Miramar

Located on the Miramar Peninsula to the southeast of Wellington, Miramar Golf Club has operated at the same location since 1908. The arrival of Wellington airport immediately to the west of the property in 1935 sounded alarm bells for the club’s survival but – so far – it’s managed to stave off threats of air transport expansion.

Unfortunately, in the Wellington Airport 2040 Masterplan (issued in October 2019) it was stated: “the airport is seeking to acquire the former Miramar South School site land and the southern portion of Miramar Golf Course to provide space for additional aircraft stands, taxiways and aprons” so it appears unlikely that the club will hold onto all of its land for much longer.

For now, the course extends to a modest 5,552 metres from the back markers, playing to a par of 70; 36 out and 34 in, with the considerably shorter inward half featuring three par threes and only one par five. Feature holes include the first of the short holes at the 149-metre 6th (“Coates Fancy”) and two short par fours on the on the back nine at the 12th (“Moa Point) and 14th (“Summit”).

In 1926 and 1939, Miramar hosted the annual national golf tournament that used to determine the winners of the NZ Amateur, NZ Open and NZ PGA championships then the Amateur returned to the club in 1965. The NZ Women’s Amateur has also been staged here on four occasions, the first of which was held as far back as 1896.