"Frisbee Golf" had been played in the Queenstown Gardens for many years before ski instructor Chris Davies arrived in January of 1989. And no one knew it was an actual sport until James Smithells moved to Queenstown in 1993. He had with him proper golf discs, when we only had Ultrastars!

 

These discs were a huge revelation to us, flying so much longer, and we were immediately paying $50 each (in 1993 dollars!) to purchase special golf discs from a newsprint catalogue from Discovering the World, in California. They were awful colours, were made from bad plastics, and had nasty stamps. :P

 

James was the driving force behind creating the Queenstown Disc Golf Club, and getting the course approved by council in late 1995. The very first basket was very kindly donated by Auckland friend, and Disc Golf Hall of Famer, Bob Gentil. Slowly over the years, James, Chris, Andy & Dave were able to raise money for more baskets and more teepads. 

 

It is one of the most scenic DGCs in the world, and literally millions of tourists have played their very first game of disc golf at the ever-evolving Queenstown Gardens.

 

This has meant the Gardens course has been the inspiration for countless other first courses both in NZ, and across the entire globe. As NZ’s first DGC, it is an iconic course that has faced several challenges to its existence. Each and every time, James Smithells has risen to the challenge, and he has successfully defended the course each and every time. We can't thank James enough.

 

Each year, the Queenstown club hosts the annual Queenstown Classic, which is always a fully subscribed affair, and players have to be quick to get registered. This event has run non-stop since 1996, when Peter Bowie, the 1987 WFDF World Frisbee Champion beat Chris Davies by a single stroke. 

 

The Queenstown Gardens course is one of the most spectacular in the world, and views from the course are truly breath-taking. Conditions can be rough, however, especially if there are no paragliders flying, and the wind-surfers are out. However, the wind is playable if you know what you are doing, and can keep your discs low, and use the wind to your advantage.

 

For many years it was true that more disc golf was played in the Queenstown Gardens than in all the other disc golf courses in NZ combined. The Queenstown Gardens holds a special place in the hearts of many disc golfers, and once you play there, you will understand why.