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STATS & FACTS

How many people play golf in New Zealand?
482,000 adults over 18 years play golf each year in NZ. Golf is the highest participation sport in NZ. It is the number one sport for men and the number two sport for women.

How many of these are registered golf club members who hold an official NZ Golf Handicap?
125,000

How many rounds of golf would be played in New Zealand per year?
Approximately 7 million

How many golf courses are there in New Zealand?
393, which is the second highest number of courses per capita in the world. Scotland has 543 courses for just over 5 million people.

Is it expensive to play golf in New Zealand?
No. Golf in New Zealand is very affordable. Green fees at public courses start at the unbelievably low cost of NZ$10 (less than US$6) and you can also tee off at some of NZs best courses for under NZ$100 (less than US$60).

The national average for non-affiliated members is $24, while for affiliated members it is $18.

There are also resort courses that cater for the top end of the market. So whatever your budget, NZ has the course to meet your requirements.

Do you have to travel far to find a golf course?
Not at all. Because NZ is a small country with a large number of golf courses, you never have to drive more than 45 minutes to play a round of golf. In most instances travel time would be substantially less than this.

What are some of New Zealand’s most famous courses?
New Zealand offers a range of golfing experiences which include breath taking scenery, thermal activity, new resort style golf and the challenge of championship courses.

In the North, Kauri Cliffs combines one of the toughest tests of golf you will find anywhere, with spectacular views of the Bay of Islands. Only 45 minutes away you can play Waitangi, a short not too demanding challenge, but views you will never forget.

Stay in Auckland and you have resort style golf at Formosa and Gulf Harbour, both venues in recent years hosting professional events, or the more traditional New Zealand challenges Titirangi, Remuera and The Grange.
The central part of the North Island offers many options. Rotorua is one of the most popular tourist locations with many attractions which include Rotorua Golf Club, better known as Arikikapakapa, which has boiling thermal mud pools on course, so hitting straight is important. Within an hours drive from Rotorua, you can visit Mount Maunganui Golf Club and see surf and white sand running for miles. You can go to Taupo and play the challenging Centennial course at Taupo Golf club, or Wairakei International which is one of our very best. On the East Coast the Hawkes Bay offers very good courses in Napier and Hastings, and a new challenge is now open at Cape Kidnappers which will be a must for every visitor.

What makes this area more special is that you can follow a challenging round of golf with a visit to one of the many vineyards in the region.

In the lower North Island Paraparaumu Links is a popular golfing experience. The course has been host to 10 New Zealand Open Championships, of which the most recent included Tiger Woods. Rated for many years as one of the top 100 courses in the world by Golf Digest it is definitely worth a visit. Other golfing opportunities include Ngamotu Golf Club in New Plymouth, Belmont in Wanganui and Manawatu Golf Club in Palmerston North - all three courses have hosted the New Zealand Open.

The South Island features golf courses in most towns, but if based in either Christchurch or Queenstown you have a range of options. All clubs look forward to visitors and you will receive a warm welcome at Christchurch and Russley Golf Clubs where many major events have been played. You can try Terrace Downs, the resort course of Clearwater or the spectacular new course at Pegasus Town.

In Queenstown you have spectacular views of the Mountain Range and can play at Queenstown Golf Club, famous for its scenery, or sir Bob Charles’ designed resort Millbrook. Not too far away you can experience Central Otago at Cromwell, Wanaka or Alexandra.

Depending on your length of stay and the type of challenge you are looking for, New Zealand has something to offer and you will be left with a desire to return to continue your golfing trek through one of the world’s best golfing destinations.

Hole-In-One Facts

Enjoy our fascinating hole-in-one facts. Discover just how special you are!

What constitutes a valid hole in one?
The Rules of Golf do not address the issue of the validity of a hole in one. The USGA recommends that a hole in one be considered valid:

If made during a round of at least nine holes, except that a hole in one made during a match should be acceptable even if the match ends before the stipulated round is completed
If the player is playing one ball; a hole in one made in a practice round in which the player is playing two or more balls should not be acceptable
If attested by an acceptable witness
If made in a "scramble" competition, for example, a Captain\'s Choice

What is the chance that a golfer will make a hole in one?

Tour player making an ace: 3,000 to 1
Low-handicapper making an ace: 5,000 to 1
Average player making an ace: 12,000 to 1
Two players from the same foursome acing the same hole: 17 million to 1
One player making two holes-in-one in the same round: 67 million to 1

Other hole-in-one facts

There are approximately 500 million rounds of golf played each year in the U.S
On average each course has about 30,000 - 40,000 rounds played each year
Each course reports 10-15 hole in ones each year
A hole in one is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds
Only 1-2% of golfers score a hole in one during the year
Odds of making a hole in one is 1:3500
Average years of playing is 24
Average handicap of golfers making hole in one is 14
Age group that makes the most holes in one is 50-59 (25%) and the next highiest is 40-49 (24%)
Ball used most often is Titleist (45%), Nike (14%), and Top Flite (11%)

Facts just for women!

16% of holes in one are made by women
Average age is 55
Average years of playing is 15
Average hole length is 111 yards