The final event of the new Kiwi Swing brings together leading players from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and Japan Golf Tour, marking a significant step forward for professional golf in New Zealand.

The championship brings international depth to one of the country’s premier layouts, while reinforcing the growing importance of the three-event New Zealand swing, with strong fields lining up from Australasia, Asia, Europe and even the U.S.

The tournament offers valuable world ranking points and tour opportunities, while also delivering long-awaited top-level golf to Auckland fans.

Royal Auckland and Grange itself is a storied layout.

Its Middlemore course dates back to 1910 and has hosted many NZ Opens, though the current configuration is younger. The club, an amalgamation of Auckland GC and the Grange GC, underwent a top-to-bottom renovation in recent years, resulting in a majestic parkland-style test, instantly recognised as a championship course.

Gavin Kirkman tells Golf Australia magazine that the club’s leaders were keen partners because the course is top-class. This three-week swing demonstrates the extensive work Kirkman, Nick Dastey, and co. have done to make the expansion of events in New Zealand not only possible, but attractive for players travelling from Japan and Australia.

“Our vision for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia is to continue to grow the tour into Australasia,” Kirkman says.

Gavin Kirkman speaks during the Greg Norman medal. PHOTO: Australian Golf Media.

“The New Zealand Open has been the one for Millbrook and Queenstown for so many years, and that’s a very popular event on our Tour. But then to complement it with the new event, the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship at Royal Auckland and Grange, and the New Zealand PGA Championship, it all fits right into our vision and where we want to be.”

Sustainability is key to the new swing. Quality purses, sponsors and top venues are vital, as Kirkman knows well.

“We want to ensure we have good prize money. Going into a swing, it’s better than where we started – we’re now into a three-event swing. We will continue to look at opportunities to grow. It is really important we build sustainable and viable events, which the New Zealand Open has been a catalyst for so long. Hopefully, these new events can show growth, be strong and have longevity.

A championship test, Royal Auckland and Grange. PHOTO: Mike Hyde.

"This was an opportunity to bring an international tournament to Auckland’s best layout. “We want to be at the best golf courses. When we go to NZ, the attraction has got to be the destination. Auckland hasn’t had a major tournament for so long. Although we had a short lead time, we’re excited about taking a co-sanctioned international Championship to Royal Auckland and Grange for fans and the local community,” Kirkman adds.

High-quality players from both tours will be competing this week. Japan and Korea are sending players seeking summer golf, while local Australasians gain world-ranking points, Order of Merit opportunities and Asian Tour access. Co-sanctioning also opens doors across tours: “If a Japanese player wins, they get sanctioned onto our tour; if an Australasian player wins, they get onto theirs.”

Royal Auckland member, Ryan Fox, wont be in the field this week. But is quick to sing the praises of his home layout. PHOTO: Getty Images.

New Zealand’s best male player, Aucklander and RAGGC member Ryan Fox, praises the event heading to the city. “I have been a member here for more than 20 years. Part of the redesign of the course was to have a Championship layout, and I feel we really have that now. When I joined the tour, there weren’t many events in New Zealand; now, to have three in a row is epic,” Fox adds.

New Zealand’s appeal as a golf destination is undeniable. It boasts some of the world’s most beautiful and challenging courses. That natural allure is matched by a fresh institutional push. With the Australasian Tour investing in elite tournaments, R&A-sponsored amateur championships and grassroots tours, the ecosystem is stronger than ever in this corner of the world.