ABOUT US

Racecourse Reserve Entrance, Cameron Road 

TAURANGA RACECOURSE RESERVE is the home of the Tauranga Golf Club and Bay of Plenty Racing Club, both of whom have leasehold rights from the Crown.

TAURANGA GOLF CLUB was officially established on 18 April 1904 on a course located at what is now the Tauranga Domain, the old camp site extending down to the Sulphur Point flatlands. In 1914, the Club formally relocated to its present site on the Racecourse Domain, a treeless tract of land on the western side of Tauranga. The plan for the 18 hole course was drawn up by Auckland Golf Professional Fred Rutter, and member working bees systematically cleared the ground and created the greens and tees. The Clubhouse at the time was a corrugated iron shed standing just below the present 11th Tee and shared with jockeys from the Racing Club. Most members cycled to golf with clubs slung over their backs and carried wrapped lunches which they shared around a single long table. There was little or no golf played during the week and none at all over the summer months.

COURSE LAYOUT has been changed several times over the last 90 years. Initially there were several long holes within the Racecourse oval with fenced greens to keep the cattle off. A hole named "The Drop" was played from near the 7th Tee, over a field of turnips to the present 3rd Green. Many balls were lost in the turnips and this hole was later eliminated. The Signature Hole "The Knoll" on the 12th is now a pleasant, easy hole compared with the original which was played from the same tee, but over a sea of gorse, to a small sloping green with bunkers on all sides and surrounded by knee-high grass.

PARKLIKE SETTING - With its beautiful trees and hundreds of flowering shrubs the course is a lasting tribute to the untiring efforts of the original club members and in particular Mr A J Mirrielees who was Club President in the depression years of the 1930's. Mirrielees used the Government Work Scheme of the time to plant out the 30,000 trees and shrubs, many of which are still in evidence today. Considered short by some, and strenuous by others because of the undulating terrain, the Tauranga course has earned the respect of top amateurs and professionals alike as an exacting test of shot placement and concentration. The course has interesting topography and variation in holes (it has been described as two courses in one) and its fairways and sand based greens are in beautiful condition as a result of permanent and travelling irrigation systems.

COURSE DEVELOPMENT - In 2002, with the Clubhouse upgrade complete, the Club embarked on a course modernization programme. Working from a Master Plan drawn up by Alex Glasgow of the NZ Sports Turf Institute in 1994, Club officials drew up a set of modernization priorities, and then engaged the services of Auckland based Golf Course Architect Jeff Asche to plan the detail work. The first priority was the 17th hole and specifically the green, and over the Summer of 2002-2003, a new green was constructed to the left rear of the existing. The new green was opened in mid 2003, and with its undulating topography, mounded surrounds and significant approach bunkering, it has proven a real test for the low handicap golfer. The next priority was to modernize the 10th hole with features that included an extension to the green, revised approach bunkering, removal of the RH fairway bunker and construction of a new back tee that would create a slight dogleg right which would further test the low handicap golfer. Work on this project commenced in mid-2003 under the supervision of Jeff Asche, and was in play by early 2004. During 2004, construction of a new 7th green, and modernization of the 5th hole was carried out and is now in play and in 2005, the decision was made to convert all fairways to warm season grasses using Windsor Green Couch Grass.

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF - In 2006, Pro-Am golf returned to Tauranga with the establishment of the 72 hole Carrus Tauranga Open. Created as part of Greg Turner's Golf Tour of New Zealand (GTNZ), the Carrus Open attracted a record entry of the top New Zealand based Professional and Amateur players. The 2006 Carrus was won by leading New Zealand Amatuer Josh Geary at 22 under the card and in 2007, fledlging Professional Mark Purser won the event. In 2008, in partnership with the NZPGA and NZ Golf, the Carrus Open became the inaugural event of the new (Bob) Charles Tour.

Left to right - Josh Geary, Kevin Smith and Tony Christie - Carrus 2006 

TOP PLAYERS - A number of Club members have represented New Zealand including the late Una Wickham, Mike Nicholson and more recently Eddie Burgess (2000), Kevin Smith (2007) and Jared Pender (2007-2008). Eddie also won the NZ Amateur title in year 2000 and Jared was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2008 Eisenhower Trophy.

BOUYANT MEMBERSHIP - Today, Tauranga Golf Club is a thriving, active Club of around 1,000 members and an average of 1000 rounds per week are played on the course year round. The free draining nature of the terrain means there are minimal closures after heavy rain, and while mid-winter frosts can happen, they course is generally open by 9am.

THE CLUBHOUSE was rebuilt in early 2001 and now provides a modern, superbly equipped facility for members and visitors featuring Club Lounge, Snack Bar, Dining Room, Committee Room and modern administration offices. The Clubhouse is available for private social functions, meetings and seminars and we also cater for private golf tournaments. You can download further information about hire of our amenities by clicking on the image below (you will need Adobe Reader):-

Functions	Golf
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IDEAL FUNCTION VENUE

Clubhouse rebuilt in 2001

   
Boardroom and main lounge

Trophy Room & Cafe