It’s good to be old. My partner Rebecca and I had never taken an extended vacation, but now that we’re both retired, we were able to spend 2 months in New Zealand where I got to play some incredible golf courses.

But before I get to the golf, I first want to tell you about New Zealand’s other major attribute – its people. All I heard before we left was how nice New Zealanders are. Turns out, that’s an understatement. Every New Zealander we met was kind, considerate and gracious. It was if they all personally cared about us and our trip. We may have traveled to New Zealand for the scenery and the golf, but we found the people to be the real highlight.

Although the golf was a close second! Fifteen years ago, a friend of mine played Kauri Cliffs and showed me his photos – I immediately put it on my bucket list. It did not disappoint – in fact, Kauri Cliffs, for me, was heaven on earth. Every single hole — I mean that literally, every one of Kauri Cliff’s 18 holes — was thoughtfully designed, aesthetically beautiful and challenging without being stupid. The first hole is the farthest from the ocean and even it has a breathtaking ocean view! Add to that huge elevation changes, sloping doglegs and immaculate conditions and you get one extraordinary golf course. And I played well, so that made it even better!

Then I got to play Tara Iti. Haven’t heard of it? You will! Tara Iti is #2 on Golf Digest’s International best courses list – behind only Royal County Down. If ever there was an exclusive, high-falutin’ course, this was it. I won’t drop names, but I hit balls on the driving range with two NFL superstars. And one of them struck up a conversation with me about golf and football! I had to remind myself to breathe.

Tara Iti is hallowed ground – there are no other words that accurately describe it. The course was so much a part of the land that it wasn’t always clear where the holes were.  On one hole, my caddy told me to hit it 70 yards to the green. What green? Where’s the green? Turns out, it was over a dune that didn’t even look like it was part of the course. Beyond cool to play that shot! Tom Doak outdid himself at Tara Iti.

Then there was Te Arai South, where I must have said, “OMG this is so awesome” 50 times! Te Arai is Tara Iti’s “sister” course but this one is open to the public which, I guess, makes it Tara Iti’s “stepsister.” But it’s a stepsister you’ll love! Some holes wind through beautiful pine trees, but most are framed by the Pacific. And many are positioned in such a way that the ocean, and its distant islands, feel like they’re right on the course. I was a huge Coore and Crenshaw fan before I played Te Arai, but now I know for sure they’re golf gods!

Then there’s Cape Kidnappers. After my round there, I went into the lounge for a solo lunch (Rebecca was getting some kind of spa thingy). There were two couples at the next table and they asked about the course. Turns out, they were golfers, but they weren’t playing on this trip. Wait a minute…. you’re a golfer, and you come to Cape Kidnappers, one of the world’s most fantastic courses…for lunch? Don’t get me wrong, the food at Cape Kidnappers was beyond delicious (so was the wine and service), but golfers coming to Cape Kidnappers just for lunch is incomprehensible to me!  Let’s just say that after I got done telling them about the course and how much I loved it, they rented clubs, bought some balls, and played it. And the next day I got an email thanking me. Need I say more about Cape Kidnappers?

The last North Island course I played was Titirangi. Can’t get a game at Augusta? Trouble getting a tee time at Cypress Point? It may be halfway around the world, but Titirangi is an Alister MacKenzie gem and it’s open to the public. The course was aesthetically beautiful and in great condition. The fairways were rolling pastoral hills with perfectly placed fairway bunkers that added to the hole’s beauty. The greens have severe bunkering and false fronts making approach shots fun and interesting. I hit one pitch shot that was two yards short of where I planned – I watched my ball go back past me on its way downhill farther away from the hole than when I hit it.  But the course was fair: bad shots got penalized, good shots got rewarded. Although one of the holes is named Redan (“an arrow-shaped embankment forming part of a fortification”), another is named Ramparts (“a defensive wall of a castle or walled city”), and a third is named Wrecker.  You can see where I’m going with this – the course was fair, but it wasn’t easy.

I also played two courses on New Zealand’s South Island. Jacks Point is a resort course right outside of Queenstown that borders Lake Wakatipu, one of New Zealand’s most picturesque lakes. It’s a John Darby design with long sweeping holes right on the lake offering picturesque views of Queenstown and The Remarkables (a mountain range that is, well, remarkable). Then there’s Arrowtown Golf Club, also outside of Queenstown. Not quite as breathtaking as the New Zealand resort courses, Arrowtown is still a fabulous golf course with gorgeous mountain views. And it (along with Titirangi) has one thing the resort courses don’t have – it’s homegrown: it was built for locals, not tourists. So, at Arrowtown, I was paired with New Zealanders instead of other Americans, which for me really added to my New Zealand experience.

New Zealand is an extraordinary place to visit for many reasons.  Its natural beauty is astounding – we hiked over 100 miles (no, not in just one hike) and it felt like every mile was stunning. And while it’s not particularly known for being a “foody” place, we had terrific dining experiences. But even if you don’t like food or hiking, go for the golf – it’s AMAZING!