125 Balmacewen Rd, Maori Hill,
Dunedin, Otago 9010
Office
+64 (0)3 467 2096Fax
+64 (0)3 467 2092Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Shelley DuncanThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Significantly undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Residential setting.
Designer:
Unknown
-45.852015
170.491800
3 km NW of Dunedin centre.
The Balmacewen course at Otago Golf Club is a championship golf course that occupies a quiet setting, bordered on one side by native bush and on the other by Dunedin’s tranquil suburbs. New Zealand's oldest golf club also offers expansive views of the City of Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula and the hills of Mt Cargill and Flagstaff.
This partly tree-lined and partly open parkland course should not disappoint, with many attractive features and several excellent holes to enjoy. Plenty of golfing challenge, a well-crafted design and usually good upkeep all contribute to the appeal of this course. One to include on your play list if you are in the area.
Pick of the holes: the tree-lined par-4 11th (The Glen) is regularly included within listings of the world's best golf holes.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Worth booking ahead to ensure tee-time availability, especially at weekends.
Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts available for hire.
Limited
Established in 1871, and originally known as Dunedin Golf Club, the Otago Golf Club is the oldest in New Zealand and one of the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Otago Golf Club and Otago Ladies Golf Club both moved to Balmacewen, as the present course is best known, in 1896. Since then the club has hosted many legends of the game, including Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Bob Charles. The men's and women's clubs amalgamated in 2009.
The original settlers in this part of Dunedin were immigrants from the small town of Balmacewen in Scotland.
New Zealand's 28th best course (Australian Golf Digest, 2023/24).
No
Balmacewen; St Clair.
No
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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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