Harewood Golf Club

Situated close to Christchurch Airport, the Harewood Golf Club, located approximate 25 minutes from Christchurch’s city centre, is a welcoming destination for any golfer wanting quality, variety, and great accessibility.

The Woodlands course was redesigned in 2012 by Greg Turner & Turner McPherson. Every tee box was upgraded, new greens were built, and the features like undulating greens, wide fairways with subtle slopes, and greenside swales give it character and strategic challenge without being overly punitive. One of its biggest draws is the Woodlands championship course, an 18-hole, par-72 layout that stretches roughly 6,448 metres from the black tees, yet remains playable from shorter tees, making it suitable for golfers of all abilities.

The front nine plays more open, with room off the tee featuring subtle elevation changes and tricky approaches. The back nine is narrower, with driving corridors and more penal bunkers, ball placement becomes essential.  The fairways are generous, but missing on the wrong side often leaves a difficult angle onto raised greens.  The course’s drainage and turf conditions are excellent, so it is enjoyable to play year-round,in part because the renovation included improvements that helped keep fairways firm and greens true, even in wetter seasons.

As mentioned, the greens are smooth but undulating.  They can be challenging when you have to consider both the slope and the grain. With many greens having back-to-front tilt, leaving your ball below the hole is a benefit.  When playing onto the green, missing on the short side can be quite penalising.  With the course playing like more of a links course, the surrounds of the greens are tightly mown, so playing a bump-and-run instead of lofted chip is an advantage.

The clubhouse adds to the experience; it has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, provides full catering and bar service, and is a very welcoming place to unwind after your round.  Finally,the scenery is a bonus: views of the Port Hills and the Southern Alps make the setting beautiful, adding to the pleasure of every hole.

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