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.
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.
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.

2-star: Reasonably okay course - if better courses not available.
Visitors welcome
Christchurch
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

Unknown
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
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
Christchurch
Wolveridge, Mike

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

Designer

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Christchurch

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
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
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
Dunedin
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Dunedin

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Invercargill

Designer

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Kaikoura

Designer

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Contrary to some rumours, Jack's Point is not a Jack Nicklaus design, but another stunning design from New Zealander, John Darby.
3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Original design by Bob Charles. Redesign of closing holes of Arrow-nine and design of the Coronet-nine, Greg Turner (2009).

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
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

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

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

John Darby
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 A.R. Blank (1953). Second-nine (now holes 1 thru' 9) designed by B.V. Wright (1974).
3-star: Good course – an enjoyable test for your game.
Visitors welcome
Queenstown
Unknown

Visitors?

Visitors welcome

Nearest city

Queenstown

Designer

Unknown

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Tournaments

Chevron Championship: the first women’s major championship of 2023 is played for the first time in Texas, having been uprooted from its home of 51 years at the Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage, California.

Italian Open: the 80th playing of this prestigious European event will see many 2023 Ryder Cup hopefuls build their “local knowledge” of the Marco Simone course in Rome. (May 4-7). Ryder Cup (Sept 29-Oct 1).

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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.

Costa Cruise & Golf

Costa’s "Cruise & Golf" allows golfers and their families to combine a unique golfing experience with the relaxation and fun of a cruise on board Costa Smeralda. Golf enthusiasts are offered a choice from 23 top-quality golf clubs; their chosen courses are played during the ship’s port calls in Italy, France and Spain. While the golfers are driving the fairways, accompanying non-golfers are able to enjoy the amenities and activities on-board, or explore wonderful places on day excursions organised by Costa. Read more ...

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