about
With so many fabulous golf courses,
When you're spoilt for courses,
"As a PGA Golf Professional, based at a recognised club course that had hosted leading New Zealand golf events, I saw the course was not being noticed by international visitors who then produced golf rankings for New Zealand’s leading courses.
Talking with other club professionals around the country, I was hearing similar frustrations!
That was how the New Zealand Golf Rankings was born."
NZPGA Golf Professional & Rankings Coordinator NZ Golf Rankings
Our History
Our mission is to showcase and celebrate the nation's finest golf courses, inviting both local players and international visitors to embark on unforgettable golfing adventures.
Through our ranking system based on seven key criteria, we curate a Top 40 list every two years, guiding players to discover the hidden gems and iconic destinations that define our diverse golfing culture and scenic mountain landscapes.
In 2012, the first rankings were compiled and quickly showed that many golf courses that had never been highlighted were well-worth playing. They were just not located in the major tourist regions. These rankings are not just about the ‘Top 10’ golf courses, it’s about recognising the golf courses that are ranked 20th, 25th or 33rd.
Since its inception in 2012, rankings have since been carried out every two years and showcased through the major NZ Golf publications and international golf publications. This website is about sharing the results with local and international golfers who love playing the game and who appreciate playing the best golf courses and some of the wonderful club courses!
We believe that golf is more than just a sport—it's a journey of exploration and companionship, where every tee-off marks a new chapter in an unforgettable adventure. Join us in the pursuit of memorable golfing experiences, as we navigate the fairways to uncover treasures and hidden gems across New Zealand.
With so many fabulous golf courses,
1
Our seasoned team of golf pros, from across the country, start by playing the gorgeous golf courses around New Zealand.
The team is comprised of professionals, seasoned amateurs, industry insiders, and club players, offering a diverse range of expertise.
2
The ranking system is based on seven criteria that cover the key factors of essential golf course design. These are Risk/Reward, Playability, Layout, Design, Scenic Values, Conditioning and Ambience.
A maximum of five points is awarded per category, meaning the maximum score any course can receive is a total of 35 points.
3
Once each ranker has submitted their top courses, the points awarded are totalled and then divided by the numbers of rankers.
From here it's just a simple job of ordering each course from the highest point total to lowest, resulting our picks for the best 40 golf courses in New Zealand.
We bring together the best list of the ‘Top 40’ golf courses in New Zealand.
The Rankers rank the golf courses using seven criteria based on key elements from several international publications’ ranking systems.
The quality of the ranking is very high, based on the experience and golf knowledge of the rankers. All rankers have played golf courses all around New Zealand, in Australia and internationally.
It’s not just about playing a golf course, it is also about understanding golf course design, basic agronomy and how a great golf course comes together to make up ‘the total package’.
With the seven elements, it allows the rankers to review the golf course with a 360-degree approach.
No single element is ranked higher than another and this proven system has seen the cream rise to the top.
How well do the holes pose a variety of risks and rewards and equally test length, accuracy and finesse? Is this a golf course that makes you think? Will this golf course test all the clubs in your bag?
How were the tees, fairways and greens on the day you played the course? Were the tee boxes and fairways in good shape? Was there fairway definition? Was the rough tidy and were the bunkers cared for? Were the greens receptive and did they roll smoothly? Did you enjoy playing the course?
How varied are the holes in differing lengths, configurations and hole shapes, hazard placements, green shapes and green contours? Does the course test the best players yet still challenge the middle handicappers?
How well does the overall feel and atmosphere of the course reflect or uphold the traditional values of the game? Did you have a great experience and would you hurry back to play again?
How difficult, while still being fair, is the course for a scratch player from the regular back tees? Will a mid- or high-handicap golfer be able to play the course without feeling “beat up”?
How well do the scenic values of the course add to the pleasure of a round? Is there a harmonious blend of natural and artificial elements, focusing on visual appeal and playability? Do you have some “Wow” moments when you stand on a tee or the surrounds which leave you in “awe”?
How well do the design features provide individuality for each hole and still combine to be cohesive over the entire 18-holes? Does the golf course flow and work well/blend with the surrounding landscape? Was it memorable for you and can you remember the holes/course a week or months later?
Our NZ Golf Rankers
Our rankers are spread out across New Zealand and know the top golf courses but also what makes some of our club and country courses so special.
Led by Andrew Whiley, the seasoned coordinator of these rankings, our diverse panel of golf experts aim to capture and assess the essence of each course.
From the thrill of risk/reward challenges, to the beauty of the famous New Zealand countryside.
Through the evolution of the rankings, we learnt the importance of having rankers located around the country. Rankers needed to have strong golf knowledge with experience playing golf courses locally and internationally. Over half of the rankers have played representative or professional golf. They all understand what makes a golf course special.
More importantly, rankers were not able to rank golf courses that they had worked at or were members at. This takes away the emotional engagement the ranker may have had with a golf course.
Andrew Whiley
NZPGA Golf Professional & Rankings Coordinator NZ Golf Rankings
Andrew Whiley
NZPGA Golf Professional & Rankings Coordinator NZ Golf Rankings
Phil Aicken
NZ Golf Ranker
Phil Aicken
NZ Golf Ranker
Leo Barber
NZ Golf Ranker
Leo Barber
NZ Golf Ranker
Graeme Barbara
NZ Golf Ranker
Graeme Barbara
NZ Golf Ranker
Beauden Barrett
NZ Golf Ranker
Beauden Barrett
NZ Golf Ranker
Robyn Boniface
NZ Golf Ranker
Robyn Boniface
NZ Golf Ranker
Barry Brown
NZ Golf Ranker
Barry Brown
NZ Golf Ranker
Hamish Campbell
NZ Golf Ranker
Hamish Campbell
NZ Golf Ranker
Andrew Clements
NZ Golf Ranker
Andrew Clements
NZ Golf Ranker
Blair Dibley
NZ Golf Ranker
Blair Dibley
NZ Golf Ranker
Michael Glading
NZ Golf Ranker
Michael Glading
NZ Golf Ranker
Simon Forshaw
NZ Golf Ranker
Simon Forshaw
NZ Golf Ranker
Denise Langdon
NZ Golf Ranker
Denise Langdon
NZ Golf Ranker
Tony Houpt
NZ Golf Ranker
Tony Houpt
NZ Golf Ranker
Willie Moore
NZ Golf Ranker
Willie Moore
NZ Golf Ranker
Dave Mangan
NZ Golf Ranker
Dave Mangan
NZ Golf Ranker
Alan Rose
NZ Golf Ranker
Alan Rose
NZ Golf Ranker
Grant Moorhead
NZ Golf Ranker
Grant Moorhead
NZ Golf Ranker
Doug White
NZ Golf Ranker
Doug White
NZ Golf Ranker
John Spraggs
NZ Golf Ranker
John Spraggs
NZ Golf Ranker
Fraser Wilkin
NZ Golf Ranker
Fraser Wilkin
NZ Golf Ranker
Duncan Simpson
NZ Golf Ranker
Duncan Simpson
NZ Golf Ranker
Benn Ashford
NZ Golf Ranker
Benn Ashford
NZ Golf Ranker
Phil Ellison
NZ Golf Ranker
Phil Ellison
NZ Golf Ranker
Tolan Henderson
NZ Golf Ranker
Tolan Henderson
NZ Golf Ranker
Jon McCord
NZ Golf Ranker
Jon McCord
NZ Golf Ranker
Jamie McIsaac
NZ Golf Ranker
Jamie McIsaac
NZ Golf Ranker
Nigel Merrett
NZ Golf Ranker
Nigel Merrett
NZ Golf Ranker
Patrick Moore
NZ Golf Ranker
Patrick Moore
NZ Golf Ranker
Kieran Muir
NZ Golf Ranker
Kieran Muir
NZ Golf Ranker
Hamish Robertson
NZ Golf Ranker
Hamish Robertson
NZ Golf Ranker
Having such a variety of rankers also minimises the player bias where a golfer may have had a nice round, so they rank the golf course positively to reflect how well they had played.
It also allowed the rankers to evaluate a golf course a week after coring the greens, as this could reflect on the conditioning but not the other criteria.
Explore the best golf courses in New Zealand
Ready For Your Next Golf Road Trip?
New Zealand Golf Rankings also wants to acknowledge the great work that golf clubs across the country do to present their golf courses in outstanding condition.
For many, it is a ‘labour of love’ and even though a course may not be in the ‘Top 10’, you will know why it is worth playing and what makes it so enjoyable.
Please use these rankings to get out and play as many of New Zealand’s great golf courses as you can. It will be worth your while!
