The 2024 New Zealand Golf Rankings provides an opportunity to celebrate not only our finest courses but also the clubs and people that make the game so special here.
NEW ZEALAND’S TOP 40 GOLF COURSES FOR 2024
23rd October 2024
New Zealand is known as one of the world's great golf estinations and it is time to recognise the best courses in New Zealand along with some of our great golf clubs. New Zealand Golf Rankings has completed its 2024 surveys and analysis and now, with daylight savings and summer golf weather upon us, we want to share our results. We also want to encourage local golfers to travel around the country and play some of our many wonderful golf courses. So, which golf courses have you played? And where will your next golfing road trip take you and your friends?
For the fourth time in eight years, Tara Iti ranks as the best golf course in New Zealand in our 2024 rankings. Yes, the golf course is extremely private, but it is truly something special. If you are ever have the opportunity to play there, then you should jump at it! The setting, the layout and how the course plays is unique and memorable, from the time you drive through the gates, through to holing your final putt on the 18th green. It isabsolutely, magical!
New to the rankings are the Te Arai golf courses located 90-minutes north of Auckland. Te Arai Links South nearly knocked Tara Iti from its top spot. The two courses, Te Arai Links South which ranked in second place and Te Arai Links North which came in third, really make the region a “must play” golf destination for golfers from around the world. The flow of the two courses, with the scenery, accommodation, and dining make it one of the best places in the world to stay and play golf. On the rankings side, the seven factors that rankers considered: Risk/Reward, Playability, Layout,Design, Scenic Values, Conditioning and Ambience all rated highly. It is generally acknowledged that designers Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Te Arai Links South) and Tom Doak (Te Arai Links North andTara Iti) build golf courses that perfectly suit their landscapes.
The Queenstown pair of Jacks Point and The Hills were in the fourth and sixth spots with only .03 of a point separating them, while Wairakei managed to squeeze into fifth position. Meanwhile, its neighbour Kinloch moved to the #8 spot. Cape Kidnappers came in at #7 and Kauri Cliffs moved to the 9th position. This year the rankings were extremely close with the #4 Jacks Point through to #9 Kauri Cliffs, being separated by only 0.28 of a point. This shows just how close the quality of these “destination” golf courses are and what wonderful courses we have!
The Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course snuck in at the #10 position and is regarded as the number one traditional NZ Golf Club. The Millbrook Coronet course came in at #11 and pipped its sister course, the Millbrook Remarkables course, by a small margin, narrowly followed by Titirangi, Royal Wellington and Christchurch Golf Clubs.
The New Zealand Top 40 Golf Rankings were last compiled in December2022. Therefore, this is the first ranking conducted with the new Te Arai Links Golf Courses and dropping the Gulf Harbour Golf Club after it was closed. Russley and Mangawhai golf clubs returned into the Top 40 rankings and the Waverley Golf Club made its inaugural appearance into the rankings.
So, the challenge for those of you who love golf, is to set a goal to try to play as many of the Top 40 courses that you haven’t yet played on this year’s list. Find the time to seek out and play those hidden gems; make a point of getting out there in our beautiful country and see if you agree with the ranking scores. Again, as it’s been mentioned before, it’s not just about playing the famous or ‘big name’ courses, but it’s about being able to enjoy our unique and amazing courses that have something to offer everyone.
Andrew Whiley
NZPGA Golf Professional and Rankings Coordinator
New Zealand Golf Rankings
Dunedin
Ph: 0274653222
whileygolf@hotmail.com
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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!
