This ever-popular town on New Zealand’s South Island has all the right ingredients for golfing nirvana. Picture world-class courses that are just 20 minutes from the centre of town – and open to all visitors, no matter what your standard. Add a wide range of accommodation and plenty of activities for après, and you can see why Queenstown has been a mecca for golfers for decades.

Thrills at the Mill

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Queenstown several times in the past 30 years and Millbrook is a long-time favourite. With The Remarkables as a backdrop, this course offers 27 varied and challenging holes set out in three, nine-hole loops: The Remarkables, The Arrow and The Coronet Nine.

Since my first visit, they’ve spent millions turning the place into a top-class resort. But along the way, they’ve still managed to retain the property’s authenticity. Millbrook Resort is built on 200 hectares of farmland and some of the original buildings are still in situ, giving the place a rustic, genteel atmosphere. In addition to teeing off, the award-winning resort offers five-star accommodation, a luxury spa, several dining options and a range of health and fitness activities.

Pond reflections of the course at Millbrook

The Hills have eyes... and tails!

When I first played The Hills, I wasn’t entirely sure whether I was on a golf course or in an art gallery. Impressive sculptures of horses, wolves and even dragonflies line and frame some of the holes, making this a unique place to play the game.

The course is the brainchild of jewellery magnate Sir Michael Hill, who has turned his own backyard in the Whakatipu Basin into one of the country’s greatest layouts. It only opened in 2007, but has already hosted the New Zealand Open and New Zealand PGA. Although described as New Zealand’s most exclusive golf club, The Hills allows some visitors to play and make use of the award-winning clubhouse with its renowned restaurant.

“We accept a maximum of 12 visitors per day excluding Sundays, which are members-only,” says Craig Palmer, director of golf at the course. “There are no hoops to jump through to secure a tee time. Booking enquiries can be made via our website.”

Impressive grounds of The Hills exclusive golf course

Jack Makes His Point

For me, the best course in Queenstown is Jack’s Point, which – entirely appropriately – was named after the first man to find gold in the region. This is a 24-karat gem of a layout, regularly voted among the best in the country since opening in 2008.

With The Remarkables as your backdrop, the layout weaves through native bush and rocky outcrops, with the stretch of holes from the fifth to the eighth along Lake Whakatipu particularly awe-inspiring. If you’re only going to play one course in Queenstown, this has to be it – just remember to bring a camera along with your clubs. Make sure you also stay for a bite at the restaurant located in the impressive clubhouse – Jack’s Restaurant serves seasonal, local produce cooked over charcoal and some of the area’s best seafood.

Jack’s Point is a hit among avid golfers

The best of the rest

While they don’t always get the plaudits of their more illustrious neighbours, Arrowtown and Queenstown golf clubs are both a delight to play for different reasons. Arrowtown Golf Club is surrounded by mountains and has memorable views from every hole, and in a nod to the pioneers who first settled here, the course features historic stone cottages on some of the holes. A range of development work to both tees and greens is underway to further enhance the playability of this country-style classic.

Every hole at Arrowtown Golf Club has a memorable mountain view, particularly pretty when the seasons change.