Cape Kidnappers
When keen golfers talk about a bucket list course, they generally mean one that is outstanding and aspirational, perhaps not so accessible and perhaps pricey, but one that absolutely warrants the indulgence. Cape Kidnappers on the North Island of New Zealand ticks all these boxes and more. Yes, it’s a long way, and yes, you really need to stay here and enjoy the full, wonderful experience. But for a location and design that is so sublime, so different, so uplifting, this is deserving of its place on any such list.
The course was designed by Tom Doak and opened for play in 2004. It sits on the most dramatic clifftop site and works its way up and down a series of ridges overlooking the glistening ocean and Hawke’s Bay.
Regardless of the unique setting, this is a first-class layout in every respect. There are some demanding shots and the wind is likely to be a factor, but every hole is memorable with its own distinct features. The bunkering is superb, strategically and visually, but it is ultimately the natural topography that makes this place so very special.