Te Arai Golf Links - South

Okay so this is my second course post and I still have fears that my coworkers here at Fried Egg Golf are going to tell me to stop soon. So I’m going to post this before I receive a cease and desist letter from our lawyers. But the truth is that someone has to write about the South Course at Te Arai, and since I've already broken the ice with the North, I might as well keep going.

The South Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in October 2022 and has quickly established itself as one of the world's great modern links courses (I’m not sure if I’d call it a links course but whatever). If the North Course is edgy and cerebral, the South is its soulful, generous counterpart—a course built for fun with the ability to still test your game thoroughly.

The Golf

I’m not the guy to properly dissect the architectural genius of Coore and Crenshaw. Instead, I'll focus on what it felt like to play this magnificent course and why it left such a lasting impression.

The South Course occupies the premium coastal real estate at Te Arai, and Coore and Crenshaw made sure not to waste an inch of it. Sixteen holes offer ocean views, with eight playing directly along the water. This vast oceanfront stretch has earned comparisons to California's Monterey Peninsula, with many dubbing Te Arai "the 17-Mile Drive of the Southern Hemisphere." Unlike typical hyperbole, this comparison actually holds up.

What struck me most about the South was its philosophy. The course embraces width and playability while maintaining strategic depth. It's the rare design that welcomes all skill levels without sacrificing challenge for better players. The fairways are generous, and you'd have to work hard to lose a ball. But as with all great courses, the real test comes on the approach shots. The green complexes are bold, featuring dramatic contours and surrounds that demand thought and precision. Miss in the wrong spot and you'll be facing chips and putts that can humble even the best of players.

The routing is masterful. The opening three holes play through remnant pines on the property's most undulating land, reminiscent of Pinehurst or even Bandon Dunes. This inland start builds anticipation beautifully. You can hear the ocean crashing nearby and feel the coastal breeze, but you don't see the water yet. It's the art of the tease, delaying gratification to amplify the eventual reveal.

Favorite Holes

Hole 4

You’ve got three really good holes under your belt and then comes the 4th, and everything changes. Standing on the elevated tee, the course reveals itself in full glory—white sand, tight fescue, and the endless Pacific stretching to the horizon. This long par 4 (over 450 yards from the tips) sweeps dramatically downhill toward a green positioned near the beach. The undulating fairway provides generous roll for well-struck drives, but the approach demands precision to a green guarded by the terrain's natural features. This hole serves as the gateway to the course's spectacular coastal stretch and ranks among the finest transition holes I've ever played. The moment you crest that tee box is worth the journey that it took you to get to Te Arai.

Hole 5

A short par 3 (157 yards) that perfectly captures what Coore and Crenshaw do best—using spectacular land with restraint. The tee shot is positioned to frame the Hen and Chicken Islands ten miles offshore, creating a visual that's almost impossibly beautiful. The green sits in a natural amphitheater, and despite the short yardage, the hole demands commitment. All four par 3s on the course are oriented so you always see the ocean, even though they play in different directions—a subtle touch that speaks to the thoughtfulness of the design.

Hole 6

One of several brilliant short par 4s on the course. From an elevated tee, you face a decision: play aggressively over a massive sand chasm on the left or take the conservative route right and risk leaking the ball out of bounds. The green complex is generous but contoured, rewarding those who take the bold line with better angles. It's a hole that gets in your head in the best possible way.

Hole 7

A right-doglegging par 5 that many folks cite as a favorite. The hole flows naturally along the coast, offering strategic options throughout. This is modern links golf at its purest—firm, fast turf encouraging the ground game, with angles and positioning mattering as much as distance. I found myself repeatedly drawn to this hole during my rounds.

Hole 12

The longest par 3 on the course at 195 yards, and according to Bill Coore himself, one of the most interesting short holes because it plays away from the ocean. The green complex demands careful study, and pin positions can completely transform the hole's character—a testament to the design's daily playability.

Hole 17

If the North Course has a spectacular short par 3 at the 17th, the South's version is equally magnificent. This 120-yard gem sits perched above the ocean with bunkers guarding the front and water menacing left. The green features subtle contouring that rewards thoughtful shots while severely penalizing greedy misses. On calm days it's manageable, but I imagine it becomes a proper beast when the wind howls. As one reviewer noted, "no commentary on the South course is complete without a nod to the wee 17th, which is one of the greatest 100-yard holes in world golf." I couldn't agree more. You're so awestruck by the setting's beauty that the hole barely needs architectural tricks—though Coore and Crenshaw provided them anyway.

Hole 18

A left-bending par 5 that plays along the coast to a natural punchbowl green. Walking up the final fairway, surrounded by rolling dunes and Pacific views, you can't help but feel grateful for the experience. It's the perfect bookend to a round that never stops giving.



The Experience Beyond Golf

The South Course doesn't just deliver world-class golf—it offers a complete sensory experience. The firm, fast fescue playing surfaces create true links conditions in a subtropical climate that's far more comfortable than traditional links destinations. As a side note, this was the best turf I’ve ever seen with Sand Valley coming in a close second. Winter highs hover around 60 degrees, while summer averages about 75. No freezing rain or biting wind, just perfect golf weather.

Before and after rounds, "The Playground" beckons—the world's largest practice putting green, spanning more than a football field with 18 flags, dramatic contours, and putts that break 30 feet. It's a massive putting course where members and guests mix freely, cocktails in one hand, putters in the other. The vibe is pure beach club, stripping away the stuffiness often associated with world-class golf facilities. This atmosphere doesn't detract from the golf—it enhances it.

Closing Thoughts

Te Arai South is everything great modern golf architecture should be: visually stunning, strategically engaging, playable for all skill levels, and utterly memorable. Where the North Course challenges you with bold features and cerebral shotmaking, the South soothes you with generous fairways while quietly demanding precision on approaches. It's a course that rewards creativity over brute force, finesse over power, and thoughtfulness over aggression.

The comparisons to the North Course are inevitable, and I've heard plenty of debate about which is superior. Some claim the South is easier, more accessible to higher handicappers. I'm not convinced the distinction matters. Both courses are world-class, just with different philosophies. The South's restraint and polish exemplify Coore and Crenshaw's signature style—they make difficult golf look effortless, hiding complexity beneath elegant simplicity.

Combined with the North Course and their proximity to Tara Iti, this stretch of New Zealand coastline has become one of the world's premier golf destinations. The South Course alone justifies the journey. Add the luxurious amenities, incredible hospitality, and the sheer beauty of New Zealand, and Te Arai becomes a true bucket-list experience.

If you have the opportunity to play Te Arai South, take it without hesitation. It's a course that will stay with you long after you've walked off the 18th green, reminding you why we fell in love with this maddening, beautiful game in the first place.