One of my favourite golf courses is Jack’s Point in the alpine wonderland near Queenstown on the South Island. “Tremendous course,” agrees Steve Williams, Tiger Wood’s long term caddy in an interview with the Southland Press. Having walked some of the greatest courses in the world, this is awesome praise from Williams. And what an awesome setting!

In a recent review of the Jack’s Point website I couldn’t believe the prices…

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Extract from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand

Only ninety minutes north of Christchurch…the Hanmer Springs alpine spa village is almost totally encircled by forest, foothills and mountains of the Southern Alps. Although the nearby Waiau Gorge is a great place to bungy-jump, a visit to the Hanmer Springs Golf Club is a better bet for our longevity… Continue Reading »

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Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand

New Zealand’s South Island is noted for a superb eco-tourism area — the Catlins. A 60,000 hectare place of awesome natural beauty, ranging from deserted beaches, dense forests, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and great walking tracks. There’s always a chance to view myriad native birds, sea elephants, leopard seals, sealions, New Zealand fur seals, Hector’s dolphins and our favourite – penguins… Continue Reading »

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Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand

Hopeful of a pleasant afternoon, we purchase tickets in Christchurch to ride the Tranz-Alpine Express through the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps for an afternoon at Greymouth on the West Coast. A local old-timer at the station tells us the train is a bit of a bone-rattler and he’s not far from wrong. After some jolts and bumps, the train sets out across those pastoral Plains and gradually climbs up into the majestic mountains.

Suddenly the train violently lurches…  Continue Reading »

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Excerpts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing around New Zealand

Driving the high country Crown Range Road in Central Otago we soon find ourselves on what was once a Maori trail that later seemed to be paved in gold…Along the way we pass what, at first, looks like Tibetan prayer flags strung out on a wire fence alongside the road. A second look defies belief. Continue Reading »

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Extracts from Birdies, Bogeys and Kiwis: Golfing Around New Zealand

As often happens during an unplanned road trip, we stop at the first accommodation sign we see when we’re ready to call it quits. At Murchison we lay claim to the last available cottage…closely beating out another couple caught in the competition for limited accommodation but perhaps they were the lucky ones… Continue Reading »

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January 28th to the 31st are the 2010 dates for the 92nd New Zealand Open. What a superb location on the South Island near Queenstown with the Remarkables mountain range forming a backdrop, and played on The Hills, Jeweller Michael Hill’s private course. Offering US$600,000 in prize money, Continue Reading »

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A FREE EVENT – August 22 – 30, 2009
The biggest winter sports event outside the Winter Olympics, will feature over 800 of the world’s top athletes competing in 26 snow sports including: ski racing, curling, snowboarding and skating. Plenty of off-snow activities in Queenstown and nearby Wanaka. Check out the website: www.wintergamesnz.com

Discover more Continue Reading »

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Does anyone else have a commemorative watch celebrating the 2009 Michael Hill New Zealand Open?

Not only is your watch one of only 500 specially crafted for the Open but you likely had the opportunity, as I did, to meet one of the many attractive and charming salespersons at the Michael Hill Jeweller stores located around the world – Miss Prerna Shukla of Takapuna.

Now about the New Zealand Open golf tournament…

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Harwarden Club Captain Tim Elms describes golfing at one of the South Island’s best and charming rural courses:

“I’ve been asked to give you a bit of information on our golf club – Hawarden Golf Club here in Hawarden, North Canterbury, New Zealand. We have a very nice and challenging 9-hole course in the sheep farming area of Canterbury.

“The club has a part-time green keeper and he only does about 20 hours a week.* The remainder of the work is done by club members. Continue Reading »

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circa 1908

Long sought after, at last New Zealand Golf succeeds in staging the inaugural New Zealand Women’s Open Championship to be held on January 30th to February 1st at the beautiful Clearwater Golf Club in Christchurch. The purse of $150,000 is made possible by the Women’s Golf New Zealand Fund which was established in 2005 during the Continue Reading »

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View from the 16th

The Terrace Downs Resort and Golf Club has developed a superb 18-hole, par 72 championship course on the banks of the Rakaia River Gorge at the foot of the Mount Hutt ski-field. It’s a member of Best of New Zealand Golf  Resorts where only the best in hospitality, luxurious accommodation and a finely manicured golf course qualifies for membership.

Terrace Downs pushes the limits of believability with a 6,440-metre-long course that incorporates 11 lakes and Continue Reading »

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Russley Golf Club has hosted many major tournaments over the years. Proudly several members have held their own against some of the world’s best golfers — Australia’s Peter Thomson and Ken Nagle, Kiwi Sir Bob Charles and Americans, Tom Watson and Corey Pavin to name just a few who’ve received a good challenge from the locals. General Manager, Rod Gordon shares some information about Russley’s early days from their anniversary book, Russley Golf Club, The First 75 years, 1928-2003. Continue Reading »

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