A rapidly growing international golf tourism market should bring benefits to Otago, with courses in Central Otago and Dunedin being given a push by Tourism New Zealand.
The man behind selling New Zealand golf courses to overseas tourists says while ''marquee courses'' like Jacks Point, The Hills and Millbrook are important stops for visitors, it is often courses like Balmacewen or Chisholm Park that provide their best memories.
Golf Tourism New Zealand executive director Ryan Brandeburg said at the Trenz tourism conference in Rotorua yesterday the activity was seeing plenty of growth.
The golf market nationally had grown from $145 million in 2012 to $221 million in 2013, Mr Brandeburg said.
That was a 53% increase.
His organisation was pushing 12 marquee courses in New Zealand, with Jacks Point, The Hills and Millbrook on that list.
There were also 26 ''New Zealand experience'' courses being suggested to golf tourists, including Chisholm Park and Balmacewen in Dunedin.''
They show local culture, the country charm we like to show off.''
Golf Tourism New Zealand was formed by Tourism New Zealand in 2013 to develop a long-term strategy for international golf tourism.
Mr Brandeburg said the country had a variety of courses that could be found nowhere else in the world.
Queenstown was a repeat destination for many, and he was encouraging golf tour operators to persuadeclients to go outside that area to places like Cromwell, the Oreti Sands course in Invercargill, and Dunedin.
''I enjoy talking about Dunedin when I go overseas.''
He described Balmacewen and Chisholm Park as ''fantastic examples of New Zealand courses''.
Chisholm Park was not unlike the Cape Kidnappers course in Hawkes Bay, except the green fees were $60 not $550.
Of the picturesque course by the ocean, he said: ''These places don't exist any more''.
Balmacewen attracted golf tourists because of its history as the oldest golf club in New Zealand, and the big names who had played there, such as Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
''That's an attraction.''
Mr Brandeburg said it was not just the course, but the people visitors remembered once they had left.
Tourists told him while they loved playing at Jacks Point, for instance, it was clubs like Chisholm Park, and the friendly people who introduced themselves and invited them for a drink, that leftthe best memories.
One benefit of golf tourists was golf was usually not their only focus, meaning the money they spent benefited other businesses.
People coming here to play golf also visited other locations.
Otago Museum and the royal albatross colony were two that stood out, he said.
The numbers
• Revenue from golf tourists rose from $145 million in 2012 to $221 million in 2013.
• Figures not in for 2014, but Chinese tourists played 59% more rounds at 12 marquee courses last summer than in the previous summer.
• Annually about 3% of international holiday visitors play golf while in New Zealand.
• On average, golf tourists spend more on their visit: $3300 compared with $2500.
• They tend to stay in New Zealand longer: a quarter stayed in New Zealand for a month or more compared with the median stay of nine days.
• Golf tourists tend to be slightly more satisfied with their visit to New Zealand than the average visitor.
• Markets that provide the most golf tourists include Australia, US, China and Japan.(All figures national)
