Arrowtown Golf Club

Arrowtown Golf Club is literally situated next door to the New Zealand Open venue, The Hills, and is just around the corner from Millbrook. Arrowtown is too short to host a modern-day professional pro tournament as it measures only 5,915 yards (5,409m) long, but the course is very enjoyable and is set in spectacular scenery. Perhaps the phrase ‘golfing gem’ was coined for this course?

Arrowtown originally began in 1911 as a 6-hole course, although this club was later disbanded. Then, in 1935, twelve people formed a new club and acquired 90 acres of land on the Arrowtown-Arrow Junction Road. This was developed the hard way with rakes, wheelbarrows and hand mowers, and once formed had to be maintained by members. This original 9-hole course opened for play in 1936 and was designed by Reg Romans – the first secretary of the Arrowtown Golf Club – and B.V. Wright. In 1971 the club acquired new land on the opposite side of the road and nine further holes were laid out, again under advice provided by B.V. Wright.

The end result is a little masterpiece with fairways threaded through tiny valleys, between boulders, or over gorges with greens nestling snugly into hillsides.

In recent years the club has undertaken some major developments including new fairway and green irrigation systems which were completed in 2001. The clubhouse was also upgraded at the same time and now offers spectacular views over the front nine and the mountains beyond.