Lake Hāwea’s nine-hole golf course is for sale, pitched as having appeal to land-bankers and investors, but one of the current owners is adamant he is not “selling out” to developers.

The rural zoned property has been operating (and consented for use) as a golf course for 25 years, but is advertised as “a strategic landholding that will appeal to golf enthusiasts, investors, land-bankers, and syndicates alike”. 

Lake Hāwea Golf Course co-owner Tim Lambeth said he and co-owner Nicky Mead bought the course as an investment opportunity in 2017.

“It’s been a great challenge, having come from a farming career,” he told the Wānaka App.

“[I’ve] learnt a lot and I still am to be honest. Meeting all the old and new faces that play out here is nice, also growing the membership has been rewarding and knowing that this is a space that people are wanting to hang out.”

He said the decision to sell was “more of an exercise putting on the market to see what interest is out there” as “we don't have to or need to sell”.

“If it does sell [I] would hope that they keep it as is and not break it up into sections,” Tim said.

“The rumour mill has been very frustrating for me. 

“The word around town is that we are selling out to developers - this is not true.”

The property is advertised as just over 20 hectares on the main Lake Hāwea highway, with frontage to SH6 and some Hāwea River frontage.

A Sotheby’s advertisement for the property says “Lake Hāwea is experiencing unprecedented growth, with sections selling for over $2 million and new developments appearing rapidly”, going on to invite people to “secure your stake in the future of this thriving area”.

PHOTO: Sotheby’s