Queenstown Lakes District is the backdrop for PARNZ to host the Mount Michael Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic – a golfing challenge over five exceptional courses. The clubs you play over this week are some of the best golf in the country.
Arrowtown, Cromwell, Alexandra, Wanaka, and Queenstown are the five places you will visit. That is some notable collection of golf courses that will put a pep in the step of any golfer of Aotearoa.
PARNZ has been bringing golfers to this region for many years and they run a perfectly well-oiled event. The local clubs come to the party with volunteers to help prepare their courses for the near 400 golfers.
The field is split into 5 groups, I started day one of my epic escapade at Queenstown Golf Club. The alpine nature of the region starts most days with a crisp icy air which grows into warm dry conditions. The golfing beauty on display in the town of Queenstown is second to none. This town is world-renowned for adrenaline-fired adventure, spectacular mountains ranges, and photo-worthy lake views.

Queenstown Golf Club sits on a wee peninsular across Lake Wakatipu in full sight from downtown Queenstown. The location alone is worth the visit and puts the golf course on the must-play map. The course was in fantastic condition and the greens would prove to be the quickest of the week.
The golf here is awesome, we started off the first tee with near frost on the surface of the fairways. The somber opening 3 holes lead you to where the main event starts – along the lakeside at the 4th.

This 448 metre par 5 tempts you to have a go at the green in two mighty shots. The lake runs the length of the hole on one side and a well-placed pond on the other just short of the green needs some thought. The locals know to keep your hot head in check as you eye a long but makable 2nd shot at the green and a dream of putting for eagle. I naively found the pond.
There is much more temptation off the tee box on the 5th. This hole is legendary sitting next to Lake Wakatipu and asking questions of how much you will cut off the corner. A good blow will put you on the upslope of the sloping fairway. Play safe, and have a long approach from a difficult stance, and anything left will visit the stony beach or the icy lake.

The approach up to the elevated two-tiered green is tough but when you get there, forget your golf game. Stand in wonder at the amazing location of this golf course.
This hole is definitely in the Best Golf Holes of New Zealand list.

The front nine is the star from an aesthetic perspective although the toughest of the nines. So, enjoy the views and hold onto your score. We played the front nine in fine still conditions albeit cold for April.
The back nine starts with the 9th – the front finishes on the 8th (or at the clubhouse) there are 10 holes from here. The 9th is a simple short par 4 that will take your scorecard and drop it in the lake.
The cute 10th is one of my favorites of the day. Only 110 metres down to the green, apparently stroke hole 18. It has a lovely pond and a backdrop of Walter peak over the lake to take your mind from the easy tee shot.

We had clear skies and still conditions, perfect for golf – not sure how I was struggling to get into double figures for Stableford points on each nine?
The day changed at the 15th when the heavens opened and produced a mass outpouring to dampen our day. Keeping dry was nearly impossible in the extreme driving rain, as a good Scotsman it did not deter me. I made a tap in 2 on the 190-metre par 3 17th in the height of the conditions. Saving some of my scoring blushes. Or not really, at least I got a sleeve of balls to make me feel I had achieved something on the day.
Queenstown Golf Club is unique due to the location, layout, and presentation of the course which makes it one of the best in New Zealand on anybody’s list, including mine.
Top New Zealand Golf Courses.

Day 2 was a trip to Wanaka Golf Club for our group. Some say the 2nd string to Queenstown, but not so. The alpine location and Mount Aspiring National Park encasing the area are majestic.

We arrived at the big clubrooms to a warm welcome from the PARNZ team and the 2 log burners. The weather was foul carrying on from yesterday. But the good news was that there were reports of clearer skies in the next few hours.
We huddled together waiting for the chance to get at the course. The greenkeepers were out working their magic to prepare it for the gathered crowd.

The mood lifted quickly as the announcement of a shotgun start was being organized and the course was good to go.
Wanaka is a course of 2 halves, the front nine is a hill climb with the best of the vistas. This is some of the best golf in the region. Stunning views down the lake and the clouds parted in the sky revealing snowcapped mountains all around us. The 5th green and brilliance of the 7th from tee to green stand out as golfing heaven.

The course was in excellent condition and was a pleasure to play. The back nine is more a parkland feel and easier walking. The 18th is a classic finishing hole, sliding dog leg right needing a corner cutter to get a difficult approach shot into the undulating green.
Wanaka Golf Club is in my Top New Zealand Golf Courses list for sure, but there was plenty more competition for spaces on this trip.

Marram Master puts the Cherry on top.

Boasting some of the best cherries in the land, the fruit bowl of Cromwell was day 3 for me. The course is right in the town and was right up my alley. The fairways were wide, rough was made up of sandy scrub and there were areas of a wild grass called Marram to avoid.

The greens played slow, but they needed to be to cope with the tricky undulations and complex choices they leave you.

Cromwell Golf Club dates way back to 1903 not the oldest of the week. This area of the country is one of the driest, so I was hoping that I could carry the bag today with no need for wet weather provisions. I was in luck and the field was in great spirits to see dry sunny conditions for the 18 holes ahead.
Around 10 years ago the course design was extensively revamped. I’m not sure what changed but the work done has given the golfers of today an excellent golf course. I played my best golf of the week here even taking home some Mount Michael Pinot Noir for my efforts.

I love a par 5 starting hole, and “the Junction” at 504 metres, gives you that. Wide landing area off the tee and a chance at an opening par. Until you see the green and realize that putting maybe a challenge today. I got my par and 2 others to follow laying a platform for a steady and enjoyable round.

Is this the only golf course in the land with 2 holes of the same name? The 9th is a cracking driving hole – framed by a bunker and the Marram grass, it’s a challenge and the green looks attractive with another bunker and Marram grass all around. This is correctly called “Halfway House.”
The 10th is also called “Halfway House” I can imagine the raging debate at the hole naming committee meeting, “when you come off the 9th green it is half way!!” “no, you imbecile the 10th Tee is the half way point!!” arguing into the night whisky bottle empty, the committee decided on compromise….maybe.

The finishing holes from the 14th all have a bit of road and OB – so they could wreck your momentum. Care is needed to tread the fairways in one piece. The last was my hole of the day, you need a precise drive over the ridge in the fairway which is probably out of reach. The opening between bunker and Marram grass is meagerly thin. The approach to the green looks friendly if you can see that far. The basin green looks amazing, framed by autumn colours and the undulations of the fairway. Easy to go wrong here before you get a beer in the clubrooms.

Best Golf Holes of New Zealand list.

Alexandra Golf Club – Day 4. The longest trek from my home base of Queenstown is Alexandra Golf Club. Alexandra was the oldest club of the 5 for the week. Established club during the gold rush, in 1901.

The Alexandra Clock on the Hill is a feature of the town – sitting up on the barren hill telling time for the locals. The clock was born in 1968, just like me. You cross “Shaky Bridge” to start the hill climb to visit the old-timer, followed by a challenging uphill trek. I am sure there is an analogy to my golf game in there somewhere, but I will get on with the story.

Today I was dialed into the course, I enjoyed the drive across to Alexandra, passed the Clyde dam into a part of New Zealand famous for the Otago rail trail and spectacular countryside. The course has tight fairways and is mainly flat. The terrain is dessert-like, and it would be hard to imagine the work that has gone into the course over the years from its inception. The desert winds and sand blown across the land would have been a challenge. But what stands here is a well-kept course that is playable all year around.

The first is a straightforward par 4 “the Pioneer” nods to the regional history. It takes until the 8th “Muttontown” before you play 2 holes in a row of the same par. This keeps it interesting, and the theme continues into the back nine.

The 10th through the 12th is a great challenge to start the second half. 10 dares you to hit too much club off the tee to beat the sharp dogleg and has a tricky approach to a 2-tier green. The drive on 11 has encroaching trees narrowing your view, with a straight drive you can attack the 3 leveled green. Watch out for cyclists taking on the rail trail behind the green.

The 12th “GoldPan” is short, but the 3 bunkers demand your attention. A candidate for the hole of the day. I would say so as I bagged the closest to the pin, only to find out it was the ladies closest to the pin! * missed the putt*

I was warming to the course and enjoying the Central Otago backdrop and the company. By the 16th Tee, I was only 8 over the card, by the 18th I had added another 6 shots to that following an out of bounds, a tangle with a bees nest, and the beautiful little lake in front of the last.

“Old Man” is the last, named after the rock on the hill – it is a fine finishing challenge, the new water feature elevates the hole. The large deck outside the clubrooms overlooking the green was full of happy PARNZ golfers. All enjoying a BBQ and a cheeky wee drink, it was a fine atmosphere and a great way to end the day at Alexandra.

Save the Best to Last

Arrowtown Golf Club was the Friday treat for us. There was a downpour in the early hours of the morning which delayed our start. But good news, the bacon butties were particularly delicious to fill in the time. The clubrooms were a buzz of excitement to get out onto this little beauty.

This was the first golf course I ever played in New Zealand some 25 years ago when it was barren and lacked fairway irrigation. I didn’t know at the time that this golf course was to grow into one of New Zealand’s best.

This was helped in 2001 when water was introduced to the fairways and the club jumped from a cool little course to a stand out in the country of Aotearoa. When I played here way back when it was more like crazy golf, fast and firm, and rocks to take your ball wherever the lord of crazy golf deemed would be a laugh.

Always wise to spend some time in a practice bunker to get your touch honed in, at Arrowtown the only bunker on the course is the practice bunker.

The opener at Arrowtown is a par 3 downhill with a full view of the green, a smart way to start the journey. You get into your work straight after this with a drive to a narrow fairway banked on both sides.

This par 5 is called “Johnny Walker”, you’ll need a stiff drink if you get off here in one piece. Stray away from the narrow fairway or be long at the green or left, equals trouble. The story of the course is right here.

The rocks come out to play after this and the true spirit of the course. The 3rd needs a precise tee shot and at 310 metres, “Punchbowl” is referring to the green, it is a wonder. I wonder if I can keep the ball on it. You need to avoid getting kicked off the green by rocks or slopes and then you must tackle the wicked sloping surface.

The tee shot at the 7th really temps you to beat the corner and avoid the massive grassy knoll, I really like this hole. Is it better than the par 3 6th called “Waterloo”? 133 metres across a donga to a difficult green.

Is the drive at the 9th to an angled fairway the best test? Or is it the drive at the 18th blind to the fairway but with a full view of the pond?

So many choices on this golf course to pick a favourite. The last “Lady Fayre” makes my Best Golf Holes of New Zealand list ahead of the many contenders. Named after a gold mine from centuries ago, knowing your skill level and good luck pay off on this nugget of a hole.

The front nine at Arrowtown takes you on a journey of thoughtfulness, frustration, skill, and all in the beautiful local hills. The most natural of golf courses in the land. Nine holes everyone should play in a golfing lifetime.

Across the road to the back nine is more open and less dramatic. The golf is good but she is no front nine. The last stands out as one of the best in the land and your round wrecker. I had already wrecked my round and belted a drive over the massive grassy hill wide and wonderful. The ball is probably still bouncing down the road.

Of the 5 courses played in the week hosted by Kim and Denise at PARNZ Arrowtown Golf Club is my favourite, but there is very little in it. I think the nostalgia of this being my first probably tipped the balance ahead of a very game Queenstown G.C.

Queenstown is a world-class golfing destination, PARNZ run a world-class challenge, so all in all this was a delightful week. A highly recommended way to fill your golfing calendar.