Media

Golf Tourism

New Zealand has the third highest number of golf courses per capita in the world?  With our growing population, fast approaching 5 million, and nearly 400 courses, only Scotland and Ireland have more golf courses, more golf holes, per population than us – we even top Australia.  After nearly twenty years of golf tourism, with beginning’s traced back to Geoff Burns ‘Best of New Zealand Golf Group’, our golfing offerings are finally getting some real traction in the greater global golf market.   

The biggest golf association in the world, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators, (IAGTO) manages three large golf trade shows every year. New Zealand has been represented regularly over recent years, with golf tourism boards, golf courses and many golf tour companies, promoting New Zealand. At such trade shows, attended by golf colleagues from around the world, many golf related topics are discussed and the initiative of the New Zealand Golf Industry Council is one topic that is also getting more and more credence. 

Golf in New Zealand is on the global golfing map, with increasing numbers playing golf in New Zealand, travelling independently, or joining into the number of multi course challenges or playing in national events, with increased international competitors from Australia, France, New Caledonia, Canada, Tahiti, England and Fiji at these events.

The 'International Golf Tourism Strategy', written in 2013, has just completed its fifth year of execution and the sector is still experiencing significant growth.  44 total courses are actively involved in New Zealand's promotion of golf tourism to the wider world, comprised of 14 Marquee Courses, 23 Experience Courses, and seven "Hidden Gems", a new category highlighting some of our unique country course product.

The tourism strategy's execution is a joint venture between Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Golf, who jointly fund Golf Tourism New Zealand, the entity tasked with both improving New Zealand golf's supply side (ensuring the expectations of the international visitor are met) and promoting our golf product internationally.

International promotion over the last year was a mix of four major travel trade shows, use of golf and lifestyle media to further tell the New Zealand golf story, and face-to-face interactions with our core market...premium golfers from the United States, Australia, and China.

Inbound golf tourism numbers for the 2018 calendar year continued to show strong results, with a 20% across the board growth in overseas rounds across the 14 Marquee Courses.  All six individual markets tracked were also up, with Australia and China up 13% each, Japan up 14%, the USA up 28%, "Other Asia" up 48%, and "Rest of World" up by 41%.

Recently, projects were undertaken to refresh and update the 'Courses of Nature' collateral, include new footage and voice over into the 'Courses of Nature' video, and add a significant amount of imagery to the visual library.

More information on New Zealand's international golf tourism work can be found on Tourism New Zealand's 'Golf Hub' at www.newzealand.com/int/golf, or by contact the Executive Director of Golf Tourism New Zealand on ryan@gtnz.kiw.