Playing a round

Canterbury is home to an amazing number of golf clubs and courses, so playing regularly or casually is never a problem.

The game’s popularity continues to rise, with club membership nationally up to 142,880 registrations in 2024.

During the past few years, a raft of initiatives have been launched and administered by Golf New Zealand, designed to appeal to children, teenagers,
novice players, and women.

Building on the positive health and mental wellbeing aspects of the sport, Golf New Zealand’s participation programmes focus on the social interaction and fun aspects of the sport, rather than competitive or ‘performance’ orientated elements of the game.

In 2024, the organisation found casual player numbers increased, and women’s membership figures rose by 6 percent.

This month, to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, Golf New Zealand is rolling out six She Loves Golf events across the country to bring women together to enjoy the game in a relaxed, social setting.

In Canterbury, the Akaroa Golf Club is hosting She Loves Golf events on Fridays, through to 28 March, for beginners and women who are seasoned players. Give them a call for more information.

If you’re looking for something closer to home, check out the clubs in our 6 March print issue. Get involved, and help grow the game.