Gibbston Valley has added another piece to its tourism offering, with the opening of its nine-hole golf course and clubhouse last March 2026. The course, set above the Kawarau River, has been designed around a simple idea: give people a way to play golf without giving up half a day.
Designer and former professional golfer Greg Turner says that shift reflects where the game is heading. “I think this shorter form of golf has a real future where you have all of the quality and fun of the long form of the game but in a format that doesn’t take up so much time.”
The par 32 course can be completed in under two hours. Director of golf Jesus Santos says the format responds to a change in how people want to spend their time. “Most people want to play golf, but they don’t want to be away from their families all day,” he says. “Here, people can play nine, have lunch with a glass of wine and then be back with their families for the rest of the day.”
The opening, timed to coincide with the New Zealand Open in late February 2026, puts the course into a competitive local market. Queenstown already has a strong reputation as a golf destination, with a number of established courses and more developments underway. Gibbston Valley’s approach is to offer something different, rather than more of the same. The shorter format, combined with its location and existing visitor infrastructure, positions it as an option for those looking to fit golf into a broader day out.
The clubhouse, designed by Condon Scott Architects and constructed by Lakeside Design and Build, with interiors by Space Studios, includes a restaurant, gym, jacuzzi, heated pool and pro shop. The course and clubhouse sit within the wider Gibbston Valley precinct, alongside its established lodge, winery cellar door and wine cave and award-winning spa.
Executive managing director Cristina Griffith says the focus was on creating something that worked as a complete visit, rather than a standalone activity. “We’ve focused on creating a vibrant hospitality experience, best enjoyed after a round of the great game,” she says.
The golf course has been a long-held dream for the family-run business. “The idea has been floating around our family conversations for more than a decade,” Christina says. “My dad, Phil, along with Greg Turner and many others, spent years imagining what it could be and quietly backing that vision with a huge amount of care and commitment.”
“It is a true destination golf club, with beautiful, world-class greens and views, as well as exceptional wine and food. We can’t wait for people to experience it.”
The course itself has been built over the past two years, using the natural contours of the site, including rock formations and remnants of historic gold mining, rather than traditional bunkers. The longest hole is approximately 347 metres. The course is designed to be playable for a wide range of skill levels, from beginners through to experienced golfers.
The course is flanked by The Reserve and The Rockery, high-end residential stages where section owners receive membership to the golf club. It is also open to the public through day passes, with a limited number of memberships on offer for non-residents. The clubhouse restaurant is open to walk-ins for breakfast, lunch and afternoon appetisers, all complemented by favourites from the Gibbston Valley Collection range of wines.
Christina says bringing the project to completion marked a significant step for the business. “To now be part of bringing it to life feels incredibly special,” she says. “It is a true destination golf club, with beautiful, world-class greens and views, as well as exceptional wine and food. We can’t wait for people to experience it.”
A golfer herself, Christina is now focused on using the shorter format to attract demographics typically sidelined by the traditional game, including women’s golf initiatives like ‘She Loves Golf’ and ‘Kiss My Putt’. Christina learned to play golf as a youngster, alongside her uncle, growing up in Las Vegas. She wants women to feel comfortable, supported and engaged at every stage of the game.
As part of the clubhouse opening, Gibbston Valley has teamed up with Arrowtown designer Natalie Newlands on a run of premium polo shirts, now stocked in the pro shop.
© Waterford Press Ltd 2026 – Independent Print Media New Zealand
