Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club

Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers were not the first New Zealand courses to grace the World’s Top 100 Course rankings – that long-running distinction belongs to Paraparaumu Beach Links on the North Island.

Located on the Kapiti Coast just 40 miles north of the capital Wellington, the Alex Russell-designed layout was the No. 1 Course in New Zealand for decades after its opening in 1949.

Russell a former professional and winner of the Australian Open learned golf architecture from the man himself, Dr. Alister Mackenzie, with whom he was a partner.

At Paraparaumu, he designed a course enjoyable for amateurs and challenging for professionals. It hosted the New Zealand Open twelve times starting in 1959.

While not hard on the sea, like Royal Lytham & St Annes, it still exhibits all the characteristics and turf of a true links across its natural undulating dune land. It is known for having no weak holes and like the better links courses, it comes alive in a fresh breeze. There is no shortage of wind as the location on the Cook Strait ensures the breeze is up most days and Wellington is known as being the world’s ‘windiest city.’

Along with New Zealand Open’s, it was the host venue to a classic Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf in 1962 with New Zealand’s best-known ‘leftie’ & major winner, Bob Charles, and American Bob Goalby.

Often referred to as ‘Golf at its Purest,’ perhaps Australian Peter Thomson, a 5-time winner of The Open Championship summed it up the best, “…What was left after his (Russell) departure was a gem of enjoyment, a monument to the game and a gift to the future.”

The capital city of Wellington, while small in area, is large on enjoyment with a lively nightlife scene, excellent restaurants, and commanding views from the numerous hills out to sea. Be sure and take the iconic red cable car up to the Botanical Gardens.