ego. Low-handicappers, on the other hand, can confidently aim for the pin, knowing that a well-placed shot will reward them with a birdie opportunity.

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Signature Holes and Design

Plays: 7147 yards, Par 71 | Club Pro: Jon McCord | Architect: Tom Doak, 2004 | Pricing: Super Luxury

4th

The tee shot on this hole is scary- especially to those who play the course for the first time, because it is blind. This is perhaps a hark back to historical British links design by Doak, and a characteristic often not employed in modern golf design.

6th: Par-3

Playing over a deep ravine to a broad fairway, this hole has pot bunkers up the left side, gullies, and is lined by rough grass. Hitting the ball into the grass will lose it and on most days a the strong north west wind can force balls into these hazards. Cutting the ball is a nice skill to have.

12th

A great hole to demonstrate the "signature" of Cape Kidnappers itself is the infinity green on the 12th. This approach shot is toward the water and visually looks as if an errant shot long will fall off of the back of the green and over the cliff. In reality the 13th green is beyond the green and it makes sense to hit with confidence rather than contend with the gentle slope off of the front side of the green.

13th: Par-3

Plays along the edge of the cliff side and players contend with 5 bunkers for a shot to a raised green, which looks like it disappears into the abyss off the far side.

14th

Jon McCord, PGA Professional at Cape Kidnappers says, “14 is called pimple. It's a short Par 4 that, if the wind is out of the right direction, you can have a chance at knocking it up near the green. That is of course more easily said than done, as once you get close the green is its main defense. It has this very deep pot bunker in the front and this little pimple of sorts, hence its name, on the green. So you have a false front on the right with a green that is very tough."

15th

You would not be the first person to tee up as you look out over the cliff and blast a drive into the ocean... just to count the number of seconds it takes to reach the water.

#2 in New Zealand

Golf Digest (2026)

#32 in the World

Golf Digest (2026)

0129-Cape-Kidnappers-Hawkes-Bay-Gary-Lisbon
Cape Kidnappers On-the-edge
Upon 200 acres of undulating coastal dunes the creative genius of famed golf architect Tom Doak and Australia's Michael Clayton has been realised. Barnbougle, still only in its youth, continues to gain a reputation as one of the world's top links golf courses. The breathtaking landscape upon which the course has been created mirrors the wild coastal links courses of Scotland and Ireland and as Barnbougle continues to develop with age it looks set to follow in the footsteps of these great courses.• Australia's #1 Public Golf Course• World #7 public access course• 35th best course in the world
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Cape Kidnappers Aerial of the course
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Cape Kidnappers On-the-Green
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⛳️ Luxury Golf Travel to New Zealand
📸 Tag #bestofnzgolf for a feature!

Arrowtown Golf Club is short by modern standards, but its narrow gullies, small greens, and complete lack of bunkers make accuracy more important than distance. A worthwhile stop for golfers planning a trip through the Queenstown region.

📸 Gary Lisbon / Arrowtown Golf Club

#newzealandgolf #queenstown #arrowtowngolf #luxurygolftravel #bestofnzgolf

https://www.bestofnewzealandgolf.com/spotlight/arrowtown-golf-club-a-queenstown-hidden-gem/

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Arrowtown Golf Club is short by modern standards, but its narrow gullies, small greens, and complete lack of bunkers make accuracy more important than distance. A worthwhile stop for golfers planning a trip through the Queenstown region. 📸 Gary Lisbon / Arrowtown Golf Club #newzealandgolf #queenstown #arrowtowngolf #luxurygolftravel #bestofnzgolf https://www.bestofnewzealandgolf.com/spotlight/arrowtown-golf-club-a-queenstown-hidden-gem/

Mountains on one side, Lake Wakatipu on the other, and eighteen holes trying to decide which view deserves your attention more. Jack`s Point remains one of the most stunning tests in golf, and one of our most requested tee times in Queenstown. ⛳🏔️

Read more through our link in bio

📸 Jack`s Point

#jackspointgolf #queenstowngolf #golftravel #luxurygolf #bestofnzgol

https://www.bestofnewzealandgolf.com/uncategorized/jacks-point-golf-queenstowns-lakeside-test-with-mountain-views/

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Open post by bestofnzgolf with ID 17913948807245516
Mountains on one side, Lake Wakatipu on the other, and eighteen holes trying to decide which view deserves your attention more. Jack's Point remains one of the most stunning tests in golf, and one of our most requested tee times in Queenstown. ⛳🏔️ Read more through our link in bio 📸 Jack's Point #jackspointgolf #queenstowngolf #golftravel #luxurygolf #bestofnzgol https://www.bestofnewzealandgolf.com/uncategorized/jacks-point-golf-queenstowns-lakeside-test-with-mountain-views/

Something special is taking shape on the New Zealand coastline 🌿⛳

The Douglas Links in Ōhau is set to become one of the finest golf courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed by world renowned architect Darius Oliver, this stunning eco links course sits just north of Wellington and opens in 2028.

Walking only. Locally sourced food and wine. Fair green fees for all. This is New Zealand golf at its most authentic.

Read the full blog at the link in bio 🔗

📸 The Douglas Links

#newzealandgolf #thedouglaslinks #luxurygolftravel #visitnewzealand #bestofnzgolf

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Something special is taking shape on the New Zealand coastline 🌿⛳ The Douglas Links in Ōhau is set to become one of the finest golf courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed by world renowned architect Darius Oliver, this stunning eco links course sits just north of Wellington and opens in 2028. Walking only. Locally sourced food and wine. Fair green fees for all. This is New Zealand golf at its most authentic. Read the full blog at the link in bio 🔗 📸 The Douglas Links #newzealandgolf #thedouglaslinks #luxurygolftravel #visitnewzealand #bestofnzgolf

Omaha Beach Golf Club: A Course on the Rise

If you`re planning a golf trip to the Matakana region, or heading south from the world-class fairways of Te Arai Links toward Auckland, there`s one course along the coast you shouldn`t drive past, Omaha Beach Golf Club. While Te Arai commands the global headlines, Omaha Beach has quietly undergone one of New Zealand`s most impressive course transformations in recent years. Here`s why it deserves a spot on your itinerary…

Read more through link in our bio.

📸 Omaha Beach Golf Club

#nzgolf #luxurygolftravel #newzealandtravel #newzealandgolfcourses #bestofnzgolf

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Open post by bestofnzgolf with ID 18053869331689784
Omaha Beach Golf Club: A Course on the Rise If you're planning a golf trip to the Matakana region, or heading south from the world-class fairways of Te Arai Links toward Auckland, there's one course along the coast you shouldn't drive past, Omaha Beach Golf Club. While Te Arai commands the global headlines, Omaha Beach has quietly undergone one of New Zealand's most impressive course transformations in recent years. Here's why it deserves a spot on your itinerary… Read more through link in our bio. 📸 Omaha Beach Golf Club #nzgolf #luxurygolftravel #newzealandtravel #newzealandgolfcourses #bestofnzgolf

Why Te Arai Links Is More Than a Golf Resort

Te Arai Links may be best known for its world class coastal golf, yet focusing solely on the fairways misses much of what makes this Northland retreat so special. Set between sweeping sand dunes, native bush and the Pacific Ocean, Te Arai Links offers a diverse range of experiences that appeal to far more than golfers alone. Whether you are travelling with a non golfer, planning a longer stay, or simply looking to slow down and explore the region, Te Arai Links delivers a well balanced mix of relaxation, adventure and nature....

📸 Te Arai Links

#luxurytravelnz #tearailinks #newzealandtravel #newzealandgolfcourses #bestofnzgolf

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Open post by bestofnzgolf with ID 17923730922056012
Why Te Arai Links Is More Than a Golf Resort Te Arai Links may be best known for its world class coastal golf, yet focusing solely on the fairways misses much of what makes this Northland retreat so special. Set between sweeping sand dunes, native bush and the Pacific Ocean, Te Arai Links offers a diverse range of experiences that appeal to far more than golfers alone. Whether you are travelling with a non golfer, planning a longer stay, or simply looking to slow down and explore the region, Te Arai Links delivers a well balanced mix of relaxation, adventure and nature.... 📸 Te Arai Links #luxurytravelnz #tearailinks #newzealandtravel #newzealandgolfcourses #bestofnzgolf

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