Alister Mackenzie, one of golf’s most celebrated architects, left an indelible mark on courses worldwide, from Augusta National to Royal Melbourne. But did his influence extend to New Zealand? While his visit in 1927 is well-documented, his impact beyond Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland remains a subject of debate. However, one man who undeniably shaped golf in New Zealand was C.H. Redhead, an Irish-born designer whose work revolutionized the country’s courses.
Mackenzie’s Time in New Zealand
In 1927, during his world tour, Mackenzie spent approximately three weeks in New Zealand. He confirmed designing a course at Maungakiekie—now known as Titirangi Golf Club—and visited other sites, including Rotorua Golf Club (Arikikapakapa).
In The Spirit of St. Andrews, he shared his thoughts on the state of golf in the country, writing: “Golf in New Zealand, unlike Australia, is dead. In fact, it has never been alive. Green committees there do not seem to realize that the game is played for pleasure; they utilize long grass as a penal hazard, and the consequence is that golfers will not put up with the annoyance of losing balls.”
Despite this criticism, he was highly impressed with the volcanic terrain of Rotorua Golf Club, noting: “They have a course in Rotorua, in the middle of the volcanic region, where the turf is as good as on any golf course. Its excellence seems to indicate that an excess of sulphur is favourable to the development of the finest of the dwarf golfing grasses.”
He also recounted the unusual hazards of the course, including natural geothermal vents: “The founder of the club was a cockney, and in addressing the preliminary meeting, said, ‘We will ‘ave the only course in the world that ‘as ‘ot ‘oles, for ‘azards.’ The course is indeed full of ‘ot ‘ales where balls frizzle up and explode. At intervals, there were geysers spouting 100 feet or more, natives cooking and doing their washing in the adjoining hot springs, sulphur fumes everywhere, and many places where a stick is charred if it is pushed through the turf.”
However, while Mackenzie was clearly fascinated by the course, there is no concrete evidence that he contributed to its design.
Mackenzie’s Love for Fishing
While Mackenzie was a master of golf course architecture, he was equally passionate about fishing. His love for the sport is well documented, and he often sought out fishing spots wherever his travels took him.
After six grueling weeks working on courses in Australia, Mackenzie took a well-deserved break in New Zealand, where he spent two weeks trout fishing—most likely in the world-famous waters of Lake Taupo. The lake and its surrounding rivers, including the Tongariro River, are among the finest trout fisheries in the world, offering crystal-clear waters and abundant rainbow and brown trout. For more about fly fishing in New Zealand please see our dedicated site here: www.bestofnzflyfishing.com
Fishing was more than just a hobby for Mackenzie; it was a lifelong passion. His fascination with the sport extended back to his youth in England, and he often wrote about the similarities between golf course design and the rhythm of fishing. In one of his writings, he compared the patience required for a great golf shot to the skill needed to land a difficult catch.
His time in New Zealand may not have resulted in many golf courses, but it certainly left him with fond memories of some of the best fishing experiences of his life.
C.H. Redhead: The Unsung Architect of New Zealand Golf
While Mackenzie’s footprint in New Zealand is uncertain, one name that stands out in its golf history is C.H. Redhead. A former engineer from Ireland, Redhead became a key figure in modernizing golf course design across the country. His career before arriving in New Zealand in 1924 was distinguished—he had worked in government service and had a strong reputation for his technical expertise. During World War I, he oversaw the installation of underground telephone cables in Ireland, a role that required meticulous planning and engineering skills.
After relocating to Rotorua, Redhead quickly became a pivotal figure in New Zealand’s golfing evolution. His most notable early project was remodeling Rotorua Golf Club (Arikikapakapa) in 1927, introducing strategic cross bunkering, penal hazards, and a more thoughtful routing—elements that mirrored the philosophies of Mackenzie and other Golden Age architects. His success at Rotorua sparked a wave of interest, and soon he was commissioned for major projects across the country.
By 1934, Redhead had designed or extensively remodeled numerous courses in New Zealand. Although many exist today, they are likely not those that will be played by a golfer visiting Internationally (especially given a restricted amount of time within the country). However, beyond new designs, Redhead was called upon to improve bunkering and layouts at some of the country’s historically more important local clubs, including Middlemore (Royal Auckland), Akarana, Hamilton, Manawatu, Hastings, St. Clair, and Wanganui. His expertise helped these courses transition from rudimentary country course layouts to more sophisticated designs.
Redhead was also a thought leader in course strategy. In a 1927 Golf Illustrated article, he wrote: “A hole should be reasonable but interesting, not for the benefit of the scratch man or the long handicap man, but for all.”
He emphasized the importance of short holes, writing: “Much is forgiven a course where the one-shot holes are good, and most of the best-known holes of the world are of this variety.”
His approach to hazards and fairways was also ahead of its time: “Bunkers should force the line of play, not just punish the bad shot. At best, a dilemma should be involved—with an advantage for the difficult carry and a subsequent problem for the easier route.”
Something you don’t see often on a golf course
Did Redhead and Mackenzie Cross Paths?
Given their overlapping timelines, it’s natural to wonder if Mackenzie and Redhead ever met or collaborated. To date, there’s no documented evidence that they did. Still, the similarities in their design philosophies—particularly in bunkering and routing—suggest that Redhead may have been influenced, directly or indirectly, by Mackenzie’s ideas.
Separating Fact from Speculation
So, did Alister Mackenzie shape golf in New Zealand? The only confirmed course he designed is Titirangi Golf Club, and while he visited Rotorua Golf Club, there is no evidence he played a role in its layout. C.H. Redhead, on the other hand, had a well-documented impact, transforming many of New Zealand’s courses with a strategic approach that echoes the philosophies of Mackenzie and other Golden Age architects.
For golf architecture enthusiasts, the possibility of Mackenzie’s influence on New Zealand remains an intriguing mystery. But when it comes to shaping the country’s courses, it was Redhead—not Mackenzie—who left the lasting legacy.
