Whilst the original Remarkables course at Millbrook followed rather clean, well manicured lines, the Coronet 18 blends more with the natural rugged features of this rather beautiful corner of the planet – schist outcrops, big undulations, and low-lying wetlands.
Overall rating
Whilst the original Remarkables course at Millbrook followed rather clean, well manicured lines, the Coronet 18 blends more with the natural rugged features of this rather beautiful corner of the planet – schist outcrops, big undulations, and low-lying wetlands.
Millbrook Resort (Coronet)
When the Millbrook resort first opened with what is now known as the Remarkables 18, it was 1992, and there were very few top class courses in New Zealand. Whilst it was clear that it was not a layout that surpassed Paraparaumu Beach, Titirangi or Wairakei (Arrowtown was a very hidden gem at that point), it was considered by most to be one of the Top 10 courses in New Zealand. Forward-wind 17 years to 2009, and nine courses had been built across the country that were above the Remarkables 18 in our list of the New Zealand courses at that time.
No doubt spurred on by this sudden barrage of competition, Millbrook engaged the former Kiwi professional, Greg Turner and his associate, Scott Macpherson (who has various architectural credits at the two Fairmont St Andrews courses Kittocks and Torrance, as well as Close House in England) to extend the course to a 27-hole layout and to revamp four holes on the original back nine.
The brand new nine they built was named after the mountain and ski resort to the northwest, Coronet Peak, and was constructed to the west of the existing resort. The project was completed in 2009, allowing three different 18-hole configurations to be available for the next 13 years. The new Coronet 9 was almost unanimously considered to be the strongest of the loops during that time.
In 2018, Millbrook Resort outlined plans to extend from 27 holes to 36, with Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson once again taking the architectural reins. The fourth nine, known as the Mill Farm nine during construction, eventually combined with the existing Coronet nine to form the Coronet 18. It opened to the public in January 2022, after several months of members-only play.
Whilst the original Remarkables course followed rather clean, well manicured lines, the Coronet 18 blends more with the natural rugged features of this rather beautiful corner of the planet – schist outcrops, big undulations, and low-lying wetlands.
The Coronet was due to host the New Zealand Open within two months of opening for public play, but unfortunately the situation around the COVID pandemic put paid to that tournament for the second year running.