Golf Links Rd,
Whakatane, Bay of Plenty
Office
+64 (0)7 308 8117Pro shop
+64 (0)7 308 7921Fax
+64 (0)7 308 0247Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Grant JamesAcademy
Whakatane Golf CentreThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Rural countryside.
Designer:
Unknown
-37.930236
176.939229
72 km E of Tauranga
From the western side of Whakatane take direction Tauranga / Airport. Approx 4 km outside Whakatane turn right into Thornton Road. After o.5 km turn right into Golf Links Road. After 1.5 km turn left into golf.
Whakatane
Whakatane Golf Club: Sheltered from and out of sight of the sea, Whakatane feels more parkland in character, rather than exuding a traditional seaside links persona. From the course you'll mainly see pleasant farmland views beyond the course, rather than panoramic ocean vistas.
The terrain here is gently undulating, easy walking, with a nice variety of trees and flowers adorning the course. The tree-line is never too dense, which helps make ball-finding relatively easy. The combination of taller, more mature trees on the par-34 back-nine, and a more interesting layout, gives the inward-nine the edge over the front in terms of golfing interest and challenge.
Straight hitting will definitely help your scoring here, with the first five holes all gun-barrel straight, and several later holes as well. Greenkeeping is generally good, the greens even-paced and not too undulating, with good quality bunkering around them.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Worth booking ahead to ensure tee-time availability, especially at weekends.
Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts available for hire.
Good
Whakatane is a place rich in history, known to Maoris as the birthplace of Aotearoa (the "Land of the Long White Cloud"; Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand). It was here that the great Polynesian navigator Toi te Huatahi first landed. The remains of his pa (fortress), on the highest point of the Whakatane Heads, is now the site of the Wairaka Marae.
Two centuries later, another great Polynesian canoe, Mataatua, landed here bringing with it the kumara plant. This was to become the staple diet of the Maori throughout NZ and is still a popular vegetable today.
With magnificant beaches and bays, Whakatane, enjoys a reputation as one of the three sunniest spots in the country. Whakatane is pronounced with the "Wh" beginning, pronounced as "F".
New Zealand's 46th best course (Australian Golf Digest, 2023/24).
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Whakatane
Ohope
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Whakatane
Ohope
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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