The second annual Central Otago Autumn Golf Classic is being held this week at five 18-hole golf courses in
Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka, Arrowtown and Queenstown. The event has attracted more than 400 golfers, including 30 from Australia and two from Dubai.
''People just love coming to Central Otago. That's really the story, more than the golf,'' tournament director John Roche said.
''This is like another gold rush, but a golf rush.''
Mr Roche, a former professional golfer, said there was a similar tournament run in the 1970s and he wanted to re-create that.
There are eight grades of golfers playing for $35,000 worth of prizes.
Winners will be announced tonight
after a special dinner at Queenstown's Skyline restaurant.
While Mr Roche estimated the average age to be about 50, there were a lot of younger people, too, as well as some in their 70s.
