About Yes Life Golf
We are two mates on a mission to showcase the incredible world of golf in New Zealand.
After moving to New Zealand, Stephen picked up a set of real clubs for the first time while Sean, already a professional golfer, was excited to explore the courses around the country.
What began as a few casual rounds in Hawkes Bay quickly turned into something much bigger. We were amazed by the quality of the courses, the passion of the people who run them, and how affordable golf is here compared to the United Kingdom.
A couple of rounds and a couple of pints of Guinness later, we had a realisation:
More people need to know about the hidden gems scattered across this country.
Many of the courses we have visited are kept alive by locals and volunteers who give countless hours of their own time to maintain fairways, greens, clubhouses and the wider golf community. As we have travelled and filmed, it has become clear just how much heart goes into golf in New Zealand.
Of course, the country is home to famous destinations such as Te Arai, Cape Kidnappers, Jacks Point and many more. They deserve every bit of their global recognition. They are stunning, world class and unforgettable. But what inspires us just as much are the smaller clubs. They offer clever design, unique challenges and environments that are just as memorable in their own way.
That is why we started the YesLifeGolf YouTube channel.
To grow the game, to share the stories of these incredible courses and to show golfers around the world that New Zealand has something for every budget, every skill level and every sense of adventure.
If you enjoy discovering new places to play, meeting the people who keep golf thriving or simply following along on an honest and down to earth journey, you are in the right place.
Subscribe to us on YouTube, join the journey and keep an eye out for our upcoming web based app Golfed, your new guide to golfing around New Zealand.
Sean
I’m a PGA professional at Hastings Golf Club, working as a coach and assistant. I qualified in 2017 and have been lucky enough to compete all over the world on tours in Europe, America, the Middle East and Oceania. I currently play off a plus five handicap and I absolutely love discovering new courses wherever I go.
What excites me most about golf is seeing how designers and architects use the land to create unique and challenging holes. The creativity, strategy and artistry behind every course never fails to amaze me.
I’ve been fortunate to play twenty one of the world’s top one hundred golf courses, but I grew up playing on Englands famous golf coast in Southport. Links golf has always been my favourite, so give me a sea view and a sand based course and I’ll instantly feel at home.
Stephen
I came to golf a bit later than most and had only been playing for a year before I moved to New Zealand in late 2023.
I’m a doctor by day (and sometimes night), but golf quickly became interesting when we decided to play all over the country.
I’ve always loved travelling. In my twenties and thirties I spent a lot of time exploring the world, and I first visited New Zealand back then, long before I played golf. Now, being able to travel around the islands and discover new courses is the best part of the journey for me.
I love learning and improving my golf while exploring this incredible country. There is something special about finding courses that are both affordable and set in epic landscapes. Sean is already bored of me talking about the geology of the areas we visit.
My love for the game is growing every day, and enjoying New Zealand’s hidden gems has become one of my favourite things to do.
