With rolling hills, dramatic cliffs and Scottish heritage, Dunedin offers a golfing experience that honours the sport’s spiritual home of St Andrews more than anywhere else. From sea breeze-assisted links; historic, undulating inner-city courses; the flat and fast fairways of the Taieri; and hidden harbourside gems, Dunedin offers a challenge for every handicap. Being the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, you might even score yourself an albatross, too.
St Clair Golf Club
The club is located on the southern hills of Dunedin overlooking St Clair Beach to the east and Tunnel Beach to the west with some of the most breathtaking coastal views in Otago. The St Clair Golf Club course is known for its rolling tree-lined fairways with greens that are best navigated by keeping the ball under the hole.
The signature 15th hole, tees off a shelf with Tunnel Beach in the background and a fairway guarded by well-placed fairway traps. The approach toward the green is best from the right side of the fairway, towards a green that plays from back to front, with bunkers either side of the green, as well as run off at the front and left sides.
The course has 18 holes from 5 different sets of tees, as well as short game and driving range facilities open to the public and members alike. The facilities are available 7 days with cafe and bar as well as venue hires, not to mention our fully stocked pro shop equipped with all your golfing needs.
While St Clair has a proud history of hosting top national events including a New Zealand Open, it’s known these days to have a vibrant welcoming membership with plenty of student members.
Written by Patrick Moore
Otago Golf Club
Sitting on undulating land between the skyline hills and urban Dunedin lies The Otago Golf Club. Established in 1871, ‘The Home of Golf’ in New Zealand is the oldest golf club in the Southern Hemisphere and in 1896, found its way to where it stands today, Balmacewen.
This championship course has played host to seven New Zealand Opens, with the last being played in 1971, won by Australian great and five-time British Open winner, Peter Thompson.
‘Balmac’ as it’s known to locals, has also been played by other golfing legends like Sir Bob Charles and World Golf Hall of Famer, Gary Player. Player made a hole in one on the Par 4, eighth hole in an exhibition match in 1958. The parklands scenery is much to admire, however its uneven topography is the courses main defence, catching players out regularly who find themselves challenged with a difficult stance.
The attractive bunkering can be intimidating, nonetheless the varying greens pose further niggles if one was to stray far from the target. With only three par 3’s and two par 5’s, the idiosyncrasy of this course is symbolized in every hole as they all have their own unique characteristics. Not overly long by modern standards, the course still requires a ball striker's mentality and electing not to play the long game off the tee can quite often be the best strategy.
The signature hole, ‘The Glen’ is a sight to behold. A tee shot that peers down to a tight fairway surrounded by native bush and a brook. ‘The Glen’ is quite often what players remember after playing a round at Balmacewen. Golfing legend, Arnold Palmer drove the green while playing the course in 1966, he also had to endure the memorable climb that you encounter with the assistance of the iconic tow-rope that gets players to the next tee.
The Otago Golf Club stands out as a golfing destination to people from all over the world and is a piece of history we are lucky to have in our backyard. The immaculate presentation and difficult conditions fabricate this into one golf course you want to tick off your golfing ‘bucket list’.
Written by Callum Patrick
Island Park
Island Park Golf Club has fast become Dunedin's "not so hidden gem", developing the reputation of punching above its weight when it comes to course condition and value for money.
Established in 1969, the nine hole course is nestled between Saddle Hill and the small seaside suburb of Waldronville. The 5310m layout may be short in distance but features a couple of longer holes combining with some fun par 4’s that offer risk and reward for scratch golfers.
Upon reaching the green, you will be welcomed by some of the best greens in the region that run true to the very last roll. Being low-lying next to an estuary means it's also one of the more sheltered courses in town, so if you don't enjoy windy golf - we are your destination.
To score well, the key is to know where to miss from the tee and be patient. Most holes offer plenty of birdies - particularly making the most of the short par 5’s. Some choose to lay up on par 4’s, however some holes don't suit this with tight landing areas - if you're going to miss a fairway, the driver might be the better option to be closer to the green.
For the novice golfers, accuracy is key as some of the rough can be quite thatchy and you can get some tricky lies or flyers. However once on the green, the slopes are mostly gentle and are consistent in firmness and pace.
The course is well maintained with a full time greenkeeper and a small voluntary group, while friendly faces run the office to greet you upon arrival. No bookings are necessary and club hire is available.
Written by Michael Minty
Port Chalmers Golf Course
Port Chalmers Golf Course dates back to 1915, with the first site at Laines Rock, then moving around the area a few times before settling back at its current location in the early 1970’s. Situated in the hills of Sawyers Bay, it is only a 15-minute drive from the city, which follows the Te Aka Ōtakou cycle trail and a stone’s throw from the cruise ship terminal – perfect for any cruise passengers that want a quick game.
This course will test the skills of all golfers… and their fitness too, but a conveniently placed seat at the 7th tee will allow the chance for a breather and to take in the views of Hereweka and the Otago Peninsula. Surely one of the most picturesque golf holes in the country.
Once the selfies are done, get yourself ready to tackle the downhill par 4, seventh and the signature par 3, eighth hole known as “The Willows”. Trouble is never far away and many-a-good round has come undone at these two great holes.
Port Chalmers may be a small 9-hole club, but it is rich in history with numerous members over the years who have gone on to represent Otago and New Zealand.
Local legend and top player in his day also, the late Ivan Forgie played a massive part in the mid 1980’s and 1990’s coaching the young kids from around the Sawyers Bay and Port area, with a couple of them going on to win a New Zealand Open in 2003 and a New Zealand Amateur Championship in 2001. Truly amazing achievements for a small club.
Port Chalmers Golf Course is a real hidden gem that needs to be played.
Written by Mahal Pearce
Chisholm Links Golf Course
Chisholm Links is best described as a rugged links with great variety and character in its design. Initially a nine-hole course that opened in 1937, popularity quickly dictated the addition of a second nine that opened in 1941 when the course was known as Ocean Beach Municipal Golf Links.
The course sits on a narrow piece of land between St. Kilda Beach and the suburb of Tainui, creating a convenient layout to easily play three distinct six-hole loops rather than the traditional inward and outward nine holes. In saying that, the par 4 ninth is arguably the signature hole of the course, with the green nestled amongst the dunes at the point of Lawyers Head, the furthest point from the clubhouse on the course as is typical for a traditional links layout.
The stretch from the par 3 seventh to par 4 twelfth is where the surrounding environment becomes apparent, with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and city as you begin the walk up the par 5 eighth, carrying on until you reach the downhill par 5 eleventh green.
A strong northeasterly is the prevailing wind to play the course, however, being Dunedin, this can easily change day-to-day. The course plays completely differently depending on what the weather gods decide to throw at you, but a great test of golf and trajectory control can be expected regardless of the conditions.
Chisholm Links is a great location to try your golf game in an environment far removed from a tree-lined parkland course, offering a great contrast to some of the other fantastic golf experiences Dunedin has to offer.
Written by Mackenzie Gibson
Taieri Lakes Golf Course
Just 15 minutes from the centre of Dunedin, Taieri Lakes Golf Course is nestled amongst farmland at the bottom of Three Mile Hill. It is the only 18-hole course serving the greater Mosgiel / Taieri area.
Between the 1940’s and 60’s, Taieri Golf Club, as it was called then, was just a nine-hole course based in Gladfield Rd, East Taieri, at the site where Gladfield Golf Course is now located. The membership quickly outgrew that location, so land was bought in North Taieri where the present Milners Rd course was officially opened in 1969.
Lakes have always been a feature of the course, so much so that in 2011 the club was renamed as Taieri Lakes Golf Club to highlight its point of difference. The course has water features coming in to play on six holes, offering challenges for all levels of abilities.
The signature hole is number six, a par four, where the longer hitter can have a go at reaching the green in one. It’s only 240m to carry the lake and reach the green, but with the lake wrapping around the green and part of the fairway, it’s safter for most players to lay up.
In 2020, coinciding with the club’s centenary, two new holes were opened on the course. These replaced two holes that were on a hiller part of the course. The new holes certainly offer challenges. Hole seven is only about 110m for men, but if you are short, you are in the lake, and if you hit it too big you are out of bounds. Think “the island green at The Players championship” and you have an idea of what you face at the seventh.
The mix of town and country members, dedicated staff and a great team of volunteers keeps the club running smoothly. It’s a great friendly vibe at Taieri. We’re a pretty down-to-earth bunch and welcome green-fee players or visitors to try our course for themselves.
Written by Ken Shaw
Aside from “the big six” courses above, the smaller, grass-roots clubs offer the chance to play alongside some real local characters on equally-spectacular greens. Try JTee's, Gladfield, Otakou, Belleknowes or Middlemarch courses, or practice your swing at Gotagolf or Wal’s. Rained off? Tee off at Tee Box – the latest in indoor virtual golf technology, or buy yet another set of clubs at the well-stocked specialist golf shops. If you’re still struggling to hit the greens, we have some great mini golf courses, too.