Ohope International Golf Club

Overview: Ohope Beach Golf Links occupies a narrow coastal strip between the Pacific Ocean and Ohiwa Harbour in the Bay of Plenty. The 18-hole course uses bumpy ground, sea air and raw coastal vegetation to create a links-style round with a strong sense of exposure. Greg Turner has praised the land, while the club’s own description emphasises that the course remains natural and rustic rather than heavily manufactured.

History: A group of enthusiasts began planning the course in 1971, clearing the reserve with volunteer labour and whatever machinery could be borrowed. The first nine-hole course officially opened on 13 April 1975. Within a decade the course had been extended to 18 holes and the club had built a new clubhouse. Later upgrades improved the facilities while preserving the relationship between the fairways, the harbour and the beach.

Did You Know? Ohope’s name change to Ohope Beach Golf Links was intended to describe the place and the golf together. That is unusually direct branding, but it fits a course where the ocean, harbour and coastal land are active parts of the playing experience.