Tourism New Zealand announced this week it would invest up to $2 million over the next three years in marketing golf to international visitors from the target markets of Asia, Australia and North America.
Golf working group chairman Greg Turner said Otago, specifically Queenstown, would benefit from the investment, as much of the country's golfing infrastructure was located there.
''The jewel in the crown of New Zealand golf is Queenstown.''
He said although Dunedin did not have the golf offerings of Queenstown, he hoped the benefits would go beyond the resort.
Tourism New Zealand general manager marketing communications Justin Watson said golf had been identified as a priority special-interest sector due to the number of high-value travellers it attracted and its potential for growth.
On average, 100,000 golfing Australians and 1.5 million Americans travel each year for the sport and Mr Watson said Tourism New Zealand wanted to take advantage of this.
The $2 million would be spent on advertising New Zealand golfing through magazines, golf trade shows and inviting golf journalists to the country.
Mr Turner said although New Zealand had great golf courses and infrastructure, it was getting less than half the golf visitors of Australia.
The investment was spurred by a strategy report commissioned by Tourism New Zealand to explore New Zealand's golf tourism potential.
The aim was to lift the current estimated annual golf visitor numbers of 60,000 a year to 100,000 by 2016.
Mr Turner said golf tourists were ''high yield and low impact'' and spent two to three times more than the average tourist when in town.
He said the announcement from Tourism New Zealand was a ''happy coincidence'' after NZ Golf decided last month to allow The Hills golf course to host the New Zealand Open in 2014.
