![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Top-40-NZ-Golf-Courses.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDUNEDIN \u2013 The 2026 New Zealand Golf Rankings have been officially released, highlighting the quality and diversity of golf courses across the country. Published every two years since 2012, the biennial rankings serve as a benchmark for long-term trends and course improvements across New Zealand\u2019s golf sector.<\/p>\n
The Top Five Remain Steady<\/p>\n
For the fifth time in the past decade, Tara Iti has secured the position of New Zealand\u2019s number one ranked golf course.<\/p>\n
Te Arai Links South and Te Arai Links North occupy the second and third positions respectively, solidifying the Northland coastline\u2019s status as a global golfing destination. The text notes that this specific stretch of coastline now rivals iconic international golf regions such as Pebble Beach, Bandon Dunes, and Melbourne\u2019s famous Sandbelt.<\/p>\n
Jack\u2019s Point Golf Course retained its fourth position, remaining the highest-ranked course in the South Island. Cape Kidnappers Golf Course climbed two positions to complete the top five.<\/p>\n
Elite Tightness and Major Movement in the Top 40<\/p>\n
Competition among the country\u2019s upper-tier courses proved exceptionally close this cycle, with just half a point separating the courses ranked third through tenth.<\/p>\n
Further down the list, substantial gains were recorded by Waipu Golf Club and Omaha Beach Golf Club, both climbing 13 places following extensive redevelopments and course improvements. Mangawhai Golf Club also moved up six positions to rank 32nd. Conversely, Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary slipped one place to sixth, while The Hills Golf Club dropped two places to eighth as it prepares for a significant redevelopment.<\/p>\n
The depth of quality across New Zealand\u2019s courses is reflected in the narrow margins of the Top 40. Terrace Downs Resort, ranked 21st, received 26.86 points, while Wanaka Golf Club, ranked 40th, received 26.22 points\u2014a difference of just 0.64 points.<\/p>\n
Several prominent member-based clubs maintained positions 11 through 20 with little movement, including Millbrook Resort\u2019s Coronet and Remarkables courses, Titirangi Golf Club, Royal Wellington Golf Club, and Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club. Meanwhile, highly regarded courses such as \u014chope International Golf Club, Poverty Bay Golf Club, and Invercargill Golf Club narrowly missed inclusion in the Top 40, while Tokarahi Golf Club and Mahia Golf Club received specific praise as outstanding nine-hole courses.<\/p>\n
Evaluation Process and Criteria<\/p>\n
The 2026 rankings were compiled from submissions by a 25-member panel representing more than 850 years of combined golfing experience. The panel consisted of PGA professionals, accomplished amateur golfers, course superintendents, golf industry professionals, and experienced club golfers from across New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Panels evaluated courses across seven specific criteria, with each category carrying a maximum score of five points for a total possible score of 35 points per course:<\/p>\n
Risk and Reward: How well the course poses risks and rewards and equally tests length, accuracy, and finesse.
\nPlayability: How difficult, while still being fair, the course is for a scratch player from the back tees.
\nLayout: How varied the golf course\u2019s holes are in differing lengths, configurations, hazard placements, green shapes, and green contours.
\nDesign: How well the design features (tees, fairways, greens, hazards, vegetation, and terrain) provide individuality to each hole, yet a collective continuity to the entire 18.
\nScenic Values: How well the scenic values of the course (including landscaping, vegetation, water features, and backdrops) add to the pleasure of a round.
\nConditioning: The state of the tees, fairways, and greens on the day the panelist played the course.
\nAmbience: How well the overall feel and atmosphere of the course reflects or upholds the traditional values of the game.<\/p>\n
Beyond course architecture, panelists also highlighted club hospitality. Te Arai (specifically Ric\u2019s place prior to the fire), Millbrook Resort, Mount Maunganui Golf Club, and Waipu Golf Club were singled out for their clubhouse experiences, food offerings, and welcoming atmospheres.<\/p>\n
Coordinator\u2019s Perspective<\/p>\n
Andrew Whiley, an NZPGA Golf Professional and the Rankings Coordinator, noted that the release provides a direct opportunity to celebrate the broader community behind the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand is widely recognised as one of the world\u2019s great golf destinations, and the release of the 2026 New Zealand Golf Rankings provides an opportunity to celebrate not only our finest courses but also the clubs and people that make the game so special here,\u201d Whiley said.<\/p>\n
Whiley extended a direct challenge to the golfing public for the upcoming year: \u201cSo, how many of New Zealand\u2019s best courses have you played? For golfers, perhaps the challenge this year is simple: play more of New Zealand\u2019s Top 40 courses. Seek out a hidden gem, explore a new region, and discover whether you agree with the rankings. While rankings provide a guide, the true beauty of golf in New Zealand lies in the unique blend of scenery, character, challenge, and hospitality found throughout the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Official 2026 Leaderboard and Category Leaders<\/p>\n
Top 40 Standings<\/p>\n
1. Tara Iti \u2014 33.13 (Same)<\/p>\n
2. Te Arai Links South \u2014 32.56 (Same)<\/p>\n
3. Te Arai Links North \u2014 31.08 (Same)<\/p>\n
4. Jacks Point Golf Course \u2014 31.02 (Same)<\/p>\n
5. Cape Kidnappers Golf Course \u2014 30.98 (Up 2)<\/p>\n
6. Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary \u2014 30.90 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
7. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club \u2014 30.85 (Up 3)<\/p>\n
8. The Hills \u2014 30.81 (Down 2)<\/p>\n
9. The Kinloch Club \u2014 30.79 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
10. Kauri Cliffs Golf Course \u2014 30.59 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
11. Millbrook Coronet \u2014 29.23 (Same)<\/p>\n
12. Titirangi Golf Club \u2014 28.46 (Up 1)<\/p>\n
13. Millbrook Remarkables \u2014 28.35 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
14. Royal Wellington Golf Club \u2014 28.21 (Same)<\/p>\n
15. Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club \u2014 28.18 (Up 2)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
16. Christchurch Golf Club \u2014 27.81 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
17. Tieke Golf Estate \u2014 27.75 (Up 3)<\/p>\n
18. Clearwater Golf Club \u2014 27.55 (Down 2)<\/p>\n
19. Muriwai Golf Club \u2014 27.44 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
20. Arrowtown Golf Club \u2014 27.39 (Up 1)<\/p>\n
21. Terrace Downs Golf Resort \u2014 26.86 (Down 2)<\/p>\n
22. Waipu Golf Club \u2014 26.71 (Up 13)<\/p>\n
23. Omaha Beach Golf Club \u2014 26.62 (Up 13)<\/p>\n
24. Windross Farm Golf Club \u2014 26.60 (New)<\/p>\n
25. Manawatu Golf Club \u2014 26.56 (Up 3)<\/p>\n
26. Hastings Golf Club \u2014 26.54 (Down 4)<\/p>\n
27. Hamilton Golf Club \u2014 26.53 (Down 2)<\/p>\n
28. Mount Maunganui Golf Club \u2014 26.52 (Down 5)<\/p>\n
29. Otago Golf Club \u2014 26.50 (Down 5)<\/p>\n
30. New Plymouth Golf Club \u2014 26.49 (Up 2)<\/p>\n
31. Queenstown Golf Club \u2014 26.48 (Down 5)<\/p>\n
32. Mangawhai Golf Club \u2014 26.47 (Up 6)<\/p>\n
33. Pegasus Golf Resort \u2014 26.46 (Down 6)<\/p>\n
34. Cromwell Golf Club \u2014 26.41 (Down 5)<\/p>\n
35. Dunedin Golf Club (Chisholm Links) \u2014 26.40 (Down 1)<\/p>\n
36. Harewood Golf Club \u2014 26.39 (Down 6)<\/p>\n
37. Wanganui Golf Club \u2014 26.35 (Same)<\/p>\n
38. Waverley Golf Club \u2014 26.32 (Up 1)<\/p>\n
39. Nelson Golf Club \u2014 26.26 (New)<\/p>\n
40. Wanaka Golf Club \u2014 26.22 (Same)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Individual Category Top Performers<\/p>\n
Risk\/Reward: Tara Iti (4.60), Te Arai Links South (4.49), Kinloch (4.49), Paraparaumu Beach (4.44), Jacks Point (4.41)
\nPlayability: Tara Iti (4.66), Te Arai Links South (4.55), Paraparaumu Beach (4.49), Te Arai Links North (4.42), Wairakei (4.41)
\nLayout: Tara Iti (4.70), Te Arai Links South (4.64), Paraparaumu Beach (4.57), Kinloch (4.51), Te Arai Links North (4.46)
\nDesign: Tara Iti (4.87), Te Arai Links South (4.63), Paraparaumu Beach (4.57), Kinloch (4.56), Te Arai Links North (4.35)
\nScenic Values: Te Arai Links South (4.88), Tara Iti (4.80), Jacks Point (4.76), The Hills (4.67), Cape Kidnappers Golf Course (4.64)
\nConditioning: Tara Iti (4.78), Te Arai Links South (4.73), Te Arai Links North (4.69), The Hills (4.64), Wairakei (4.54)
\nAmbience: Tara Iti (4.73), Te Arai Links South (4.65), Wairakei (4.54), Cape Kidnappers Golf Course (4.46), Kauri Cliffs Golf Course (4.45)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 2026 Rankings Panel<\/p>\n
The official panel for this edition included: Alan Rose, Barry Brown, Benn Ashford, Blair Dibley, Denise Langdon, Duncan Croudis, Grant Moorhead, Hamish Campbell, Hamish Robertson, Harry Bateman, Jamie Mclsaac, John Rowland, Kieran Muir, Leo Barber, Mackenzie Gibson, Michael Glading, Nigel Merrett, Patrick Moore, Phil Aicken, Phil Ellison, Sam Vincent, Simon Forshaw, Toland Henderson, Tony Houpt, and Willie Moore.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n