Jack’s Point is located between Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables
Jack’s Point is located near Queenstown in the Central Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island. You couldn’t design a better setting for golf if you tried, with the snow-capped mountains of The Remarkables mirrored on the surface of the tranquil waters of Lake Wakatipu. Between these two landmarks, gently rolling, tussockcovered hillocks provide ideal undulations for a challenging round of golf.
Jack’s Point Golf Course is one of Queenstown’s most spectacular golf layouts, routinely ranked among the nation’s top courses. The dramatic natural scenery is dominated by rugged mountains and farmland once grazed by sheep. The course weaves its way through clumps of tussock grasslands, rocky knolls, and low native bushland, with stone walls lining some of the fairways. Golfers enjoy an uninterrupted series of dramatic landscapes to distract them during their round of golf.
Queenstown is located beside Lake Wakatipu beneath The Remarkables
REMARKABLE GOLF
Opened in 2008, Jack’s Point was the first development on what is a massive expanse of land situated across the eastern end of Lake Wakatipu, just 20 minutes from downtown Queenstown.
Queenstown occupies a small but unique corner of the world. While it is home to just 29,000 residents, the numbers have seen an annual growth of 5% for the past few years. This increase is a clear indication of the region’s extraordinary tourism assets that make it the ‘Adventure Capital of the Southern Hemisphere,’ welcoming over two million visitors per year.
The 9th hole at Jack’s Point plays towards The Remarkables
While Queenstown itself is a hive of activity and development, Jack’s Point remains a world apart: secluded, open, and entirely shaped by the stunning alpine landscape. Regulars here comment that they never know what to expect when they play the course. Naturally, weather affects how one plays, and even in the summer, snow has been recorded on the course.
Designed by local property developer John Darby, Jack’s Point sweeps up and over a central plateau before it extends along the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu. It was named after Maori Jack, a local character who discovered gold in the region in the 1860s and was best known for saving two friends from drowning in the adjoining lake. Jack’s Point is famed for the mountain range known as The Remarkables, whose stunning natural beauty ensures the layout is one of the world’s most photographed golf courses.
The 6,388-metre, par-72 course was sculpted with minimal disruption to natural features to create its unique style and feel. The course incorporates rocky outcrops, wetlands, grasslands, and old stone walls that were built last century on the original farm.
But it’s not just the vistas, as the bunkering is oversized and flamboyantly rough-hewn but always strategic, squeezing landing areas and guarding the greens with equal parts torment and alluring beauty. The striking fifth hole provides a wonderful example of a hole that demands accuracy from the tee before the fairway opens up to several angles of attack. Darby was sufficiently astute to realise that, on some holes, it was just best not to tinker with nature.
On other holes, rather than weave around outcrops and hills, Darby pushed fairways up and down the slopes, making the course a tough workout for those without a cart. It also creates some difficult approach shots up and down sloping fairways, while avoiding some deep bunkers that get in the way of already difficult shots.
In addition, the designer didn’t miss the opportunity to create some truly spectacular holes along the lake’s edge, with the eighth being both picture-perfect and testing to play. The multiplicity of tees on the par-three 11th doesn’t just vary the length of the hole; they also provide completely different angles from which to take on the stunning green. On the 506-m 14th (the longest on the course), Darby created a short, uphill par-four where a stone wall crosses the fairway to provide a challenging obstacle.
The sheer scale of Jack’s Point is what makes the most lasting impression on those who play a round here. The golf course occupies only a fraction of the 1,270-hectare property, but there’s a sense that it’s destined for more development. But this piece of ground is so broad, so full of dramatic movement and stunning backdrops, that the golf experience will never suffer for it.
Golfers can also play at another five courses within a 30-minute drive of Queenstown, with the Queenstown Golf Course in clear view on the southern side of Lake Wakatipu. The other courses are Frankton, Millbrook, The Hills, and Arrowtown.
A cruise on lake Wakatipu is an essential Queenstown adventure
RESORT TOWN
Queenstown is New Zealand’s best-equipped, year-round resort town, with an emphasis on adrenalincharged outdoor adventures. While summer and winter activities are distinctive, they often blur from season to season to make it a yearround destination, depending upon visitor interests.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand
In summer, tourists come to go hiking, whitewater rafting, bungee jumping (from Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, the home of the activity), biking, skydiving, and tandem paragliding. A popular activity is to enjoy a scenic flight or take the 10-minute gondola ride to Bob’s Peak for sensational lake, mountain, and town views. For the more sedentary traveller, a Lake Wakatipu cruise on the gracious steamer TSS Earnslaw is ideal.
Snow skiing
Winter (from June to August) is the best time for downhill and backcountry skiing, although the season extends either side of winter. Ski areas within 90 minutes of the town include Coronet Peak, Cardrona, and The Remarkables, with slopes available for beginners, expert skiers, and snowboarders. Experienced adventurers can also try heli-skiing and heli-boarding using a helicopter to access New Zealand’s highest slopes.
The former gold mining town of Arrowtown, with its Chinese Village, souvenir shops, and autumnal colours, appeals to all. Cool climate wines from Central Otago are other reasons golfers will enjoy visiting this remote part of the world. Felton Road, located in nearby Cromwell to the east of Queenstown, is considered one of the finest producers of New World Pinot Noir, with Riesling and Chardonnay not far behind. Winemaker Blair Walter and his team produce iconic reds such as Block 3, Block 5, Calvert, Cornish Point, and Bannockburn Pinot Noir, but it needs noting that they sell out very quickly. Regional wines are featured in the 150 restaurants and cafés located in Queenstown and around the region.
Cornish Point Vineyard Felton Road
One of the best outlets with a view is Lombardi Restaurant and Bar in the MGallery Hotel St. Moritz Queenstown. Plan to be there from 4.30 to 5.30pm for happy hour pre-dinner drinks and then dine in the adjoining restaurant. While the menu here is seasonal and inspired by Italian cuisine, diners can expect dishes such as wild Fiordland venison, Southland beef rib-eye, and wood-fired pizzas. Wine lists feature wines sourced from the Central Otago region, with an emphasis on Pinot Noir.
Jack’s Point, with its stunning scenery, drama, and challenging layout, makes for a remarkable day’s golfing adventure.
TRAVEL FILE
Getting There
There are several flights per week on AirAsiaX from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney and from here to Auckland on a partner airline. From Auckland, regular domestic flights operate directly to Queenstown on the South Island.
Accommodation
Jack’s Point is a residential golf estate with a restaurant that is open daily from 8 am to 7 pm. Queenstown offers many options and is just a short drive away. Choose premium accommodation at the MGallery St. Moritz Queenstown (www.mgallery. com), Sofitel Queenstown Hotel and Spa (www.sofitel.com), and Hotel Novotel Queenstown (www.novotel.com).
Contacts
Jack’s Point Golf Club (www. jackspoint.com), Felton Road Winery (www.feltonroad.com), and Queenstown Tourism (www.queenstownnz.co.nz).
