Construction underway on Douglas Links project in New Zealand

After several years of planning setbacks, the new Douglas Links project on New Zealand’s North Island will begin golf construction next month.

The golf site is situated on duneland at Ōhau in Horowhenua, a short drive from the classic Paraparaumu Beach links. Designed by Darius Oliver, the holes will be shaped by industry veteran Lindsay Richter, who was previously lead shaper on The Cliffs, Kangaroo Island and Cape Wickham Links projects in Australia.

Unusually for New Zealand, the Douglas Links is being developed by a passionate local golfer and aims to provide an authentically Kiwi experience. The clubhouse, and 1st tees, sit on an elevated dune with panoramic 180 degree views of the Kāpiti coastline. Both the front and back nines head toward the coast at times, and right alongside its sandy beach. In between, holes weave through and into imposing dune ridges, and along an elevated river escarpment.

There are views of the Ōhau River on several holes, as well as out to both the Tararua Range inland, and the Kāpiti island offshore.

Aside from the views and the dunes, Douglas Links is blessed with great natural diversity and pure sandy soils. Large parts of the site are currently degraded, however, and the project is as much about ecological restoration as golf creation. Almost 200,000 native plants will be planted throughout the dunescape, once the massive macrocarpa trees and other exotic species are removed.

As planned, the new links will feature traditional bunkers, fescue playing surfaces, genuine half-par holes with various risk–reward options, and a series of fun par threes, fours and fives.

The southern part of the North Island in New Zealand is a fantastic destination, and often overlooked by travelling golfers seeking the country’s modern layouts. When complete, Douglas Links and Paraparaumu Beach should form a compelling double act, and hopefully help to popularise a strong golf region with plenty of other hidden gems as well.

Construction of the Douglas Links is scheduled to begin in early 2026, and likely to take close to two years.

 

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