10 Golf Clubs You Must Visit in Otago
by Michael Minty
If you have taken the time to venture across the ditch for a golfing getaway or even just spent
time in the heart of New Zealand’s south Island then Millbrook, Jacks Point, and The Hills are
probably names that ring a bell. That’s because these 3 golf course/resorts are amongst the most
prestigious in Australasia.
However let’s be honest. After paying for air fares and accommodation, the question golf
fanatics have to ask themselves is “Am I getting value for money?”
Well I am about to let you in on a little secret. The Otago region in New Zealand’s south island
boasts a number of quality courses which offer golfers of all levels different challenges while
showcasing the best of both rural and urban New Zealand.
The best way to spend a week is to start in Queenstown and work your way down through
central Otago towards Dunedin. Along the way there are some fantastic golf courses that you
will never see in your local golf magazine or on television. Some may even be small town courses
where you might be the only person on the course but by all means, it’s not because the course is
considered “a goat track”.
As a golfer and a greens superintendant who has lived in both central and coastal Otago, I have
been fortunate enough to play on all of these courses over the years.So I have come up with a list
of 10 courses you must play if visiting the region.
My opinion is based on a 1-10 points system on the following characteristics.
Enjoyment factor
Course maintenance
Facilities
Scenery
Course layout
Green fees
I have done it this way so that rankings aren’t weighted heavily on my own opinion although
there were some characteristics that I have strong views on what makes a good golf course and
club in general.
This review is in two parts. This week we count down from number 10 to 6 so here we go.
10) North Otago golf club
Blue 6035m
White 5687m
Ladies 5237m
Situated on the east coast in the sea-side town of Oamaru which lies 114kms north of Dunedin.
The course offers both rural and seaside views of the Pacific Ocean.
The feature holes include the par 4 3rd which is known as “coronary hill” which winds its way
around a dogleg to the left with trouble also left, and finishes with a steep climb to a tiny green
cut into the side of the hill. Also the 15th is a short par 3 about 115m that drops down a hill that is
well bunkered and a creek on the right.
The uncanny small greens sometimes require patience and positioning off the tee. Generally an
approach shot to the middle of any green is a good option. The course is well maintained and the
club employ a head greenkeeper who has a big army of volunteers, many of who have given over
30 years of service to the club.
Green fees are around the $25 mark and club hire is available. Despite Oamaru not being the
heart of Otago’s golf trail, it is on State highway 1 on route to Christchurch and is well worth a
look if you are passing through.
9) Roxburgh golf club
White 4370m
Ladies 4079m
Situated on the southern side of Roxburgh, Central Otago, Roxburgh is a little gem and is rated
the cheapest course on the list to play with a fee of $20 and is an absolute “must play” if
travelling through from central to Dunedin or vice versa.
It is a short course but what makes Roxburgh special is the way each hole is laid out in amongst
the rocky Central Otago terrain. The front 9 offers a lot of risk and reward with a number of
driveable par 4s but if you stray too far from the fairway then you could find yourself out of
bounds and writing down a ringer on the card.
The back 9 is a touch longer but opens up into a more conventional looking course, by that I
mean less rocks, less out of bounds and more open. So for the golfer who is hitting it average all
day, this is where they can open the shoulders and not be punished as severely.
Facilities are pretty standard and generally greens fees are paid into an honesty box but if you are
lucky enough to meet the locals then you will doubt be greeted by a warm welcome.
8) Taieri Lakes golf club
Blue 5617m
White 5138m
Ladies 5138m
Located just 15 mins from Dunedin city near Mosgiel, North Taieri. If you are up for a challenge
then this course is for you as it demands a combination of accuracy, strategy, and length in
particular.
Despite not looking overly daunting on the scorecard, Taieri seems to play a lot longer than its
measured length especially on the back nine where holes 10 – 15 require a good long game.
However it features a short front nine including par5′s on the 1st and 5th which for the bigger
hitters are in reach for 2 shots,
But the signature hole is probably one of the best holes in the country, the par 4 6th. The hole
offers a couple of options from the tee. A 140m lay up to a plateau will leave about a 110m pitch
to the green, which is located over a big pond. This will catch anything that lands 10-20m short of
the green, but if you can carry 240m+ off the tee then having a go at the green can offer a risk or
reward result. There is an opportunity to bail out to the left into a big bank as the right side is
definitely a no-go zone as the pond carries on around the corner. So if you have a demon fade in
the armoury that comes out when least expected then maybe the driver isn’t for you. Also
beware of a tail wind as the green is protected by another pond in behind. However your only
making one visit to Taieri Lakes then make the most of the opportunity and have a crack at the
6th.
Green fees are great value at $35 which is about as cheap as it gets for a city 18 hole course. Club
hire available from pro-shop.
7) Chisholm Park Links
Blue 5866m
White 5414m
Ladies 5022m
Rated as one of the best links courses in New Zealand. Chisholm Park is situated next to St Kilda
beach and offers stunning views both of Dunedin city and the Pacific ocean.
People I know who have played Chisholm Park often use the phrase ” you can’t beat Chisholm on
a nice day”. That’s probably because the course plays so differently depending on the weather
and also because a calm day on the links can be hard to come by.
Being a coastal links course means it is exposed to the elements. In a southerly it is brutal and a
true test of golf. Most holes run predominantly in a north-south direction. But it’s the stretch of
holes between 9 to 15 that can destroy any score card when the southerly rears it’s ugly head as
they are all into the wind except the 9th which is the infamous Lawyers head hole.
This hole hugs the cliff-top and weaves it’s way over a hill into the corner of Lawyers head. A par
4 405m off blue tees, it requires a solid drive preferably favouring the right side. Into the wind,
you’ll be more likely hitting a blind shot for your second shot of at least 180m but be warned that
any shot landing left and short will more than likely feed left and end up over the cliff which is at
least marked as a hazard so a penalty drop can be taken.
However if your a fair weather golfer and can choose a fine day to play Chisholm Park then you’ll
enjoy the wide fairways and big greens which will hopefully help out the score card.
The best time to play Chisholm Park is probably in the spring or autumn as the fairways are unirrigated and tend to burn off most summers so obviously drain well during wet periods.
The facilities are excellent and all club, cart and coaching requirements are available from the pro
shop. Green fees are around $60
6) Queenstown golf club (Kelvin Heights)
Blue 6072m
White 5839m
Ladies 5173m
Ever seen a post-card of Queenstown? If so then it has probably been taken from the gondola
and features the Kelvin Heights peninsula. This is home to the Queenstown golf club which is a
picturesque golf club that offers not only views of the Remarkables mountain range and Lake
Wakatipu but an exciting challenge of golf.
Queenstown golf club is a tree line course that is reasonably hilly but when you reach the top of a
hill you have to check of your surroundings and marvel at where you are in the world.
But what goes up must come down, and this where the average golfer either is rewarded with
some generous yardage as your ball tumbles down a favourable slope, or you’re left feeling a
little robbed when your ball receives a average bounce into the trees.
The signature hole and probably one of the more scenic photographs on a New Zealand golf
course would be the par 4 5th that curves left around the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to an
elevated green. Driving line is key as an over aggressive line combined with a miss-timed drive will
see you ending up in the drink, however the hole sets up for a right to left shaped drive which will
carve yardage off your approach shot.
The facilities are excellent, carts and club hire available from the pro shop. Green fees range from
$75-95 depending on seasons.
#5 Wanaka Golf Club
Blue 5743m
White 5474m
Ladies 5038m
The picturesque town of Wanaka in Central Otago is home to the Wanaka golf club which sits
perched above the township and Lake Wanaka. This course’s reputation is improving from year
to year, as well as the Wanaka lakes area becoming a popular tourist destination for all kinds of
outdoor recreation.
The club itself has really progressed over the last 10 years due to machinery and irrigation
upgrades so there’s no surprises now when you turn up to find place in good nick. The club
played host to the NZ seniors championship in 2009 which is an honour for any club to hold such
a prestigious tournament.
The course plays quite short but sets up for a golfer who can shape the ball (intentionally!) off
the tee. Caution is also required with approach shots as most of the original greens were just
mown into the fairways, meaning some shots can roll off easily.
The par 4 hole 7th is a demanding driving hole that requires a decent nudge from the tee. A mid
iron shot up hill to a redeveloped plateau green will require a well weighted approach as
generally all the greens are quite small so it pays to play safe to the middle of this green.
Wanaka’s green fees are $60 and all general facilities are available including club hire and a fully
stocked pro shop. It is great little club so check it out.
#4 Otago Golf Club (Balmacewen)
Blue 5705m
White 5407m
Ladies 5133m
The Otago Golf Club or “Balmac” as it is affectionately known by the locals is one of the oldest
courses in the southern hemisphere. It is situated in Dunedin city itself and is traditionally called
New Zealand’s home of golf.
This is can be one of Otago’s greatest tests of golf both mentally and physically as players face
steep climbs to elevated greens and daunting approach shots down to some greens where wind
gusts can come and go as they please.
The greens are reasonably well sized and can provide some interesting breaks while the fairways
are guaranteed to have the classic criss cross pattern mowed into them which looks quite smart.
But what makes “Balmac” unique is the setting. Although it is nestled in amongst urban Dunedin,
the north-western side of the course showcases the best of the local flora and fauna, in particular
the native ferns and Manuka trees that border the courses signature hole, the 11th or otherwise
know as “The Glen”.
The Glen is a 340m par 4, from an elevated tee which is probably the best part of 50-70m above
the landing zone. You have trouble to the far right up a bank but can get lucky with a slight push,
and out of bounds left. About 130-140m short of the green is your target if you’re spraying it and
need a wide runway. If you try to bite off more yards then the fairway gradually narrows to a
point where the ball can kick left towards the native out of bounds area.
The green itself is well bunkered and slopes from front to back which can be very deceiving as
well as the out of bounds still looping around left and back fringes. If you walk off with a par then
you’ve done well, a birdie however is something most golfers dream about when playing the
famous “Glen”.
Just one note however, the course does feature a few steep climbs the demand a reasonable
standard of fitness. The main test is the last hole which can be a long drag home up to green and
then some to the club house. Alternatively a golf cart can be hired and may be the best way to
get around the course.
The facilities at the course are excellent, while the fully stocked pro shop provides coaching and.
Green fees are $75.
#3 St Clair Golf Club
Blue 5943m
White 5483m
Ladies 5249m
The St Clair Golf Club is located above the cliffs of St Clair beach in Dunedin. This course is
Dunedin’s version of the panoramic Queenstown golf club as it offers views of most of the city,
the Pacific Ocean and Otago’s southern coastline.
The course itself has quite possibly some of the best manicured fairways of any public golf course
in New Zealand which gives any golfer with a hint of talent an opportunity to the get their ball to
bite on the predominantly sand based greens.
Being situated on a cliff means the course can be at Mother Nature’s mercy, a lot like Chisholm
Links down the other end of the beach. However protecting a lot of holes from the wind are
rows of pine trees which can lure the best of golfers into a false shot.
The front 9 can play a lot easier on a calm day as it is shorter and there are less trees to contend
with. The back 9 on the other hand is a little longer and tighter but throws up two relatively easy
par 5′s that can provide a good scoring opportunity. However if the wind picks up then strangely
enough sometimes the back 9 seems to play a little easier.
The 18th hole is probably one of the more enjoyable holes to play despite a slight climb towards
the clubhouse which sits literally on the apron of the green. A shortish par 4, the 18 requires a
decent tee shot to a fairway sloping right to left. The left side is bunkered from about 240m from
the tee and a bunker on the other side can also be a nuisance. The kidney shaped green was
redeveloped and only opened late last year and is surrounded by an embankment that creates a
certain amphitheatre as it makes a fantastic spectator hole from both on the ground and in the
clubhouse. It is really fun hole to finish on if you can get a good drive away and set yourself up for
a birdie.
St Clair caters to all golfers with all the basic facilities and 19th watering hole that is open 5 days a
week for the thirsty golfer. Green fees are $60.
#2 Arrowtown Golf Club
White 5495m
Ladies 5035m
Arrowtown golf club is the jewel in the crown literally as it sits below the Crown Range and runs
alongside the famous Arrow river which over 100 years ago was once a hive of activity during the
gold rush era. The course borders the outskirts of Arrowtown which is about 20km from the
centre of Queenstown and offers stunning views of some well known ski fields, the Remarkables
and Coronet Peak.
If you are lucky enough to play on this hidden gem then you’ll will no doubt be blown away by
the unique layout of the course as the narrow rolling fairways weave their way through valleys
and rocky pillars very much like Roxburgh golf club. In the summertime the Browntop grass in
the long rough is left to seed, leaving a colour scheme that represents a truly natural setting and
makes the course look like a postcard.
Last year the course won the New Zealand Golf Course Superintendants Association (NZGCSA)
Environment award which recognises New Zealand’s leading golf course in relation to their
environmental management practices. The club under took the removal of wilding trees and
broom, while re-establishing Matagouri amongst the schist rock outcrops.
From a playability perspective, the course is the shortest out of the top 5 but probably requires
the most accuracy from tee to greens. Again like Wanaka, Roxburgh and North Otago, the greens
are very small. However for any big hitters, there are a lot of risk and reward holes that can
provide a lot of birdies but also double bogeys and beyond.
One of the best holes is the 18th which requires a blind shot over a hill to a fairway that slopes to
the left towards a pond. A good drive leaves only a wedge shot to the green and a good birdie
opportunity however getting a good drive away is the key.
Club hire is available and green fees are $75.It is a course that really screams Central Otago at you
and is experience that you just can’t afford to miss out on.
#1 Cromwell Golf Club
Blue 6234m
White 5844m
Ladies 5204m
Located in the Cromwell township in Central Otago. This course has had a major transformation
in the last 5 years with former NZ open winner and now course designer Greg Turner
redeveloping a large chunk of the course which now resembles a sand-based links course except
its 200km away from the sea.
Cromwell offers so much for the typical golfer. Unlike many of the smaller clubs, Cromwell’s
greens are massive and undulating while the fairways resemble a roller-coaster ride which will
either add 20-30m if you find the down slopes.
With the redevelopment, the course changed dramatically from a typical park-lands course with
huge old pines lining the fairways, to the now barren but open driving holes where the prevailing
Nor-wester can take hold of any erratic shots. The rough can be a challenge, mainly because of
the sandy lies or the pre-planted Marram grass (or tussock as some may call it).
The big greens mean it is important to not just hit it somewhere on the green but to actually hit
reasonably close to the flag, as some of the new greens have some funky undulations that almost
resemble a hole from mini golf. The funny thing with Cromwell, is that you can walk off the
course feeling like you’ve played ok, but if it’s not reflected on your scorecard then you’ve
probably had a few 3-putts.
The redeveloped 18th is the hole to mention which was once a par 3 but now a long 393m par 4
of the blue tees. The old tee block is pretty much thin air now as the new tee is now on the old
17th block. Off the back tees into the wind it can be brutal and requires a well struck drive just to
get you into the valley which is guarded by steep bunkers either side and thick rough. The
approach shot however is a lot more appealing as the fairway rolls down into a basin green but
watch out for the front-right green-side bunker.
There are also a number of other unique holes on the course including exciting doglegs, driveable
par 5′s which everyone loves, and tricky par 3′s that punish wayward tee shots.
Green fees are $50 and club hire is available. Make sure you take the time to visit the bar
afterwards and watch golfers finish their round from the verandah as the 18th makes great
viewing from above at Cromwell.
So we conclude the Top 10 golf courses to play in Otago. Whether you just visiting friends or
perhaps over the ditch for a skiing holiday. Be sure to test your skills on some of Otago’s finest
public courses.
Hope you’ve enjoyed a sneak preview into what truly is New Zealand’s golfing heartland