Jacks Point, NZ
A review of Jacks Point Golf Course, Central Otago, New Zealand
Andy, Marsha (parents), Sarki and Yak
Wow wow WOW did we love playing this amazing course - so inspired by the views of the mountains and the lakes it was like playing in heaven!
How we got there…
Nearly a birdie!
We'd booked a few days to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Stayed in an incredible Airbnb on Frankton Rd and played Jack's point on the Friday. Arrived mid morning and had to take a buggy - thank goodness we did! It is loooong and hilly!
Tell us a bit about the course…
Weather (wind, temperature) - balmy 10 degrees, mostly blue skies slight wind but nothing to worry about! Designed in 2008 by Jack Darby and measures 6388m.
The Remarkables
Andy, Marsha (parents) and me :)
Condition 15.5/20
Quite good! In fact very good!
Biodiversity 11.5/20
Saw two NZ Oyster pied oyster catchers with their orange beaks, sounding just like Aussie oyster catchers, New Zealand falcons and more seabirds… little tweety things which I still can't identify and even shot two birdies!
Vistas 19/20
Unparalleled views across Wakatipu lake, and across the Remarkables ranges. Really nowhere like it!
Organisation 11/20
Quite a new clubhouse - didn’t try the food but the drinks we had were nice. The halfway house was a caravan which sadly ran out of sandwiches. Was quite exxy - around $320pp.
Design 17/20
Such a fun course to play! Surprise factor - every hole is so different. You don’t really see any one around you, each hole is a stand alone - so you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere playing this course in another world!
Suggestions and strategy
Something the course taught you: you really have to play in the moment "you can't just hit and giggle" - Marsha
Favourite hole: par three when you hit down towards the lake (hole 6) - amazing views down the hill
Some advice: bring a credit card, beanies, gloves and a hot water bottle (again, Marsha). Also, not many toilets on the course, so don't drink too much! Take your own lunch if you get hungry…
Mental approach: let your playing partner's ball come to a standstill before passing comment on outcome!
Hazards and Highlights
One surprise: the electric buggies wouldn’t let us go back to the clubhouse - something about poor connection, so we had to carefully reverse for about 10 minutes until we were able to reach a connection spot.
One birdie: NZ pied oystercatchers, paradise shelduck (females have a bright white head!)
Biggest challenge: variability of elevation and wind factor meant you had to choose club carefully - incorporate risk into each decision!
Mental approach: very easy to maintain positive emotions strong because of the beauty of the place. So a focus on gratitude, for the opportunity to play this amazing course in New Zealand - counted as a once in a lifetime!
Overall review
74/100
Our review of this course on this specific day.
