New Zealand’s Premier Hickory Championship
The New Zealand Hickory Open is the principal event of the New Zealand Society of Hickory Golf.
What began as a Christchurch Golf Club tournament in 2022 has developed into a genuine international championship attracting players from throughout New Zealand and overseas.
Participating nations have included:
- Australia;
- Canada;
- China;
- Japan;
- Malaysia;
- New Zealand;
- the United Kingdom; and
- the United States of America.
The international character of the tournament is one of its defining strengths.
Players do not simply attend to compete. They travel to experience New Zealand, build friendships, share knowledge, play historic equipment and participate in the wider social programme surrounding the event.
Competition and Fellowship
The New Zealand Hickory Open includes a range of competition formats designed to provide opportunities for players of different ages, abilities and levels of experience.
These include:
- the New Zealand Hickory Open Championship;
- divisional competitions;
- the New Zealand Hickory Foursomes Championship;
- international team matches;
- social and introductory rounds; and
- pre-tournament events.
Although the standard of competition continues to rise, the tournament retains the atmosphere that made the original event successful:
Competitive golf played within a welcoming, inclusive and highly social environment.
An International Destination
The New Zealand Hickory Open is increasingly regarded as a destination tournament.
International players are attracted by:
- the opportunity to compete in New Zealand;
- the history and character of Christchurch Golf Club;
- the involvement of Sir Bob Charles;
- the quality of the competition;
- the wider social programme;
- the opportunity to visit and play other New Zealand courses; and
- the fellowship of the New Zealand hickory community.
The Society continues to build relationships in Australia, Asia, North America, the United Kingdom and Europe to strengthen the tournament and provide reciprocal opportunities for New Zealand players.
A Historic Home for the Game
The New Zealand Society of Hickory Golf receives important event and venue support from Christchurch Golf Club.
Founded in 1873, Christchurch Golf Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the Southern Hemisphere and has a natural connection with the traditions of early golf.
The Club’s Shirley course provides an appropriate and historically significant setting for the New Zealand Hickory Open.
Its strategic design rewards:
- imagination;
- accuracy;
- positioning;
- trajectory control;
- thoughtful club selection; and
- course management.
These are the qualities at the heart of hickory golf.
The Home of Hickory
Christchurch Golf Club has become known within the Society and the wider international hickory community as: “The Home of Hickory.”
The relationship between Christchurch Golf Club, the Society and the New Zealand Hickory Open provides a strong foundation for the continued development of traditional golf in New Zealand.
Sir Bob Charles has a longstanding association with Christchurch Golf Club and serves as Patron of the New Zealand Society of Hickory Golf.
His involvement provides an important connection between:
- one of New Zealand’s most historic golf clubs;
- the country’s national hickory organisation;
- New Zealand’s premier hickory tournament; and
- one of the most respected figures in world golf.
The Society values the support provided by Christchurch Golf Club and recognises the importance of the Shirley course to the identity and international reputation of the New Zealand Hickory Open.