Pegasus Town: a Sanctuary Cove in the making

By David Newbery

It is set near the foothills of South Island’s magnificent Southern Alps close to Christchurch, New Zealand.

Pegasus Golf and Sports Club, a brand new facility that includes an 18-hole championship golf course, state-of-the-art driving range, clubhouse, restaurant, gymnasium and tennis courts will open in early December.

Located in one of the country’s most picturesque and diverse landscape, the development is the gateway to the town of Pegasus.

General manager Brett James, an Australian, said the golf course was attached to the town of Pegasus, which is the largest residential development in Canterbury.

“It’s like Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast where there is a golf course and a whole community,” he said.

“This is the only one of its kind in New Zealand.”

Bob Robertson (Infinity Investment Group) is the joint developer with Multiplex.

Pegasus Town has been designed to accommodate 7000 residents with job opportunities for 1400 people.

“There will be 2500 homes, 107 retail shops, a large lake with 11 beaches, aquatic centre, cycling and walking tracks, kids’ outdoor zone, wetlands and a yacht club,” James said.

More than 800 homes have been sold and New Zealand cricket great Sir Richard Hadlee is building a house there.

Blocks of land around the golf complex range between $NZ400,000 to $NZ700,000, however, house and land packages in the town can be purchased for around $NZ500,000.

“When you buy a block of land here you receive a free family membership to the club,” James said.

“If they are not golfers they can pay a small fee to be a member of the gym.”

The golf course, which cost more than $25 million to build, was designed by Australian golf course designer Christine Kerr, who spent many years working for Gary Player Design.

The par-72 layout provides four sets of tees (black, blue, white and red) and stretches to 6305m off the championship tees and 5045m off the forward tees.

“From the forward tees the course is nice and easy with no big water carries and generous fairways,” James said.

“Players can duff their ball a number of times and it will still be in play.

“Off the back tees it’s tough and off the blue tees it’s a completely different challenge.”

The first real challenge will come early next year when the $NZ415,000 New Zealand Women’s Open, a Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event, will be played there from February 25-28.

James says Pegasus Golf and Sports Club is a five-star facility with a community feel.

“But it’s not at the five-star price point,” he was quick to point out.

“A lot of resorts around here charge $130 a game for people not affiliated to a New Zealand course.

“Our rack rate is $80, but it will be $50 for affiliated players (members of a club).”

The facility has a 16-bay state-of-the-art driving range with a pop-up ball system.

Golf is the hook, but Pegasus offers much more.

“Because the club is the entrance to the town we are going to put on dinners, breakfasts and coffee,” James said.

Of course, with a number of wineries just up the road Pegasus will stock the local product.

James, who is married and has a 20-month-old child, said it was a big decision to leave the comforts of Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast for New Zealand.

“I was at Sanctuary Cove when it first opened and if you can picture it before it started, that’s why I applied for the role at Pegasus – because of its potential.”

FACT FILE

Pegasus golf course is 25 kilometres north of Christchurch, New Zealand’s second largest city.
Christchurch is the international gateway to New Zealand’s South Island.

The international airport is a 20-minute drive away.

There are 13 ski areas all within two hours drive of Christchurch and the region is renowned for producing excellent wines.
The golf course is a three-minute drive from the beach and within walking distance of the centre of Pegasus.