In late November 1971, a bunch of golfing enthusiasts met for the purpose of developing a golf course on a narrow finger of crown land at Ohope between the ever-changing Pacific Ocean and the beautiful, unspoilt Ohiwa Harbour.  For the next four years these founding members of the newly inaugurated Ohope Golf Club together with a handful of volunteers cleared the land by hand or with whatever machinery they could beg, steel or borrow. Fairways were slowly developed, and play was introduced once greens were of a satisfactory standard.

The course was officially opened on 13 April 1975.  The club had a membership of 68, the course itself a very rough and ready nine holes and the clubhouse a small cottage. Within 10 years club numbers had swelled to 250 and a new clubhouse had been built by members providing labour and donating material and services.  The course had also been extended to 18 holes and the club now felt confident in asserting itself to be the Ohope Beach Golf Links capable of hosting championship tournaments.

From such humble beginnings the course and its clubhouse facilities have been constantly upgraded and superbly maintained, attracting the acclamations of many golfing aficionados. Not only has the course endeared golf professional and course architect Greg Turner, it has also attracted the attention of the New Zealand Golf Digest who rated the course as number 20 in its survey of the top golf courses in New Zealand.  Their description of the course, more than any other words, best describes the experience being offered to the golfer: ‘a hidden gem…a gorgeous seaside links course, with bumpy terrain and incredible sea views, the course is natural, raw and rustic’. Little wonder the course has quickly become a destination for visiting national and international golfers.

The club has recently rebranded itself as Ohope Beach Golf Links to reflect its location and its nature – a links course by the beach. However, the club is not just about golf. A refurbishment of the clubrooms lounge and an upgrade of the kitchen facilities has ensured that the clubhouse has become a premier destination for weddings, corporate functions and social occasions.

Whatever the reason for your visit to our golf course, the friendly members and dedicated staff at Ohope Beach Golf Links look forward to welcoming you.