a a
— Explore New Zealand 18 Holes at a Time —

Shirley Golf Course
Christchurch Golf Club
45 Horseshoe Lake Road
Shirley, Christchurch, New Zealand

        Rolling British-style parkland course on the edge of Christchurch. Rated one of the best in New Zealand, and often top-ranked on the South Island.

Length & Par:     
        Championship Tees:  Par 73, 6360 meters, 6960 yards
        Men's Tees: Par 73, 6034 meters, 6602 yards
        Ladies Tees: Par 74, 5460 meters, 5972 yards

Greens Fees per ROUND:
    NZ$90 (approximately US$45.00)

Open and Playable Year Round

ADVANCE BOOKING OF TEE-TIMES REQUIRED.
Course bookings essential at least one week in advance.
Visitors always welcome; restricted on Saturdays, Tuesdays, as well as Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoons..

Bookings (from the USA):   TEL:   011 64 (0)3 385 9506
                                           FAX:  011 64 (0)3 385 4892
                                            or e-mail: golfshop@clear.net.nz

OR--book Shirley and your other New Zealand golf tee-times FREE! as you plan your trip
to New Zealand with HOME AT FIRST!

Minimum Handicap Required: None.

Facilities:
        Club House
        Full bar and restaurant
        Driving Range
        Golf Shop—Full Service; well-stocked

Rentals:
        Clubs: Yes—US$22.50 for graphites; US$12.50 for steel; club rental includes trundler
        Shoes: Yes
        Pull carts (trundlers): Yes
        Golf carts: Yes—US$17.50; limited; call to reserve
        Caddies: No

LOCATION: From north-central Christchurch, drive east on Bealey Avenue;
        left on Barbados, then right on Warrington, which merges with Shirley Road.
        Follow into New Brighton Road and turn left on Horseshoe Lake Road to the club entrance.

Nearest HOME AT FIRST lodgings:
    In CHRISTCHURCH, about 10 minutes drive southwest of the course.
    For more information about HOME AT FIRST's New Zealand travel program, see: NEW ZEALAND

THE HISTORY: The Christchurch Golf Club is the second oldest in New Zealand. It was first established in 1873—when the city itself was founded—with the first 9 holes laid out in Scottish links style in Christchurch’s large Hagley Park. After short stints at two other sites, the club relocated to its present location in the Shirley section on the hilly edge of the city in 1900.
        Over the years the course has hosted more than a dozen New Zealand Opens, and many top amateur events, including the 1990 World Amateur Championships and the 2001 Australasian Professional Developmental Tour.
        Aussie great Peter Thomson remodeled the Shirley course a few years ago. Today the course is quite reminiscent of a dignified English country club, a style which ideally fits the very English nature of Christchurch with superbly groomed grass fairways, mature specimen trees and lots of color in the shrubs and other plantings.

PETER THOMSON, COURSE ARCHITECT AND
FIVE-TIME BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION: 1954, '55, '56, '58 AND '65

THE COURSE AND SOME NOTABLE HOLES: The course plays medium long across an undulating surface featuring several elevated greens and tee boxes. Usually rated among the best New Zealand courses, Shirley is known for pot bunkers, little water, and lots of bumps, holes and irregularities. It is a mature course, calling for both length and accuracy. Errant shots are difficult to find among the pine and broom trees and—worse—in the thick gorse away from the manicured fairways. At Shirley, nothing is left to chance. Each element is chosen with the care of a fine, landscaped garden, perfectly fitting the botanical passion of Christchurch.

THE 18TH AT SHIRLEY LEADS            
TO THE CLASSIC CLUBHOUSE            
Photo copyright © HOME AT FIRST

        Amenities and style play a greater role at Christchurch than at most New Zealand golf clubs. Here you will find a traditional English designed clubhouse with food and refreshments available each day, and served in the somber, dignified atmosphere of English style. Manner, style, and amenities have an influence on the price to play, as well. Christchurch Shirley, at about US$45/round is one of the most expensive games of golf in New Zealand.

        Although often long and tight with only 3 par-3’s, the Shirley course is best known for its 141-yard, par 3 11^th hole, rated in the top 500 holes in the world by Golf Magazine’s editors in 2000. Number eleven’s elevated green is fronted by bunkers, with more sand on the flanks, and a tight out-of-bounds on the right. Being short here is risky, with left just as bad and right worse.

SHIRLEY G.C. - MATURE, TIGHT, AND LUSH           
Photo copyright © HOME AT FIRST

        A double out-and-back design means four holes of similar attributes near the clubhouse at the start and end of each nine. Still, the course—despite having little water—offers a nice variety of challenges with most holes having distinctly individual personalities.

THE REGION: Christchurch, "The Garden City", is among the most English of cities on earth. Built astride its own River Avon, the primary city of New Zealand’s South Island (population just over 300,000) is located on the eastern (Pacific) coast of the island at the edge of a very large agricultural region, the Canterbury Plain. The city is the cultural center for much of the South Island. Within two hours of the mountains of the Southern Alps, Christchurch offers a great variety of coastal and mountain touring, as well as summer and winter sports. Under two hours north of the city is the Kaikoura Coast, one of the best places for whale watching in the world, and speculated home to great battles between sperm whales and giant squid. Christchurch is also the staging city for voyages to Antarctica. The city is dotted with attractive parks, and its residents are compulsive gardeners. Christchurch city center is compact and very walkable, with scores of restaurants and shops lining its pleasant, broad avenues. The climate here is fine, with temperatures rarely reaching above the 80’s in summer or below freezing in winter. There is enough rain to keep the gardens—and the golf courses—green without much help, but not so much rain to discourage play very often.

CHRISTCHURCH IS THE      
GARDEN CITY OF NEW ZEALAND
Photo copyright © HOME AT FIRST      

Want to learn about other courses throughout New Zealand including some of the greatest tests of golf in the world? See our NEW ZEALAND COURSE GUIDE for more information.