Tee off in Taupo
Home of Great Golfing Experiences
Beautiful Lake Taupo is a stunning destination for a golfing get away. There are 6 courses of great variety within three quarters of an hour of Taupo’s township and another hidden gem just one and a half hour’s drive away. Taupo itself is a large town with great accommodation, restaurants, cafes, trout fishing, lake activities and snow skiing all on its doorstep.
The region’s flagship golf course is the beautiful Wairakei International Golf Course just 10 minutes from town. This course was rated in the top 100 courses in the world by the prestigious US Golf Digest magazine in 2005, and has been described by many an international golfer as like “playing in a botanic garden”. It is also consistently ranked as the favorite course of many of New Zealand’s best golfers. The 6444 metre course, off the back tees, is spread through 450 acres of park like countryside. There has been a significant amount of money spent over the last ten years on upgrading the course and its facilities. Well bunkered, and with plenty of elevation, the course is a real test of any golfer’s skill.
Vying for top course in the district is the brand new Kinloch Golf Course. Kinloch is a lakeside settlement 20 minutes from Taupo with plenty of accommodation options,. The course is designed by Jack Nicklaus and is nestled in a residential community with breath taking lake views. Jack Nicklaus uses the natural environment to dictate the shapes of his golf holes. This has produced a beautiful but challenging links like course in a very natural environment.
The Taupo Golf Club boasts two very different courses that are well worth a visit. The Centennial Course at the club is the longest women’s course in the country and hosts many of New Zealand’s top amateur events. The course has undergone major renovations over the last two years that have improved the layout and views considerably. The shorter, flatter and easier Tauhara Course is a nice alternative to its newer neighbor. Both courses have fairway watering which makes them playable in all seasons.
Half an hour to the north, is the small country Waiotapu Valley Golf Club. This is an amazingly well groomed course for such a small club. Its feature is the holes that are played around a spectacular volcanic valley. The green fees are very cheap and amazing value for money.
Turangi Golf Club is at the southern end of the lake, three quarters of an hour drive from Taupo. It is again a small club course with very cheap green fees. The course is set on mainly flat land, with some holes venturing up the side of a hill. It also has many sneaky water hazards to nab any errant shots. The course is in the world renowned trout fishing mecca of Turangi, and only 40 minutes to the ski slopes of Mount Ruapehu.
Another hour’s drive past spectacular Mount Ruapehu, and nestled right beside the mountain itself, is the oldest golf club in the region. Waimarino Golf Club was formed in 1926. The course is exceptionally well maintained and is known as one of the regions best kept secrets.
