The par five dubbed \u201cPirate\u2019s Plank\u201d had rampant tree growth throughout the years, which had obscured the sight lines of the fairway, which plays down a finger of ridge to a cliff-edge green \u2013 one of the best spots to hit a shot in the country.<\/p>\n
Cape Kidnappers. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
Te Arai South<\/a> has moved up six spots to 79th while Te Arai North<\/a> remains 98th, one of the newer courses on the list.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an impressive achievement yet again for Te Arai Links to have both courses ranked into the top 100 after opening within the last three years. The resort is the creation of fund manager Ric Kayne and managing partner Jim Rohrstaff the behind Tara Iti Golf Club, about 5km north, and is open to the golfing public to book a round to stay and play. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously we\u2019re flattered. The lists aren\u2019t necessarily what we do it for but it\u2019s wonderful recognition and acknowledgement of how special the land is \u2013 what Tom Doak and [Bill] Core and [Ben] Crenshaw were able to design on those golf courses and what our team does to execute at a very high level every day at all three courses and both clubs there,\u201d Rohrstaff said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s rarefied air that Tara Iti and Te Ari Links have become known around the world in a very short amount of time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in what would be the second golden age of golf course architecture right now. 100 years ago was the golden age and right now we\u2019re experiencing the same thing. We\u2019re seeing some wonderful golf courses around the world and as I said we\u2019re just flattered to be part of all of those.\u201d<\/p>\n Rohrstaff, managing director at Te Arai Links, said Bandon Dunes in Oregon is the only other resort that manages three courses inside the top 100 in such close proximity.<\/p>\n Te Arai Links South course was this month announced as the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship host venue<\/a> with the event taking place in October. World No 2 Rory McIlroy visited Tara Iti and Te Arai Links late last year calling it a \u201ctrip of a lifetime<\/a>\u201d. <\/p>\n Tara Iti, Te Arai Links North and Cape Kidnappers are all designed by Doak, and the American golf architect has previously stated the inland holes at Te Arai North remind him of the property at Pine Valley, which sits top of the list. <\/p>\n Other Doak-designed courses \u2013 Barndougle Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Ballyneal, Bandon Dunes, the Lido and new entrant Childress Hall in Texas also feature on the list.<\/p>\n Since first making the Golf.com list, Te Arai Links has kept adding to its resort with the final stage, a spa and fitness centre to be completed this month to finish construction on the property which began in October 2020<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is really our first summer that we\u2019ll have all of our restaurants open. So the North Clubhouse and the Ocean Restaurant both opened kind of mid-summer last year,\u201d Rohrstaff said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re really excited to be able to have those fully operational and functional throughout this season. And then we\u2019ll be delivering the spa and gym as a hotel amenity here in the next couple of weeks. We actually should open in about 10 or 11 days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the courses continually age well. They\u2019re getting more and more mature as every month goes by. I think one thing that people consistently tell us is just how good the overall condition is of our golf courses.<\/p>\n \u201cTara Iti just turned 10 years old on October 1, the North Course just turned 2 and the South Course just turned 3, and watching these courses evolve just get better and better with age,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The four courses in New Zealand matches the number in Ireland in the top 100, which includes Ballybunion (Old), Lahinch (Old), St Patrick\u2019s Links and Portmarnock (Old).<\/p>\n Australia has seven courses in the top 100 with Royal Melbourne West ranked seventh.<\/p>\n With more golf courses coming in across the country<\/a> \u2013 Muriwai Downs, Hogan Gully, Glendhu, Douglas Links and extensive changes at The Hills<\/a> \u2013 there could be more New Zealand courses breaking into the list in coming years. <\/p>\n Golf.com\u2019s Top 10<\/b><\/p>\n 1 Pine Valley (New Jersey)<\/p>\n 2 Cypress Point (California)<\/p>\n 3 St.Andrews Old Course (Scotland)<\/p>\n 4 Royal County Down (N Ireland)<\/p>\n 5 Shinnecock Hills (New York)<\/p>\n 6 National Golf Links of America (New York)<\/p>\n 7 Royal Melbourne – West (Australia)<\/p>\n 8 Augusta National (Georgia)<\/p>\n 9 Oakmont (Pennsylvania)<\/p>\n 10 Sand Hills (Nebraska)<\/p>\n New Zealand courses<\/b><\/p>\n 19 Tara Iti<\/p>\n 56 Cape Kidnappers<\/p>\n 79 Te Arai South <\/p>\n 98 Te Arai North<\/p>\nTe Arai Links North course. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n