Golfer Pacific NZ – January 2026

Shaun Norris lost in a playoff but won my admiration

By Paul Gueorgieff Editor, Golfer Pacific NZ

Isaw something pleasantly surprising last month.

It came in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Johannesburg in South Africa.

Shaun Norris, who had won the same tournament the year before, had scored a brilliant eight-under par in the final round which would see him go into a playoff with fellow South African and rising star Jayden Schaper.

In the playoff, the par five 18th, Norris put his second shot onto green. Schaper, meanwhile, had put his tee shot into a fairway bunker.

Schaper, probably influenced by Norris’ second shot, bravely chose to play a hybrid club from the bunker.

He got the ball as clean as a whistle and it finished on the fringe at the back of the green, not too far from the pin. It was truly an outstanding shot.

Norris went on to two-putt for a birdie four but it was not enough as Schaper calmly slotted his putt for an eagle three and victory.

So what was the pleasant surprise?

It was the reaction from Norris when Schaper played his brilliant shot from the bunker.

Norris raised his hands above his head and clapped and kept

clapping until Schaper saw him doing so.

It was just so heart warming to see a player applaud the shot of an opponent — especially as it was in a playoff.

To see such genuine acclamation of a top shot is rare from an opponent in professional golf. It certainly beats, for example, the fiery antics of Tyrrell Hatton.

I once remember seeing Hatton miss a putt and afterwards he smacked the green in anger with his putter as if the green was not perfectly flat.

Even the television commentator was annoyed with Hatton’s reaction and reprimanded him by saying, Tryrrell you are now allowed beforehand to tap

down any imperfections in the green.

The win of Schaper was the middle leg of three top performances in South Africa in December.

The 24-year-old had the week before finished second in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City and the following week he racked up his second win on the DP World Tour when taking out the Mauritius Open, once again in a playoff.

But my applause, at the time, went to Norris for his genuine acclamation of a great shot even though it would eventually result in his loss. Well done Shaun.

Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Wellington has players from 28 countries

The best young talent in the region will descend on New Zealand for the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship at Royal Wellington next month.

From February 12-15, a total of 84 players from 28 countries are set to contest the championship which was developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.

The 2025 champion, Jeneath Wong of Malaysia, will spearhead the strong field as she looks to retain the title she won at Hoiana Shores in Vietnam in March of last year. She will be joined by 13 of the top 50 players from the world amateur golf rankings and 26 from the top 100, including world number 12 Oh Soo-min from Korea and world number 15 Rianne Malixi of the Philippines.

At just 18 years of age, Malixi has already recorded two top-five finishes in the championship and will make a record sixth appearance at the WAAP. Also playing for a sixth time will be New Zealand’s Vivian Lu, Singaporean Inez Ng and Rotana Howard of the Cook Islands, who returns after a year away due to giving birth to her first child.

Oh, who finished runner-up last year before going on to win low individual honours at the Queen Sirikit Cup, leads a strong contingent of six players from Korea, all of whom have recorded at least one victory in 2025.

Oh will be joined by Hong Sumin and Yang Yun-seo, the trio taking places two to four on this year’s WAAP leaderboard, along with Park Seo-jin, Kim Gyu-been and Park Seo Jin, as each player looks to etch a Korean name onto the trophy for the first time.

Japan’s strength in depth is highlighted by five of its six representatives currently sitting within the top 100 of the world amateur golf ranking. Mami-

ka Shinchi (ranked 88), who returns for a fourth time following top 10 finishes in 2022 and 2024, is joined by fellow returnees Anna Iwanaga (24) and Aira Nagasawa (33) and debutants Yurina Hiroyoshi (19), Ai Goto (52) and Tsukiha Nakashima (104). At 30th in the world amateur golf rankings, Achiraya Sriwong is the top ranked Thai player in the field. She is joined by Prim Prachnakorn and Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul, winner of the individual gold and silver medals respectively at last month’s Southeast Asian Games tournament. Prim won eight times last year while Kritchanya won

the APGC Junior Girls’ title. Completing the Thai line up are Pimpisa Sisutham and Nicha Kanpai.

Alongside Lu, there will be a further eight players proudly waving the Kiwi flag, which sets a championship record for the most participants from a single nation. At 53rd in the world, Eunseo Choi is the host nation’s best ranked player, but it will be Wellington golfer Darae Chung who will have the local fans cheering loudest. They will be joined by Emma Zheng, Teresa Wang, Juwon Kim, Chloe So, Cherry Lee and Caitlin Maurice, who will travel home from St Andrews, Scotland, to

compete in the championship for the first time since her debut in 2021.

Other notables in the field include R&A Girls’ Amateur Champion and Scotland-based Sabrina Wong of Hong Kong, and the talented China trio of Zhou Shiyuan, Ren Yijia and Liu Yujie, all of whom have won against the professionals on the China LPG Tour.

Raina Kumar of Fiji and Yanjinlkham Batdelger of Mongolia will be the first players to represent their nations at the championship.

Fresh from their high-performance training camp at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Academy are Kumar, Singapore’s Chen Xingtong, who tied 23rd at last year’s WAAP and reached the final of the US Girls’ Championship, and Junia Gabasa of the Philippines who was 42nd at Hoiana Shores in March. Meanwhile, Tyana Jacot of Guam, Margaret Lavaki of Papua New Guinea and Faith Vui of Samoa will be aiming to make the cut for the first time.

The WAAP offers life-changing opportunities to the winner, including exemptions into three major championships in 2026 – the Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes in England, the Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States.

The winner will also receive invitations to a handful of other elite championships such as the Hana Financial Group Championship, Women’s Australian Open, the 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The R&A and APGC are supported by championship event partners that share their commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The WAAP is supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz, Titleist and Tongariro as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and the Wellington Council.

New Zealand’s representatives for the Women’s Asia-Pacific named

New Zealand’s representatives for the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship to be held in Wellington from February 12-15 have been named.

There are nine players and they are Eunseo Choi, Vivian Lu, Emma Zheng, Darae Chung, Caitlin Maurice, Teresa Wang, Chloe So, Juwon Kim and Cherry Lee.

The tournament will be hosted by the Royal Wellington Golf Club at Heretaunga in Upper Hutt.

Developed by The R&A and Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, the prestigious championship provides a pathway to the international stage with the champion earning life-changing opportunities to play in the Women’s Open in England, The Evian Championship in France and The Chevron Championship in the United States.

New Zealand’s highest ranked world amateur invitee Eunseo Choi said: “Representing my country will always be one of the greatest honours I could have; I feel proud to have the silver fern on my chest whenever I compete.

“I always take pride in representing New Zealand, and having the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific at home makes it so much more special.

“Being able to play in my home country and sharing the beauty of Aotearoa with the rest of the Asia-Pacific is such a privilege that I hold close and am incredibly proud of.”

About the New Zealand Invitees

Eunseo Choi

Eunseo Choi is ranked 54th in the world amateur golf rankings and will make her fourth WAAP appearance in 2026. Choi recorded a strong WAAP finish in 2025, placing 13th after rounds of 67-71-67-67. Over the past 12 months Choi claimed her first NCAA victory at

the Silicon Valley Showcase for Pepperdine University and finished tied 11th individually at the 2025 World Amateur Team Championships.

Vivian Lu

Vivian Lu is ranked 96th in the WAGR and will make her sixth WAAP appearance in 2026, which will equal most appearances by a player alongside Philippines’ Rianna Malixi and Cook Islander Rotana Howard. She produced five top-11 results for the University of Washington across the 2024–25 collegiate season and her first NCAA win at the Dr. Donnis Invitational before transferring to the University of Texas. She also represented New Zealand at the 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships in the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Emma Zheng

Emma Zheng is ranked 254th in the WAGR and will make her second WAAP appearance in 2026 after debuting in 2025. Her 2025 season included three major wins: The New Zealand Under 19 Girls, the NextGen Atlantic Championship in Nova Scotia, which she won wire-to-wire, and the New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play Championship. She added the 2025 Auckland Stroke Play title and a fifth place at the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship while earning a top15 finish at the Junior World Cup.

Darae Chung

Wellington local Darae Chung is ranked 357th in the WAGR and will make her third WAAP appearance in 2026. A junior at the University of Oregon, Chung won her first collegiate title at the The Molly Collegiate Invitational in 2025 and claimed a further four top5 NCAA finishes as the Ducks won the 2025 Big Ten Championship.

Caitlin Maurice

Caitlin Maurice is ranked 472nd in the WAGR and will make her second WAAP appearance in 2026. She completed a four-year career at Sacra-

mento State University and garnered first team all-Big Sky honours for the third consecutive season. Maurice now holds the programme record of 126 competitive rounds with a 73.93 career scoring average, 10 career top-five finishes, and 43 rounds at or below par. In 2025 she won the R&A Student Tour Series - Ireland after transferring to the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Teresa Wang

Teresa Wang is ranked 537th in the WAGR and will make her first WAAP appearance in 2026. In 2025 she won the North Island Stroke Play, Bay of Plenty Stroke Play and New Zealand Under 16 titles as well as a runner-up finish at the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship and represented New Zealand at the Junior World Cup.

Chloe So

Chloe So is ranked 594th in the WAGR and will make her second WAAP appearance in 2026. She won her breakthrough title at the 2025 New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship and the Top Amateur honours at the Christies Floorings Mount Open and TSB Taranaki Open on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour while also being a member of the New Zealand Junior World Cup team.

Juwon Kim

Juwon Kim is ranked 663rd in the WAGR and will make her second WAAP appearance in 2026 after debuting in 2025. Kim recorded five runner-up finishes in 2025 including at the South Island Under 19s and New Zealand Under 16s and top-10s at the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship and Australian Girls Amateur.

Cherry Lee

Cherry Lee is ranked 840th in the WAGR and will make her first WAAP appearance in 2026 at Royal Wellington. The 2025 winner of the North Island Under 19 title and Taranaki Stroke play also was runner-up at the Waihi 54-hole Open and Tieke Stroke Play

events with a top-10 finish at the New Zealand Under 19 championship this year.

About the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship

As well as the three major championship starts, the WAAP champion will also gain starts in the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

These opportunities represent a direct pathway from amateur golf to the world stage, with the inaugural WAAP champion Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand now a six-time LPGA winner and the current world number one.

Previous WAAP participants have also gone on to win five major championships in just eight years. Japan’s Yuka Saso, the 2018 runner-up to Thitikul, has captured two US Women’s Open titles with fellow 2018 Thai competitor Patty Tavatanakit winning The Chevron Championship and Ayaka Furue of Japan winning the 2024 Amundi Evian Championship. Australia’s Grace Kim, a participant in 2019, won the Amundi Evian Championship earlier this year.

About Royal Wellington Golf Club

First established in 1895 and situated alongside the Hutt River, Royal Wellington is well-renowned as a parkland layout and is one of the premier courses in New Zealand.

Royal Wellington has hosted the New Zealand Open on seven occasions including in 1976 when local Steve Williams caddied in his first significant tournament for five-time Champion Golfer Peter Thomson. More recently, the course hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship won by China’s Yuxin Lin in 2017.

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Bay of Plenty golfer chasing dreams from Scotland’s home of golf

Tauranga golfer Caitlin Maurice is living every golfer’s dream, studying and playing at the University of St Andrews in Scotland while preparing for a homecoming that could change her career.

The Bay of Plenty product, who grew up playing golf at the Omokoroa Golf Club near Tauranga, was hitting practice balls with views of the iconic 18th

hole of the Old Course and the famous Old Course Hotel.

But her focus is firmly on next month’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship at Royal Wellington Golf Club, where a strong performance could open doors to major championships around the world.

“It’s always special to represent your home country and to have the tourna-

ment back home is very cool to be a part of,” Maurice said.

“I’m super excited to play against some of the best girls in the world.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner earns starts in major championships including the Women’s Open in England and an invitation to Augusta National in the United States.

“It’s every golfer’s dream,” Maurice said. “It’s a really massive reward for some amazing golf.”

After completing four years at Sacramento State University in the United States, Maurice chose St Andrews for her master’s degree, drawn by the home of golf and the opportunity to travel around Europe competing on the student tour series. She’s played tournaments in Ireland, Sweden and has upcoming events in Portugal and Spain.

“St Andrews is a very special place,” she said. “Being a student here is very cool. It’s such a beautiful, cute town with an amazing student vibe.”

The transition from New Zealand’s parkland courses to Scottish links golf has been challenging but rewarding.

“Golf is all links here. We only have a

couple of links courses back home, so it’s not very common,” she explained.

Maurice is working closely with her coach to prepare for the Asia-Pacific Amateur. She is focusing on her statistics and developing a practice plan. She’ll return home for six weeks over the New Zealand summer to train in competition conditions and spend time with family.

“It’ll be really nice to have all my family fly down and spend the week with me, walk around the golf course,” she said. “They haven’t been able to do it as much while I’ve been playing in the US and Europe.”

With final exams complete, Maurice was to have flown home just before Christmas to spend time with family and begin her preparation in earnest, combining technical work with simulating tournament conditions as she chases her major championship dreams.

Women’s Amateur AsiaPacific Championship

Date: February 12-15

Venue: Royal Wellington Golf Club at Heretaunga in Upper Hutt.

Email: info@australiangolfequipment.com.au www.stingergolf.com.au

New professional tournament announced for Auckland in March NEWS

Professional golf will make a major return to Auckland in March with the launch of the Japan-Australasia Championship.

The tournament, sponsored by Japanese non-profit organisation ISPS Handa, will be at the Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club from March 5-8.

Co-sanctioned by two of the world’s most renowned and respected tours -the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) -- the championship marks the first time in history the tours have partnered together in a tournament.

The event brings world class golf back to Auckland for the first time since 2004 and will offer $1.3 million in prize money, showcasing leading players from

New Zealand, Australia and Japan alongside rising stars from across the region.

Dr Haruhisa Handa, founder and chairman of ISPS Handa, one of the longest-standing supporters of golf in Japan, Australasia, and disability golf, was the inspiration behind the Japan–Australasia Championship. The concept reflects Handa’s belief in the power of sport, and especially the power of golf, to bring people together and to strengthen bonds between regions and nations.

“We are delighted to support this first-ever co-sanctioned tournament partnership between the Japan Golf Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia,” said Dr Handa.

“The relationship between Japan and Australasia is vitally important, and we

Handa, who have supported golf globally for many decades and who have helped to bring this historic partnership to fruition.

“New Zealand has a rich golfing heritage, and bringing tournament golf back to Auckland is something we’re immensely proud to support.”

The addition of the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship creates an unprecedented three-week swing of professional golf in New Zealand.

The New Zealand PGA Championship will be played at the world top-100 Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club from February 19-22, followed by the New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown from February 26-March 1.

The host venue, Royal Auckland & Grange Golf Club, recently completed a major redevelopment and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s finest championship layouts.

Craig Sinclair, club captain of Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club, said: “We are immensely proud that Royal Auckland and Grange has been chosen to host the inaugural ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasian Championship.

are very pleased to help foster it through this championship.

“We look forward to welcoming players and fans from across the Pacific to celebrate the spirit of golf together at such a wonderful venue.”

PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman hailed the new event as a significant milestone for golf in the region.

“This tournament represents an exciting new chapter for golf in our part of the world,” Kirkman said.

“Partnering with the Japan Golf Tour for the first time is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen ties between our Tours and provide our players with a truly international stage.

“We’re also very grateful to continue our long-standing relationship with ISPS

“When the tours approached us as the only venue capable of hosting an event of this calibre, it was recognition not just of our world-class course and facilities, but of our club’s 130-year commitment to excellence in New Zealand golf.

“This is Auckland’s first major men’s professional tournament in 20 years, and we’re honoured to showcase our course to international audiences while engaging with our wider community and inspiring the next generation of golfers.

“It’s a historic moment that reflects both our proud heritage and our exciting future.”

The announcement of the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasian Championship completes the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s 2025/26 schedule which now has 20 events, all contributing to the chase for rewards via the order of merit.

Five playoff holes required to determine winner of men’s interprovincials

Bay of Plenty capped an unbeaten week at the Manawatu Golf Club by outlasting an also undefeated Otago side in a gripping men’s interprovincials final that came down to the very last putt.

With a new format demanding perfection throughout the week, it was fitting that the two teams who had navigated the round robin without a loss were the ones left standing.

For much of the morning, the final looked destined to hinge on the No 1s, but momentum swung repeatedly before the match was eventually decided by the players in the No 5 position.

Otago appeared to have taken control early as Ben Patson and Troy Scott

secured important points, yet Bay of Plenty refused to wilt. Showing trademark resilience and spirit, they steadied on the back nine and began clawing their way back.

One of the pivotal matches came in the middle order, where Jordan Golding (Bay of Plenty) and 14-year-old Raphael Anderson (Otago) were locked in a duel that never tipped decisively either way. Both produced opportunities but neither could manufacture the late breakthrough needed, halving the match to give each team half a point.

That early split kept the final wide open and foreshadowed the drama that would unfold.

Bay of Plenty’s fightback gathered

the week. Each edged ahead with par putts, only for the other to match them immediately, drawing loud roars from the gathering crowd. Shot after shot, putt after putt, they refused to be separated.

Eventually, as had felt inevitable, the championship came down to a single putt. Golding found himself with a birdie opportunity to finally close out the match. When the ball dropped, his head went skyward in relief before he was mobbed by jubilant teammates, matched in emotion by No 4 Hayden White, who had caddied for him throughout the playoff.

Special recognition was reserved for Anderson, whose composure at just 14 years old was a standout of the final. He pushed Golding to the very last stroke and earned widespread respect for his maturity. Golding himself was quick to praise him, admitting he hadn’t realised Anderson was so young until after the match: “Raph’s going to be a name we see plenty of in the future,” Golding said.

Golding also confessed that the tension of the playoff was unlike anything he had previously experienced. “I never want to be in something that tense ever again,” he said with a laugh.

traction when Nathan Clark edged out Duncan Croudis one up, staying composed late to haul his side within reach.

The surge continued when No 1 Mitchell Kale (Bay of Plenty) delivered under pressure, defeating Ricky Kang (Otago) two up and levelling the contest at 2.5 points each. Kale’s putting proved crucial; his consecutive clutch makes on the 17th and 18th kept Bay of Plenty alive and set the stage for a finish that will be remembered for years.

With the teams still tied, the No 5s returned to the tee for a playoff that stretched across five increasingly tense trips down the hole. Neither Golding nor Anderson looked willing to bow to the pressure or the physical wear of

Reflecting on the final putt, he said: “I was just thinking of hitting it left edge and hope like hell it goes in because I didn’t want to go back up to the tee for another one.”

Having joked in the past about rarely being the one to finish last, he allowed himself a moment to savour the achievement.

“I always joke about not being the one to hole the winning putt because I’m usually first finished, but today it was me, so it was pretty cool.”

With that, Bay of Plenty secured the 2025 men’s interprovincials title; an unbeaten campaign sealed by resilience, precision under pressure and a final moment of nerve from the man who had waited longest to deliver it.

North Harbour racks up seventh win at women’s interprovincials

North Harbour beat its long time rivals Auckland 4-1 to claim its seventh women’s interprovincials title and keep their hands on the trophy they won last year.

Picture perfect conditions greeted the finalists at Ashburton in the afternoon, with a light breeze and hot temperatures setting up ideal scoring conditions for the final match of the tournament. North Harbour went through the round robin stages of the event undefeated, with the new format placing heavy importance on winning every match.

With momentum on it’s side, North Harbour continued it’s incredible play against the formidable Auckland side, which also brought their best stuff. Both sides traded blows and headed to the closing nine holes locked in a tight tussle, with North Harbour poking their noses in front.

However, the cream well and truly rose to the top, with North Harbour’s number three, four, and five securing the vital points needed to keep the trophy north of the Auckland harbour bridge, with number one Sophie Yu winning it’s fourth point.

North Harbour number five Lingyao Qu, who secured the winning point, was in disbelief they had won again.

Qu said: “Cherry (Lee from Auckland)

and I had a really hard match – we were neck and neck the entire game. I was one down through 15 and then won the 16th with a par, then hooked my tee shot on the 17th, punched my next shot out, and then hit my five wood to four feet to win with a birdie, and then won the 18th with a par.

“I wasn’t expecting to win the last three holes in a row.”

North Habour team manager Annette Muir, who was the manager of the winning side last year, couldn’t be prouder of the team. She stressed the importance of winning every game in the new format, as the top two

teams at the end of round robin progressed straight through to the final.

North Harbour had several close games that could have gone either way but showed plenty of resilience to progress to the big dance – something Muir said helped them get over the line this afternoon.

“We knew the importance of going through undefeated,’’ Muir said.

“They just believed in themselves. They play a lot of golf with the Auckland team and they’re very good friends with them all. We just showed a lot of fighting spirit all tournament.

“We had three newbies this year and they became so close throughout the week and created an unbreakable bond. They are fantastic golfers with great attitudes, and no doubt we’ll be seeing a lot of them performing again in the near future.”

The final results saw Sophie Yu (North Harbour) defeat Emma Zheng (Auckland) 3 and 2, Sarah Li lost to Chloe So two down, Yeowon Yoon defeated Amy Tang 4 and 3, Victoria Xin defeated Queenie Lang 2 and 1 and Lingyao Qu defeated Cherry Lee two up.

The player of the tournament went to North Harbour’s number three Yeowon Yoon, who went through the tournament undefeated.

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Finishing the year on the right note: A boys’ golf trip to Taranaki

By Golfer Pacific writer Peter Thornton

There is something about a golf trip that makes grown men feel like teenagers again.

The promise of the open road, a few days off work, the competitive banter and the thrill of taking on courses you have seen and read so much about but never played.

Taranaki has to be one of the most affordable and accessible golf destinations in the country. The region has 18 courses and all of them are at a good standard with many offering stunning views of Mount Taranaki or dramatic coastline, or both.

For our tour, we chose the Waitara, Inglewood and New Plymouth golf clubs, but truth be told, we could have come up with several options, and they likely would have been just as good.

For four mates — Chris, Daniel, Scotty and myself — a long-awaited weekend in Taranaki was exactly what we needed to finish the year.

Chris and I came down from Auckland while Daniel and Scotty made the shorter trip from Wellington, meeting at the Waitara Golf Club, just north of

New Plymouth.

The weather forecast looked good, and it was a nice feeling turning off the work phone to connect with the lads. The format was simple. You would play with someone different each day in a best-ball format with the losers buying the beers in the after match.

Every round would also include a three-hole challenge where we all put in $10 for the final three holes and the winner takes the humble pot.

Day One: Waitara Golf Club — Rustic Charm and Local Legends

Waitara Golf Club is the kind of course that reminds you why golf is best played off the beaten track. It is hard to believe that a round here costs just $20 and it is a perfect example of the type of experience Taranaki has to offer.

We arrived shortly after midday for a 1pm tee time and it was a lovely feeling to be in the warm sun and the only people on this beautiful links course by the ocean.

For game one, the Aucklanders

paired off against the Wellington lads, and everyone was keen to get off to a good start in the battle for the beers.

Waitara is a genuinely good links course. The signature stretch weaves alongside the coast with incredible

views and it is a pleasure to play.

My favourite three holes here were the 8th, 11th, and 15th. The par three eighth is the first time you see the ocean with an expansive panoramic as your backdrop. And it only gets better from there.

The par four 11th, which measures 283 metres, from the white tees has uninterrupted views of the Tasman Sea. It is an elevated risk and reward hole that plays tough in a cross wind.

There are a couple of magical holes midway through the back nine, the par three 12th and the short dog-leg 13th which has a two-tiered green with a steep drop off at the front and left.

Later in the round the par four 15th is a beauty. It measures 322 metres from the white tees and the real test here is your second shot. You will need to hit a small target for a green which has a sharp drop off to the beach below on the left.

Waitara is not a long course but there is challenging holes that make you stop and think and when the wind gets up it is a different beast.

It is run by volunteers and they do a fantastic job of making sure you feel welcome.

If you are heading to Taranaki, make a

stop in at Waitara. It is a unique experience.

For the match, Chris and I felt like we were in control. When I made a few pars heading into the turn we were already lining up the beers. But Scotty managed many miraculous recoveries from all over the course, and Daniel came up with the defining moment.

On the 15th, that awe-inspiring par four, he made a curling 40-foot putt over the slope for par that gave them a one up advantage. They never looked back.

It came down to the final putt of the match and when Chris could not save par on the 18th, we had to accept their one up win. Chris got some consolation as he claimed the pot for the three-hole challenge. There was another battle waiting in the morning.

Dinner at Shining Peak Brewing

No golf trip is complete without a proper dinner to celebrate getting away. In New Plymouth, Shining Peak Brewing is the perfect spot. Set in a converted warehouse, the brewery blends an industrial setting with a warm, social vibe.

We were welcomed into a spacious

booth, and we made it nice and easy for the waitress with four angus beef burgers and fries.

All the lads could not wait to get into the craft beers on tap, and the local Shining Peak Double Skunk Hazy IPA was a beauty. It was eight percent and packed with tropical flavours.

Our experience here set the tone. The food was out of the top drawer, and we could have settled in here for hours. But after a long day it was time to get some rest ahead of day two.

Home Base: The Devon Hotel

The Devon Hotel, right in the heart of New Plymouth, became home base for

the weekend.

With its retro-modern decor and the down to earth team who bring their own Taranaki hospitality, it was exactly what the boys needed.

There is no better way to enjoy a place like Taranaki than waking up first thing to explore the Coastal Walkway. Chris and I went for a run at 7am and found it is a popular part of town.

With the sun coming up over the ocean and black-sanded beach, it was a remarkable sight and a reminder of just how beautiful our country is.

One of the best features of The Devon is its amenities. It has an awesome heated swimming pool and spa which was a

Godsend through the trip. If you stay here, you get a free game at Ngāmotu Links (New Plymouth Golf Club).

The rooms were comfortable, and my suite had a good-sized lounge and deck, so the boys retired here after the round for a few quiet beers for the opening cricket test of the Ashes in Perth.

While the English boys were trying to stage a comeback with some crazy Bazball, my mind was wondering. I was looking forward to going low at a course I had heard a lot about.

Inglewood Golf Club — Country Golf at Its Purest Inglewood Golf Club sits just inland from New Plymouth and is framed by farmland and an ever-present backdrop of Taranaki Maunga (Mount Taranaki).

The course is a gem — unpretentious, beautifully maintained and with a friendly membership that makes visitors feel like locals within minutes.

When you look at the scorecard of the blue tees at 4793 metres, you’ll think the course is there for the taking. But Inglewood has humbled many talented players.

On day two, Daniel and I would team up taking on Chris and Scotty. When I rolled in a birdie on the short par four

third to go one up I was sure we were in for a good day. We were one up heading into the turn and it had the feeling the match would go the distance again.

This is a course that the members are proud of and for good reason. There is only one greenkeeper here – local legend Mark Kennard – and he does a superb job. He is also well supported by a substantial number of volunteers who take immense pride in maintaining the gardens and grounds of their club.

It is a fun adventure. My favourite three holes here were the par three eighth which is only 121 metres but fraught with danger. It is an easy eight iron but get it wrong there is trouble left, and it drops away at the back leaving a tricky chip.

The next hole is unique for its tee shot. Standing on the tee of the ninth, you have a small window to navigate, and it is hard to know where the hole goes to from there. That is Inglewood, it keeps you guessing.

Another great test is the par three 12th which is rated as the hardest hole on the course. It is 190 metres from the tee and the shape suits a player who can draw the ball from right to left (which is not my natural game).

It is a good test, and the risk and

reward nature of the course makes it ideal for a matchplay contest. Chris and Scotty played perfect team golf, when one was in trouble, the other was making a par, and it resulted in a 4 and 2 win.

I was none from two so pretty determined to get something out of the three-hole challenge. When I made a good par on the last it was enough to take the pot by one shot from Scotty.

A unique feature of Inglewood is the majestic views you get of Taranaki Maunga at many points around the course and the conditioning is superb. You would love to be a member here.

After the round, you will enjoy $6 beers and $2.50 toasties. It does not get better than that.

The 19th Bar

Back in town, it was time for golf of a different kind. The 19th Bar, New Plymouth’s own golf simulator bar.

Inside, it was all neon lights, laughter and the satisfying thwack of drives echoing off digital fairways. The boys grabbed a round of craft beers and queued up a virtual round at Pebble Beach.

We spent hours there, trying to iron out any rough swings from hours earlier as we prepared for round three.

One of the 19th hole team was a young lad called Max who played off scratch and gave us a few tips for our final round at his home course.  Turns out he was playing right in front of us, so we saw him first thing in the morning.

When we finally called it a night, everyone agreed: The 19th Bar was a must-return stop and would be a fun spot if you were a local.

Day Three: New Plymouth Golf Club — The Finale

Like many places in Aotearoa, I have history with the New Plymouth Golf Club.

This is the course I was waiting for.

For many years, when I was working in golf, I came to New Plymouth every year to work on the Taranaki Open. It was always one of the best weeks on the calendar and the course – which is also known as Ngāmotu Links - was one of the reasons for that.

It is a superb track that has to be one of the best club courses in the country.

The course was originally created in the 1920s and then remodelled by legendary golf architect C H Redhead who redesigned many New Zealand layouts during the 1930s.

It stands the test of time and no trip to the Taranaki is complete without playing here.

The New Plymouth Golf Club is the premier club in the region – both in terms of its design and conditioning -- and at $60 for affiliated golfers it remains excellent value.

For the final match of the trip, I teamed up with Scotty, looking for my first win, and we took on Chris and Daniel. We soon realised that Ngāmotu is a level above the other layouts in the region and is a real challenge. It was a busy Saturday morning, and we were grateful to be included in the members’ field.

There is a plethora of great holes here, so it is hard to narrow it down to three.

One of the signature holes is the par three sixth. It is 145 metres from the white tees and with a splendid view of the mountain, a lake in front and bunkers either side, it frames up like a picture.

The par four 13th is the best hole on the course. Standing on that elevated tee, watching the sets of surf roll in along that endless coastline, it is one of the unique experiences in golf in New Zealand. It is a beautiful par four that measures 315 metres from the white tees and South African legend Bobby Locke once called the 13th “among the eighteen finest”.

The next hole is just as good and can play so different depending on the wind conditions. The par three 14th is only 116 metres, but it can be anything from a pitching wedge to a three iron, maybe more, depending on the wind. Standing on that green in the morning sun, with the ocean lapping onto the black sand beach, well, it is a magical place to be.

Special mention goes to the finishing par five 18th. It is a great closing hole that has decided many important championships over the years.

For the record, Scotty got us off to a strong start and I finished off the job for a 4 and 2 win.

My personal highlight of the round was an easy six iron to pin-high on the sixth for par.

Chris continued his fine form, especially around the green. He won the threehole challenge and, just like that, the golf was all over. We were tired and sore, but content.

In the clubhouse you will find a quality chicken burger and chips and a number of great beers on tap including the local Shining Peak Skunk Hazy IPA which had quickly become a favourite.

Brunch at Monica’s Eatery

The final morning rolled around, and the crew headed to Monica’s Eatery — a New Plymouth institution known for its brunch. The place buzzed with a week-

end crowd, all natural light and modern art, a perfect blend of sophistication and seaside charm.

Chris and I had been out for a morning run and swim, so we were ready to tuck into an excellent eggs Benedict and a mango smoothie. It was world class service and food to match.

It was a great setting to go over the highs and lows of what had been a memorable three days.

We were all dreading the drive home and getting back to reality but not before one last contest.

The Afternoon Detour — Hillsborough Hideaway

No golf trip is complete without a bit of mischief, and for the boys, which came in the form of Hillsborough Hideaway.

Nestled just outside New Plymouth, this mini-golf course is part challenge, part adventure, and fully competitive. We met the owner Steve in the playground who was my sort of man. He was full of cheek right from the first handshake and has done a superb job in creating this place.

Mini golf brought out the best — and worst — in everyone. The course was a tale of two halves going uphill it is a real battle and downhill it was all about playing for position with gravity.

Scotty got off to a strong start and held

a three-shot lead heading into the back nine. Daniel had a couple of disastrous holes but turned them around with three quick holes in one.

Quietly going about his business was Chris. He was right there in the chasing pack and when he made a great two on the last and Scotty had a meltdown with a five, it was enough to claim the spoils. Daniel and I finished in the bottom two and were buying the ice creams.

Why Taranaki Works

A boys’ golf trip is not just about golf. It is about the stories that come out of the rounds, the detours, and the dinners. Taranaki, with its compact layout and wealth of experiences, nails that balance.

With eighteen golf courses across the region, it has a wide variety of layouts and they are decent quality and super affordable. Waitara was $20, Inglewood was $30 and New Plymouth, the best course in the region was $60 for affiliates. That is exceptional value for money.

Waitara offers local charm and linksstyle play. Inglewood brings rural beauty and quiet focus. New Plymouth Golf Club provides world class challenge and scenery to match. Add in the comfort of The Devon Hotel, brunch at Monica’s Eatery, mini-golf madness at Hillsborough Hideaway, and the laughs at The 19th Bar and Shining Peak Brewing — and you have got a weekend that feels much longer than three days.

For the lads, it was not just a golf trip. It was a reminder of why mates’ weekends matter — the escape, the banter, the connection.

Because somewhere between the fairways and the food, between the laughter and the long drives, we found something. That golf, in all its frustrations and joys, is just the excuse. The real game is friendship and spending quality time with good mates.

A special thanks to Holly Collins and Aynslie Harper at the Venture Taranaki Trust for their help in coordinating our trip to Taranaki.

Grant Moorhead is name synonymous with Taranaki golf. His wins included the 1991 New Zealand Strokeplay, he was part of  the New Zealand team that won the World Amateur Championship (Eisenhower Trophy) in 1992 and he won the 1993 West Australian Open. He recalled his career for Golfer Pacific.

A life in golf: From Fitzroy fairways to the world stage

By Grant Moorhead

Ican’t remember a time when golf wasn’t a part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are with a plastic club in hand, wandering around the backyard. But it wasn’t long before I graduated from hitting plastic balls at home to walking the fairways with my dad at Ngāmotu (New Plymouth Golf Club) and Fitzroy.

Dad was the real driving force behind it all. He was heavily involved in the golf

club, and his love for the game rubbed off on me straight away. As a kid, we’d go out to Fitzroy Golf Club on Sunday mornings for junior golf. Back then, it was a real community. Dozens of kids would turn up and there were always a few volunteers giving up their time to run things and keep it fun.

After golf, we’d grab a drink and some chips for under a dollar, then hang around the clubhouse playing darts and pool. Looking back now, it was those little rituals that made the

experience so special. It wasn’t just golf — it was a whole world we felt a part of.

Once I became a full junior member at New Plymouth Golf Club (NPGC), things really started to take off. I was proud as anything wearing my blue NPGC sweater, and I’d be at the course as much as I possibly could. The combination of playing, practicing and spending time with my dad—it became my life.

What made it even more special was the fact that dad was always on the bag. He wasn’t just my caddie; he was my coach, my supporter and my sounding board. We travelled together for junior events, then rep events, and eventually national and international tournaments. I’ve got memories of us sneaking off to play new courses on family holidays, whether that was in Auckland, at The Grange, or somewhere down south.

Of course, like any father and son, we had our share of disagreements — especially as a teenager when emo-

tions ran high. I used to get frustrated after a bad hole and carry that with me into the next few holes. But I remember one tournament where dad calmly gave me some advice about letting go and just focusing on the next shot. Something clicked that day. I hit a couple of great shots straight after, and from that point on, I really started to trust him out there.

Dad passed away recently. It was a devastating moment for our family. We’ll miss him so much.

We shared some great moments. One that stands out was winning the Lawnmaster Classic (at the Manawatu Golf Club) in 2013 with dad caddying — it felt like everything had come full circle. We’d been doing it together for over 30 years by then. He even travelled with me to Australia a couple of times, including the Greg Norman International in Melbourne. We got caught in a weather delay and while the players were ferried back to the clubhouse, the caddies were left hiding in trees from a lightning storm. He

loved retelling that story.

My competitive career has taken me all over the world, but it always starts and ends with Taranaki. This region has given me so much and I’ve been proud to represent it wherever I’ve played. Whether it was winning the New Zealand Junior Championship in 1989, or the New Zealand Strokeplay in ’91, or being part of the New Zealand team that won the World Amateur Championship in 1992 — those moments were all possible because of the foundation laid here at home.

Turning professional at the end of 1992, I was lucky enough to keep the momentum going. Winning the West Australian Open in 1993 was huge for me, as was winning the Tahiti Open four times. I managed a few top finishes back in New Zealand too, including third at the New Zealand Open in 1998, and topped the NZPGA order of merit in 2005 and 2008. I played competitively for more than 25 years, right up until my late 40s.

But beyond the wins and results, it’s the people and places that really stick with you. Golf has taken me to incredible parts of the world, but I’ll always come back to the joy of discovering new courses around Taranaki with dad or my mates.

I also now have my son Jackson to follow. He has carried on the golfing legacy in our family, playing from a very young age to now being a very accomplished player. In 2024 he won the Taranaki and Manawatu under-16 titles and was victorious in the Taranaki under-19 Championship in July which was very special as dad was able to experience another Moorhead victory when he was in hospital. Jackson played No 1 for the Taranaki junior team in their second-place finish in the Junior Interprovincial, and has followed in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather by becoming a Taranaki senior representative when he played in the men’s team at the Shand Cup late in 2024.

Speaking of Taranaki – what a place for a golf trip. We’ve got 18 courses in the region, which is incredible for a place of this size. Within an hour of New Plymouth, you can play a real variety of courses — from coastal cliff-top layouts to inland

tree-lined tracks. Places like Ngāmotu, Hāwera, Fitzroy, Waitara and Te Ngutu all offer something different. It’s hard to think of a part of New Zealand that is more accessible or affordable for golf.

A few of my favourite holes? I’d say hole 14 at Ngāmotu is a standout, as is No 6 at Hāwera and No 14 at Fitzroy – they are sentimental favourites. Waitara’s second hole and No 6 at Te Ngutu are also must-plays.

One of the best parts of golf in this region is that while none of the courses are considered “world class,” they’re all honest, enjoyable, and accessible. You don’t need deep pockets to enjoy great golf here. And with the mountain in one direction and the coast in the other, the views aren’t bad either.

Away from the course, there’s plenty to enjoy. I spend a lot of time with family and friends, riding my bike, listening to music and getting outdoors. There are so many great cafés and restaurants around the region and the locals are always keen to welcome visitors to Taranaki.

I’ve also found joy in teaching – helping others improve their game and get the same satisfaction I’ve had for decades. If you’re a weekend golfer or an 18-handicapper wondering how to get better, my advice is simple: build a consistent routine. Work on your fundamentals – grip, alignment, setup. It’s not about chasing a perfect swing but having one that delivers a reliable shot shape. Once that’s sorted, focus on your short game. Putting and shots inside 50 metres – that’s where you can really drop your scores.

These days, I feel incredibly grateful for what golf has given me. Being made a life member at New Plymouth Golf Club in 2022, alongside my dad, was a real honour. And last year, being inducted into the Sport Taranaki Hall of Fame – it felt like recognition not just of the tournaments and trophies, but of the lifelong journey. At its heart, golf is a game of connections. For me, it connected me with my dad, gave me lifelong friends, took me around the world, and now it’s time to give back to the next generation. That’s a life I’m proud of.

Phil Tataurangi the consummate professional

By Neville Idour

Phillip Tataurangi, born October 31,1973, has achieved much in golf in his 54 years. He can rightly be regarded as one of New Zealand’s iconic characters in golf.  His achievements transcend most aspects of golf. So where and when did it all begin?

His early childhood was in Auckland, then his parents moved when Phil was seven years old to teach at King Country school Kinohaku in Waikato. On Saturdays Phil would tag along with his father to the local golf course. Eventually he would caddy for him in the morning then while his father was in the clubhouse watching rugby he would take his clubs and chip and putt or maybe play a couple of holes.

Although more than 40 years ago Phil’s memories are clear.

“There’s an incredible sense of achievement when you first get the ball to fly. It’s quite a complex task connecting with a stationary ball and sending it in the direction you want.”

Phil’s father Te Roi Tataurangi grew up in Pahiatua, near Woodville, and his great passion was sport. He was a wonderful all round talent at various sports. He went to the rugby nursery high school Te Aute College in Hawke’s Bay. He went on to play rugby for Auckland, the New Zealand Juniors and the Maori All Blacks. Some felt he was unlucky not to achieve the ultimate as an All Black.

Phil said: “He also excelled at cricket, archery and rifle shooting and held the New Zealand school records for the triple jump, long jump and the 100 yard sprint.” He was a quite remarkable all round talent.

Phil relates sadly: “Dad died as I was preparing to go to university in the (United) States. He’d been slightly crook but then a heart attack killed him on the morning of an All Blacks-Wallabies rugby test in August, 1990, in Auckland. It was traumatic and it took me months to function again and pursue my pathway in golf as it was no longer a priority.”

In a poignant note Phil is the image

of his father as a photo of his father Te Roi and mother Robyn shows. His father was just 47 years old when he died.

“My game went south as I battled with our loss. Heading overseas and leaving mum, my sister and Melanie who later became my wife, did not feel right so I stayed home. I needed to stay close to family and friends. That time at home allowed me to heal. My game came right, better than expected, and that culminated in our New Zealand amateur team winning the Eisenhower Trophy in Canada in 1992.”

His teammates were Michael Campbell, Stephen Scahill and Grant Moorhead and they won by seven shots from the United States team which included David Duval and Justin Leonard. The icing on the cake was Tataurangi being the individual winner, a magnificent achievement on nine under, with Michael Campbell just a shot behind in second place.

Looking back at his younger days when he was old enough to head to the National Maori Championships he said he was fortunate to hang out with and learn from some genuine Maori champions, most notably Trevor Ormsby an eight time New Zealand Maori golf champion. “Here he was, helping me, just a kid, with learning the game.”

As an amateur Tataurangi’s two most notable wins were the 1992 New South Wales Medal and the 1993 New Zealand Amateur. He turned professional in 1994 and would go on to win the 1996 Australian PGA Championship and the 2002 Invensys Classic on the PGA Tour, which was a five round event. He finished 29 under par to win by a shot from Stuart Appleby and Jeff Sluman. He also scored one win on the Korn Ferry Tour, then the Nike Tour in 1996, winning the Nike Tri Cities Open on 21 under par by six shots from Skip Kendall.

He played in five majors with a best finish of tied 39th at the 2003 Masters Tournament. He missed out on playing in an Open Championship. He also represented New Zealand at the 1988

Eisenhower Trophy, the 1989 and 1993 Nomura Cups, plus the 1996 World Cup. Playing local country courses as a youngster he couldn’t imagine the fairways he would come to walk including Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Winged Foot and TPC Sawgrass. Add to that teeing it up alongside golf’s greats including Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Reflecting on his time as a professional, Tataurangi does have some misgivings as he recounts.

“For two decades from 1994 to 2014 I was spending 10 months out of every year overseas trying to become the best golfer I could be. Unfortunately, in chasing my dreams to succeed, I left my Maoritanga behind. Even though I felt Maori and was very proud of being Maori on the world stage, I didn’t have a way of showing it or making that a much bigger part of me. I deeply regret not finding a way to pack my whole self when I travelled internationally.”

Unfortunately persistent injury problems brought an end to his international playing career in 2011.

“I’d had a number of injuries and a couple of lower back surgeries that interrupted my progress and possibly curtailed my career.”

So it was time for he and his family to leave the United States and return to New Zealand where they settled in Auckland.

“Melanie and I had a strong feeling that we wanted our two children to grow up where they had family.”

Golf’s future is important to Phil and so he has established a successful career as a golf commentator and course designer. He has teamed up with the experienced Brett Thomson of RBT Design and they have two significant successes to their names already.

Windross Farm was the first followed by the superb Tieke Golf Estate, the unique inland links course near Hamilton.

Tataurangi’s design philosophies are hard to dispute.

“The way some male players are overpowering the game is challenging

the purities that were very much part of the sport. It’s one of the reasons many people now prefer to watch the women play as there’s more of a resemblance to the game as it used to be when players used almost every club in their bag. I’m more about designing courses that are enjoyable for all standards and ages, particularly making it possible for families to have fun playing together.

“After 20 years travelling the world to play pro golf I noticed how grounded I was being back home in gumboots on the land. It filled me up. To come home and have work that’s so connected with the land has been a privilege. Along with my  business partner Brett Thomson and our team at Mahi Tahi Golf Projects we worked with Tieke on the design and through the construction for four years.

“Our design approach is to try and make the game more interesting for people so they play more often. There was a trend in golf architecture for a while that every new course had to be a championship course. But what and who for? So first and foremost we want to design a course for the average person who plays week in, week out.”  For many people their golf club is their second home and a lot of them form their strongest friendships at their club.

“The people become far more important in a club than the golf holes. If we can to get that part right there will be a heartbeat there for the next 100 years. Golf isn’t the rich exclusive game that it’s often perceived to be, although that reputation is well earned in some places. We’re a country with more than 400 courses, so the game in some way is part of the fabric of many of our communities.”

His stints each year as a commentator at the New Zealand Open bring extra kudos to the event with his knowledge experience and expertise. Without doubt Tataurangi has certainly made a significant mark on the New Zealand and world golf scene and his future endeavours in the sport will be eagerly awaited.

Peake will be back to defend NZ Open title

Ryan Peake will defend his title in the New Zealand Open in February.

Peake captured the hearts of fans across both sides of the Tasman with his breakthrough victory last year and he said returning as defending champion was a milestone he

had been looking forward to.

“Pretty cool. Never got to do it before in such a significant event,” Peake said. “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.”

Since lifting the Brodie Breeze trophy for winning the New Zealand Open, Peake’s

career has surged forward. His win earned him full status on the Asian Tour, launching a whirlwind year of travel, competition and development. His win in Queenstown also helped secure a DP World Tour card through his standing on the 2024-25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit — an achievement he described as both challenging and deeply rewarding.

“It was busy before I won in New Zealand, and then winning got me my Asian Tour card. I was straight on the road, learning to travel the world again. It’s been challenging but great character building,” he said

“Now I’m turning my focus towards my DP World Tour card. It’s been quite crazy, but I’m just looking forward to getting back to New Zealand.

“There hasn’t been any individual result that stands out— it’s all been one big development. Knowing that I earned the opportunities I have now is really rewarding for me and my team.”

Peake’s journey, which includes time in jail, has been well documented, but he remains grounded about his past and how it shapes him.

“Other people look at my story differently. For me, it’s just my life — something I live and deal with every day. It doesn’t feel as extraordinary to me as it might to others.”

His victory at the New Zealand Open not only launched his international season — it also made him the first New Zealand Open champion to win a start at The Open Championship. It’s an honour he hopes to secure again.

“I didn’t know I was the first to get that,’’ Peake said last month.

“Credit to the New Zealand Open for securing that opportunity again. That’s part of the reason why I’m excited to defend, because The Open spot is up for grabs again. I didn’t perform my best at Portrush (in Northern Ireland) this year, but it’s definitely something I

want more of.”

Peake also reflected fondly on the support he received from fans during his winning run, crediting a pre-round conversation with his coach for helping him embrace the moment.

“He told me to engage with the crowd, to make them feel part of it. He said I wouldn’t have the majority of the support, but if I did that, things would change. By the time that last putt dropped, it felt like 97 per cent of the crowd were behind me,” Peake said.

Today, he still feels the impact of that support.

“New Zealanders come up to me on the street now — they recognise me and say you won the New Zealand Open. They’ve made me feel like I’m part of the country. It’s been pretty cool.”

The New Zealand Open returns to Millbrook Resort in Queenstown from February 26-March 1.

Queenstown’s newest golf course to open soon

Queenstown’s newest golf attraction is on track to officially open to the public within a couple of months.

The nine-hole, par 32 Gibbston Valley golf course designed by Kiwi golfing legend-turned architect Greg Turner has been carefully planned to offer a modern take on the centuries-old game.

The layout features a mix of five par fours and four par threes, with the longest hole measuring approximately 307 metres. Built over the past two years, the course occupies the river terrace above the dramatic

Kawarau Gorge, weaving between characteristic rock features and the historic mine tailings from the gold rush days.

Gibbston Valley is expected to officially open to the public in March following the completion of its clubhouse, pro shop, gym, heated pool and jacuzzi and to coincide with curated events in connection with the New Zealand Open from February 26-March 1. However, it has been accessible to Gibbston Valley Lodge guests and property owners within the adjacent Gibbston Valley Resort in recent months,

as the course matures.

Canadian former pro golfer Mac Boucher visited the course last month as part of a travel series he’s filming, on ultimate golfing locations. He was also hosted at the winery by Gibbston Valley chief winemaker Christopher Keys, who showed Boucher wine and cuisine aspects of the Gibbston Valley golf experience that will be on offer when the clubhouse opens.

Boucher’s connection to Gibbston Valley occurred when he met executive managing director Cristina Griffith earlier this year. Boucher said: “I was one of the first people to play the course with the flags in. The course is awesome, it’s great for all skill levels and checks all the boxes that it should for a nine-hole (course). The views are amazing.

“I’d say QT (Queenstown) is easily one of my favourite golf destinations in the world. There’s so much variety of courses and there seems to be even more opening up in the next few years here, so I think Gibbston is going to fit in really well with its nine-hole course.”

Gibbston Valley golf course director Jesus Santos said the short course has been designed to offer all the fun and intrigue of a full-scale golf course but without the half-day commitment usually required.

Said Santos: “Our goal is to create a golf course that accommodates the new needs of the modern golfer. Most people

want to play golf but they don’t want to be away from their families all day. Here, people can play nine, have lunch with a glass of wine and then be back with their families for the rest of the day.”

The course combines intricate green complexes with broad undulating fairways – providing something for all skill levels, from elite players to novices.

Added Santos: “It’s a high quality golf course —  one that shows its character, that challenges you but is also very elegant.

“One of the standout features of the course is the inclusion of two undulating double greens, shared by holes one and eight, as well as holes two and five. Rather than traditional bunkers, the course utilizes the natural terrain, remnants of gold mining, and prominent rock formations to create challenging and visually striking hazards.”

The Gibbston Valley golf course is affiliated with Golf New Zealand and is currently awaiting its handicap rating. Membership is limited to owners in The Reserve, however Gibbston Valley plans to release a small number of non-resident memberships going into the 2026-2027 season. By next spring, the Gibbston Valley clubhouse will also link up to the Kawarau Gorge Trail, which connects Gibbston to Bannockburn – further enhancing the experience for wine tourism, golf and cycle tourism in the area.

Making history with the lads: How we drove

(and caught) our way into the Guinness World Records

then I spotted another: Longest golf shot caught. I threw it straight into the group chat with the lads. There was a brief pause — mostly us wondering if we were mad — then a collective “Yep. Let’s do it.” And that was that.

Practice makes … nervous laughter

By David Mullan, club development officer, North Golf Association

You don’t wake up on an ordinary Northland morning expecting to chase a Guinness World Record. But that’s pretty much how this whole circus began.

It was the morning we filmed a video you might have seen floating around my Instagram. Joey Yovich walked over after we’d wrapped, eyes lit up like he’d just discovered the opportunity of a lifetime.  He’d been listening to Izzy Dagg and Sumo [Scotty Stevenson] on

Sport Nation, who were interviewing a bloke with multiple Guinness World Records to his name. Joey just looked at me and said, “Mate … why don’t we have a crack at one?”

Naturally, this led to the most dangerous thing three grown men with golf clubs and free time can do: Googling “easy Guinness World Records.” Spoiler alert—none of them are easy.

The first one we found was “Most golf balls caught in one minute from over 100m.” After one practice session we realised that record belonged in the “not in this lifetime” pile. But

On paper, you’d think we were mad to try something like this. In reality, all the elements — driving long, spotting, catching—are things we’ve all done as part of our lives and jobs. I spend half my working week having what I like to call “meetings on the course,” which is really code for sneaking in long-drive competitions against unsuspecting colleagues.

Joey, despite spending half his life catching cricket balls, still has the eyes of scoring an eagle and he had hands like buckets — truly unfair, but extremely useful. And Lou? Look, Lou struggles to find his car keys on the

kitchen bench, but somehow, he can still track a golf ball from 260m away. Absolute miracle worker. We got out for five or six practice sessions, working our way out to around 230–240m. Any further and the ball starts coming in like it’s trying to kill someone, so we kept the lads safe while still testing the limits.

The crew: A 15-year reunion tour

My history with Joey goes way back. Fifteen years ago, he was actually my boss at the Whangārei Aquatic Centre gymnasium. Somehow we’ve both ended up in Sport Northland’s orbit again — his desk is about five metres from mine at the office, which is dangerously close when we come up with ideas like this.

Joey and Lou’s friendship goes back even further; those two have been through a lot together. I reconnected with Lou when he moved up to the

Karikari Peninsula while I was visiting Carrington Golf Club for work. Suddenly our old crew was back together, except instead of chasing dumb ideas for free, we were chasing dumb ideas with a Guinness certificate on the line.

Game day at The Pines

The day of the attempt at The Pines Golf Club near Whangarei was nothing short of perfect — sunny, buzzing and packed with supporters. I hadn’t been in front of cameras like Joey and Lou, so heading in I was more nervous than I cared to admit. But standing there with my wife, kids, mates and a crowd that genuinely wanted to see us pull this off … it gave me perspective. It reminded me this wasn’t about pressure — it was about fun. When I hit the drive that ended up being the longest catch of the day, I’ll be honest — I thought it was sailing out of bounds. I’d hit what I thought were better shots earlier, but sometimes the golf gods like a laugh. Joey, to his credit, covered what felt like half of Northland and

hauled it in right near the treeline.

The catch heard around The Pines

Ecstasy doesn’t even cut it. Joey’s first successful catch — our third attempt — came in at 236.3 metres, and that was the moment we officially surpassed the existing record. The feeling was unreal. A mix of adrenaline, disbelief and relief washed over me. Once that number was verified by the surveyors, the pressure lifted completely. From there, it was just “let’s absolutely smash it and see how far we can push this thing.”

Media, mayhem, and a region celebrating

What followed was surreal. Northland and The Pines Golf Club suddenly found themselves in headlines everywhere. The Alternative Commentary Collective, TVNZ One News, The New Zealand Herald — all drove up from Auckland to cover it. More FM had us on the radio the following morning. My phone was blowing up with

DEAL

messages of support. For once, a positive, fun story was flooding people’s screens instead of the usual doom and gloom. It felt good to give our region something to smile about.

Celebrations, charity and what’s next?

As soon as that first catch was made, I sprinted around like a headless chook — a video I fully intend to share. The crowd near Joey and Lou stormed the field like it was the 1990s again. Afterwards, we sat with a Guinness, fittingly, and soaked in one of the greatest days of our lives.

One aspect I’m especially proud of is our support for the ReSport Charitable Trust, co-founded by Joey, with Lou and myself serving as ambassadors. ReSport repurposes donated sports gear to give more Northlanders access to play, while helping the environment. Between onthe-day fundraising and a follow-up event at The Pines, we raised over $19,000 — a massive win for our community. We even

auctioned one of the caught balls alongside a Ryan Fox-signed glove. (Fun fact: Foxy’s a Guinness World Record holder himself and kindly jumped on board our mission).

Our record isn’t official yet — we’ve submitted all the evidence and should hear back within twelve weeks. But whether or not it’s stamped in the Guinness books, the experience, the laughs and the community support have already made it unforgettable.

And if you’re keen to follow the journey, including a couple more records I reckon I can break — one already accidentally broken —check out the build-up series on @boldmangolf.

Massive thanks also go out to PDC Creative, Maven Associates, CDL Group, The Golf Shop Whangarei, Bridgestone Golf, and D&D Signs for backing us.

Turns out history isn’t made by sitting on the couch. Sometimes, all it takes is a crazy idea, a few good mates, and a ball travelling 261 metres through the Northland air.

World news roundup

By Neville Idour

Mickelson feels for Kyle Porter’s loss

Kyle Porter is a former golf writer of 12 years for American sports broadcaster CBS Sports. This was his first job.  Porter now has his own forum Normal Sports which publishes a newsletter three times weekly. He recently shared a tweet expressing his heartbreak on the 10 year anniversary of the death of his family’s 36 week old daughter Kate. They have since raised their four children but he still recollects that woeful day.

This drew a heartfelt response from an emotional six-time major championship winner Phil Mickelson who replied: “I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Over the years both men had crossed swords on occasions, however, they still share a mutual respect for one another. Porter understands Mickelson’s status in the game and acknowledges his knowledge and expertise. Conversely Mickelson recognises that Porter’s views on golf are usually accurate and he will commend them at times.

In one instance, after the 2025 Ryder Cup, Porter suggested the United States team should think outside the box and look for a captain. Mickelson agreed and advised the PGA of America to get a captain from another team sport.

TGL a no go for Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler recently visited the SoFi centre which hosts the high-tech indoor golf league (TGL). He said: “That was my first time but it’s probably still not a very good chance. The season is such a grind for us. With a young family at home it’s not good timing for me right now to be flying to Florida on my weeks off to play indoor golf.”

Many fans thought he would change his mind because of the changes in schedules to avoid any big clashes. No chance. He prefers to be with his wife Meredith and young son Bennett who was born on May 8, 2024, and is now a

very active toddler.

Koepka leaves LIV Golf

Rumoured for some time it has finally been confirmed. Brooks Koepka, who has won five LIV Golf titles since joining LIV in 2022, has ended his time at the end of 2025.

LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil said: “We have amicably and mutually agreed that Brooks Koepka will no longer compete in the LIV Golf League following the 2025 season. He wishes to spend more time at home with his family, wife Jena and son Crew. Family has always guided Brook’s decisions and he feels this is the right time.

“We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success both on and off the course.”

Koepka said he was very grateful to LIV manager Yasir Al-Rumayyan, O’Neil and the LIV Golf leadership team, his teammates and the fans. He will keep his fans updated on what’s ahead. He will likely be suspended by the PGA Tour for 12 months from his last LIV start in August then be will be able to play on the PGA Tour following the FedEx Cup playoffs if he wishes. Koepka has given no indication of that. However he is eligible to play on the DP World Tour all season with no penalty or restriction and is also exempt for all four men’s major championships.

Of course all the naysayers are saying this is the beginning of the end for LIV Golf. I guess we shall have to wait and see.

Chamblee says bring back Koepka

Golf commentator Brandel Chamblee has relented on his attitude towards LIV players in Koepka’s case. He says the PGA Tour should find a way to reintegrate Koepka. He is of course assuming that’s what he wants.

“Time has elevated the PGA Tour for what it is,” said Chamblee. “It is the most competitive, legitimate and profitable tour in the world. Time has exposed the LIV Tour for what it is, an

ephemeral, flamboyant make believe tour that can neither further the professional game nor the careers of the players who sacrificed their principles for profit in playing for the Saudis.”

If that wasn’t enough he really dug the knife deeper.

“My guess is those who have a path back will seek it with their hat in their hands, trying to hide the money in their pockets. The PGA Tour should make it difficult but doable for these players for the betterment of the PGA Tour and to the detriment of the LIV Tour.”

Enough said.

Oh no. On second thoughts.

… Chamblee wants severe punishment

Chamblee doesn’t seem to know what he thinks. Now he says: “Allowing Brooks Koepka to return to the PGA Tour with no consequence would undermine the very meritocratic foundations that make the PGA Tour legitimate” he wrote on social media platform X. He argues it isn’t about revenge but a key moment to set a precedential example for the future to follow.

Koepka’s easy return would be a bad signal. “LIV did not merely offer an alternative league, it fractured fields, triggered legal warfare, undermined sponsorship stability and forced structural change across all of professional golf. Koepka was not a passive bystander, he was a marquee legitimiser. His credibility made LIV viable.”

Chamblee believes punishment should be meaningful such as limited season eligibility or a short suspension, but first he should be asked to re-qualify for the PGA Tour through the Korn Ferry Tour or Monday qualifying. The possibilities are endless.

Another Chamblee gripe

Chamblee, on another matter of the green reading system aim point, said:  “On the short list of things that are tough to stomach in golf, aim point is near the top of that list. Aim point may work, although it’s hard to quantify, but personally I think it interrupts the flow of walking, looking

and feel … and shifts the narrative of skill. Great putting has been about mystery, genius and touch, imagination, intuition and feel. Aim point aims to turn green reading into a science when putting has historically been about interpretive art and empties the intuitive bucket of putting and fills it up with instruction.”

Jim Nantz, a CBS Sports commentator, has also expressed his hatred of aim point. However they are in the minority. There were many responses to the post, some in favour, some neutral and many favouring aim point. The most interesting came from the Society of Golf Historians which said: “If done right it’s faster than eye balling the green from both directions. I get my feel, set up and putt. It doesn’t take more time and doesn’t trample down your line.”

I would agree with that although I rarely use it. I prefer to hang the club like a pendulum on the line behind the ball and that gives a clear view of the break, if any. Both methods are much quicker than the Padraig Harrington or Tiger Woods methods walking all round the green examining every blade of grass or crouching down several times. Surely the whole point is, whatever method used the time taken should be the same within what the rules allow.

Ben Campbell loses his place in LIV team

In something of a surprise Queenstown professional Ben Campbell has lost his place in Bubba Watson’s Range Goats team despite being the second highest Range Goats player on the rankings at 36th.

Campbell was ahead of Peter Uihlein (38th) and Matthew Wolff (42nd). So he will have to regain a place on LIV through the 2026 LIV Golf promotions’ event from January 8-11 at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida in a field of 87 from 24 countries. The good news is he is exempt into round two.

Campbell joined LIV as a reserve player in 2024 and played for  the Rip-

per, Legion X111 and Majestics’  teams before being called up to play for Watson’s Range Goats in 2025. His best finish was a third in Singapore but he couldn’t finish inside the top 15 otherwise. There are four other New Zealanders in the first round field to add much interest for fans. Denzel Ieremia, Tyler Hodge, Nick Voke and Josh Geary. The very strong field includes former top 50 ranked players, Ryder Cup and President’s Cup players, winners on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Asian Tour plus rising stars. Fifty of the 87 players have won an event in the past two years, including 39 different tournaments in 2025.

It is a four round event. The top 20 and ties from round one will advance to round two where scores will be reset and they will be joined by those who automatically qualified for round two. The top 20 and ties advance to round three when the scores will again be reset and an intense two day 36 hole shootout will begin. At the end the top two finishers will earn the two highly coveted spots in the LIV Golf League for 2026 along with $US200,000 for first place and $US150,000 for second. The top 10 finishers and ties will earn full exemption into the 2026 International Series sanctioned by the Asian Tour.       Rory McIlroy wins BBC Spoty double

It was a great night for golf at the BBC sports personality of the year (Spoty) awards. Europe’s Ryder Cup team swooped the team of the year award to become golf’s first Spoty winners since Nick Faldo who won the main prize in 1989. Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood represented Team Europe on stage to accept the team prize.

Just minutes later McIlroy was back on stage in the limelight to pick up the main prize of the night after being named the BBC sports personality of the year. This was the icing on the cake for an incredible year for McIlroy who described 2025 as “what dreams are made of” and “2025 has been the year I made my dreams come true. I feel truly honoured to just be a part of it.”

Fire damages Frankton Golf Centre

Queenstown District Council owned Frankton Golf Centre was gutted by a fire on December 13 with the cause still not yet established. The driving range and pro shop has been run by Jamie McIsaac and his Inspire Golf team for 12 years. Almost miraculously they are still fully operational and the nine hole golf course is still open with bookings on line or on site. McIsaac was very positive about the situation despite the limitations of the current situation. He said they still have 10 driving range bays in operation and a fully operational well stocked retail offering in a transportable building on site. Damaged netting on the driving range has restricted the golf course to seven holes but that hasn’t deterred usage. McIsaac was at pains to point out they now have some luxury portable loos on site.

They are offering additional value on voucher purchases to help the recovery.

“We wouldn’t be here without the amazing community support and the Queenstown volunteer fire crews. The rebuild has no timelines yet but it will be as soon as possible.”

Spanish success for Queenstown junior

Seventeen year old Wakatipu Junior

golfer Josh Harris has enjoyed success at two tournaments in Spain. He finished 12th at the Triple A European Classic after a final round bogey free 67. He then went on to win the under 21 boys’ title at the Santa Clara Masters in Marbella. He had rounds of 76, 67 and 74, finishing with birdies on 17 and 18 to win by two shots.

Wanaka GC go ahead for new clubhouse

The Wanaka Golf Club has got the backing to build a much needed new clubhouse to be built on a site further from Ballantyne Road.

It is desperately needed to accommodate the membership of 1500 which had been growing at an average of one new member a day. The clubhouse has had four renovations over the years but a rebuild is now the appropriate option with an estimated cost of $10 million. Building in the new location will allow the club to continue operating without disruption. It would also open up improved views of the course and provide more interaction with the action outside.

The original building dates back to 1927. The new building proposes to include kitchen, lounge, bar, changing rooms, storage, meeting rooms, pro shop, a two bay indoor golf simulator and eight covered driving range bays.

2026 LPGA Tour plan

LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler has announced the 2026 schedule plus a road plan for how the tour can lock into the surge in women’s sports. The LPGA schedule has 31 official tournaments with record prizemoney of just over $US128.5 million, with 14 tournaments raising their purses. The LPGA also has co-sanctioned a Ladies European Tour event funded by Golf Saudi.

LPGA Tour broadcasts coverage expanding

A new multi year collaboration with insurer FM will see for the first time all rounds air live on the LPGA Tour with camera coverage increasing by 50 per cent with state of the art technology, equipment and content from Golf Channel and Trackman. Another multi year media partnership with U-Next will significantly expand the tour’s presence in Japan. U-Next will become the exclusive live streaming home of the LPGA Tour in 2026.

The tour has also announced a multi year media partnership with Eclat Media Group, one of Asia’s leading sports media companies. Beginning in 2026 LPGA Tour events will be broadcast on SPOTV’s linear channels and digital platforms in Korea.

Bradley wants another shot

Keegan Bradley says he would love another shot at captain of the United States Ryder Cup team, despite its first loss at home in 12 years. Despite the final day singles fightback it continued Bradley’s lack of success. He had previously played in two losing teams in 2012 and 2014. “I would love to avenge that loss. I have this gaping hole in my career now that I don’t know I’ll ever be able to fulfil. I think any losing captain would like another shot.”

Maybe he should have played as he could have and turned down the captaincy.

DeChambeau says divide is too great

Bryson DeChambeau says he can’t see

a resolution coming anytime soon between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He says they are too far apart on a lot of things. In June, 2023, they and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund  shook hands on a framework agreement but nothing has changed since then. DeChambeau said: “Man, I wish something major would happen, but I don’t think it is going to in the immediate future. I think there are too many wants on both sides and not enough gives on the other.”

He does believe that eventually the game will reunite and be better for it. “Scarcity will become more prevalent. I think there will be improvements for the game as time goes on. It’s positive disruption and it’ll take time to let the water settle and make a perfect scenario where we all come back together. Ultimately I think it’ll be good for the game over time.”

2026 NZ Hickory Open ready for lift off

The 2026 New Zealand Hickory Open in Christchurch is set to welcome players from across New Zealand and around the world. A full programme of events will keep all players and partners engaged in the action and the social occasions. All players will receive a goody bag that celebrates the spirit of the game. It will include custom tees, a handcrafted leather scorecard cover and a playing cap with a choice of a classic Sir Bob Charles blue plaid or the understated links plaid.To cap it off all players will receive the NZHO club tie, a distinctive keepsake for both men and women and a symbol of belonging to the hickory community.

Both men’s and women’s tee placements have been refined and the men’s course will measure 5118 metres and the women’s course 4670 metres. A stunning set of trophies will wait for the winner’s names to be engraved. Five days of golf competition and after match functions await, culminating in the open championship singles, evening prize giving and celebration dinner for players and partners.

The Tiger Woods saga continues

After a very lengthy press conference with Tiger Woods several things were revealed. Here are the bullet points.

* He is nowhere close to playing again.

* Has only just started chipping and putting.

* He will not play the PNC Championship.

* He will not play the first half of the TGL season at least.

* He is unsure on his future schedule, including PGA Tour Champions appearances.

* He has had no conversations over Ryder Cup captaincy.

* The future competitions committee

is looking at potential changes coming in as early as 2027, if ideas can be agreed by all relevant parties.

Extraordinary to realise, Woods has only made 11 competitive appearances since 2020. His most recent start was at the 2024 Open Championship where he missed the cut. Meanwhile Woods is chairing the PGA Tour’s future competitions committee which is responsible for setting the direction the PGA Tour takes regarding tournaments.

Pegasus development a no go

The master planned resort at Pegasus near Christchurch has fallen over. The project was ambitious to put it mildly and was to sit alongside the 18 hole Pegasus golf course and include hotels, a spa, swimming and hot pools, a country club, a golf school and apartments. It was projected to inject a one off $75 million into the region with an ongoing visitor spend of $83 million a year and take up to 15 years to complete. However no bank finance or overseas funding could be secured.

The owner of Pegasus since 2018 is Sam Huo. The land intended for the development is being sold by it’s mortgagee. A year ago Huo put the entire property including the golf course on the market but it did not sell. So members are wondering what will happen next? Thankfully the club’s staff are still operating the club as well as possible despite the challenges.

Nelson Golf Club resolves dispute with airport

Nelson Golf Club was facing huge problems from an airport plan change that would divide the golf course, removing some holes and requiring facilities including the clubhouse and car park to be shifted. An agreement was announced on December 9 for the airport and golf club to work together on a reconfiguration plan for the golf course utilising airport land. This would ensure the retention of an 18 hole championship course.

The airport would give the golf club five years of its intention to extend the runway thus allowing time for the club to consider its options. This was essential as Nelson Golf Club is the only tournament championship  course in the region. Airport chief executive Brendan Cook said the runway extension was 10-15 years away. There is much relief on all sides from the outcome.

Save your dosh for the 155th Open

You can now book your best seat in the house for the 155th Open Championship at St Andrews in Scotland in  2027. The R&A, one of two world golf governing bodies,  has revealed it’s hospitality packages so start saving now. St Andrews will be host for the 31st time from July 11–18, 2027. There are three daily packages. The premium package starts from £1050

($NZ2400) on Thursday to £1170 ($NZ2700) on championship Sunday. Enjoy breathtaking views of the 14th fairway from the Dunes House balcony while enjoying a “curated selection of gourmet dishes.’’

Then we have the signature experience starting at £3600 pounds reaching £4500 on Sunday. You get exclusive access to the Road Hole restaurant and enjoy panoramic views of the course looking directly over the famous 17th Road Hole.

Finally the platinum experience starts at £1860  reaching  £2100 $NZ4800). General admission prices are expected to be £130 to £150 plus and possibly higher for the final day while ages 16–24 will be about half price and those under 16 free. St Andrews promise to deliver something truly special and memorable. Just make sure your pockets are deep and full.

Amberley golf course to get new road

Councillors have backed a proposed road extension to provide access to the Amberley golf course. It has been a long time coming. After the erosion from storm waves over King’s Birthday weekend had prevented direct access to the course this news is welcome. The cost is likely to be under $1 million and it is hoped work will start by the end of February. However there are a few loose ends to fix before that becomes reality. No doubt the 300 members are not holding their breath but probably living in hope.

DeChambeau nearly derailed copying Tiger

Bryson DeChambeau, who has endeared himself to fans with his engaging personality towards fans,  nearly lost the plot trying to emulate the approach of Tiger Woods and also the stoic and clinical Ben Hogan, in his earlier days. They made being ``robotic’’ a desirable trait. Before a US Open, Hogan got dozens of new golf balls, inspected them with a magnifying glass, chucked many away —  too much paint in the dimples.

Tiger meanwhile is renowned for his ability to block noise. Woods was ice-cold when winning his 15th major the 2019 Masters Tournament. No fist pump until the final putt dropped.  No surprise DeChambeau’s generation of professionals hero worshipped Tiger. DeChambeau said: “I swung so far one way trying to be the stoic person, I realised I couldn’t be that person.”

It is not often golfers look like they are having fun. A 50 foot putt goes in, the crowd goes wild and  the player might flick his hand or putter. Scottie Schefler is the current master at excluding the fans. Thankfully in recent years DeChambeau has dramatically changed his approach. His reactions and banter with fans are now part of his game. The way the fans respond to

him says much about what golf fans want from their players. So less stoical is surely the way to go.

Top 10 earners in 2025

The money golf professionals can earn now is positively eye watering and almost beyond belief.

Much of it is because of the advent of LIV Golf. This has been beneficial mainly for PGA Tour players who should be on their knees thanking LIV, not bagging it.

Top of the tree was Scottie Scheffler with $US50,897,050. Second was Rory McIlroy at $35,877,054.  Third Jon Rahm ($33,429,211), fourth Joaquin Niemann $31,069,230, fifth Tommy Fleetwood ($25,488,218), sixth Russell Henley ($20,861,570), seventh J J Spaun ($19,110,720), eighth Sepp Straka ($17,641,244), ninth  Bryson DeChambeau ($17,085,877) and 10th Ben Griffin ($16,666,165).

For all the talk about LIV money it is notable that only three LIV players are on the list — third, fourth,  and ninth. The average earnings for a LIV player in 2025 were $4,193,548.

Jumbo Ozaki dies aged 78 Japanese great Jumbo Ozaki died recently after a battle with colon cancer.  Ozaki won a massive 114 tournaments around the world including a record 94 on the Japan Golf Tour between 1973 and 2002. He never won a major but managed three top 10s. His highest world ranking was fifth in 1996. He did win the NZPGA Championship and was inducted into the World Golf hall of fame in 2011. He competed in 49 majors with a best finish at the 1989 US Open, three shots behind winner Curtis Strange.

He was looked upon as the Arnold Palmer of golf in Japan with his charisma and sense of style. He played the guitar and had three songs on the pop charts in Japan. He played in the 1996 President’s Cup where he and Vijay Singh beat Fred Couples and Davis Love III.

What a year for Amelia Garvey

Amelia Garvey’s 2025 year, mainly on the Ladies European Tour, has been quite something.

The Cantabrian said: “Nineteen countries across five continents this year, so I am definitely ready for some time back home. This game never ceases to amaze me with the opportunities it brings. The places and people I have met along the way this year has been the highlight over any success that I have had.

“I can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store and thanks to everyone that has supported me along the way, especially my team and my family.”

Garvey finished the year with a creditable world ranking of 182 and in 21st place on the Ladies European Tour order of merit.

Australian Open deserves better

By Neville Idour

Last month we were treated to another cracker Australian Open.

It provided an exciting four days culminating in a tense playoff and a result which probably disappointed Australian fans. As a spectacle it was top notch at a venue, Royal Melbourne, which was befitting of the fare provided. Add to that its biggest ever attendance of 112,698.

The presence of Rory McIlroy and all the top Australians no doubt drew many. Bear in mind, LIV Adelaide drew 102,000 over just three days. So the appetite for top class golf is quite insatiable in Australia. The returning of the men’s and women’s events to separate tournaments also played a part. There are calls for it to be a fifth major championship.

However, given all that, what else was going on at the same time? Yes, on the same

weekend there was a significant clash with the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa and the nebulous, meaningless invitation 20 man Hero World Challenge.

If Tiger Woods had the game’s integrity at heart he would move his silly event — preferably to the scrap heap as it has no meaning with its small field playing for huge money in front of precious few people and the odd dog.

Sadly, while the Australian Open was undoubtedly the premier and biggest event by far, it did not have the strongest field or biggest prize money. So it was not surprising that Rory McIlroy made his feelings felt. He suggested changes are needed to help the event reach its potential.

“There are three events on the schedule this week. {Ironically the Nedbank and Australian Open are DP World Tour events. Crazy scheduling.) People who set

the schedules need to sort it out. I would love to see a few more players come and play here. Hopefully the Australian Open can find a date that at least gives everyone the option to come down and play.”

He also went as far as to say: “It should almost be the fifth major. The market in Australia is huge with potential.  They love golf and their sport. They have been starved of top level golf and the courses are so good.”

One school of thought suggests there should be a national open series of elevated (not the PGA Tour type) open events.

Think Australian, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Korea, France, Spain, Switzerland, to name a few. Why not replace the PGA Tour signature events with a series of national opens? Then we would have a genuine world golf calendar for the world’s best players.

The national opens should really sit

next to the four majors in importance. Unfortunately many players do not see national opens that way. First and foremost for many it is about the money and the convenience of minimal travel. To some extent that is understandable. Top level golfers are so wealthy these days they won’t travel across the world just to play some “prestigious’’ event. For many they want appearance money.

The Australian Open has the history, the quality golf courses and the large fan base, but it simply doesn’t have the money or the strength of field it deserves. However the good news is McIlroy will again be a big drawcard next year at another wonderful Melbourne course, Kingston Heath. In the meantime the Australian Open needs to find a better date for 2026 where it can be a stand alone tournament for the week.

Dates for opens in 2028 confirmed by The R&A

Dates for The Open, the Women’s Open and the Senior Open in 2028 have been confirmed by The R&A, one of world golf’s two governing bodies. All three championships are being moved back for that year alone to avoid clashing with the golf competitions at the 2028 Olympic Games being held in Los Angeles in the United States which are being played from July 19-29. The new dates are:-

* The 156th Open will be held from July 30-August 6, 2028.

* The Senior Open will be held from August 7-13,  2028.

* The Women’s Open will be held from August 14-20, 2028.

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We have worked collaboratively with the relevant bodies and our partners to agree alternative dates for staging our major championships in 2028 to accommodate the

Olympic golf competitions.

“We appreciate the constructive discussions we have had with all of the stakeholders and believe that providing clarity on the dates now will assist with the planning of the global golf calendar in 2028. We can also confirm that The Open will be returning to its normal mid-July dates in 2029.”

The venues for all three major championships in 2028 will be confirmed in due course.

All scorecards should be entered for handicapping

Hi Neville, I have just read your opinion piece on handicapping. There’s no doubt that the most common clubhouse debate is the handicap system. It was 50 years ago, it is today and it will be in 50 years’ time.

It’s also important to recognise that there is no system that legislates for those that want to manipulate their handicap. The good news is that almost all of us play with honesty and integrity, a hall mark of our great game. But sadly, there is a small percentage that like to create an unfair advantage for themselves.

We have had a few handicap system changes over the years, but there is overwhelming evidence that this (the world handicapping system) is the most well received system yet.

Since the 1980s our policy in this country is when you play golf, you enter a score card. This includes 9 and 18hole scores, in stroke play, match play and four-ball competition. The rules of handicapping provide good examples and illustrations for what we record when a hole is not completed or not

By Neville Idour

Wplayed. It is universally recognised and recommended by the creators of the world handicap system, that the more evidence of demonstrated ability, the more accurate the handicap index. That therefore provides the most equitable competition.

For many years I have heard that it should be competition cards only, but in my opinion that doesn’t create the best equitable situation. This allows a player to practice and play in preparation for a competition, and they may have improved by five strokes, but start the competition with an unfair advantage. What we also need to recognise, is that not every member wants to play competitions, but they want a handicap. Based on the membership at my club, where we have over 1000 members and 55,000 rounds played a year, 25 per cent of our members don’t play any competitions and a further 25 per cent only play a very small percentage.

There are controls a tournament committee can employ to help with any competition, especially ambrose as you used as an example. We know

this format is fun and inclusive and attracts the non-member, who is given a handicap that is too high. Tournament organisers should be more vigilant in the handicapping of the casual golfer. Dividing the total of playing handicaps by six or eight, is not the recommended approach. The WHS (world handicapping system) formula is to take a percentage of each individual (25 per cent of the lowest, 20, 15 and 10 per cent of the highest) which helps create a fairer competition.

As amateur golfers, we play for fun and not reward, but when high value prizes are offered, it creates the opportunity for those that are inclined to create themselves an advantage. But the real key to handicapping, is for each golf club to have a club handicapper or handicap committee to monitor player activity, trends and competition results. Rule 7 of the rules of handicapping covers this with the following principle:

The Handicap Committee plays a vital role in the successful administration of a player’s handicap index and is equipped with tools to intervene when

the calculated handicap index is no longer reflective of the players demonstrated ability. Used appropriately, these tools are designed to ensure that players are treated fairly and consistently from golf club to golf club. The Committee in charge of competition also plays an important role setting appropriate Terms of Competition for all participating players. Some of the reports that can be extracted from DotGolf include:

* Handicap review report (this is new and can identify if an adjustment is necessary)

* General play v competition play

* 18-hole v 9-hole scores

* Cards printed v cards returned We will continue with our policy of all scores needing to be entered for handicap purposes as we strongly believe that provides the most equitable competition.

I hope the above provides a little more knowledge and understanding as to why we believe the best approach is for all scores to be entered.

Phil Aickin, Golf New Zealand Tournament & Handicapping Manager

Only competition rounds should count

hile it is easy to understand the clear explanation of the handicap system, the issue is not the system itself it is simply the application of it. Opinions on whether it should be every card or just competition cards that decide a handicap vary depending on who you talk to.

Various experienced writers highlight this very point. Golf Monthly’s Fergus Bisset, who has been writing for 21 years on golf, including two books, is a one handicapper with a no nonsense opinion. He has written much over the last couple of years about his dissatisfaction with the world handicap-

ping system (WHS). He said he doesn’t mind that he can no longer win nett competitions because there is always someone with a handicap too high for their ability thanks to the WHS. But he does feel he doesn’t have much to play for personally. Quite simply because the system is loaded against the honest low handicapper.

He suggests only the best five or even three of the last 20 rounds should count towards the average handicap. This would eliminate any rogue blowouts (cheating to inflate the handicap for a competition). He then says “get rid of general play rounds” as this will also eliminate the opportunity to inflate

the handicap for a major event. Who can remember the Holden Scramble for example which was discontinued in June, 2025, by the Australian PGA? It was legendary for its scoring.

Bisset also makes the point: “The way you play in regular casual rounds is not the same as in a counting medal or stableford competition round. So only competition golf shows what your handicap should be.”  The story used to go: The higher the stakes the more the manipulation of handicaps. If only competition rounds counted there would be so much less work and statistics required for everyone. It is difficult to fault Bisset’s reasoning.

Trevor Immelman in gobbledegook mode

By Neville Idour

Trevor Immelman, the chairman of Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), recently spoke to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis about LIV Golf’s June application for world ranking points.

Immelman said: “I am in constant dialogue with Scot O’Neil (LIV chief executive) about LIV Golf’s application for world ranking points. He said the OWGR board had been “working really closely with LIV on their application.”

Things have changed slightly after LIV announced the move from 54 holes to 72 holes for it’s tournaments

this year. However despite the delay Immelman pontificated they are working super hard on the application and that talks with LIV Golf had been held in a “great spirit.” One hopes he wasn’t talking about a whisky.

There has been no indication of an outcome although Immelman has the power to call a meeting ahead of the next OWGR board meeting in April if necessary.

The 2026 LIV season begins in February at Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and this is where the gobbledegook hits full throttle. Get this diatribe.

“The board has been working really hard and super involved in checking

out their application they put in in June and we’ve been working really closely with LIV to make sure we handle this in the appropriate fashion with as much integrity as possible.”

Oh yes, we can’t do without integrity. But it gets better … or worse, if you like.

“Dialogue has been back and forth and constant, and really in  a great spirit (You can almost imagine it being a 24 hour dialogue). I’ve enjoyed getting to know Scott O’Neil, he’s a passionate guy and very passionate about the LIV Golf League (surprise, surprise). While there has been no decision just yet we’ll have to see what happens in the

future.”

Apparently it is much more than a case of yes or no. No, working out how many ranking points to allocate may be taking some time. Why? Some feel it should be about the level of a regular DP World Tour event or lower level PGA Tour event. Again we will just have to wait and see but let’s face it there will be no excuse if a decision is not made to give LIV Golf ranking points before the start of the 2026 season.

Having had to wade through Immelman’s mostly meaningless twaddle it is not difficult to see why he fell well short as a President’s Cup captain.

Onekakā Links Golf Club

Amazing golfing experience at Onekakā in Golden Bay

With stunning vistas and memorable golf and hospitality, it’s a day you won’t forget.

The Links Course is not long, but rarely conquered. It comprises one par 5, eight par 4 and nine par 3 holes, including two double greens and a triple green via major elevation changes, with ocean, ponds, cliffs, penal bunkering or roughs encircling the greens. The Mountain Course is a significantly more difficult challenge and not for the faint hearted. Visit www.onekakalinks.com for a course guide also incorporating drone footage of the course and testimonials of visiting players. We also have a Face-

book page which is regularly updated. The green fee of $100 per head for 18 holes for a minimum of four players covers:

* Exclusive use – no other players on the course that day

* Golf cart and electric trundlers, laser distance finder

* Provision of two free golf balls per player

* A course guide – the course designer and club champion

* Hosted free drinks and snacks after the round

Although a private course, it’s open to visitors 364 days a year. However, to enable hosting arrangements bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance to chris@widespread.co.nz

“Golden Bay is full of amazing things to see and I just discovered another. If you play golf, Onekakā Links is a must visit. I have played golf all around the world and Onekakā gave me more fun and challenging shots than most courses that have hosted major championships. Your host Chris Castle with great imagination has created a wonderful course on a spectacular property. Thank you Chris, for a day to remember.”

- Kindest Regards, Bill Mackenzie (PGA Professional, St. Andrews East Golf Club, Canada)

“Onekakā Links is one of the most special New Zealand golf experiences one could have - it really is a must play for anyone who loves dramatic golf and out

of the box thinking. You have three or four green-sites that would rival the very best in New Zealand. I will be sending more people your way for sure.

You really chose all the best green sites to maximize your property. Your green in the far coastal corner of the property does this so well. The triple green with the bunker and lower green level and water hazard. It is the interest you created that is so much fun. Onekakā can’t fit inside a box and it should not be contained by the world’s idea of a routing and par. It is just an awesome place to play golf.

You and Richard Barham have done such an amazing job with your property - really impressive stuff. If you ever end up doing that new green we discussed

drop a me line and I may try to volunteer some shovel time for you if the timing works!

Thank you again and it was so kind of you to host me there. “

- CJ Kreuscher, Director of Agronomy for Te Arai Links and the original Superintendent of Tara iti, who recently played both courses.

“Great day out at the Onekakā Links in Golden Bay. Stunning scenery. Some exciting holes and wonderful hospitality. It’s a very unique offering but lots of fun and risk and reward. Wonderful hospitality from President Chris Castle and Club Captain Linda Sanders. Highly recommended. “

- Barry Johnston, Wanaka

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGIONS

2025 Auckland Women’s Masters

Winners Announced for 2025 Waikato Men’s Champion of Champions

Players recently from across the Waikato region gathered at Tahuna Golf Club for the annual Waikato Men’s Champion of Champions event. The competition brought together club champions from throughout the district, each hoping to secure a regional title for 2025.

Senior Men’s Champion: Stuart Baird (Waitomo Golf Club) claimed the Senior Men’s title with rounds of 68 and 76, finishing one shot ahead of Jordan Rangihika (Ngaruawahia Golf Club). Gavin Cortesi (Putaruru Golf Club) placed third, just two shots further back.

Intermediate Men’s Champion: The Intermediate Men’s division was won by Mathew White (Te Awamutu Golf Club), who

opened with an impressive 71 before closing with an 82 to secure a 10-shot victory. A countback determined second place, with Josh Noble (Hamilton Golf Club) finishing ahead of local representative Scott Donovan (Tahuna Golf Club) and Levi Mills (Huntly Golf Club) in third and fourth respectively.

Junior Men’s Champion: Harrison Davy (Huntly Golf Club) captured the Junior Men’s title with rounds of 84 and 86, winning by two shots over Robert Wetere (Te Awamutu Golf Club). Alofamai Aha finished five shots behind in third.

2025 Teams Title: The Te Awamutu Golf Club team of Robert Wetere, Matthew White and Sam Towers secured the 2025 Teams championship.

The 2025 Junior Kaimai Classic

The 2025 Junior Kaimai Classic wrapped up after two days of golf at Omanu Golf Club and Mount Golf Club, with a full field of junior golfers from around the country taking on the challenge across both courses.

Across the two days great scoring and plenty of competitive spirit, showcasing the depth of junior golf nationwide. The event delivered two days of learning, sportsmanship and connection, with players competing alongside peers from different regions.

Winners at the District Ladies Vets Championship Canterbury Golf Waimairi Beach and Bottle Lake retain Interclub status

Russley Golf Club hosted the annual interclub promotion/relegation matches played recently between the lowest-ranked Woodward Cup team and Blanks Cup teams looking to retain their status, against the challenges from Blank and Simon wanting to jump into the higher premier grades.

The Woodward/Blank challenge was played between Waimairi Beach (Woodward) and Avondale (Blank), a fixture which has repeated itself in recent seasons. Waimairi shot out to an early lead, and although Avondale surged back in the final holes, it wasn’t enough. A win to

Waimairi 5-3 who retained their Woodward Cup position for 2026.

The drama came in the Blank/Simon match between Bottle Lake (Blank) and Waitikiri (Simon). At the mid-point Waitikiri led, but Bottle Lake players responded, and the match finished 4-all. So too a play-off between Matt Burns (Bottle Lake) and Geoff Rudduck (Waitikiri) it went. Playing Russley’s 10th and 18th holes, a result came on the 3rd play-off hole where Matthews prevailed, and Bottle Lake retained their spot in Blank Cup for 2026.

Aorangi Golf Men’s Champion of Champions

The Aorangi Golf Men’s Champion of Champions Tournament was successfully held recently clubs represented, showcasing the depth of talent across the region.

The event was proudly hosted by Gleniti Golf Club, with the course presented in outstanding condition. The fairways and greens looked amazing, and we sincerely thank Gleniti Golf Club for the effort and time put into preparing the course at short notice.

Tournament Results

There were eight categories contested across individual and team events: Best Gross – Individual Senior Gross Champion: Du Plessis Riegardt (Dupe) – Gleniti Golf Club – 69

Intermediate Gross Champi-

on: Dave Turner – Gleniti Golf Club – 78

Junior Gross Champion: Craig Meyrick – Tinwald Golf Club – 88

Best Stableford – Individual

Senior Stableford: Andrew Peck – Mayfield Golf Club – 40 points

Intermediate Stableford: Dave Turner – Gleniti Golf Club – 38 points

Junior Stableford: Ali McLeod – Mayfield Golf Club – 36 points

Team Events

Team Stableford Champions: Mayfield Golf Club – 109 points, defeating Gleniti on countback Team members: Andrew Peck, Steve King, Ali McLeod

Team Gross Champions: Tinwald Golf Club – 245, narrowly defeating Gleniti (246)

Team members: Nigel Heney, John Smitheram, Craig Meyrick

The 2025 Women’s Champions of Champions and Rosebowl Nightcaps team – 2025 MLT President Pennants Champions!

The 2025 Women’s Champions of Champions and Rosebowl was competed recently in tough conditions at St Clair Golf Club.

What started out as a sunny, warm day quickly changed as the wind came in from the north, providing a good challenge for the ladies.

Home favourites, St Clair, used their knowledge of the course well and came out victorious in the Rosebowl. The team of Susan Greig, Chris Chambers, and Jocelyn Livesey scored a combined 52 gross stableford points to sit at the top. It was a repeat of last year for North Otago as they finished runner-up on 48 points,

and Otago finishing in third place for the second year in a row on 47 points.

Kurow’s Brittany Haugh claimed the Silver Championship with the low round of the day, 82.

Not only did St Clair take out the Rosebowl, but St Clair’s Chris Chambers also won the bronze Championship with a gross score of 98.

North Otago’s Di Cleveland won the Bronze Runner-up championship with a nett score of 72.

Otago’s Sandra Macdonald took home the Esther Burrow pin for the lowest Nett Medal score for the day on 72.

Nightcaps recently claimed the title after the morning round, where they defeated Queens Park while Mataura beat Invercargill to set up an exciting afternoon final.

After an exciting three playoff holes,