Auckland has become an increasingly exciting destination for golfers looking for exceptional courses, beautiful scenery and a truly memorable golf experience. From the extraordinary coastal links of Te Arai Links and the exclusivity of Tara Iti to historic Auckland courses such as Titirangi, there is plenty to discover.
But what actually makes a luxury golf tour exceptional?
Is it the golf course? The accommodation? The food? The itinerary? Or is it the small details that connect everything together?
To explore what it takes to create the ultimate Auckland golf experience, we spoke with two people who know the game from very different perspectives: Jono Mabey, owner of Experience Golf, and Olna Ford, Founder of XDL Worldwide.
We also look at how Arrive Driving Services fits into the experience, providing comfortable, reliable chauffeur transport between Auckland, golf courses, hotels, restaurants and other destinations.
Meet the Experts
Jono Mabey – Experience Golf
Jono Mabey is the owner of Experience Golf, a New Zealand-based specialist in bespoke luxury golf travel. The Experience Golf team brings more than four decades of industry experience to designing tailored luxury NZ golf holidays, with a focus on taking care of the details so clients can concentrate on enjoying their golf.
Jono’s philosophy is centred around three things:
Reliability. Luxury. Local knowledge.
Olna Ford – XDL Worldwide
Olna Ford is the founder and CEO of XDL Worldwide, the organisation behind the Xtreme Drivers League and New Zealand Long Blacks. XDL has grown the sport of Long Drive internationally, with events across multiple countries.
Olna brings a performance-driven perspective to golf and sport, with her approach built around:
Reliability. Friendliness. Easy to deal with.
So, what do they think makes a great golf experience?
The Interview
Q: What makes a luxury golf tour genuinely “luxury”?
Jono Mabey – Experience Golf
“Luxury isn’t simply about playing an expensive golf course. It’s about the entire experience being seamless.
Jono says “The most important part of the journey is the first transfer. The guest’s first impression of the business is crucial and this is where trust is built.”
For me, reliability is critical. Our clients are often time poor – so it’s up to us to get the boring stuff right first time – we love the way that Arrive Driving Services drivers are punctual, efficient, and that there are no inconsistencies
Then there’s local knowledge. Really understanding the itinerary. Knowing the courses, the best times to play, where to stay, where to eat and how long the journey actually takes makes a huge difference.
The golfers see New Zealand through the lens of a local. Our Experience Golf guests get the inside view on local history, and experience New Zealand from a friendly Kiwi perspective. Arrive Drive chauffeurs have a rare and precious quality of being able to read a room and to be sensitive to cultural differences. Arrive Driving Services even has Chinese, French and Spanish speaking drivers.
The Arrive Driving Services vehicles are modern, luxury vehicles and are always sparkling clean with a fresh bottle of water and a little bag of local Kiwi sweets to enjoy on the journey. Experience Golf clients expect a white glove service – which means that they don’t have to touch a bag – that their precious golf luggage and personal luggage are treated with respect and laid out with care.
And finally, luxury means having everything taken care of. The golfer should be able to focus on the experience.”
Experience Golf’s current approach reflects this philosophy, with bespoke itineraries, luxury transfers and personalised services forming part of its golf travel offering.
Q: Olna, you’ve built XDL around performance. What does excellent service mean to you?
Olna Ford – XDL Worldwide
“For me, it comes down to being reliable, friendly and easy to deal with.
People are busy. When you organise an event, a golf day or a corporate experience, you don’t want to be chasing people or wondering where things are.
You want people to turn up when they say they will, be professional and make the experience enjoyable.
That’s particularly important when you’re dealing with clients, sponsors, athletes or corporate guests.”
Olna’s XDL organisation has built its reputation around high-performance sport and event delivery, with XDL now operating internationally.
10 of the Best Golf Courses in and Around Auckland
For golfers planning a Best Auckland golf day, Auckland offers an extraordinary variety of courses.
Here are ten courses worth considering for a luxury golf itinerary.
1. Te Arai Links – North Course
Te Arai Links has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most talked-about modern golf destinations.
The North Course combines dramatic coastal scenery, rolling dunes and a genuine links experience.
For an overseas golfer, it can be much more than a round of golf — it can become the centrepiece of a luxury New Zealand golf trip.
2. Te Arai Links – South Course
The South Course provides another spectacular Te Arai experience, with holes winding through dunes and along the coastline.
Experience Golf specifically recommends Te Arai as part of its luxury golf vacations, describing the course’s ocean views and distinctive links character.
Best for: A premium golf getaway or the highlight of a New Zealand golf itinerary.
3. Tara Iti
Few golf destinations generate the same level of excitement as Tara Iti.
Located north of Auckland on the Mangawhai coastline, Tara Iti is an ultra-exclusive Tom Doak-designed links course. Auckland’s official tourism guide currently describes it as New Zealand’s number-one-ranked course and notes that access is strictly limited to members and their guests.
Best for: The ultimate exclusive golf experience.
4. Titirangi Golf Club
Designed by Alister MacKenzie, Titirangi is one of Auckland’s most historic and distinctive golf courses.
Its location makes it particularly convenient for visitors staying in Auckland, while the layout provides plenty of challenge for experienced golfers.
Auckland’s official tourism guide notes that Titirangi is New Zealand’s only Alister MacKenzie-designed course.
Best for: Combining world-class design with convenient Auckland access. It’s especially perfect for a quick round on the way to Auckland Airport.
5. Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club
Royal Auckland and Grange offers a substantial 27-hole golf facility and a modern clubhouse and practice complex.
Experience Golf describes it as the premier golf club and golfing facility in the Auckland region.
Best for: Corporate golf, client entertainment and serious golfers.
6. Muriwai Golf Club
For something completely different, head west.
Muriwai sits close to Auckland’s rugged west coast, with the Tasman Sea providing an impressive backdrop.
The combination of coastal scenery, wind and rolling terrain makes it a memorable golf day Auckland experience.
Best for: Golfers who enjoy coastal scenery and a less conventional golf experience.
7. North Shore Golf Club
North Shore Golf Club provides 27 holes arranged across three nines, allowing different combinations of the course to be played.
Its location near Albany also makes it a convenient option for groups staying on Auckland’s North Shore.
Best for: Group golf days, Corporate christmas parties and flexible itineraries.
8. Remuera Golf Club
Close to Auckland’s CBD, Remuera provides a convenient parkland golf experience.
It also has a modern driving range and practice facilities, making it useful when the itinerary includes practice or a shorter golf experience.
Best for: Corporate groups and golfers wanting to stay close to central Auckland. The driving range is especially popular with luxury golfers wanting to practise their swing before they get out on a luxury golf course.
9. Wainui Golf Club
North of Auckland, Wainui offers an 18-hole championship course surrounded by rolling countryside, native bush and natural waterways.
Its additional nine-hole course can also work well when time is limited.
Best for: A scenic full-day golf experience without travelling as far north as Te Arai. The 9 hole golf course is great for a quicker golf day in Auckland.
10. Windross Farm
Located in Clevedon, Windross Farm is a modern championship course that has hosted the New Zealand Women’s Open.
Its rolling farmland setting creates a very different experience from Auckland’s coastal links courses.
Best for: A modern championship golf experience and corporate golf day.
Q: Jono, how important is local knowledge when planning an Auckland golf tour?
Jono Mabey
“Extremely important.
Auckland isn’t just one golf destination. You’ve got courses north of the city, west of the city, south-east and right in Auckland itself.
If you’re trying to fit multiple rounds into a short trip, the routing becomes incredibly important.
You want to minimise wasted travel time and make sure the golfer spends their time playing golf rather than sitting in traffic.
That’s where local knowledge makes a real difference.”
Experience Golf’s own advice recommends allowing sufficient time for a North Island golf itinerary because travel between regions can otherwise diminish the experience.
Why Chauffeur Transport Is Part of a Luxury Golf Experience
This is where Arrive Driving Services becomes an important part of the overall experience.
Golf travel involves equipment, early tee times, changing schedules and sometimes long journeys between courses.
The last thing a golfer wants is to worry about driving.
With Arrive Drive, the journey becomes part of the luxury experience.
Make the Most of Your Time
Rather than concentrating on the road, golfers can relax, talk about their round, enjoy the scenery or simply take a break between activities.
For international visitors, it also means experiencing Auckland and New Zealand without having to navigate unfamiliar roads.
Reliable
A golf itinerary is often built around fixed tee times.
Arrive Driving Services plans transport around your schedule, helping you arrive comfortably and with time to spare.
Flexibility
Plans can change.
Perhaps the group wants to stay longer for lunch, visit the golf driving range, stop for dinner or add another destination.
A private chauffeur service provides considerably more flexibility than conventional group transport.
Professional
A professional driver understands that luxury transport is about more than getting from A to B.
Presentation, punctuality, discretion and communication all matter.
Discreet
For executives, VIPs, celebrities or high-profile guests, discretion is an important part of the experience.
Comfortable
Travelling in a luxury vehicle from a modern fleet provides the comfort expected from a premium golf tour.
Q: Olna, how important is punctuality when organising sporting events?
Olna Ford
“It’s absolutely critical.
Whether you’re organising an XDL event, a corporate golf day or simply getting a group of people somewhere, everyone has a schedule.
Being punctual shows respect for other people’s time.
But I’d also say that being friendly matters. People remember how you made them feel.
The best service is reliable and professional without becoming cold or impersonal.”
When Golf Meets Extreme Golf
For golfers who want something beyond traditional 18-hole golf, Olna’s world of Extreme golf provides another dimension.
XDL focuses on Long Drive, where athletes compete to hit a golf ball extraordinary distances. XDL describes itself as a high-performance sporting organisation with events and programmes extending internationally.
This creates an interesting opportunity for corporate groups.
Imagine starting with a traditional Auckland golf experience, followed by a golf driving range or Long Drive activity, before finishing with dinner and chauffeur transport home.
That could make an excellent alternative to traditional Christmas party ideas, corporate event ideas or a standard corporate function.
The Perfect Corporate Golf Day
A luxury golf day doesn’t have to be limited to professional golfers.
A corporate itinerary could include:
8:00am – Auckland pickup
Your group meets their professional chauffeur at the office, hotel or accommodation.
9:00am – Arrive at the course
Time for coffee, breakfast and practice.
10:00am – Tee off
Enjoy your round at one of Auckland’s premier courses.
2:30pm – Lunch and networking
Relax over lunch and discuss the day’s highlights.
4:00pm – Optional driving range or activity
Add a fun competitive element with a driving range or Long Drive experience.
5:30pm – Luxury transfer
Travel together to dinner, a function or back to your accommodation.
This kind of itinerary works particularly well for client entertainment, team-building events, incentives and Christmas party ideas.
What Does “Best” Really Mean?
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from our conversation with Jono and Olna is that being the best isn’t necessarily about being the most expensive.
It’s about getting the details right.
For Jono, it’s:
Reliability + Luxury + Local Knowledge
For Olna, it’s:
Reliable + Friendly + Punctual
For Arrive Driving Services, those principles fit perfectly with our own approach:
Reliable + Flexible + Professional + Discreet + Good Value
Put all of those elements together and you have more than a round of golf.
You have an experience.
Plan Your Luxury Auckland Golf Tour
Whether you’re planning a Best Auckland golf day, a corporate golf experience, a private golf tour or a multi-course New Zealand itinerary, the right transport can make a significant difference.
From Te Arai Links and Tara Iti to Titirangi, Muriwai and Royal Auckland and Grange, Auckland provides an exceptional variety of golf experiences.
And when you travel with Arrive Driving Services, you can make the most of your time without worrying about the driving.
Travel in comfort.
Arrive relaxed.
Play your best.
Enjoy the journey.
Arrive Driving Services — luxury chauffeur transport for Auckland golf, corporate events, VIP travel and bespoke golf experiences.