A $30 million golf resort near Arrowtown is the latest venture for the region’s biggest tourism investor.
The 132ha Hogan’s Gully property, owned by Sir John Davies’ Trojan Holdings, is planning an 18-hole championship course, clubhouse, practice facility and 96 homes.
It will be close to two other international standard golf courses, the Japanese-owned Millbrook Resort and Sir Michael Hill’s The Hills. A third resort course, Jack’s Point, is not that far away.
But Arrowtown-based former golf professional and course designer Greg Turner says Hogan’s Gully will have a different look and feel from these courses.
“The site is rugged and the golf course will blend in rather than stand out,” says Turner, who is working with Queenstown's Baxter Design Group. Award-winning Auckland architect Andrew Patterson is designing the clubhouse to resemble a low farm wall.
"We will use the site's natural features, especially the abundance of schist, to create a unique golf course," Turner says.
The lead project consultant is Ryan Brandeburg, executive director of Golf Tourism New Zealand and who has been director of golf at the world-class North Island courses Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers.
The scale of the project will not be daunting to Sir John or Trojan, which is jointly managed by daughter Jacqui and son Michael. Its assets include the Coronet Peak, Remarkables and Mount Hutt skifields plus a 40% share of AJ Hackett Bungy, which operates a diverse range of tourism activities in Queenstown and Auckland.
Trojan’s substantial property interests include the Mt Cook Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki/Mount Cook Alpine Village and Stratton House, which houses a Queenstown casino.
Sir John, who was knighted in 2013 for services to business and tourism, started his early working life as a farm cadet. One of his first investments became Northern Southland Transport, which he still owns and operates from six branches in the lower South Island.
As mayor of Queenstown from 1983-89, he is credited with saving the tiny village green on the waterfront. International cricketers can also pay homage at the John Davies oval, which has been upgraded to international standards, while Trojan is a major sponsor of the NZ Open golf tournament.
Sir John and Lady (Patricia) Davies reside in a $2.2m property overlooking Jubilee Park on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.