Situated on a breathtaking peninsula of land in Kelvin Heights, directly across Lake Wakatipu from the town of Queenstown, the Queenstown Golf Club was formed in 1914 and moved to its present home in 1975. There are few true hidden gems left in golf and the drive into Kelvin Heights is auspicious. The views are spectacular in all direction and the fact the green fee is quite modest raises hopes for something very special.

Sadly, while the course does have its moments and the lake and mountain outlooks never get tired, ultimately this is unremarkable golf in an area of rare beauty. The routing doesn’t quite work as there are too many steep areas of play, and individual holes lack the sophistication you hope for driving in. There are also a few too many internal trees that interfere with play. On the positive side, the holes that best use the views and a couple of steeply angled back-to-front greens standout as quite pleasing.

While Queenstown is not a bad place to golf, it really could be so much more. If modern development in the area does nothing but inspire a sensible upgrade and redesign of this place it will have been worthwhile.