NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand has experienced a tremendous boom in new golf courses over the last 25 years. The international golf community used to considered it one of the most under-developed countries, but that has all changed over the last quarter of a century.

New courses have sprung up from the north to the south - and seemingly everywhere in between - transforming the New Zealand golf landscape. Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs led the way, both entering the World Top 100 lists. The Queenstown courses like Jack’s Point and The Hills may not have had quite the same impact on the world stage, but they have proved tremendously popular with locals and international visitors - particularly those from Australia. The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu provide a stunning backdrop to these superbly conditioned courses.

But there still wasn’t a course at the very top of the global rankings. That all changed in 2015 when Tom Doak’s Tara Iti opened. This incredible links course was immediately hailed as a masterpiece and visitors from all round the world were drawn to the coastal town of Mangawhai to see it for themselves.

The Tara Iti owner, Ric Kayne, continues to do wonders for the Kiwi golf industry with the opening of the South and North courses at Te Arai Links.

While these new courses have caused a stir, and attracted most of the headlines, there is another side to golf in New Zealand - one that I only caught a glimpse of. These are the country courses where the locals play.

The resort courses that I largely visited have wonderful levels of service, fantastic conditioning, and expensive green fees - especially for international travellers. However, go just a little below the surface and you will find that the country has golf in its DNA and much more to enjoy. I hope to be able to report on a lot more of those other courses after my next visit. But for now, for a taste of golf beyond the resorts, my only advice is not to leave Queenstown without seeing Arrowtown.