Playing in Kauri Cliff Golf Course

Kauri Cliffs is a par 72 championship golf course with amazing ocean views.

It’s 7,119 yards / 6,510 metres course and designed by David Harman of Golf Course Consultant. It is ranked in the world top 100. 

PGA Tour star Brandt Snedeker called it “Pebble Beach on steroids”.

The first time I played this golf course is several years back.

The first impression of this masterpiece is ‘natural luxury’.

Everything starts from the main entrance of the golf course and resort. While watching the gate door is opening, I already starts to feel the satisfaction. And the satisfaction getting bigger when I arrive to the club house.

The clubhouse is really well matched with the great scenery around. While everything is prepared for teeing off, walk around the antique and luxurious proshop and locker room. 

Before teeing off the 1st hole, we headed to the driving range. And we still can enjoy the antique and exclusive taste of Kauri’s own sense.

With the great scenery, as I keep wanting to see the trajectory of the ball flight in the beautiful landscape, I found myself hitting the balls more than warmming up. After hitting several(actually more than several, almost 50 balls) balls, we moved to the 1st hole to enjoy the real taste of this course.

First hole was the beautiful down hill straight par 4 hole. Fairway is well managed and green was tidy and fast. Personally the toughest green for me is Kinloch Golf Course. 

When we arrive to the 4th hole we were able to realize this is one of the best par 5 hole in the world. Player needs to aim tee shot inside the left-hand bunkers. And long htting will give a chance to go to the green in two.(not me) For laying up, because of relatively narrow landing area and hazard, realized some accuracy is required.

Nextly, we moved to another beautiful challenge, 5th hole. Hole name is “Boomerang” and it looks like it actually. I think this is one of the best par 3 hole I’ve ever played. This short 140 yard Par-3 to a smaller green complex will test a player’s swing confidence. From a raised box the green looks like a postage stamp and not trusting yourself will surely result in the ravine claiming another golf ball.

In the 7th hole, I admire another masterpiece of the combination of scenery and artificial landscaping. It’s classic 220 yard hole viewed in most of the magazines and every bit as intimidating as the 5th, with a severe drop between the box and the pin. A bit longer, but side wind was helpful to my draw ball.

After playing 9 holes, got the simple lunch at the clubhouse. The menu was beef stake burger with coffee. After the meal and short time walking around the clubhouse(feel like I became one of the great golfer in the classic movie), we moved on. 

10th hole starts with hard downhill par 4 hole. It’s not long, probably the long hitter can try to reach to the green if he can overcome the fear from the hook, of course not me.

Although lacking in a jaw-dropping ocean view(I was barely able to see it as the hole looks quite tough for me), this Inland like(not actually island, but shapes like) 11th hole is a nice challenge with wetland guarding the green. Tee shot is a bit plain, but the 2nd shot requires more accuracy. May be a good chance to practicing bunker shot.

In the tee box of 12th, I barely can see the green(actually can see more than that, but the fear blinds my eyes). And the fear made me to get one club longer.

After playing several beautiful holes, we reached to 16th, Par 4, one of the signature hole of this course. A favorite of many, this spectacular downhill dogleg and will be played very differently is dictated by the wind. If at your back, the wind will push a big drive over a series of bunkers- allowing the ball to funnel downhill toward the green… which looks like the back of it drops to infinity on your approach.

But my personal favorite was 17th. This Par 4 hole offers the best view on the course, with its hole overlooking the Pacific Ocean and distant islands. Also it made me to agonize the optimum direction of the tee shot for my driving distance. More left will give shorter 2nd shot, but it also give more risk. Fortunately, my driver worked well and I was able to cut the corner successfully. And the reward is just 130m 2nd shot. Hurray!!

While crossing the signature bridge after tee shot in 18th, my feeling was already shaping to missing this gorgeous golf course. Even though the tough uphill(we used an electric cart :P), tried to feel the fluffy fairway and soft breeze even one more time.

After came back to the clubhouse, I enjoyed the aftertaste until finishing taking a shower.

Possibly I will come back and wish to play as a better player(I will work hard) in some short time. 

If I have a chance to tell the best course, I won’t hesitate to tell it’s great Kauri Cliff Golf Course.