Te Arai Links (South Course)

Overview: Te Arai Links South Course is an 18-hole, par-71 coastal course near Tomarata, with the Pacific visible from a setting of dunes, native vegetation and sandy links ground. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw shaped the 6,754-yard layout to work with the existing contours, allowing the land to determine the scale and direction of the holes. The course is defined by firm playing surfaces, natural-looking sandy edges and a closing stretch that runs close to the ocean. Its challenge comes from the interaction of wind, ground movement and green position, with the broad landscape making the individual holes easy to distinguish.

History: The South Course opened in October 2022 as the first of two 18-hole layouts at Te Arai Links. The North Course by Tom Doak followed in October 2023, giving the property two distinct courses within the same coastal environment. Coore and Crenshaw’s work on the South Course emphasizes strategic options and the use of natural ground, so the course does not need heavy visual decoration to establish its identity. The route moves through dunes and open coastal land before building toward the Pacific-facing finish, making the final holes a clear part of the course’s story.

Did You Know? The South Course and North Course opened only a year apart, but they were created by different design teams. The South was shaped by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, while Tom Doak designed the North, giving Te Arai Links two contrasting architectural approaches in one coastal setting.