7 Of the four Nicklaus Design courses in our Top 100, Kinloch is the newest. We asked Chris Cochran, senior design associate for Nicklaus Design, about the experience of creating the golf course What really struck us about Kinloch was how beautiful the site was. The course is on high ground overlooking Lake Taupo, and comprised of organic, highly erodible soil with the land simply cascading towards the lake. It’s a spectacular setting with very rugged terrain. In designing the course we sought to mimic the surroundings, creating natural, distressed looking bunkers and greens that blended perfectly into their surroundings. There were definite limitations in how we could route the course. There was only one place to put the clubhouse and this dictated our opening and closing holes, but when a routing comes naturally it’s probably a sign of how well suited the land is for golf. In terms of playability, we managed to achieve a lot of variety – uphill and downhill shots, doglegs left and right – and this diversity of challenge for the golfer makes the course a huge amount of fun. Special site ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #94 100-93 The Kinloch Club Waikato, New Zealand Jack Nicklaus, 2007 One of only six courses built in the last ten years that made our Top 100 list, Kinloch, designed by Jack Nicklaus’s firm, brings a rustic feel to the volcanic hills overlooking Lake Taupo in the North Island of New Zealand. Loch Lomond Dunbartonshire, Scotland Tom Weiskopf, Jay Morrish, 1993 Scotland’s first entry into the Top 100 is one of only two inland courses from that country to make the list. This parkland layout visits the lochside on multiple occasions including its fine finishing hole. ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #93 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #94 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #93 Photo: Larry Lambrecht
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