Golf Course Architecture - Issue 66, October 2021

17 they’ve really nailed it. We cannot wait to share Te Arai with the golfing world when we open.” One complication with the project that Coore highlights was “trying to route and then create the seaside holes while following dune formations that naturally meander, and having an awareness of the regulated government reserve setback line [from the ocean] that was very straight and rigid in configuration.” Another challenge, particularly for Coore on a personal level, was the impact of Covid on travel restrictions. He made three trips during construction ranging from four to six weeks and each time had to quarantine in a government-mandated hotel for 14 days. In his absence, associates John Hawker and Riley Johns were able to obtain visas for New Zealand and stayed on site full time, working with CJ Kreuscher, the grow-in superintendent at Tara Iti. With the South now complete, work will turn to Doak’s North course in early 2022 with the aim of having it open by late 2023. “Although it has about 1,100 yards of coastline abutting the ocean, the majority of Tom’s course is set more inland, meandering through forest and rolling sand hills somewhat reminiscent of Pine Valley,” said Coore. “It hasn’t been as impacted from the wind over time, so the sand contours are somewhat less abrupt than those on Te Arai South. “Like Tara Iti, Tom’s site at Te Arai will provide opportunities to create a routing with more directional change for the holes than was possible at our more linear site. The two sites are dramatically different in terms of landforms and appearance, but each has the potential to create a truly special golf course. When combined, I think the two will be highly complementary to one another.” Photos: Ricky Robinson Almost every hole on Te Arai South has a view of the Pacific Ocean