Luxury Golf & Travel To New Zealand
Luxury Golf & Travel To New Zealand
A true point of pride for New Zealand golf this Alister MacKenzie designed gem remains a great course to play today
Designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie during his visit to New Zealand in the mid-1920s, Titirangi Golf Club is one of the country’s oldest and most celebrated courses. Built before his famous layouts at Royal Melbourne and Augusta National, Titirangi showcases MacKenzie’s signature bunkering and masterful use of the natural terrain. Although the course has been modernized, its original character remains clear, offering a timeless golfing experience.
MacKenzie’s philosophy emphasized shaping holes to fit the land, not forcing the land to fit a concept. This naturalistic approach gives Titirangi an enduring charm and makes each round feel like playing through a living landscape.
Located just outside downtown Auckland, the course rewards precision over power. Well-guarded greens require accurate approaches and strategic play, testing every aspect of shot-making.
A major restoration in 1997, led by architect Chris Pitman, sought to recapture MacKenzie’s vision of open sightlines, firm turf, and minimal tree cover. While some changes were unavoidable, such as a former farm road becoming a major thoroughfare, the routing remains true to its original design. Recent improvements have refined bunker placement and scale to meet the demands of modern equipment without compromising MacKenzie’s intent.
As Pitman noted, “Like MacKenzie, I believe a golf course should be a rendezvous with nature. If possible, you leave the land just the way it is and build holes as nature intended.” Titirangi embodies this philosophy, challenging golfers with strategy and finesse rather than sheer distance.
Those who revere MacKenzie designs will mark to the par-3s at Titirangi GC as those to pay most attention to when appreciating his genius. However, the back-to-back par-5 13th and par-3 14th together are an example of the accuracy demanded to master this course.
The 13th Hole: “The Wrecker”
Imagine finishing a strong front nine and feeling confident about closing out your round with momentum. Then you reach the 13th tee box and see the intimidating name of the hole: “The Wrecker.”
Still feeling confident?
This second par-5 measures just 488 yards but can unsettle even the best players. Here’s why:
Power alone won’t guarantee success here. In fact, accuracy is far more valuable:
The green itself is long and slopes back to front, surrounded by bunkers on the sides and front. Smart use of these traps can help you avoid the dense native bush that surrounds the putting surface.
