West Coast Golf Challenge
The West Coast has a long golfing history and is proud to offer the West Coast Golf Challenge, a great experience for both local golfers and friends from ‘away’ – which is every part of the world that is not on ‘The Coast’.
March 3rd – March 6th 2020 will be the 8th edition of the West Coast Golf Challenge.
It is a great opportunity to combine four rounds of golf on four quite different courses with the chance to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
The four hosting clubs are Westport on their Kawatiri links at Carters’ Beach, Reefton on their Glenburnie course, Hokitika on their links course at Mahinapua, and Greymouth on their course at Kaiata.
All of the courses will offer different challenges, from the links courses of Hokitika and Westport to the parklands layouts of Reefton and Greymouth, and all will be well prepared and presented. Good hospitality is guaranteed. This is the West Coast after all!
Visitors are encouraged to take time either before, during or after the tournament to visit picturesque landmarks such as Denniston, Cape Foulwind, Charleston, Punakaiki, Oceana Gold mine, Lake Brunner, Brunner Mine, Shantytown, Lake Kaniere, Hokitika Gorge or The Glaciers and all of the beauty that lies between and beyond.
The chance should also be taken to be impressed by and get your own examples of the wonderful art and crafts that the West Coast prides itself on.
A good variety of accommodation and restaurants are available in all of the towns and visitors can choose to relocate for the next day’s play, which the schedule readily allows for, or make any of the towns their base for the duration of the tournament. The courses will be played in the following order: Westport, Reefton, Hokitika and finally Greymouth. Tournament organisers are confident that visitors and locals alike will be impressed with the $14000-plus value prize list. The tournament will be a stableford in three divisions, one for women and two for the men. With fields over 100 in the last two years we expect the limit of 120 players to be reached fairly quickly so enter early to avoid disappointment.
To express interest and receive an information pack, or visit the tournament website at westcoastgolfchallenge.com for more information and an entry form.
Send your entries to Brian Hampton at brian.hampy@outlook.com or post entry and cheque payment to West Coast Golf Challenge C/o Brian Hampton, 15 Main Street, Reefton 7830. Entry is confirmed on payment.
Greymouth Golf Club
The Greymouth Golf Club is located on Golf Links Road approximately 6km east of Greymouth town centre.
The course is acknowledged as having the best manicured fairways of the 18 hole courses on the West Coast, and while not long at about 5600 metres it provides an interesting test of golf.
Most of the Club’s major tournaments are played in the period from January to March, starting with the New Year’s Day tournament, followed by the Westland Classic in mid February, and as one leg of the West Coast four course challenge in early March.
Hole No 8 is the club’s signature hole. While not long, the 329 metre par 4 dog-leg left has an out-of -bounds on the left. There are also two strategically positioned mature kahikatea to manoeuvre past in the fairway. Sir Bob Charles has described this hole as one of his top 18 holes of golf in New Zealand.
Greymouth’s Kaiata links course really is a gem in the crown of local sporting facilities in Greymouth. Green fees are a competitive $25 per round.
Hokitika Golf Club
Play on one of New Zealand’s few true links courses at Hokitika on the West Coast of the South Island. Just 3 minutes south of Hokitika, (first turn right over the Hokitika River bridge), Mahinapua Links is the only golf course in New Zealand with outstanding views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mt Tasman and the majestic Southern Alps.
If you are staying in Hokitika, or just passing through, enjoy our legendary hospitality and join us during our weekend club days, or if you prefer, simply play at a time to suit yourself.
The links are open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year and bookings are not required. Greens fees on this unique links are a modest $25 for all players except students under 18 for which the green fee is $5. If you have not come prepared, hire clubs are available from Heritage Highway Motels (ph 03755 8098) right next to the northern approach to the Hokitika River bridge.
Enjoy spectacular views of the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea on a delightful links course set in the heart of scenic Westland. Contact the Hokitika Golf Club on 03 755 8549.
Reefton Golf Club
The club began playing on this course, the Glenburnie course, in 1960, having been previously sited at Waitahu and prior to that, in the centre of the Reefton Race Course. The course has twelve holes, with holes 1-6 also being holes 13-18, although with different tees. Course is a par 72 and 5511 meters. Green fee players and visitors most welcome to play and enjoy the views. Green fees are set at $20/day. Club days are Sundays. The course is open all day, every day, with the greens mown twice weekly. Although there is a small club membership of 40 the high standard of the course is completely achieved through voluntary contributions of time. We have two main tournaments each year, the first at Queen’s Birthday weekend and the second being the Inangahua open which is held in November each year and over 2 days, each of 18 holes. Club members are proud to be part of the West Coast Golf challenge. Golf Course is set on the banks of the Inangahua River and is the centre for farming, gold, coal and forestry. The town of Reefton has a population of about 1000 people, with some very good accommodation in hotels and motels. Any more info on Reefton golf please contact the club on 03 7328 575 (clubhouse) or 0273100500 Murray Rennie); or email reeftongolf@gmail.com as clubhouse is only manned on Sundays.
Westport Golf Club
The Westport Golf Club – is a beautiful seaside “links with trees” course of some 5600 metres. Near the village of Carters Beach some 4km only from Westport, this 18 hole gem is a pitching wedge, maybe 9 iron from the Tasman Sea.All the while surrounded by the Paparoa Mountain Range and National Park. An overview of the course can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWt7SQ7J_0&feature=youtu.be
Slick and firm greens await visitors who can join club day matches – Tuesday vets (no restriction on age), Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. Green fees are only $30 and group discount by arrangement. All club day matches tee off at 11.30am, followed by hospitality hour. For further information please email our Secretary at joyboy6@hotmail.com.
