TEE-ING UP FOR NEW GOLF OPENINGS AND EVENTS IN NEW ZEALAND FOR 2015

The Kinloch Club to open new villas in Lake Taupo, complementing an on-site Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course

With over seven million rounds of golf played annually in New Zealand and 393 golf courses across the North and South Islands (the second highest number of courses per capita in the world after Scotland), New Zealand is now known as one of the sport’s top destinations.

From new luxury golf resorts to events including The BMW New Zealand Open and The Tiger Tour, here is the latest golf news from New Zealand.  

NEW OPENINGS…

NEW ZEALAND GOLF GETS ANOTHER LUXURY STRING TO ITS BOW – NEW KINLOCH CLUB VILLAS OPENING JANUARY 2015 
Set in over 600 acres on the shores of Lake Taupo, The Kinloch Club is expanding with The Kinloch Club Villas complementing a spectacular, on-site 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Golf Course. Created by the much-awarded Treetops Lodge and Estate, The Kinloch Club Villas feature a selection of 26 one-bedroom apartments and luxurious two or three-bedroom villas in an exclusive, landscaped setting on the shores of Lake Taupo, the iconic heart-shaped lake at the scenic hub of New Zealand’s North Island. Designed to harmonise with the lakeside links course, the villas were conceived by Andrew Patterson, perhaps New Zealand’s best internationally known and published architect. Interiors are by acclaimed New Zealand lodge designer Virginia Fisher and feature her signature expansive spaces, huge log fireplaces, vista windows, designer details, furnished terraces and sensational marble bathrooms. Villas include beautiful kitchens and in the Club Lodge there are also world-class restaurant and entertainment facilities. Complementing the golf course is a spa with infinity pool, a gym and tennis courts. The Kinloch Club Villas are the perfect base to discover the incredible scenic diversity of New Zealand, from water sports on the lake to winter skiing in Tongariro Park or walking the world-famed Tongariro Crossing. There’s seasonal fly-fishing in some of the world’s best trout streams - even adventurous wild game hunting. Gentle sightseeing includes the geysers and bubbling mud of Rotorua, heritage heartland of Maoridom.
HOW: The Kinloch Club offers a Junior Suite at £240 per person per night based on two people sharing on a B&B basis, including pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and use of the swimming pool, tennis court and golf course. For more information visit www.kinloch-golf.com  

NEW DESIGNS & ADDITIONS…

REDESIGNED FIFTH HOLE AT KAURI CLIFFS, MATAURI BAY
Recently transformed from a long, uphill, forced-carry par-three hole to a short ‘drop-shot’ par-three hole, Kauri Cliffs hired architects Rees Jones and Julian Robertson to redesign the fifth hole of their golf course. The new fifth hole is now 60 yards shorter, boasting elevated tees overlooking the green and plays east to west. The course also added tees on the second and ninth holes and a bunker renovation on the fourth hole. Kauri Cliffs is set on 6,000 acres near Matauri Bay in the North Island with each suite offering a private porch with 180-degrees of the Pacific Ocean and nestled in a native forest overlooking the golf course. The golf course, designed and built by David Harman of Golf Course Consultants, offers five sets of tees to challenge every skill level with the inland holes offering backdrops of marsh, forest and farmland.
HOW: Kauri Cliffs offers packages from £4896 per person including three nights in a Deluxe Suite with two rounds of golf, rental equipment and an electric cart. www.kauricliffs.com/golf-course

QUEENTOWN’S MILLBROOK RESORT EXPANDS ITS GOLF COURSE
Queenstown’s award-winning Millbrook Resort has recently purchased 66 hectares of land adjacent to the five-star resort, which will significantly expand the property and see the resort upgraded from its current 27-hole layout to a full two-course layout. Boasting many awards and accolades, Millbrook Resort is renowned for its exceptional accommodation, spa, restaurants, golf course and property, which are open to Millbrook members, hotel guests and to the public as day visitors. The resort is also a great community supporter with events hosted at Millbrook including the Tour de Wakatipu, the Queenstown Marathon and a co-host of The BMW New Zealand Golf Open. Millbrook currently comprises 27 golf holes with a full 18-hole course available at any time using a mixture of the three nines – the Arrow Nine, Remarkables Nine and the newer Coronet Nine.
HOW: Millbrook offers the Play and Stay package from £180 per night based on two people sharing, including a stay in a Village Inn, buffet breakfast at The Clubhouse, a day’s unlimited play on the championship course, use of a golf cart, use of the health and fitness centre, gym, indoor pool, sauna and outdoor hot pools as well as transfers between Arrowtown and Queenstown. For more information visit www.millbrook.co.nz

ROYAL WELLINGTON GOLF CLUB COMPLETES A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION
Royal Wellington Golf club completed a seven million dollar renovation earlier this year at the hands of course designers Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson, both part of Turner Macpherson Golf Designs. The renovation included a fully renovated 18-hole course plus nine new holes and has helped elevate Wellington to one of New Zealand's "must visit" golf destinations. The Royal Wellington Golf Club, is nestled beside the Hutt River in the North Island and was previously the host The New Zealand Open seven years in a row.
HOW: The Royal Wellington Golf Club is a private members club. To join, guests have to be invited by a current member that has at least five years standing in the club. The Club is also available to non-members during the week from £30 per round. For more information visit www.rwgc.co.nz

EVENTS…

THE HILLS IN QUEENSTOWN TO CO-HOST THE BMW NEW ZEALAND OPEN – MARCH 2015
The  Hills, is due to co-host the BMW New Zealand Open for the second year in a row on 12 – 15 March 2015. The BMW New Zealand Open is a tier one event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and is set to be one of the biggest golfing events in New Zealand for both professionals and amateurs. The competitors will play a best-ball format for the title of New Zealand Pro-Am Championship and this year the prize has increased to NZ $1,000,000. The Lodge at the Hills is a new six-room architect designed exclusive-use lodge, with an unparalleled setting amidst 500 acres and surrounded by glacial valleys and snow capped mountains. With Sir Michael Hill's own private St Andrews inspired golf course on the doorstep, the lodge offers unlimited golf as well as a private green exclusively for guests. The Hills also has one of the largest private collections of early New Zealand Maori and contemporary Asian and New Zealand art and sculptures.
HOW: The Lodge at the Hills offers suites from £2508 based on two people sharing for five nights including all meals by Michelin-trained in-house chef (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea, snacks, canapés and picnics), unlimited beer and wine, helicopter transfer from Queenstown airport via the Remarkable mountain range with extreme golf en route, unlimited golf play at The Hills golf course including a golf cart, access to the private golf hole at The Lodge, access to The Hills club house, a tour of the Sculpture Park and use of the Lodge’s Range Rover Sport. For more information visit www.thehills.co.nz
The New Zealand Open costs from £28 for season tickets. For more information visit www.bmwnzopen.com

TAKE A TIGER TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND: KAURI CLIFFS, CAPE KIDNAPPERS AND MATAKAURI LODGE BY PRIVATE JET – DATES TBC
Once again, the ultimate nine-night tour of three of New Zealand’s best luxury lodges will return in 2015. Guests will travel by private jet and helicopter between the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands; The Farm at Cape Kidnappers at Hawke's Bay and the 11-suite Matakauri Lodge, just 7km from Queenstown. Limited to a small number of guests, the tour promises the ultimate way to experience New Zealand at three of the world's most awarded and scenic 18-hole golf courses and an array of one-of-a-kind experiences – from Kiwi spotting to jet boating, luxury sailing and quad biking.
HOW: Dates and prices are TBC. For more information visit www.kauricliffs.com / www.capekidnappers.com / www.matakauri.co.nz