The Kiwi Challenge

Cape Kidnappers juts into the Pacific Ocean like a jagged arrow. Never has there been a piece of land more suited to extreme golf. For four of the world’s best young players, this challenging course represents the opportunity to earn the title of "Best Under-30 Golfer".

More about this image

About the Kiwi Challenge

The Kiwi Challenge is a 36-hole stroke play event held over two days - November 11 and 12th. Sanctioned by the PGA Tour and with a prize pool totalling US$2 million , it is televised to the world’s golf-keen countries. However for anyone who loves golf, nothing beats seeing the event in the flesh.

The first-ever Kiwi Challenge was held last year. The brainchild of Julian Robertson, owner of the Cape Kidnappers course, it was a huge success. The winner was Hunter Mahan, who was enraptured with the event and its setting.

"The course is fantastic and the views are incredible - like nothing I’ve ever seen before", he said.

Mahan is keen to defend his title, but the competition promises to be stiff. The three challengers are all ranked higher than him in the world rankings, and they’re determined not to be distracted by the outstanding
views.

The players

Between them, the four golfers playing in the Kiwi Challenge already have eight PGA Tour wins, more than 80 top-10 finishes and something like US$40 million in career winnings.

The defender Hunter Mahan, age 27, is 26th in world rankings and 14th on the 2009 PGA Tour money list. Known for his avant-garde fairway fashion, Hunter is a self-professed loner with a total commitment to the game.

Anthony Kim, 24, was a two-time winner in 2008 and is currently ranked 18th in the world. Highly confident, he has been described as "fearless, funny and combative".

Camilo Villegas, 27, is the top-ranked player in the field. He had two wins in 2008, and is 16th in world rankings. Camilo is renowned for the way he reads putts crouching parallel to the ground balancing on his right leg and putter. It has earned him the nickname "Hombre Araña" (Spider Man).

Sean O’Hair, 27, is ranked 20th, and is eighth in earnings for 2009. He turned pro at the age of 17 and is believed to have one of the best golf swings on the planet.

A golf course that will kidnap your heart

Cape Kidnappers

More about this image
Email this image

Designed by Tom Doak, Cape Kidnappers is a stunning example of the minimalist design philosophy, which makes maximum use of natural topographical features and shows restraint with earthmoving.

Poised on cliffs 140 metres above the sea, the course tilts toward the sea as a series of ridges jutting out toward the edge of the cliffs. The surface is firm and fast, however conditions can be windy. You'll hit shots over the tops of the manuka trees and play along the edges of deep ravines. If your ball strays on the approaches, you'll actually hope to get caught in bunkers hanging off the green's edge.

The course’s 'signature' hole is the 15th, known as 'Pirate's Plank. This is a long, wide and flat par five that follows a massive cliff finger as it gently heads down towards the edge of the earth.

Cape Kidnappers was recently ranked fourth in Golf magazine’s list of
the world’s 50 greatest golf courses of the past 50 years. Its sister property, Kauri Cliffs in Northland, was ranked 18th.

In case you’re wondering, the cape was named by Captain James Cook in 1769 after local Maori attempted to kidnap his ship’s Tahitian crew member.

Other attractions in Hawke’s Bay

Before it was a world-class golfing destination, Cape Kidnappers was mostly known for having the largest and most accessible gannet colony in the world. The birds will be nesting while the Kiwi Challenge is on, so a beach or overland safari to the colony is a must do.

Just 20 kilometres from Cape Kidnappers are the twin cities of Hastings and Napier, where wine trails, artisan food experiences and Art Deco architecture will keep you entertained on non-golfing days.

A guided walk around the centre of Napier will introduce you to a picturesque collection of Spanish Mission, Stripped Classical and Art Deco buildings. This seaside city was laid flat by an earthquake in 1931, and then rebuilt in the popular architectural styles of the times. Hastings was affected by the same earthquake and rebuilt mostly in the Spanish Mission style.

From Hastings you can cycle the vineyards for a day - one of the best ways to meet the region’s wines and take in the beautiful rural scenery. You’ll cover about 28 kilometres and visit up to seven wineries. The Gimblett Gravels area is a highlight for those who enjoy red wines. Alternatively you can follow a food trail, which includes stops for bread, lime products, sauces, mushrooms, strawberries, ice cream, schnapps, preserves and olives.

Touring routes from Hawke’s Bay

If you want to take your explorations of New Zealand further, Hawke’s Bay is the starting point for the ‘Classic New Zealand Wine Trail’, a self-drive touring route that lets you discover five of New Zealand’s most photogenic regions. After leaving Hawke’s Bay, the route passes through the tranquil Tararua area to the Wairarapa wine region, which is centred on the historic village of Martinborough. Next stop is Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, where you can enjoy all kinds of cultural and creative experiences. The route continues with a vehicular ferry ride across Cook Strait to the welcoming vineyards of Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine region.

Or you could venture north from Hawke’s Bay, on the route called the ‘Thermal Explorer Highway’. You’ll discover the geothermal towns of Lake Taupo and Rotorua, the amazing cave systems of Waitomo and the nautical pleasures of Auckland, a city sandwiched between two huge harbours.

Browse travel deals

9 days Luxury Golf Tour
From $1,998 USD Per Person

10-day Golfer's DELIGHT- 2 FREE rounds!
From $4,200 USD Per Person

RSS

Players

Hunter Mahan

More about this image
Email this image

Camilo Villegas

More about this image
Email this image

Anthony Kim

More about this image
Email this image

Sean O'Hair

More about this image
Email this image

Featured Region

HAWKE'S BAY

There is plenty to do in this region from tasting fine wine to visiting the gannet colony. Napier also has one of the highest concentrations of Art Deco architecture anywhere in the world.