Kauri Cliffs: Much more than a great golf course

                                                                                                     By Neville Idour

My wife and I had played Kauri Cliffs in Northland a few times previously but this time was going to be different. 

We were to play in the annual mixed pairs' event the club stages in alternate years with sister club Cape Kidnappers in the Hawke’s Bay. 

The package for this event, which is limited to 26 pairs, includes two nights luxury accommodation, a two round mixed pairs best stableford tournament plus a complimentary practice round on arrival day.

Add to this the superb food with breakfasts, lunch and dinners and it was a weekend to remember. 

I had not before been aware of any specific stories about Kauri Cliffs other than about the world ranked golf course. So it is good to be able to write about the whole experience when staying. I think there is little doubt this tournament is probably tops in value for a stay at Kauri Cliffs.

The suite accommodation is superb. It is set amongst the bush and trees on the property along with units to accommodate families. 

On arrival we played our practice round before being driven to our suite by a most informative concierge host who had been employed there since the course’s owner Julian Robertson first opened Kauri Cliffs. The suite was very spacious, wallowing with luxury and everything you might expect at Kauri Cliffs. The staff were accommodating in every way. Just a phone call and someone would be quickly at your door with a golf cart to take us to the clubhouse.

The facilities available included a separate spa, swimming pool, hot pool and treatment rooms for massage. The first evening we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks and canapes at one of the recently built four-bedroom residences which are ideal for small groups staying. 

Then back to the clubhouse to meet all the other players, and enjoy a superb dinner. The beauty of these events is the boutique feel with smaller numbers and therefore it is easy to quickly get to know fellow players and friendships are formed that often continue after the event, as is our experience.

Dinner on the Saturday evening after the first round was special with everyone dining together over superb food and drinks with much discussion after a trying day on the golf course with wind and rain making good golf difficult. Thankfully the weather on the Sunday improved making the golf an easier exercise and we all enjoyed the concluding buffet lunch and prize presentations. Prizes included multiple rounds of golf at Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers and other courses in proximity.

One important aspect about the golf was the fact you could choose which tee you played from. Unfortunately some more social events like this one, by making certain tees mandatory actually exclude some shorter hitters. 

At Kauri Cliffs there are some holes where a shorter hitter can struggle or simply can’t clear the hazards to reach playable ground from the longer tees. That is the case for myself so it was much more pleasant knowing a well struck tee shot should reach playable ground. After all, isn’t that what the handicap system is there for?

So it was time to leave Kauri Cliffs with many warm memories of what was a fabulous weekend of fun, many laughs, the best in food and accommodation, good and not so good golf (who cares at a place like this), and friendships made.

For some of us our thoughts have already moved to next year and the next mixed pairs at Cape Kidnappers from October 11-13. This friendly stableford competition is again limited to 26 pairs of players of all levels. No handicap restrictions here. 

So why not get your nearest and dearest or favourite playing partner on board for an experience to remember. The cost for the complete package is $2550 plus gst per person. I am told rooms are already filling up fast for next year.