Cape Kidnappers / Robertson Lodges
Te Awanga, New Zealand
No golf bucket list is complete without a trip to Cape Kidnappers. It is a unique experience for non-golfers and golfers alike. Tom Doak created a marvel in course design, where the course sits on cliff terrain 400+ above Hawkes Bay and offers some of the most stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The coastal back nine is one of the most visually stunning stretches in the game. Holes weave through finger cliffs that are prime for photo opportunities. Stay focused or your game can quickly fall off at this challenging test. The golf course isn’t the only world-renowned entity in the area. This is one of the great wine regions of the world, too. Talk about a great 1-2 punch for attracting visitors. A unique feature at Cape Kidnappers is the 2,500 acres of conversation land, maintained to preserve the native Kiwi birds and other endangered species. Guests can tour the sanctuary with guides for an immersive experience. And if you really want to get your hands dirty, join the property farm team for a day of sheepherding. A must-visit for the adventurous golfer. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Château Élan at the Vintage
Hunter Valley, Australia
The Château Élan at the Vintage is a one-stop shop for relaxation. Is there wine? Yes. The Château Élan at the Vintage is positioned among vineyards and wine trails. Is there a spa? Yes. There are 17 treatment rooms and two outdoor mineral spas. Are there balloon flights, helicopter tours and horseback riding? Yes, yes and yes, and all can be coordinated through the concierge. Then there’s the golf, and while the Greg Norman-designed Vintage Golf is no breeze, it’s memorable. The highlight may be the 7th and 8th holes — the 565-yard, par-5 7th features vineyards and out of bounds to the left, and the 212-yard, par-3 8th requires navigation through water on the right and bunkers on the left. The resort’s website describes the course well. “A Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole championship golf course that is challenging, engaging and welcoming in equal parts, the Vintage Golf Course welcomes you to partake in a game — be it as leisurely or competitive as you like.” [LEARN MORE HERE]
COMO Laucala Island
Laucala Island, Fiji
Is this paradise? Perhaps. COMO Laucala Island’s amenities are spectacular. First and foremost, with just 25 standalone homes on the property, you are essentially alone. But do not stay in bed. There are beachfront and water activities — horseback riding, sunset cruises, sailing, kayaking, surfing, diving, snorkeling and fishing. There are wellness activities — the resort terms it a “Shambhala Retreat.” There is a farm tour. Speaking of food, there are the bars and restaurants — four are on the island, and each features a dynamic menu and home-grown produce. And then there is the golf. Cut through the jungle, the course is a challenge. But it is scenic. And memorable, especially the par-5 12th, with a green that extends to the beach. And with so few folks on the island, you can probably play 36. All of COMO Laucala Island is luxurious. As is this — the only access to the island is through either your own private jet, or the resort’s, which you board at Nadi International Airport. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Hamilton Island Resort
Queensland, Australia
At Hamilton Island Resort, you can relax, or not, as the Australian gem seemingly has every activity and non-activity covered. The resort highlights include beach activities, boating, submarining, helicopter rides, a spa and 11 restaurants, along with six accommodation options — and the opportunity to sleep outside at the Great Barrier Reef, or underwater. And, of course, the resort has a golf course, and it’s a beauty. First, to get there requires a ferry, as it’s on its own island — Dent Island. From there, the course’s website describes the play well, when it writes: “The course boasts a variety of obstacles for those willing to take on the challenge — wicked winds; impenetrable bushland; people have even called the 14th hole, the ‘Valley of Death.’” It’s for sure difficult, but memorable. There’s also the club’s restaurant, with a fun menu and a seating option that overlooks the nearby water. [LEARN MORE HERE]
Joondalup Resort
Connolly WA, Australia
Joondalup’s natural bushland locale is situated 25 minutes north of Perth CBD and five minutes from Western Australia’s Sunset Coast. Given your destination, activities abound. But vacationers hoping to stay ensconced within the realm of the resort can enjoy a laundry list of things to do. The primary joy of every vacation starts with the quality of the lodging, and Joondalup’s offerings tick all the boxes. Each spacious and beautifully-appointed guest room boasts its own courtyard or balcony where you can enjoy garden scenery or expansive water views. Three nines of extraordinary Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed golf await, each with distinct characteristics: the eponymous Quarry nine cuts through steep limestone quarries; the Dune course features hilly terrain and dense bushland, and the Lake is linksy, with water views. Resort visitors can also look forward to a luxe spa and world-class dining, featuring stunning views from floor-to-ceiling windows at the resort’s signature restaurant, Alcove, which is helmed by one of Perth’s most acclaimed chefs, Stephen Clarke. Families will also be pleased with the many activities located within a short distance from the resort, including an aquarium, mini golf, shopping center, marina and cinema. [LEARN MORE HERE]
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs
Matauri Bay, New Zealand
Some golfers will go to the ends of the earth for a game. Waiting for them there is the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs. Set on 6,000 rolling and remote acres of forest and farmland on the North Island of New Zealand, the ultra-luxe oceanside resort — opened in 2001 by American financier Julian Robertson — put a marker down for high-end golf in the country, paving the way for Top 100 World outposts at Cape Kidnappers (another Robertson property), Tara Iti and Te Arai. A few years ago, GOLF described designer David Harman’s gorgeous Kauri Cliffs course as “basically Kapalua meets Pebble Beach.” The resort’s non-golf amenities? They defy description. Guests who opt for the four-bedroom residences (buddies trip?) can have their meals prepared for them by a personal chef. Resort-provided e-bikes will take you to waterfalls, any number of beaches or along forested trails and farm roads lined with cattle and sheep. Prefer to hoof it in search of 900-year-old Kauri trees? Go for it. Surf? Head to Takou Beach. Fish? Reel in a New Zealand snapper and they’ll plate it for you that night at dinner. Perhaps you’d just settle for a post-round cocktail on one of the main lodge’s lush verandas. When you’re at the end of earth, why not? [LEARN MORE HERE]
