A view of the 13th 14th, 15th and 16th holes at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Photo: David Cannon, Getty Images
The tributes to Julian Robertson that poured in after the North Carolina native passed away in late August at the age of 90 focused understandably on his successes running the Tiger Management hedge fund, which at its peak boasted some $22 billion in assets. They also touched on his mentoring of dozens of “Tiger cubs,” most of whom went on to run wildly profitable funds of their own, as well as his philanthropy, with Robertson giving away some $2 billion to charitable causes over his lifetime.
But for golfers, there was another reason to celebrate his time on earth. And that was for developing in New Zealand two of the finest seaside courses in the world – Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers – and complementing them with modest yet well-appointed lodges that felt both homey and luxurious. In doing so, Robertson helped make that stunningly beautiful country a must-visit for peripatetic players, while inspiring oth...