Clearwater Resort in Christchurch is the home of the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship and the only USPGA Nationwide Tour stop in New Zealand.
Christchurch is one of New Zealand's most attractive cities, highlighted by a 30-hectare Botanical Garden in Hagley Park, with the Avon River flowing gently through. Cathedral Square is its centrepiece, and it's only a short climb to the top of the Cathedral tower, where visitors get a fine panoramic view of the city, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps.
Visit
www.christchurchnz.net
Golf Course
The Clearwater golf course is built around a series of man-made lakes, bringing water into play on 14 holes. The overall look of the course includes lakes, tussock and marram grass that, with neatly manicured bent grass fairways and greens, leave it looking uniquely like a cross between an Old World links and an American parkland course.
It's not possible to identify a 'signature' hole as such because Clearwater is blessed with a number of great golf holes. But two come to mind. The par-3 11th demands a clean strike to carry the ball over a small lake to a green with a big sand trap in front. The par-4 18th, gives Clearwater one of the best finishing holes in New Zealand, it plays from an elevated tee to a green that juts out into a lake bringing water into play short, left, and at the back.
Facilities
Visitors to Clearwater Golf Resort are advised to arrive early enough to warm up because the practice facilities are very good. Non-golfers may want to spend some time with Jonathan Pasley, Clearwater's resident fishing guide, who knows where the big ones can be found. As you drift quietly about in one of the resort's boats fly fishing for rainbow trout, Pasley may tell you a story or two of the professional tour golfers who have come here, only to have better luck fishing.
The Sprig Bar is the perfect place to meet after golf or fishing. For more formal dining, The Lakes restaurant at Clearwater Golf Resort is one of the very best in Christchurch. For full accommodation details visit the resort's website via the link below.
Green Fees
$130 New Zealand/Australia club affiliated $80; juniors (under 7) $50.
Clearwater Golf Resort
Clearwater Avenue, PO Box 14 069, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8544 - 10mins from Christchurch Airport.
Ph: +64 3 360 2146
Fax: +64 3 360 2134
Email:
play@clearwaternz.com
Web:
www.clearwaternz.com
