Kauri Cliffs Golf Club – Does it Live Up to its Expectations?
Kauri Cliffs Golf Club
Okay, so I have to be honest here because my friend won a round of golf for two with a cart at Kauri Cliffs Golf Club.
I guess this could make my review a bit bias because we weren’t paying green or cart fees for two NZ residents which would be around $480
If two international guests played costs for fees and cart would be around $880 (prices based on playing between 1 Oct – 30th April).
When flying to New Zealand Emirates is a great option check out their pricing.
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course Ranking
As a golfer, I was very excited and privileged to play at Kauri Cliffs Golf Club. Kauri Cliffs (2018).
Quite simply Kauri Cliffs golf course is amazing, spectacular and a wow factor, it's a magnificent golf course. To be honest I think I would have liked two rounds, first one just to take it all in and then another one to concentrate more on my golf game (see my top 9 tips when playing at Kauri Cliffs below).
The views around the first 9 holes are so vast that the fairways seem so small that any shot you make will find its way into the not so forgiving gullies or long rough and lost forever. The course isn’t about how many balls you lose or how bad you play as you are just overwhelmed by the shared beauty of the views that it seems to take away your pain of adding more shots to your card.
Kauri Cliffs golf course is about the design, the carpet like fairways, the manicured greens, the breathtaking views and the vast oceans that make this course easily get in the top 100 golf courses in the world.
If you were to die and go to heaven I think Kauri Cliffs Golf Club will be the right up there to play with your mates.
Getting to Kauri Cliffs
We didn’t stay at The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs but they do look amazing if you have the cash (from $2200 per night). We stayed at the Ramada Resort Taipa (Doubtless Bay) around 60 minutes drive to Kauri Cliffs. Don’t expect to drive from Auckland and play its at least a 4-hour direct drive (more if you get stuck in traffic), stay the night before you play. Or take a helicopter to the Kauri Cliffs!
We had a tee off time at 9 am so it was an early start to make sure we could enjoy it as much as possible. The weather was perfect and once we arrived at the locked gates you called the pro who will meet you in the carpark with your buggy. As you drive down the long driveway you see glimpses of the pristine fairways in the distance, making you feel like you are arriving at a course that Gods have built.
At the carpark the cart arrives with tees, ice, towels, and water fully supplied ready for your round. Apon taking the cart around to the front of Kauri Cliffs Golf Club you are blown away by the views right out to the Pacific ocean and the Kauri Cliffs Golf Course making up the landscape like icing on a Christmas cake. All you want to do is sit and admire the views as it sucks you in with its temptation.
We headed to the posh locker rooms to change and begin our round. The changing rooms are like an exclusive private golf course you would find in America or in a fancy spa resort. Placed on the walls is memorabilia from great New Zealand sports teams and picturesque frames showing the course's history with spectacular shots of many holes to remind you what you are getting yourself into.
There are 5 tee boxes, black, white, green, yellow and red, I played off the whites which were a very good test. If you cannot hit the ball far or in the air, the red tees are well designed and placed so beginners can still enjoy the round. Some holes you need to carry your ball at least 150 meters.
The service is fantastic and nothing is too hard or can’t be done, it has a beautiful pro shop with plenty of Kauri Cliff merchandise to tempt you. High quality and you definitely need to find something to take home with you as a memento or give to your golfing mate to show off!
There is no need to rush here, they even ask if you would like lunch after 9 holes or at the end of your round. We decided at the end of our round which we had in a delightful dining area overlooking the course. You can sit in this area with no restriction on what you wear (golf attire is fine) however the top level is for staying guests only and jackets must be worn at night.
We only expected to be at Kauri Cliffs for the golf but we stayed nearly all day as the staff gave us a cart to see the amazing pink beach only accessible via the course with around a 3km return walk (hilly gravel road). Definitely worth a trip.
If you don’t play golf with your partner then the spa is amazing (my wife and friend can confirm) actually very well priced and they thoroughly enjoyed it (see Charlotte's blog review here).
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course is one to put on your bucket list since it's not something you could play every weekend because of its location and price.
Kauri Cliffs golf course is a testament to New Zealand's great outdoors and beautiful scenery. Playing the course made you feel proud to be a kiwi, yes it's promoted to international golfers, the wealthy and the average Kiwi golfer will probably never play on it, but if you truly love the game Kauri Cliffs will remind you why the game of golf is so special.
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course Top Tips from CGKjoureneys:
- Get a tee off time of around 9 or 10 am
- Arrive at least 1 hour before teeing off, give yourself time to take it all in and practice on the 'Vast View' driving range
- Order lunch before your round, you can either have it after 9 or 18
- Walk the course rather than take a cart if you can
- Talk to the pro about going to the pink beach (they will give you a cart to the walking point)
- Take a camera on your round
- Hold the US Open replicate trophy (found in the pro shop)
- If your partner doesn't play golf book the spa but pre-book as it gets busy
- Play two rounds if you can, first one to take it all in then the next day master the course
Finally a big thank you to Kauri Cliffs Golf Club, Infinity Cars NZ and Ramada Resort Reia Taipa Beach for all the hospitality, generosity and amazing service. We would also like to thank our mates Kim and Tania for allowing us to experience the awesome trip with them.
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Until our next journey, talk soon Charlotte and Greg
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