Considered to be the oldest town in New Zealand, Dunedin is located in the Otago region of the South Island. The original settlers in the area were the Maori whose tribes stayed for several decades before moving on.
Europeans discovered the region in the late 1700s thanks to the exploits of the intrepid Lieutenant James Cook. European colonisation of the Otago region did not occur until the early 1800s when the Weller Brothers setup their whaling station on its shores.
The city of Dunedin was officially commissioned by the free church of Scotland at the head of Otago harbour in 1848. The town boomed thanks to the New Zealand gold rushes and became an important port of trade in New Zealand. Its modern day incarnation is a prime example of early Victorian and Edwardian architecture with national landmarks such as the Dunedin railway station built in 1906.
A vast majority of the populace comprises of university students who attend Otago University, the first tertiary education centre in New Zealand. Its amazing scenery and wide open spaces surrounding the city have been popular with the creation of several pristine golf courses in the region.
A popular haven for golfers from around the world it offers a range of challenging courses amidst a quiet coastal backdrop.
The Otago Gold Club is the oldest golf course in the southern hemisphere and is said to have introduced golf to New Zealand. Built in the late 1800s by the father of golf in New Zealand, Charles Ritchie Howden, this award winning course has hosted some of the game’s most prestigious players.
With stunning views over the Pacific Ocean, the Chisholm Golf Course is a links style 18 hole golf course. Its perfectly manicured fairways have a deceptively challenging character with hidden traps and undulations. The course is home to several prominent national tournaments representing the cream of New Zealand golfers.
Nestled in the cliffs above Dunedin is the sublime St. Clair Golf Club. This beautiful course overlooks the town of Dunedin and the panoramic coastline of St. Clair’s beach. It is home to the first ever national golfing event held in New Zealand. Since then it has gone on to host several national and international tournaments including the New Zealand Open.
Avid golfing travellers looking for a Dunedin hotel to reside in during their stay should consider the Kingsgate Hotel Dunedin. This city centre hotel Dunedin offers easy access to popular attractions in the area including the region’s premier golf courses.
