Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 5th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 5th
The fifth hole at Queenstown Golf Club boomerangs around the lake. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 1st
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 1st
The incredible views start at the first green of Queenstown Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 2nd
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 2nd
After a blind uphill tee shot, the second hole reveals this setting at Queenstown Golf Club in New Zealand. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 3rd
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 3rd
The Remarkables Mountains tower over the third hole at Queenstown Golf Club. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 6th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 6th
The sixth hole at Queenstown Golf Club tumbles to this green. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 7th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 7th
The seventh hole at Queenstown Golf Club climbs dramatically uphill. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 9th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 9th
The ninth green of Queenstown Golf Club sits perched overlooking the water. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 10th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 10th
The par-3 10th hole at Queenstown Golf Club drops off an elevated tee. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 15th
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Queenstown Golf Club - Kelvin Heights Course - 15th
The 15th hole at Queenstown Golf Club sweeps downhill, playing as a short par 4. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
Queenstown Golf Club - clubhouse
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Queenstown Golf Club - clubhouse
Golfers love to gather on the small deck of Queenstown Golf Club clubhouse to soak up the mountain and lake views. Jason Scott Deegan/Golf Advisor
10 Images

Savor the remarkable views surrounding Queenstown Golf Club in Otago, New Zealand

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand -- Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountains hug Queenstown Golf Club, a stunning course the locals call Kelvin Heights.

The club occupies a hilly peninsula of land jutting into the lake, creating an amphitheater of beauty on New Zealand's rugged South Island.

General Manager John Stephens calls the location the best real estate in New Zealand. "It's magical," he said.

All the eye candy comes with a price. Kelvin Heights plays hard to get on the scorecard. Golfers must avoid the rocks, trees and side-hill lies to score well. The rocky soil also makes growing consistent turf difficult, although that's a minor issue when players are more likely to be looking up than down.

The elevated third tee introduces a grand stretch of golf. It's a spectacular par 4 of 405 meters (roughly 450 yards) that falls off a hill. The par-5 fourth runs along the shoreline. The par-4 fifth hole tempts players to take on the rocky beach, bending left over the seawall before climbing uphill to the green. A drop-shot wedge is all that's required of the 10th hole, a short par 3 of 109 meters.

Just don't let the view distract you.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Savor the remarkable views surrounding Queenstown Golf Club in Otago, New Zealand