Nightcaps Golf Club

A rural nine holes in an ex-coal mining town, beneath the Takitimu Mountains

With the backdrop of the Takitimu Mountains this Western Southland town has a rural 9 holes of golf that is worth the visit.

An hour and 10 minutes out of Gore. The ex-coal mining town of Nightcaps boasts an interesting golf course.

Nightcaps is reputedly called so because the snow tipped Takitimu mountains were often commented as “wearing their nightcaps.” Who knows how true all of this is.

All I know is that if you visit and pop your honesty box monies in the slot you will have a great day out.

The Course

Local Character

Cattle grazing right up to the fairway fence, a hole marker post visible beyond — Cattle grazing right up to the fairway fence, hole markers visible just beyond

An old mining cart repurposed as a wood-fired heater beside the clubhouse — An old mining cart repurposed as a wood burner beside the clubhouse, a nod to the town’s coal-mining past

Hole 15 sign, par 3, name weathered past reading, with a Speight’s emblem below — Hole 15, Par 3 — the sign’s name has weathered past reading, but a Speight’s emblem survives underneath

The Nightcaps town sign on the highway at dusk — The town sign on the way in — reputedly named for the snow-capped Takitimu Mountains “wearing their nightcaps”

Club History

A weathered signboard reading Nightcaps Golf and Bowling Club Inc, mounted on a fence — The club’s own weathered entrance sign

A printed course map titled The Course, showing the clubhouse and numbered hole markers running past 9 up to 18 — The club’s own course map — nine greens played from two sets of tees, so the markers run all the way to 18

Ken’s Visit

Nightcaps Golf Club – Nighty Night

PHYSICAL ADDRESS:

Wairio Road,
Nightcaps