The Kinloch Club
The Kinloch Club is New Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus signature course, an inland links carved into the rumpled volcanic country above Lake Taupo on the North Island. Tawny fescue, deep revetted bunkers and big, bold contours give it a Scottish soul a long way from the sea, a par 72 stretching to about 7,360 yards from the championship tees.
Photo: The Kinloch Club via Google.
The verdict
Kinloch is one of the most surprising and rewarding courses in New Zealand. Jack Nicklaus took advantage of the rolling, free draining volcanic land near Taupo to build a links in the heart of the North Island, shaping windswept fescue, dramatic dunes and deep pot bunkers that would not look out of place in Scotland or Ireland. It is the only Nicklaus signature design in the country, and it carries his trademark blend of strategy and presentation.
For the travelling golfer it is a genuine bucket list round and a natural anchor for a central North Island trip. The course tumbles through the landscape with huge views toward the lake and the mountains, the conditioning is excellent, and the on site lodge makes for a seamless stay and play. Pair it with the geothermal scenery, the trout fishing and the wider attractions of the Taupo region and you have one of the most memorable golf destinations in the southern hemisphere.
The Kinloch Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2007
- Designer
- Jack Nicklaus
- Type
- Inland links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,360 yds
- Green fee
- Resort
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Kinloch Club and leading course databases. Kinloch opened in 2007 as New Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus signature design, a par 72 inland links running to about 7,360 yards from the championship tees and about 6,520 yards from the white tees. Green fees vary by season and are often booked as part of a stay and play package, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Nicklaus leaned into the natural movement of the land to create a links experience well inland. The fairways roll and tumble through tawny fescue, the bunkers are deep and revetted in the British style, and the greens are large and full of the kind of bold contour that asks for thought on every approach. The wind sweeps across the open plateau, so the same hole can play very differently day to day.
From the championship tees it is a serious, muscular test past 7,300 yards, but the multiple tees and the generous fairways keep it playable and hugely enjoyable for the resort golfer. The strategy is classic Nicklaus, rewarding the player who picks the right line and shapes the ball into the slopes, and punishing the one who fires blindly at flags.
The setting is the lasting memory. Holes climb and fall with long views toward Lake Taupo and the central plateau mountains, and the closing stretch brings the drama home in style. As a links built far from any coast, Kinloch is a true original, and one of the rounds that defines golf in New Zealand.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and lodge guests; advance booking recommended |
| Green fee | Varies by season; often booked as part of a stay and play package, cart available (indicative, 2026) |
| Buggy and caddie | Carts available; the bold terrain also rewards a caddie or forecaddie where offered |
| Getting there | Kinloch near Lake Taupo, about 20 minutes from Taupo town and its regional airport |
| Best months | November to April for the warm New Zealand summer, though the links plays year round |
| Pair it with | A North Island trip taking in Taupo, Rotorua and the leading New Zealand courses |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and policies change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Kinloch Club has its own lodge and villas beside the course, which makes for a polished stay and play just steps from the first tee, with the lake and the central plateau on the doorstep. Taupo town, about 20 minutes away, adds a wider range of hotels, restaurants and lakeside accommodation.
For a fuller trip the central North Island rewards a multi stop itinerary, pairing Kinloch with the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the trout rivers around Taupo and the other leading courses of the island. We can build the lodging, tee times and transfers around whichever mix of golf and scenery you have in mind.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Kinloch Club.
Build a New Zealand golf trip
We secure tee times and stay and play at The Kinloch Club, pair it with the best of the North Island and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Kinloch Club questions
Who designed The Kinloch Club?
The Kinloch Club is a Jack Nicklaus signature design, the only Nicklaus course in New Zealand, opened in 2007 near Lake Taupo on the North Island.
What is the par and length of The Kinloch Club?
Kinloch is a par 72 that runs to about 7,360 yards from the championship tees and about 6,520 yards from the white tees, played as an inland links on rolling volcanic land.
Can visitors play The Kinloch Club?
Yes. Kinloch is a resort course open to visitors and lodge guests, often booked as part of a stay and play package. Green fees vary by season, so confirm the current rate directly before booking.
Where is The Kinloch Club?
Kinloch sits near Lake Taupo on the North Island, about 20 minutes from Taupo town, set in the geothermal and volcanic country at the heart of the island.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.