Why this distant golf resort is value 7,000-mile haul to get there

There’s a sure insanity that drives an individual to e-book a 7,700-mile journey to New Zealand’s northern coast, all for a number of rounds of golf.

Or…is there?

The trek from the U.S. to New Zealand is lengthy, however surprisingly straightforward. One afternoon in early November, my husband and I flew from Nashville, had a fast layover in Los Angeles, and 13 hours later, landed in Auckland. Even after that a lot time within the air, we felt energized as we started the ultimate leg of our journey — a 90-minute drive from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest metropolis, to Te Arai, the nation’s most gorgeous golf vacation spot.

This was a return journey for us. We’d visited six years earlier to play Tara Iti, a personal course that debuted at No. 29 on GOLF Journal’s rating of the High 100 Programs within the World in 2017; it has since climbed as much as twentieth. We stayed there for 2 nights, then spent the following two weeks driving from the North Island all the way down to Queenstown, the southern tip of the South Island. We hiked and teed it up from cease to cease. After touring all the way in which from New York Metropolis, we needed to maximise the expertise.

Six years and two children later, we determined we may very well be away from Nashville for a most of 1 week throughout this second go to and that we needed the journey to really really feel like a trip — that meant minimal driving, staying in only one room and filling our days with unbelievable golf and the restorative powers of nature. Tara Iti was the star of our first journey, and since its resort-style counterpart, Te Arai, had simply opened down the highway, it felt like an apparent selection for an epic expertise.

There’s no means round it: 7,700 miles is a mighty haul for a week-long getaway. However once we stood on the 4th tee at Te Arai’s South Course, gazing a gap that plunges into the Pacific Ocean, any trace of sleep deprivation or journey weariness melted away. This wasn’t only a spherical of golf; it was an escape into nature’s uncooked magnificence and an opportunity to have interaction with golf at its most spectacular.

I’ve endured much more arduous journey for a lot smaller payoffs.

Te Arai sits simply south of Tara Iti and is the brainchild of Tara Iti’s developer and managing director — Ric Kayne and Jim Rohrstaff, respectively. As such, the properties share most of the similar qualities, each providing a singular mix of pure magnificence, architectural brilliance and a relaxed but luxurious environment. One massive distinction between them: Tara Iti is personal and Te Arai is a 36-hole resort with a membership part. Te Arai’s North and South programs alternate between being private and non-private each day to make sure that each programs preserve an unique really feel whereas nonetheless permitting for public play.

Regardless of sharing one piece of land, Te Arai’s programs are wildly completely different. The South Course, a 6,843-yard Coore/Crenshaw design that opened in 2022, captivates with its visible magnificence — 14 of its 18 holes are set towards the Pacific. It’s not only a feast for the eyes, but in addition a golfer’s dream when it comes to walkability and circulation.

The course is difficult however honest, with a give attention to shot-making and creativity, all whereas treating golfers to 1 breathtaking view after one other. This design balances magnificence and playability, permitting golfers to soak within the panorama whereas strategizing about how finest to navigate its intelligent options.

The North Course, a Tom Doak design that opened in October 2023, is a firmer take a look at. The 6,931-yard par-71 format begins on the Pacific after which heads inland, meandering by way of an enormous bowl earlier than returning to the ocean. Whereas solely seven holes sit instantly on the Pacific (the South Course has spoiled us!), the course is a strategic masterpiece. With huge fairways that undulate each subtly and dramatically, golfers are always challenged to consider angles and strategy pictures. The inexperienced complexes are a number of the boldest I’ve ever encountered, requiring a considerate strategy. The North additionally has a implausible midway home — the fish tacos are a should — obtainable to gamers on each the tenth and fifteenth holes.

Hyperlinks golf nearly all the time comes with magnificence but in addition with a facet of chilly temperatures, heavy rain and biting wind. Te Arai, although, defies the norm in that its coastal layouts are grassed solely with fescue, which means they provide a real hyperlinks expertise in a cushty subtropical local weather. Within the winter (our summer season), highs hover round 60 levels, whereas summer season highs common round 75 levels. Yep, bliss.

Te Arai’s consideration to element extends far past golf into each facet of the resort. One of many central gathering factors at Te Arai is Ric’s, a fantastically appointed open-all-day restaurant that’s surrounded by a 2.5-acre Himalayas-style placing inexperienced aptly referred to as the Playground. Ric’s isn’t only a place to seize a chew — it’s a social hub. All are welcome, even those that aren’t staying or enjoying on-site, and the restaurant’s family-style seating and come-as-you-are vibes encourage interplay, creating an environment the place it’s straightforward to satisfy fellow golfers and locals alike.

Ric’s heat Scandinavian aesthetic permeates all through the resort. We stayed in a comfy studio cottage that overlooks the driving vary. The area’s heat palette, pure supplies and elevated necessities helped it exude a relaxing class. I discovered myself wishing I might purchase all of it — the bedding, the accent chairs, the mugs — to recreate the magic again residence in Nashville.

Over the course of 5 days, we performed 4 rounds on the South, two on the North and one at Tara Iti. We supplemented these rounds with unforgettable walks on Te Arai Seaside, a pristine stretch of shoreline the place white sand meets the turquoise Pacific. Entry to the seaside is correct off the South’s 18th inexperienced. We walked north, previous the North Course, till we reached Forestry Seaside, famend among the many surf neighborhood for its left-hand level breaks, then climbed a hill and walked out onto some extent — to our proper, we might see each of Te Arai’s programs; to our left, we noticed Tara Iti. One quick stretch of shoreline, three of GOLF’s High 100 Programs within the World.

The land right here is so treasured right here, it feels practically untouched. The Kiwis have a protracted historical past of deeply respecting their atmosphere, and the group behind Te Arai have embraced that ethos with a powerful dedication towards sustainability. We didn’t discover single-use plastics wherever on the property, and water stations with reusable bottles are strategically positioned all through. Even the small particulars — title tags, room keys, tees, ball markers and pens all comprised of wooden — replicate the resort’s dedication to lowering its environmental footprint whereas offering a top-tier luxurious expertise.

With two unbelievable programs already in play and loads of land obtainable for a 3rd, the way forward for Te Arai is vibrant. The resort continues to develop, not too long ago including sport courts and a extra formal eating choice; a full-service spa can be on the way in which. It’s solely a matter of time earlier than it turns into a must-visit vacation spot for golfers and adventure-seekers.

Whether or not they stay 70 miles away, or 7,000.