Cape Kidnappers golf course captures the imagination on New Zealand's North Island

HAWKE'S BAY, New Zealand -- It was Captain James Cook who dreamed up the epic name Cape Kidnappers for the dramatic cliffs off the eastern coast of the North Island in 1769.

More than two centuries later in 2004, it was owner Julian Robertson and architect Tom Doak who made this natural wonder one of the world's most sought-after golf courses.

The 7,147-yard, par-71 Cape Kidnappers golf course, home of the 2008 and 2009 Kiwi Challenge with sister course Kauri Cliffs, ranks no. 33 in the world by Golf Magazine and no. 6 among the top courses outside the United States by Golf Digest.

The aerial photograph depicting fingers of land that jut out into the Pacific Ocean remains the trademark of Cape Kidnappers. Those back nine holes are hardly the only highlight, though.

The par-3 sixth traverses a deep gulley to a green that provides the first look at the cliffs up close. The par-4 12th drops to the "infinity" green perched at land's end. Two scoring holes -- the 130-yard 13th and 348-yard 14th -- follow next for those who can control their heightening senses. The "Pirate's Plank" gets narrower the closer the 650-yard, par-5 15th creeps to the green at the edge of the cliffs. The 16th tee requires two good swings, the first to reach the fairway and the second to launch a ball into the ocean, a rite of passage for every first-timer. Consider that second shot another victim kidnapped by this marvel cape.