Best golf courses: NZ - South Island

NZ - South Island: the table below provides brief details about the top golf courses in this country or region. Each golf club has been visited and/or researched by Where2Golf. Click on the course name below to discover more. The course ratings below range from 5 highest, to 2 lowest. They attempt to provide an indication of the golfing experience you might expect at the course (based on its design, condition and surroundings). Hover your cursor above the Rating Key for the rating definitions.
4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Romans & Wright

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Original nine (1936) laid out by Reg Romans and B.V. Wright. Second-nine (1971) designed by B.V. Wright.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dunedin
Evans, John

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Current layout the result of extensive remodelling by John Evans (designer) in collaboration with John Humphries (course superintendent) in the 1980s.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Various

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Present site established in 1900; course designer unknown. Recent improvements by Peter Thomson.

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Darby, John

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

John Darby in consultation with Bob Charles.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Blank & Wright

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Cromwell's original 9-hole course redesigned by Albert Raymond "Ray" Blank (1953). Second-nine (now holes 1 thru' 9) designed by B.V. Wright (1974).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Cox, David

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

David Cox in consultation with Canadian designer, Sid Puddicombe.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Nelson
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Nelson

Designer

Current course location dates back to 1959, with the full 18-hole layout opening for play in 1966.

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
On application
Queenstown
Darby, John

Visitors?

On application

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

John Darby

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Invercargill
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Invercargill

Designer

Unknown

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Darby, John

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Not a Jack Nicklaus design (as many suppose), but another excellent design from New Zealander, John Darby.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Kaikoura
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kaikoura

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Unknown

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Turner & Macpherson

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Remarkables course: original design by John Darby & Bob Charles (1992); redesign of Arrow-nine closing holes by Greg Turner & Scott Macpherson (2009).
Coronet course: first nine designed by Scott Macpherson & Greg Turner (2010); extended to 18 holes by Scott Macpherson & Grant Turner (2021).

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Charles & Darby

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Remarkables course: original design by John Darby & Bob Charles (1992); redesign of Arrow-nine closing holes by Greg Turner & Scott Macpherson (2009).
Coronet course: first nine designed by Scott Macpherson & Greg Turner (2010); extended to 18 holes by Scott Macpherson & Grant Turner (2021).

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Nelson
Various

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Nelson

Designer

Since 1905 the layout has continually evolved on its present site.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dunedin
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Dunedin
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Kerr, Kristine

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Kristine Kerr

4-star: Above average course - well worth a visit.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Clements, Joe

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Original design by Joe Clements (1928). Various people have added later improvements.

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
(Closed in 2018)
Invercargill
Turner, Greg

Visitors?

(Closed in 2018)

Nearest city

Invercargill

Designer

Recent improvements and four new holes laid out Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson.

2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
(Closed in 2018)
Christchurch
Unknown

Visitors?

(Closed in 2018)

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Unknown

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Dunedin
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

Designer

Unknown

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Wolveridge, Mike

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Mike Wolveridge

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Blank, Ray

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Albert Raymond "Ray" Blank.

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

First nine holes at this location laid out by members in the 1930s. Second nine added in 1967.

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Tournaments

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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