17 TEE BOX rocky outcrops, the fairways have been designed with the resort golfer in mind – receptive and open, to allow golfers of all abilities to enjoy the course. “Around the greens, the vision is to cut the turf at a low height, so golfers have the option to chip or putt. The green surfaces are generally orientated on an angle to the line of play to add strategic interest, and have a range of pin positions.” The new par-three sixth plays slightly uphill over a small stream to a two-tiered green – defended by two bunkers – angling from left to right. “It has become an immediate favourite,” said Macpherson. “It opens the new sequence with a bang. The hole is made more memorable by the view up behind the green to the Crown Range, and the rocky cliffs immediately to the right of the green, which create the feeling of an amphitheatre. It’s a deeply atmospheric hole.” Turner said: “The new seventh plays up a valley and between rocky outcrops, while the eighth has a gentle dogleg left and is defined by a strategically placed central bunker and a wetland to the left of the green. It appears the best tee shot is to the wider right-side of the fairway, but that leaves golfers with a less receptive approach shot to a green angling toward the wetland.” Holes nine and ten are both par fours that play in opposite directions around a large lake, which collects water from the mountains to irrigate the course. “One particularly noteworthy charm of the ninth hole is its infinity green which sits above a rocky outcrop and looks out towards the popular and historic gold mining village of Arrowtown,” said Macpherson. “Amongst the large swathes of Browntop grass that sway in the fields around the course is the par-five eleventh, which plays from an elevated tee down into a large fairway basin. From here the fairway snakes around an ominous rocky outcrop before climbing back up to the green – this time with a rocky cliff face on its left. Longer hitters will try to get to the green in two, but danger lurks all around. The club professional recommends playing to the front of the green!” The twelfth is a short par three that plays downhill to a large green. The back tee provides panoramic views across the course and out to the parachutists that are often seen leaping from nearby Coronet Peak. “Having taken the winding path down from the twelfth green, for many golfers, the thirteenth is a keenly memorable hole – a short par four where golfers are tempted to try and drive the green from the elevated tee,” said Turner. “However, a wetland guards the putting surface so it’s a risk and reward hole, where a par can be made with little strain for those laying up, but disaster lurks for those letting their ego off the leash. On top of that, it may have the most interesting “ The routing deliberately gives golfers a tour of all the best features of this wonderful landscape” Macpherson and Turner’s new nine holes, which will play as six to fourteen on the extended Coronet layout Image: Millbrook Resort
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