Shirley Golf Course ☆ Follow

The Christchurch Golf Club, at Shirley Links, has a heritage that dates back to 1873 making it the second oldest club in New Zealand, and the seventh oldest outside the UK. The original course was at Hagley Park before moving to what is now the Russley GC before settling at the current location in 1900, and the course was expanded to 18 holes by 1910. The par 72 course is 6459 yards in length. In the 1990s, the course was refurbished by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge. The course lies either side of Lake Terrace Road, with holes 5 to 11 on a flatter, more open section north of the road, whilst the rest of the course occupies more tumbling ground.

The course leverages undulating fairways, creeks and an open layout to present a test for golfers across all levels. The opening stretch of four holes, and the equally impressive closing stretch of seven holes, is played over naturally undulating terrain, which allows for several elevated tee-boxes and a thoroughly absorbing layout where gently dog-legging holes are commonplace. The designers ripped out a stack of trees and added rounded pot bunkers to further the links feel of the layout.

The Club has hosted New Zealand Open Championships in 1910, 1921, 1925, 1931, 1935, 1950, 1956, 1964, 1968, 1974, and 1982. Its greatest honour was to host the World Amateur Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in 1990. New Zealand's most famous golfer, Bob Charles, joined the club as a twenty-year-old and launched his career as a professional golfer from here. He is now the club's patron.