What they said about world’s southern most links course
‘‘We are pretty hopeful that within five years we will get thousands of visitors playing this course. We have about 80,000 visitors a year coming to New Zealand to play golf and Southland is not being given the recognition it deserves.’’
‘‘Even the small number of guys who I’ve brought out there – the likes of John Huggan who’s one of the top Scottish golf writers and writes for Golf Digest in America – he was surprised. Michael Campbell was shocked and amazed. He didn’t know Oreti existed.’’
In 2007 co-designer of the redeveloped Oreti Sands course, Greg Turner, talked about the potential of the links course as work starts on Oreti Sands started.
‘‘With what is happening here in Queenstown and Central Otago, in general, I think there is an enormous opportunity there in Invercargill to introduce a whole new type of visitor to this part of the world.’’
‘‘Golfers like to travel and experience different environments. With the wealth of facilities and the quality of those facilities now, with the upgrade that is going on in Invercargill, means Invercargill is well placed to become part of that New Zealand as a golf destination scene, but especially with the southern part of New Zealand as the hub for that.’’
Turner talked again about the opportunities available for Invercargill soon before the redevelopment of Oreti Sands started.
‘‘What a wonderful piece of land you’ve got here. ‘‘It will take some time for the grass to settle but I’ve played in British Opens and this is (course) is on par with them. It’s a tough course.’’
Leading Australian professional golfer Peter Senior shared his thoughts on the Oreti Sands course at the opening of the course redevelopment.
‘‘This is definitely a hidden gem. I really enjoyed walking the course. The changes being made should lift it to another level.
‘‘The course reminds of courses in Scotland and on the west coast of Ireland ... I don’t think locals know how lucky they are.’’
2005 United States Open champion Michael Campbell talked about Oreti Sands when he first visited the links course in 2007.