Sweet Spot captures the full spectrum of golf in New Zealand — celebrating the unique qualities you can only find in Aotearoa.

Find your Sweet Spot

From the sunbaked turf of Kaitāia to the reclaimed riverbed of Tīeke, the undulating sand dunes of Paraparaumu to the jagged schist of Roxburgh, the deceptive might of Waitara to the sprawling glory of The Hills—the essence of New Zealand golf is found in the bones of the land.

Walking across this astonishing geography, searching for the quintessential New Zealand golfing experience, Michael Donaldson and Phil Hamilton encountered an array of fascinating people, places and history. Sweet Spot is the result—a careful selection of their very best courses, exquisitely captured by renowned landscape photographer Arno Gasteiger.

A landmark publication, Sweet Spot celebrates the art, beauty and design of Aotearoa’s breathtaking golfing terrain like never before.

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In Sweet Spot, the authors have done a great job at providing an informative stroll around New Zealand’s golf landscape, and when coupled with insightful photography and an historical context the outcome is a real treat.

—Former professional and golf course designer Greg Turner

“The book is a work of art and my golf obsessed husband is thrilled! After flicking through he has already added lots of new places to his list of golf clubs he “needs” to play at. It's the only non cookbook that has made it to his special place on the coffee table, and that's a sign!”

— Camille G

“Sent the golf book to my golf obsessed son in Melbourne and he was very impressed with the whole package, quality photography and interesting facts on the various golf courses, some of which he had played and others that he hopes to play in the future. A great gift and so convenient to order and have it dispatched by Sweet Spot. Many thanks.”

— Ruth V

“Great read. Very much recommend this for any golf fan. I think they have got this spot on. Plus or minus a couple which has created great debate around the clubhouse leaner.”

— Eden M

Golf’s natural beauty captured

In choosing these 36 courses, 18 in each island, our focus is on courses that offer the best possible golf while also showing a sense of place, a sense of Aotearoa — courses you must play.

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Created by an award-winning design team, this ambitious two-volume, slip-cased hardback, with a foreword from Greg Turner, features eye-catching photographs. Privately published by two golfing tragics it’s a book you will come back to time and again.

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About the authors

Phil Hamilton has been a journalist for more than 20 years, working at newspapers across New Zealand, Australia and the United States. He was a late convert to golf, taking it up when working in Sydney in the early 2000s to fill in time when the surf was flat. Since then he has hacked his way across a host of courses in New Zealand, Asia, America and Europe. Despite having four children (and a wife), the Harewood and Wanaka member is yet to find a reliable caddie.

Michael Donaldson is a former sports journalist and sports editor at the Sunday Star-Times. He is the author of numerous books on beer and golf. He was the co-author of Steve Williams’ memoir Out of the Rough, wrote the biography of Lydia Ko’s teen years: Lydia Ko — Portrait of a Teen Golfing Sensation, and wrote Country Courses, an ode to some of New Zealand’s more remote and rural golf courses. He is a member at Titirangi in Auckland.

About the photographer

Arno Gasteiger is a long-time New Zealand Geographic magazine photographer. His wide-ranging geographic knowledge of New Zealand has seen him undertake location photography for commercial and editorial clients, including GEO (Germany, France, Finland, Spain), Spiegel, Australian Geographic, Smithsonian (USA), Merian (Germany), The New York Times, Rexel, Fletcher Challenge and Tourism New Zealand. He is the co-author of nine previous books, Central winning the illustrative category of the prestigious Montana New Zealand Book Awards, in 2004. Arno lives with his family in Titirangi, Auckland. When he’s not working on location, you might find him cycling in the Waitākere Ranges, chopping wood, gardening or building something.

The details

Title: Sweet Spot: 36 iconic golf courses that celebrate the best of New Zealand

Authors: Michael Donaldson & Phil Hamilton

Photographer: Arno Gasteiger

Designed by: Alan Deare, Anna Wilkinson & Dave McDonald, Area Design

RRP: $95.00

Dimensions: 240mm × 200mm, portrait

Binding: 2 × hardback volumes contained in slipcase

Extent: 208 pages per volume (416 pages total)

Slipcase: matt laminated, foiled type, circular die-cut

Volumes: gloss laminated, fluoro printing + ‘dimple’ debossing

Internals: full colour + spot PMS, 140gsm matt art, FSC

Features: ribbon

ISBN: 9780473692193

Publication: July 2024