Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw

Te Arai Links — South Course

Designer

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw

Rankings

Golf Digest #40 World
#3 in NZ
GOLF Magazine #79 World

Setting

Coastal sand dunes, Te Arai

Designed by renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the South Course at Te Arai Links is a masterclass in minimalist golf architecture, where the natural landscape dictates the design. Opened in 2022, the course has quickly earned international acclaim, debuting at No. 40 in Golf Digest's World's 100 Greatest Courses and securing a place among the world's finest links experiences.

Set across a spectacular expanse of coastal sand dunes, the South Course embraces the philosophy that "the land more than the designers determines the character of the course." Coore has described Te Arai as "a great gift" and "a uniquely special site for golf," with wind-shaped dunes, meandering valleys, and rolling contours providing the inspiration for every hole.

The routing delivers exceptional variety, from quirky and strategic short par fours to dramatic inland holes and breathtaking seaside stretches. With 16 holes offering ocean views and eight playing directly alongside the coastline, the course seamlessly blends strategic challenge with unforgettable scenery. Signature sequences along the Pacific showcase towering dunes and panoramic vistas while preserving the natural integrity of the site.

Coore has ranked Te Arai among the finest properties he and Crenshaw have ever worked on, comparing its quality to some of the world's most celebrated sand-based courses. Built with firm fescue surfaces and designed as a traditional walking links, the South Course rewards thoughtful shot-making and creativity while providing a world-class golfing experience that feels both timeless and uniquely New Zealand.