GreenlitBETA
Te Awanga, Hawke's Bay

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

Eighteen unforgettable holes clinging to dramatic clifftop ridges where fairways cascade toward the Pacific and bunkers become salvation.

About the Course

Set atop rolling hills and rugged cliffs that give way to vast sea views and an ever-present horizon, Cape Kidnappers is home to the 18-hole golf course crafted by Tom Doak, and luxury resort Rosewood Cape Kidnappers. Cape Kidnappers is not true links terrain, with the wrinkles of sand dunes; instead the land tilts toward the sea as a series of ridges jutting out toward the edge of the cliffs. Yet, the play is seaside golf at its finest. The experience builds dramatically from the opening holes through an inland front nine filled with compelling terrain and ravines, before erupting into the stunning back nine where cliff-edge fairways feel tethered to the earth by little more than nerve and dream. Three times, you'll have to make the perilous leap from the end of one ridge to the end of the next. And at the sixth and fifteenth holes it's possible to pull your approach off the very end of the earth, though it will take nearly ten seconds of hang time for your ball to reach the ocean below.

Why It's Great for Groups
  • One-of-a-kind clifftop setting with fairways 140 meters above the South Pacific, offering views that make every shot memorable
  • Tom Doak masterpiece with signature holes unlike anything found elsewhere in golf—particularly the 15th 'Pirate's Plank' and the dramatic 6th par-3
  • Ultra-exclusive low-volume facility playing only 30 rounds daily, ensuring pristine conditioning and peaceful rounds for small groups
  • Luxury on-site lodging at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers with spas, fine dining, and access to a 6,000-acre working farm with rare native birds and the world's largest mainland gannet colony
  • Perfect for groups seeking adventure: custom tournament formats, private access, and activities from ATV tours to wine experiences at the resort's own vineyard
Courses on Property
Cape Kidnappers Golf Course18 holes · Par 71

Clifftop masterpiece designed by Tom Doak featuring ridge-and-valley routing with cliff-edge fairways, deep ravines, and dramatic ocean vistas.

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Key Details
💰
Green Fees
$380–$580/person est.
🚶
Walking Friendly
Cart recommended
🎒
Caddies Available
Yes
📅
Best Time to Visit
<cite index="31-1">The best time for viewing the gannets is between early November and late February.</cite> This peak season offers calm weather and the spectacle of the world's largest mainland gannet colony. <cite index="2-4">Cape Kidnappers issues new pricing for its October-to-May high season.</cite> <cite index="36-2">It is pretty windy in the area, and there is no shade or a place to hide when it rains, and we are not even mentioning it gets cold in winter (June to September), so you should come well-prepared, and well-equipped.</cite> The region is playable year-round but May through October offers shoulder-season golf with fewer crowds.
ClifftopOcean ViewsBucket ListCart RequiredCaddies AvailableResortChampionshipWaterfrontHistoricWalking Only
Stay on Property
<cite index="11-4">The golf course and adjacent resort, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, occupy a 6,000-acre working sheep and cattle station protected by over 10 kilometers of predator proof fencing.</cite> <cite index="27-5">Twenty-two cottage suites and the owner's cottage.</cite> <cite index="27-8">Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks with hors d'oeuvres, gourmet dinner, free minibar including domestic beers (excludes spirits and wine) and use of lodge facilities, except spa treatments and use of the golf course.</cite>

<cite index="11-4">The golf course and adjacent resort, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, occupy a 6,000-acre working sheep and cattle station protected by over 10 kilometers of predator proof fencing.</cite> <cite index="27-5">Twenty-two cottage suites and the owner's cottage.</cite> <cite index="27-8">Rates include breakfast, pre-dinner drinks with hors d'oeuvres, gourmet dinner, free minibar including domestic beers (excludes spirits and wine) and use of lodge facilities, except spa treatments and use of the golf course.</cite>

Nearby Lodging