Arrowtown Golf Club
A short, sharp delight on the edge of a gold rush town, Arrowtown is one of the most admired small courses in the country. Carved from a glacial vale of rock and tussock with not a bunker in sight, it plays to a par 70 of about 5,327 metres and ranks among New Zealand's very best.
Photo: Arrowtown Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Arrowtown is proof that a course does not need length or sand to be great. A first club began here in 1911, but the present story dates to 1935, when a dozen locals reformed the club and secured ninety acres beside the Arrowtown to Arrow Junction road. The nine hole course was established in 1937, laid out by the members themselves, and a second nine opened in 1970 across the road and up into the base of a giant ridge.
What they built, almost by accident, is a small masterpiece. The course occupies a rectangular glacial vale and was carved straight from the rugged ground of the old mining district, so it defends itself with violent undulation, outcrops of exposed rock and erratic, tumbling bends rather than a single bunker. It is regularly ranked in New Zealand's top ten and has appeared on international lists of the world's finest short courses. For a traveling golfer in Queenstown it is a joyous, characterful round and the perfect foil to the bigger resort courses nearby.
Arrowtown at a glance
- Club reformed
- 1935
- Course opened
- 1937
- Designer
- Club members
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 5,327 m
Year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The club reformed in 1935, the first nine opened in 1937 and the second in 1970, giving a bunkerless par 70 of about 5,327 metres. Visitor green fees vary by season, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The absence of bunkers is the whole point. Without sand, the trouble is the land itself: steep banks that gather a loose shot, rock that will not give a kind bounce, and greens tucked into the folds of the vale where the angle of approach matters more than the distance. It rewards the shaper and the thinker, the player happy to run the ball and read the ground.
The front nine works the flatter floor of the vale, while the 1970 back nine climbs into the ridge for the most dramatic ground and the best views over Arrowtown and the surrounding ranges. Short par 4s tempt you to be aggressive and then punish the lazy line, and the par 3s are framed by rock and slope in a way no architect could have improved.
At a shade over 5,300 metres it will never bully you with length, but anyone who treats it as a pushover leaves with a bruised card. Play it for its quirk and character, and Arrowtown is one of the most purely enjoyable rounds in New Zealand.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers for green fee play |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees apply; among the better value rounds in the region (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead in the busy summer season; check the tee sheet for member competition |
| On the day | Walking course over hilly ground; carts available; relaxed but tidy golf dress |
| Getting there | On the edge of Arrowtown, about 20 minutes from Queenstown Airport |
| Best months | November to April for the warmest, driest South Island conditions |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Arrowtown Golf Club where published; policy changes, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Historic Arrowtown is the charming choice, a restored gold rush village of stone cottages, good restaurants and a relaxed pace, all within minutes of the first tee. It makes a quieter, more characterful base than the resort towns and keeps you close to the course.
Queenstown, twenty minutes away, offers the full range of lakefront hotels, dining and adventure for those who want a livelier evening. From either base you can pair Arrowtown's short course brilliance with the championship golf at nearby Millbrook for a varied and memorable Otago itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Arrowtown.
Build a Queenstown golf trip
We pair the short course gem at Arrowtown with Millbrook and the region's best, and book the lodging, dining and transfers around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Arrowtown Golf Club questions
What makes Arrowtown Golf Club unusual?
Arrowtown is a bunkerless course. Carved from the rugged terrain of a former gold mining town, it defends itself with dramatic undulations, exposed rock and tight bends through a glacial vale rather than sand. It is regularly ranked among New Zealand's best and features on lists of the world's finest short courses.
Can visitors play Arrowtown Golf Club?
Yes. Arrowtown welcomes visiting golfers for green fee play alongside its members. Book a tee time in advance in the busy summer season, and always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
What is the par and length of Arrowtown Golf Club?
Arrowtown plays to a par 70 of about 5,327 metres for men, a short but demanding layout that prizes positioning and short game over length.
Where is Arrowtown Golf Club?
It sits just outside the historic township of Arrowtown, about 20 minutes from Queenstown in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Year, par and yardage verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.