Those who don’t know… actually if you don’t go and look it up. Tara Iti is the golf course child of multi billionaire American Rick Kayne. Opened in 2014, it is on the North East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand and is about 90 minutes north of Auckland. Par 71 and designed by Tom Doak. There is three golf courses there now Tara Iti, Te Arai South and Te Arai North. They all have been getting rave reviews. Tara Iti was first but I left feeling underwhelmed if I am being honest… maybe it was the hype…
I have played Tara Iti Golf Club while here in New Zealand… and my verdict is… I THINK ITS OVERRATED…
The first top tier links course I played was Royal Aberdeen when I was 18 years old. Its the first golf course as I was driving through the gates I was feeling nerves and excitement. This was the view from the first tee.
Awestruck is the answer to this view and begins some of the best stretch of opening holes in the world. I would even go so far to say that holes 1, 2, 3 (before remodel), 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 (top tee), 14 & 18 are WORLD CLASS. RAGC on the top100courses.com is the Ranked #63 in the World. GOLF Magazine doesn’t have it in the Top 100!
So… bearing in mind this is my first solo experience travelling, first time in Southern Hemisphere. Rave reviews. Seen all the Youtube videos… HIGH EXPECTATIONS and the stage is set! And this is the view of the first hole.
You can see a maintenance shed, practice range and a house. The clubhouse gets the views and is 100 yards behind the position of the photographer. The hole is a nice hole, par 4 with slight movement to the left. I just expected more.
As you go through the front nine, it gets better, the first hole which is interesting is the 3rd. Long par four, slight dogleg with the topography all funneling to the green which is like a bowl (3rd at Royal Aberdeen was like this but for some reason they got rid of it and made the hole worse but that's for another time…). 4th is a drivable par four then you get a strong view from the Long Par 5th tee.
6th is one of the best par 4’s you’ll ever play and is closest to the sea out of any of the holes and like the 5th is straightaway.
7th is actually my favourite hole on the golf course. Drivable par four with the smallest green Tom Doak has ever designed and is on a tiny plateau. Sand dunes each side are strong penalties. 8th heads away from the sea and is straight. 9th heads back in opposite direction is straight. In the opening nine I was WOWED 3 times… 3rd, 6th and 7th.
Back nine starts with a par 3 which is a bit strange. 11th is the first time there is movement in a golf hole as a slight dogleg right par 5. 12th is a blind drive to 90 yard fairway to a green similar to the 8th hole so felt a bit deja vu. The best view however is the 14th tee at the highest part of the property:
The signature hole is the 17th Hole.
18th finishes with a par 5 and has a blind tee shot that heads up towards the club house. Very good golf course, lots of visually stunning topography however down to the nuts and bolts of it… most of the holes are quite far away from the sea, only 4/5 holes are WORLD CLASS and two blind shots on the back nine. I think the land has potential of being incredible. The other thing I found out from the experience is that I am a stickler of of tradition and that maybe causes some bias but none the less. GOOD GOLF COURSE.
17/20
Kommentare