Mangawhai Golf Club

Overview: Mangawhai Golf Club is a sand-based 18-hole coastal course just over an hour north of Auckland. The current Golf New Zealand card gives it par 71 and 5,589 metres, while the club emphasises firm playing surfaces, fast true greens and natural undulations. Native vegetation and sandy ground create a sense of links golf without the exposed severity of a pure beach course. It is a strong fit for a Northland golf trip because the course is scenic, playable and close to the coast.

History: Mangawhai Golf Club was established in 1979, and the course was designed by Harold Percy Dale, known locally as Harry Dale. The club grew through working bees and a strong community culture, gradually becoming a regular host for groups from around New Zealand and overseas. Dale’s design was his last course, giving Mangawhai a specific place in the history of New Zealand course architecture.

Did You Know? The par-five 12th is called Harry’s Dale in recognition of the designer. It is a small but telling feature: the scorecard carries the name of the architect who shaped the final course of his long design career.