Russley Golf Club and Function Centre is home to one of New Zealand's premier golf courses: a par 72 championship layout set in beautiful Christchurch parkland, just minutes from the airport. The back nine was completely redesigned between 2012 and 2014 by leading architect Greg Turner, opening the course up from the tee and adding real interest around the greens.
The club is open to locals and visitors alike, with five sets of tees offering a fair test for players of every age and ability. PGA professionals provide expert tuition for beginners and experienced golfers, supported by first-class practice facilities, a driving range and dedicated short game areas. Rental clubs and carts are available, and a well-stocked golf shop and locker rooms round out the on-course experience.
Off the fairways, the club doubles as a function centre, hosting weddings, conferences, corporate functions and celebrations for groups of 4 to 130 people, with catering from a friendly, talented events team. Cafe 19 and the bar give golfers and guests somewhere to unwind afterwards.
The credentials are serious: Russley has hosted the New Zealand Amateur Championships, Legends Pro-Am tournaments and the 2024 Interprovincials, with the 2026 NZ Men's Seniors to come, and it features in Australian Golf Digest's 2024/25 Top 50 New Zealand courses. In 2020 it was named Golf NZ Club of the Year, after finalist finishes in 2018 and 2019. Regulars describe a friendly, sociable club where new faces are always welcome.
Minutes from the terminals of Christchurch Airport, on the broad leafy sweep of Memorial Avenue, Russley Golf Club has built one of the quietest big reputations in New Zealand golf. Its par 72 championship course is counted among the country's premier layouts, winding through classic parkland where mature trees frame generous fairways and every hole asks its own question.
The modern chapter of that story belongs to Greg Turner. Between 2012 and 2014, the leading New Zealand architect carried out a complete redesign of the back nine, opening the course up from the tee and adding genuine interest around the greens. The result is a parkland layout with plenty to think about no matter your handicap — and five sets of tees that let every player choose their own level of test.
Russley welcomes locals and visitors alike, and the club makes it easy to arrive prepared. Its online course tour pairs hole-by-hole details and aerial images with pro tips, so you can study, plan and know exactly what you're in for before you reach the first tee. Rental clubs and carts are available if you're travelling light, trundlers are permitted on the course, and a daily course status update tells you conditions before you set out. Twilight golf, special deals and a visitor fees page make it straightforward to plan anything from a quick round between flights to a full day out.
Behind the practice grounds sits a dedicated teaching setup. Russley's PGA professionals offer tuition for complete beginners and experienced players alike, with instruction taking place on first-class facilities that include specific areas for each part of the game. The driving range and short game areas give you room to warm up or rebuild a swing, and the learning pathway extends to junior golf and women's coaching, with a starting guide for newcomers picking up the game for the first time. Membership types suit different ages and lifestyles, and the club prides itself on being friendly and sociable.
The same clubhouse that hosts the post-round drink also works as a full function centre. Russley caters for weddings, conferences, corporate functions and private celebrations for groups of 4 to 130, with in-house catering and a friendly, talented events team whose aim is that every requirement is met to the highest standard. Corporate golf days pair the course with those facilities — a popular format for hosting clients or colleagues.
Russley's record backs up the reputation. The club has hosted the New Zealand Amateur Championships and Legends Pro-Am tournaments, staged the 2024 Interprovincials, and is set to welcome the 2026 NZ Men's Seniors. Australian Golf Digest placed it in the Top 50 New Zealand courses for 2024/25, and in 2020 it was named Golf NZ Club of the Year after finalist finishes in 2018 and 2019.
After the round, Cafe 19 and the bar are — in the club's own words — always a good place to land. Add a well-stocked golf shop and locker rooms, and the visit runs smoothly from bag drop to last drink. Being minutes from Christchurch Airport makes Russley an easy stop for travellers squeezing in a quick round or settling in for a longer stay. Book your tee time online, check the course status, and let the fairways do the rest.