Ultra-Luxe Golf Tour Q&A - Millbrook Golf Resort

Ultra-Luxe New Zealand Golf Tour 2025 - Q&A Millbrook Resort

ByLuxury Adventures

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Millbrook Resort, Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand - Key partner for the 2025 Ultra-Luxe New Zealand Golf Tour

With the recent launch of New Zealand’s first Ultra-Luxe Golf Tour, Luxury Adventures is conducting some Q&A’s and will be able to unveil an exciting preview of the upcoming tour. In this series of interviews, we have the honour of getting some insights and connecting with the individuals who will make this journey a truly exceptional experience.

Millbrook Resort is a 5 star golf & lifestyle resort just 20 minutes from Queenstown. It has 2 championship golf courses, The Remarkables and Coronet, and is now the exclusive host of the New Zealand Open. This award winning resort has the complete offering for its guests.

Today we will be discussing these amazing facilities with Thomas Buttenshaw, who is the Golf Operations Manager for Millbrook Resort.

Thanks for having us Tom, could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you have been involved in golf as a career?

Thank you, Steve,

I have always been a keen golfer and when the opportunity came up to join the Millbrook Golf Team I jumped at the chance. With a background in retail management, I have managed to move up to the role of Golf Operations Manager.

I moved to New Zealand from the sunny South of England 13 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Where is Millbrook Resort located, & could you let us know some of the history of the location & course?

Millbrook Resort is in Arrowtown, a short 20-minute drive from Queenstown. Beautifully positioned between the Remarkables and Coronet mountains.

Millbrook was originally a 450-acre wheat farm but has progressed into the 5-star hotel and golf resort it is today, now spanning across an impressive 650 acres.

What types of unique features or design elements of Millbrook stand out to you for its players & visitors?

The two courses provide two very different golfing experiences. The original course, The Remarkables, offers wide fairways, touring trees and a beautiful setting in the heart of the resort.

The Coronet, our new course, is classed as our Championship course. This offers tighter lies on the fairway and narrower lines into the green. From holes 6-12 you are raised up above the resort onto Mill Farm and shown incredible views overlooking the area. Many golfers say it has a links golf feel to it.

What practice facilities are available (driving range, putting green)? What brands are available for club rental?

We have a fully equipped heated driving range with separate putting and chipping area. We also offer a secluded short-game area in our Fox’s Rush Garden and 2 putting greens in the main village, close to the Golf Shop.

Our rental clubs are the Callaway Rogue ST’s. We offer these in regular flex graphite or Steel stiff shafts.

What’s the typical experience like for a golfer playing a round at Millbrook Resort?

Many of our tour groups enjoy making a full day of their visit. They start with a full breakfast at the Clubhouse, followed by a warm-up session at the driving range. After that, they head down to the first tee for their scheduled tee time. Once their round is complete, guests can unwind at one of our dining options, including the Hole In One Café, Smithy’s Smokehouse, Kobe or our Millhouse Restaurant.

Regarding golf, players usually leave very happy, although satisfaction with their scores is something beyond our control.

Do you have a favourite hole or stretch of holes on the course? Any tips for players?

My favourite stretch of holes would be Coronet 11-16. This offers the best views Millbrook has to offer, a set of challenging holes but also all very birdie-able on a good day.

My tip would be to play for position rather than distance. Although, the temptation to try and drive the 13th green usually gets the better of me.

In addition to golf, what are some of the unique features of this property?

One thing I hear from many guests, especially those staying at the resort, is that you don’t feel like you’re in Arrowtown or Queenstown. Millbrook has its own feel to it. Even for myself, when I get the chance to stay here, I don’t have the feeling of being where I live or work. A little holiday on my doorstep.

Last but not least, New Zealand is one of the most sought after locations for golfers looking at taking a golf vacation, what makes New Zealand such a great destination for travellers in your opinion?

You have everything you need here and so many incredible golf courses to play within a stones throw from each other. That’s just Central Otago.

New Zealand offers some of the best golf courses in the world, in my opinion. An ideal place to come and play.

Stay tuned for more in-depth conversations with key suppliers for the Ultra-Luxe New Zealand Golf Tour and get ready to embark on a luxurious journey filled with world-class golf courses, stunning landscapes, and unparalleled experiences. If you have any further questions email steve@luxuryadventures.co.nz or To find out more about the tour click here