The Course

Visitors and new members are always given a warm welcome at the Rotorua Golf Course, Arikikapakapa. Arikikapakapa,the home of Rotorua Golf is one of New Zealand’s leading golf courses situated in picturesque Whakarewarewa. Arikikapakapa is a full 18 hole all-weather links-style golf course with easy walking and an excellent golfing layout.

At the Course at Arikikapakapa, the home of Rotorua Golf there are four tees on each hole so this allows players of all abilities to enjoy the challenge.

Arikikapakapa, the home of Rotorua Golf course stretches to 5,799 metres off the blue tees, playing to a par of 70 with two par-3s and one par-5 on both the front and inward nines. The New Zealand Course Rating is 7 and the Slope 120. The ladies benefit from extra shops on the 3rd (Stroke Index 1 for the men) and the 11th, playing both of these as par-5s.

Don’t be deceived by the apparent shortness of the course it will not surrender to par unless you hit every fairway and every green in regulation.

We are sure you will remember playing here, and we look forward to welcoming you to Arikikapakapa, the home of Rotorua Golf soon.

There are a variety of features that make our course particularly special, not least its geothermal uniqueness. There are a number of bubbling mud pools and steam vents that are to be avoided, especially to the left of the 9th green and a strange Sulphur mound to the right of that green.

A monster of a geothermal crater guards the left of the spectacular 14th hole – descent into which is prohibited.

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Holes 3, 4 and 5 play across a warm water stream that seems to attract a lot of stray golf balls, and that reinforces the view that accuracy is much more important than length on most holes on this course.

The most feared hole in many minds in the bunkerless fifth – out of bounds down the right a monster tree on the left and a geothermal creek just in front of the tee calls for good straight shots.

Holes 6, 9, 14 and 17 are testing par threes and danger lurks everywhere except on the greens – so beware! The ninth has featured on a New Zealand postage stamp and has been written about by golf writers from around the world – the punishment for missing the green is terrible indeed.

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Holes number 14, 15 and 16 are played across or alongside a lake, and apart from the added danger of water, the sight on a chilly winters morning of steam rising from the lake is something to behold. There is absolutely no substitute for accuracy on thee three holes, known as Amen Corner by locals, where so many matches are won or lost by the smallest or errors – they are classic risk and reward holes.

Every golfer has a favourite hole and the 18th always attracts comment – from the great views from the elevated tee across to the Whakarewarewa geothermal reserve and the forested hills beyond, to the devilishly tricky second shot between two big trees to the well guarded green – a par is well earned.

The golf course is easy walking with good paths, though the golf shop has golf carts for hire if you prefer.

The Course

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 10

Hole 11

Hole 12

Hole 13

Hole 14

Hole 15

Hole 16

Hole 17

Hole 18

Experience

Foot Golf

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