Play your way through Auckland’s best golf courses

Whether you’re a scratch player planning a golf weekend or a casual golfer sneaking in a nine-hole round, Auckland offers a mix of world-class marquee experiences and local gems that make it a must-visit destination on any golfing itinerary. Here’s our guide to the best golf courses in Auckland so you can plan your next tee time.

Marquee golf courses for world-class experiences

These are the big names: championship layouts and internationally recognised clubs that regularly host tournaments and welcome golfers from around the world.

Titirangi Golf Club

New Zealand’s only Alister MacKenzie-designed course, Titirangi is a par-71 masterpiece just 20 minutes from both central Auckland and the airport. With undulating fairways, cleverly placed bunkers, and each of its four par 3s facing different compass points, it’s both beautiful and challenging. Finish up with a round at the Clubhouse, where the cafe and bar are open 7 days a week.

Wainui Golf Club

North of the city, Wainui offers a championship 18-hole course set among rolling hills, natural water ways and native bush. It offers a scenic round of golf, with pristine golf surfaces, five tee deck options, varied shot options from the tee with multiple layup areas all on sand-capped fairways. Wainui also boasts a short nine-hole course made up of par 3s, perfect for quick rounds, beginners, or dialing in your short game.

Windross Farm

Once host of the New Zealand Women’s Open, Windross Farm in Clevedon is a modern championship course that has challenged some of the world’s best. Expansive fairways across 60-hectares of rolling farmland define the layout, making it as well suited to casual rounds as it is to tournament play. 

Te Arai Links

90 minutes north of Auckland (or 25 minutes by helicopter), Te Arai Links has quickly become one of the world’s most talked-about new courses since opening in 2022. With its captivating oceanfront setting, undulating dunes, and two distinct 18-hole layouts (North and South), it delivers a true links course experience. Stay for the spa, wellness centre, and luxury accommodation to turn your round into the perfect golf getaway.

Tara Iti

Currently ranked as the number one golf course in New Zealand, and regularly ranked among the world’s top 10 golf courses, Tara Iti is an ultra-exclusive links masterpiece by Tom Doak. Built along the Mangawhai coastline, it features fescue-lined fairways, expansive sand bunkers, and uninterrupted views of the nearby Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Mokohinau and Tauranga islands. Note that access is strictly limited to members and their guests, making it the most coveted tee time in New Zealand.

Muriwai

On Auckland’s rugged west coast, Muriwai offers scenic golf with black-sand views of the Tasman Sea. The course is surrounded by native bush and set on rolling terrain, offering a mix of links and parkland-style holes, where coastal wind often adds an extra layer of challenge. It’s a favourite for competitive and beginner golfers alike, and a unique coastline experience just 40 minutes from the CBD.

Royal Auckland and Grange 

Formed from the merger of two historic clubs, Royal Auckland and Grange in Papatoetoe features an outstanding 27-hole course layout designed by Nicklaus Design. Play across and alongside the mangrove-filled estuary on the Tāmaki, weave through stately trees on the Middlemore, or experience the spectacular undulation and tree-lined holes of the Grange, the shortest of the bunch.

Accessible and welcoming casual golf courses

These clubs strike the balance between quality layouts and an approachable, friendly atmosphere. Perfect for locals, visitors, or anyone looking for a relaxed round.

Maungakiekie

Just 15 minutes from both the CBD and the airport, Maungakiekie Golf Club offers well-contoured fairways and greens that wind through stands of native trees. The clubhouse looks out across the course toward the Waitākere Ranges and Manukau Harbour headland, with some of the best views you’ll find in Auckland golf. 

North Shore

Set on the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour near Albany, North Shore Golf Club stands out with 27 tree-lined holes, split into Red, Gold, and Blue nines. This unique setup lets players mix and match three different 18-hole layouts, keeping the challenge and difficulty-level fresh every time you play.   

Pupuke

Located on Auckland’s North Shore, Pupuke’s 18-hole course winds through the woods on one nine and emerges to the beautiful views of the Hauraki Gulf on the other. It’s where New Zealand professional golfer, LPGA Hall of Famer, and reigning Olympic champion Lydia Ko first learned the game, a fun fact that inspires plenty of junior golfers. After your round, head to the Bunker Cafe for coffee, cabinet food, and casual club snacks.

Remuera

Close to the CBD, Remuera Golf Club offers one of Auckland’s most reliable parkland courses. Well-kept fairways and a tidy layout make it a solid test, with accuracy more important than distance. Alongside the 18-hole course, the club has a modern driving range and practice facilities. Winstone’s Café, Bar & Bistro is popular with members and locals alike, serving good food and coffee in a casual and relaxed setting.

Akarana

Just 15 minutes from downtown Auckland, Akarana Golf Club is a well-presented parkland course that’s welcoming yet far from simple. Immaculate greens and a friendly layout make it enjoyable for all golfing abilities, while the 18th brings you up to the clubhouse, a fitting end before heading inside for a bite to eat and a post-round debrief over a drink or two.

Pukekohe

A rural gem south of the city, Pukekohe is known for its friendly atmosphere and well-kept parkland layout. The rural setting makes for a relaxed round, with native birdlife often wandering across the course and the occasional sound of a cow or horse from one of the neighbouring farm paddocks. It’s a friendly, community-driven club that welcomes all levels of golfer, and the clubhouse deck overlooking the 18th is a natural gathering place to finish the day with a refreshment in hand.

Clarks Beach

On the southern edge of the Manukau Harbour, Clarks Beach Golf Club combines scenery with subtle challenge. The course is flat and easy to walk, but don’t be fooled, clever hole designs and deceptive pin placements require a bit more creativity and accuracy from players, especially when the wind picks up. After your round, the clubhouse is a welcoming spot to swap stories over a drink and take in more of those harbour views.

Rydges Formosa Auckland  

On the Pohutukawa Coast, Rydges Formosa combines a scenic cliff-top 18-hole course with a resort experience. Stay in modern villas overlooking the water, enjoy the driving range and practice facilities, and cap your round with a meal at the on-site restaurant. Ideal for a golf weekend getaway.

Pakuranga

In East Auckland, Pakuranga Golf Club combines a tree-lined 18-hole layout with one of the region’s most welcoming club cultures. The course is well presented and playable for all levels, offering enough challenge to keep regulars engaged while remaining accessible for newer golfers. 

Whitford Park  

Whitford Park Golf Club is a par-71 championship course laid out amongst 254 acres of native trees and streams. Beyond the course, Whitford Park lives up to its founding vision as a family-friendly club, offering first-rate practice facilities and a 20-bay driving range. Visitors are welcome, and the relaxed, rural setting makes it feel like a genuine escape from daily routine.

Short and scenic 9-hole golf courses

These shorter courses are perfect for a quick game or when you want to enjoy the landscape without committing to a full 18 holes.

Waiheke Golf Club

A short swing across the Waitematā Harbour, Waiheke Golf Club offers a relaxed but interesting fun nine-hole layout. Green tees provide an easy path for beginners, while the main routes weave through mature trees with glimpses of the water. It’s golf at an island pace; pair a round here with a vineyard lunch and you’ve got a perfect day out.

Great Barrier Island Golf Club

On one of New Zealand’s most remote islands, Great Barrier Island Golf Club delivers a one-of-a-kind experience. The nine-hole course is laid-back and community-run, with scenery that makes every swing unforgettable. 

Maxwell’s Golf Retreat

Just south of Auckland, Maxwell’s is a popular nine-hole course established by New Zealand professional golfer and golf coach, Kaye Maxwell. This charming course is paired with a golf academy, short-game practice facilities, and even accommodation for traveling golfers looking for a country retreat. Championship and beginner tees make it accessible for all levels, while lakes, creeks, and bunkers are strategically positioned to catch any stray shot.

Wattle Downs Golf Course

Wattle Downs Golf Course offers a well-kept nine-hole layout designed by Sir Bob Charles. Tree-lined fairways and quality greens make it a pleasant walk, while the option to play nine or loop around for eighteen gives flexibility for both casual rounds and regular practice. After your round, the clubhouse restaurant and bar are open to both members and the wider community for a relaxed spot to round out the day.