Playing a round at Cape Kidnappers resort

If golf is a parody of life, then it’s true that you should never assume anything.

“Mr Crisp, would you mind if someone joined with you?” the professional asked. “He’s another gentleman from Queensland.”

Now I’m not sure any self-respecting miner from Mount Isa would like being called a gentleman, but I believe golf is a pastime best shared.

You want to play with someone who knows when to talk, and also more importantly knows when not to talk. And you always need someone there – just in case.

The Tom Doak-designed course is about a three-minute drive from the main homestead at Cape Kidnappers, another New Zealand venture by legendary Wall St investor Julian Robertson. The resort used to be a working sheep station before Robertson snapped it up and transformed it into the second of his world-class New Zealand lodges. The other is the equally stunning Kauri Cliffs, in Northland.

Deliberately understated

The luxury aspect of Cape Kidnappers is not immediately evident as you make the drive up the long road from the main gate.

In fact, everything here seems deliberately understated. But that’s part of the charm. When someone greets you by name it makes the experience more intimate.

The main building itself, from the outside at least, looks a little like anything you would find on a working sheep station.

Inside there is a level of luxury most farmers would never think existed.

Apart from the lounge area, the main building hosts a TV area and a well equipped gymnasium.

The other essential part of this building is the dining area. Breakfast and dinner are included in the tariff and should not be missed at any cost. The chef here takes full advantage of local produce.

On my first night we devoured a five-course degustation that included South Island salmon tartare with wasabi cream and salmon eggs; pan-seared tarakihi with North Island scallops and Hawkes Bay saffron sauce; roasted pheasant breast with braised witlof, haricot beans and porcini sauce; angus beef fillet with truffle potato puree and red wine shallot jus; finished off with honey and pistachio glace blueberry and peach syrup.

Heavenly. Delicious. A look around at the other tables showed looks of contentment on the faces of guests.

After a suitable time I am transported by golf cart to my room. We travel past the spa, the outdoor heated pool before arriving at a series of connected, but still very private, single level rooms that blend into the landscape.

One side of the building is glass, allowing the outside in. It’s hard to believe that for a long time these magnificent sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Hawkes Bay were the exclusive domain of about 4000 sheep.

The room has a Napa Valley feeling to me. Peaceful and chic, with a place for everything and everything in its place.

The bed is gigantic. Everything from the minibar, except alcohol, is free. There’s a large flat screen television concealed behind a painting, wireless internet and an iPod dock. It’s all controlled by a universal remote that I didn’t quite get the hang of during my two-night stay.

Golfing highlight

Golfers, those bitten by the bug, often buy books with titles such as 1001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die.

Two of the holes at Cape Kidnappers make the list – the par 4 14th and the par 4 17th.

Here’s what golf writer Terry Jacoby says about the Cape Kidnappers course in last year’s edition.

“If you haven’t heard of Cape Kidnappers, you haven’t been paying attention. This is simply one of the best. It’s one of the most beautiful places not only in New Zealand, but on Earth. Every hole at Cape Kidnappers has a view of the bay, and at the sixth and 15th holes it’s possible to pull your approach off the very end of the earth, though it will take nearly 10 seconds of hang time for your ball to reach the ocean, 500 feet below.”

For those who don’t know, designer Doak is considered to be one of the hot golf course designers. He is known for using the natural surroundings and although young, in golf course terms, Cape Kidnappers is rated in the top 50 on the planet.

It is more than a challenge. It is an exercise in courage.

At times you stand there knowing that the only option is to hit the ball straight. To the left there’s a 60 metre drop into the ocean. To the right, the drop is only slightly less.

Now my Mount Isa golfing partner, Greg Spraggon, and I did all right at the 14th and 17th. But we did come apart on lots of the others. The amazing thing was though, we were the only people on the course. So we didn’t have to rush. We just moved at our own pace and enjoyed the view – and that’s pretty much all you need to do at Cape Kidnappers, both the golf course and the resort. Sit back. Relax. And let the world pass you by.
Reservations: reservations@capekidnappers.com Ph: +64 6 875 1900.  info@kauricliffs.com, Ph: + 64 9 407 0010