Poverty Bay Golf Club/Awapuni Links

Awapuni Links is the home of the Poverty Bay Golf Club, a course shaped by continuity rather than trend.

Established in 1893, the club is one of the oldest in New Zealand and the second oldest in the North Island. While its earliest holes were played on neighbouring land further along the dunes, golf has long occupied this part of the coast. Since settling permanently at Awapuni in 1913,the course has remained on this ground, within Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, the waters of Poverty Bay where Māori settlement long predated the arrival of Europeans, and where James Cook first sailed into the bay in 1769. That layered sense of history gives the land a weight and context that still feels present today.

The course itself is laid across a natural sand dune system running parallel with the bay. Sandy soils and excellent drainage keep Awapuni Links playable year-round, while gentle undulation, strategic bunkering, and shifting - yet dependable - coastal winds shape a true links-style test. Conditions can change quickly, placing a premium on judgement, restraint, and imagination rather than raw power.

Measuring 6,029 metres and playing to a par 72 from the back tees, Awapuni retains genuine championship bite. Advances in equipment and technology have made little impact on the scorecard, with a round of 65remaining the course record, set by Ryan Fox and  matched by a couple of others. It is a quiet reminder that the course still asks serious questions of elite players.

That challenge has underpinned its role as a championship venue, including hosting national amateur championships on multiple occasions, most recently the New Zealand Amateur Championship in 2020. At the same time, Awapuni remains deeply playable and welcoming for members and visitors, a course that rewards repeat rounds and thoughtful golf.

Awapuni Links has existed long before rankings lists became part of the conversation. Its standing has always been earned through those who return, those who recommend it, and those who leave with a clear sense of place still lingering.

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