Darby Partners, the proponents of the new Glendhu Golf Course, say it will be an 18-hole championship course designed and constructed to championship standards.

Responding to questions from the Wānaka App, Darby Partners said the course will cover approximately 100 hectares and be around 6,000 metres in length. 

The Wānaka golf course is 5,770 metres.

Darby Partners has played a lead role in a number of high profile golf courses in the Wakatipu basin including Jack’s Point, The Hills, and Millbrook. 

The course has been designed to championship standard.

Director John Darby says the course will be ready to play in two years (2025).

“Glendhu is well advanced, such that 18 months construction period is very achievable and we are aiming for an opening date for play six months post construction, given there are no unforeseen weather events,” he said.

“Darby Partners has built the majority of new golf courses in New Zealand recently and each construction period has on average been 18 months.”

John said renowned New Zealand golfer Sir Bob Charles has been involved in reviewing the golf course design layout and recently visited the site to review the latest design, providing positive feedback.

A spokesperson for Darby Partners said the course is designed to leave as much of the existing terrain as “untouched” as possible and that all holes will have views of the lake, mountains, and aspects of Glendhu Bay.

The golf course has been a 15-year project. 

The original land use consent was lodged in January 2007 and the consent was granted by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in May 2008, but was appealed to the Environment Court, which conferred approval in May 2012.

Consents required to commence construction were granted in September 2022.

Since acquiring 200 hectares of land for the golf course development in 2013, Darby Partners commenced native revegetation of over 150,000 native plants around the property, and areas of land have been retired from grazing to allow native vegetation to regenerate.

The golf course consent includes a club house, visitor accommodation, and 42 residences. The spokesperson said designs for onsite facilities and the surrounding residential development are underway, with further announcements on this stage of the project to come.

IMAGES: Supplied