Let me take you on a journey around a world-class 18 holes. If you know Queenstown, you have already won a watch. A phrase used in Scotland to indicate you got lucky and received more than you were expecting.
Queenstown has a spectacular charm that is hard to ignore. Twenty minutes drive from the town, heading towards the Remarkable Mountains and you will meet with Jack’s Point Golf Club.
Driving into the car park, I was a little excited, trying to contain my enthusiasm, just in case, all the hype was misguided.
The backdrop of the Remarkables was not new to me, I lived a long time in Queenstown. The one thing with the Wakapitu basin is that it gets you every time, no matter how long you’ve looked at the spectacular surroundings.
Preamble over… let’s get to the course. The first is a relatively short par 4, the angled fairway is wide and inviting. The rough down the left-hand side not so much. The green is massive with bunkering protecting the front.
When you walk the holes at Jack’s Point Golf Club you don’t see the other holes. Each hole is its own experience with its own personality. This is a very unique feature and it allows you to immerse yourself in the moment.
The uphill par 4 2nd hole needs an accurate drive ( or else!) The approach up to the green is threatening with steep bunkers overtaking the landscape.
The bunkers also have some bedrock sticking out of them, so they may appear beautiful but don’t go in them. You get a good view of the Jack’s Point suburb from here.
Everything is in its infancy around here. The golf course was finished in 2008, the design by John Darby lends itself to you not knowing the age of the course. So much of the environment is laying weaved into the course it seems they are one. The vegetation and surrounds tell a tail, the design was sensitive – to tread lightly, not disturbing the land. Losing none of what mother nature built here.
I was in heaven playing the game I love – in this location – on this course. It didn’t matter how I scored today, I had Won my Watch. The 5th was a challenge, a 497 par 5. Shoot out over the wasteland tussocks if you dare. Avoid the rock if you can. Get up the hill and position yourself to hit your 3rd shot into the impossible green. Good luck.
Every minute I was on the course was a blessing. Nowhere more so than the 6th Tee. 282 metres downhill from the Blues. I would advise playing as far back that you dare off the tees. There are 5 to chose from, you miss some of the natural challenges if you go right up the front.
You need to go for the green on the 6th, if you miss the target you will roll the dice on what you are left with.
This would be anybody’s favourite place in the world. Looking over the Wakatipu taking on the 6th. Then the 7th arrives, a par 3 to be in awe of. The short infinity shot at the green is just brilliant.
The native matagouri bushes that are common to the area are most visible around this part of the course. These untouched bushes date back over 500 years. I was beginning to believe the stories, this isn’t a golf course carved out of the land, it is the land. Each hole has its own distinct and separate mana.
The 5th, 6th, and 7th are a stretch of genius. Does it get better than this? The 8th is a tough par 5 that keeps on giving. There is no better or worse here, it ALL works.
You move away from the lakeside and head back towards the Remarkables on the 9th. Not disappointed, the views were better or different.
There are 2 par 3’s early on the back 9, the 11th, and the 13th. If you thought the 7th was worthy of your attention, well these 2 will make you weep at their beauty. Just go here and play them, your life will be richer.
Over the Flock and the Wall
On the 15th I was cocooned in this golf course and now something new. A tee shot over a sheep-filled paddock, over the perfect stone wall to make the angled fairway. You will love this tee shot unless you end up in with the sheep. This is Mr Darby’s favourite hole around here.
My round was coming close to its conclusion. On the 16th I was aware we were heading home. But no time for complacency a downhill tee shot with a tussock-filled danger zone in the middle of the fairway.
There is a wee bonus par 3 after the 16th, not sure why, but it would rank as one of New Zealand’s best un-numbered golf holes.
And finally, on the 17th tee, you can see 2 holes at the same time, down the 17th a monster 536 metre par 5 and then back up the 18th to the clubhouse.
The 18th has the lake on your left, the walk up to the green is amazing. I felt magic having completed the 18 holes at Jack’s Point Golf Club. If you played here every week you would never get immune to the infectious beauty of the course. Its natural environment stunning backdrop and immaculate presentation will course through your veins. There is no vaccine to cure that. Number 1 golf course in New Zealand for me now.