Omaha Beach Golf Club, located an hour north of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, is revamping its third hole, the final phase of a multiyear renovation by architect Kristine Kerr.
The club, which originally opened in 1975, has been working with Kerr since 2017 on a plan to remodel the course, with the layout becoming a par 71.
Read more about Kerr’s previous work at Omaha Beach.
“The new design will include a main par-five green, as well as a secondary green about 150 metres short of the total length of the hole off to the right-hand side of the fairway,” said Kerr. “There will also be a secondary teeing ground in line with this, off to the left-hand side. All this will allow the hole to be played as a par five (hole three), a par four (hole 3A), and a par three (hole 3B), enabling golfers to play the course as a full 18-hole layout, even when one of our other holes is closed for maintenance, which is an important step for flexibility and member experience.”
The remodelling work on the third will be the final hole adjustment needed to complete Kerr’s masterplan (Image: Kristine Kerr)
The addition of the par-five hole has been designed to make the course more playable. “It provides an extra shot without drastically increasing the distance,” said Kerr. “Many hazards like bunkers and carries are intentionally positioned to challenge lower-handicap players, while giving the majority of golfers a fairer line of play.”
The redevelopment is fully funded through club sponsorship and donations from Friends of Omaha GC or directly from members, allowing membership costs to remain manageable.
Kerr’s 2018 masterplan, which has since been updated. The architect has overseen several years of renovation work, and the redevelopment is nearing completion (Image: Kristine Kerr)
“Beyond attracting and retaining members, the new holes provide added benefits such as safer playing zones on our narrow course and improved water run-off for better playing surfaces,” said Kerr. “Together, these improvements strengthen sustainability and help future-proof the club for the next 50 years.”