Bruce Young | Rated | 03 Apr 2002

Situated only five minutes from the Christchurch airport and twenty minutes from the CBD of Christchurch Clearwater Resort has opened to a blaze of publicity due in no small way to the fact that it staged a co sanctioned US Buy.Com Tour/Australasian Tour event, the Holden Clearwater Classic even before its official opening on March 23rd.

The Resort is an integrated real estate, hotel, accommodation and golfing facility targeted towards the high end of the real estate market. The fact that all the real estate released in the first phase has been sold at prices considerably higher than were initially thought possible suggested a pent up demand for this type of project in this region.

The golf course has already proven, so early in its existence, to be a first class tournament venue both in terms of tournament logistics and as a test of golf with the likelihood of further events there in the future.

Instigated in the mid-nineties the project was brought together by John Darby who had been instrumental in the development of the Millbrook course near Queenstown, local developer Howard Paterson and the principal of the local construction company Isaac Construction, Diana, Lady Isaac.

This was to be a project catering as much for residents as the resort market. As such much of the masterplanning of the resort incorporated significant areas of real estate that would be afforded golfing views and, the ultimate combination in this style of development, views over water to golf. This would offer a new concept in golf course development in New Zealand namely a full time residential golf course development rather than a course catering just for a tourist golfing market. Many will make their homes on the estate and again to that extent the developers were trailblazing in terms of this concept in this region.

The original land was farming land accommodating deer farming and considerable horticulture land use servicing the city of Christchurch. It was flat riverbed land that would require much land fill to be imported in order to create a base that would allow a high end golf course to be developed.

Construction commenced late 1999 and the course opened in March 2002.

Sir Bob Charles who had earlier played a role in the design of the Millbrook Resort near Queenstown and the Formosa Resort near Auckland was engaged by the projects developers to provide his input into the golfing strategy. Charles was originally from this region and still makes his home, when in New Zealand, on a farm he has some thirty minutes drive from the course. John Darby one of the main players in the Millbrook Resort was the lead architect in terms of technical design.

The course was built on very flat land adjacent to a major river system where significant springs feed the man made lakes that are now such a feature of the resort and give it its name.

There are essentially two loops of nine, the first heading in a westerly direction from the clubhouse and the other north east.

Measuring over 6500 metres (7100 yards) from the very back tees the course offers great variety in terms of its playability with tees ranging from those through to the championship tees at 6138 metres, the resort tees at 5690 metres, and the ladies at 5155 metres. Rather than go into a detailed hole by hole description I have chosen a few holes which I see as the most interesting holes on the course and so let's run through them.

The par four first is designed to get you under way and the best approach here is to use the right hand fairway bunker as a target and then the hole angles back from there to the left leaving a mid iron to a green with subtle contouring.

The par four third was the first hole that really made me sit up and take notice. Only 334 metres from the back tee the tee shot requires threading of the needle created by bunkering right and left on an angle to play. The left hand bunkers appear closer than they are from the tee and so the best line is at the second of those traps leaving a short iron approach to a heavily contoured green. A hole requiring strategy and placement from the tee and with the second.

The par five fifth hole is the longest on the course and back into the nor easterly is a monster. On other days however the hole provides many options for the second dependant on the quality of your drive. Fairway bunkering some 150 metres short of the green will ensure that it is not just a matter of hitting it long here but you must think about your placement also. I liked the strategies here especially with the second shot.

The eighth is one of my favourites on the course and will when the hotel is completed across the adjoining lake carry the extra burden of being watched over while playing. Two fairway bunkers protect the left starting around the 220 metre mark from the back tee although it is the second of the two that should be used as a visual target from the tee. That is some 260 metres from the back but it is the narrow nature of the fairway which cambers slightly towards the water on the left that is the main concern. Once safely negotiated you are left with a mid to short iron for the second to a quite large green.

The ninth is a demanding long iron par three to a narrow green with water short and right and bunkers left.

The par four 13th, even in its short existence, has already proven to be a controversial hole. A willow tree in the left rough may well provide an aerial obstacle with the second and therefore plays a key role in the strategy from the tee. During the recent Holden Clearwater Classic many players took 3 wood and irons from the tee in order that should they pull their tee shot to the left, they would still be left with sufficient leeway to negotiate their way around the tree.

Initially earmarked, during construction, for removal, prior to resource consent allowing for the removal of a creek crossing the fairway, the tree was retained to add character and strategy to the hole. I think it works well although there may yet prove to be a need to create just a little more room between it and the bunker guarding the right of the fairway.

The par five fourteenth was another hole that created its share of comment. It has a split option fairway for the second either a lay up to the right or perhaps given a well positioned drive in the right conditions the opportunity to go for the green. The tee shot needs to be negotiated between hazards left, right and long with a runout of some 270 metres from the back tee.

The green is also interesting with a large ridge running diagonally through the middle providing another dimension irrespective of what you have done with your second or third. A hole that provided several eagles during the event but many bogies and double bogies also. I think this is a fascinating hole but if I had one criticism it was that there was insufficient visibility from the tee. I would like to see the right hand mound lowered in order to see the hazard beyond.

The 18th is a fine finishing hole with bunkers right and water left creating a premium on accuracy. The green has essentially two levels front left and back right and will cause its share of angst as the years go by.

The grasses used on the greens are Egmont bent which does so well in this part of the world with browntop on the fairways. Given the age of the course the presentation was first class during the tournament and I heard not one complaint in that regard. Certainly given the pressure the course was under to not only be opened in time but to have it ready for tournament play in time for the Clearwater Classic it was in outstanding condition. The greens on the second nine which were some months younger than those on the front were slightly slower but that imbalance will be righted in the course of time.

I played the course before it's official opening so never experienced it under full operation however the staff were seen to be obliging and aware of the needs of the golfer. I am sure also that Colin Hunt, who has considerable experience in such developments, and his team will ensure that the service standards will be maintained at the highest level in this very competitive golfing market.

It is always difficult to make a judgment on a brand new golf course although many do. I think a golf course can only be fairly judged after it has had time to mature. A golf course is, after all, a living thing and in many ways it is like predicting whether or not an infant will grow into a great adult when there are so many factors that will affect its development. At Clearwater however the base has been established for a fine golf course to emerge.

The fact that Clearwater was able, so early in its existence, to successfully stage such a significant Australasian Tour event speaks volumes for its potential and the commitment by its owners and staff and it is my belief that it will develop into one of New Zealand's best courses.

The current clubhouse is poised over the lake which in turn overlooks the 18th green and surrounds. At the time of the Holden Clearwater Classic the locker rooms were not completed but the plans are for high quality facilities to include locker rooms, dining areas and spacious lounges. A member's fitness centre will be a feature with lap pool, spa pool and other pampering options available. If the quality of the other facilities on the resort are anything to go by then the completed clubhouse will be a very much sought after facility for golfers and residents.

Currently there are eleven Terrace Apartments available for short term accommodation with information on them and future accommodation options available at the Clearwater website.

The apartments currently available are beautifully furnished and offer excellent views over the eighteenth hole and beyond to the mountains in the distance. The hotel villas are currently under construction and will become available mid to late 2002.

Situated some five minutes from the Christchurch airport and twenty minutes drive from the CBD twenty kilometres the resort is well located to capitalise on both the local and tourist market for business.