NEW ZEALAND
T here are more than half- a-million licensed camp- ervans in New Zealand, and what makes this dis- tant island nation such a unique golf destination is the ability to tour around playing its many beautiful courses in a rented campervan. Earlier this summer I spent three weeks in the North Island as a golfing gypsy enjoying the freedom of the road. Campervans, or motor homes, are ubiquitous in every corner of both is- lands during a New Zealand summer. Not just foreign tourists on holiday, but locals who embrace the outdoor lifestyle as most Kiwis do. There is a proliferation of camp sites, formal and informal, and if you’re unable to find one, well, you can always park over- night in a quiet cul-de-sac as long as you’re not intruding. You’re able to do this because New Zealand has a well- founded reputation as a friendly, safe, and secure country. Only recently has there been a valid reason to include New Zealand as one of life’s more exciting golf destinations, one where you will find exhilaratingly beautiful locations, and courses that don’t fit the conformist mould of mod- ern design trends. Seven of them fea- tured in Golf Digest’s 2024-25 ranking of the World’s 100 Greatest Courses (outside the United States), and six of those are on the North Island. With one exception, these are 21st century creations. New Zealand has benefitted vastly from investment in golf proper- ties by American hedge fund billion- aires like Ric Kayne and the late Julian Robertson. They had the money and scenic lo- cales to attract eminent course archi- tects such as Tom Doak, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to build eye-catching and remotely situated designs which would create instant acclaim and a global market for golfing adventur- ers. They are principally high-end re- sort-style courses like those that have proved successful in the United States, beginning with Bandon Dunes in 2000. New Zealand is far from anywhere. Some of the longest non-stop flights on the planet have Auckland as their des- tination. It’s 18 hours and over 14 000 kilometres from New York, between 17 and 18 hours if flying from Doha or
TE ARAI SOUTH LINKS The picturesque 14th hole designed by Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore.
CAMPING OUT UNDER A ‘LONG WHITE CLOUD’
North Island of New Zealand is an enchanting golf destination. BY STUART MCLEAN
110 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 111
MARCH/APRIL 2026
MARCH/APRIL 2026
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