Te Arai Links

For those seeking Links-style golf on a New Zealand golf trip, Te Arai is home to two Links courses. Both of these New Zealand golf courses on the North Island offer Pacific Ocean views and are among the best courses in the country. Like Julien Robertson before him, fund manager Ric Kayne and managing partner Jim Rohrstaff set out to scale new golf heights.

Their opening salvo, the private Tara Iti, was such a success they sought to expand their high-quality golf offerings to visiting golfers and the 36-hole Te Arai Links concept became a reality.

The South Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2022, debuting at No. 85 on the 23/24 Golf Magazine Top 100 Courses in the World list. On a relatively small 90-acre site, the talented team routed holes 6-9 and 15-18 right on the Pacific Ocean.

The links course features fescue on all the greens, tees, and fairways. Of special note here are the short par 4s – the 3rd, 6th, and 10th. There are no bad holes on the layout, so both amateurs and professionals can test their skills and enjoy a game here.

The North Course, which opened in 2023, like Tara Iti was designed by Tom Doak. Rather than along the coast, his routing takes a tree-lined journey on each nine from the coast into the forest and then back down onto the coastline. The 8^th on the front showcases the vista out to Little Barrier Island and the closing three holes on the back form a spectacular coastal finish.

The 19^th hole, Ric’s, named after the founder, is adjacent to ‘The Playground,’ which is billed as the world’s largest putting green and wonderful before or after round entertainment.

The two courses alternate being a member or visitor course on alternate days. No worries about staying over for the second round as there are luxurious Suites, Cottages, and Villas to choose from depending on your party’s size.

The complex is located next door to Tara Iti, about a 90-minute drive north of Auckland or only 25 minutes by helicopter.