To be played at Te Arai Links’ South Course, the AAC will see the brightest men’s amateur golf talents from the Asia-Pacific region converge on Tomarata north of Auckland for 72 holes of stroke play competition.

2026 will mark the second occasion New Zealand has hosted the AAC, after Royal Wellington Golf Club was the venue in 2017 that saw China’s Lin Yuxin victorious for his first of two AAC titles.

Golf New Zealand CEO, Jeff Latch, said “We are enormously proud to be hosting the AAC, Asia Pacific’s pre-eminent men’s amateur championship, in New Zealand again. As well as providing an opportunity for our elite amateur golfers to compete with the best in the world on home soil it also provides us an opportunity to showcase New Zealand as a world-renowned golfing destination.

“I can think of no finer location for showcasing the pristine natural beauty of New Zealand than Te Arai Links.”

The 2025 edition of the AAC hosted by the United Arab Emirates at The Majlis Course of Emirates Golf Club is currently being broadcasted in more than 190 countries, placing the event as the most televised amateur golf tournament in the world. This presents an opportunity for New Zealand to showcase a property in Te Arai Links that has contributed to the country’s world-renowned reputation as a golfing destination.

Jim Rohrstaff, Managing Director of Te Arai Links said “We are incredibly honoured to be hosting the Asia-Pacific Amateur at Te Arai Links in 2026. This is one of the top amateur tournaments in the world and run by some of the top organizations in golf. As a very young facility, this reiterates what a special place we have here in New Zealand.

“Having an event with the best amateur golfers in the Asia Pacific region is going to be phenomenal against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Our team, membership and the New Zealand golf community will be cheering on all of the amateurs that are privileged to qualify for the Championship.”

New Zealand athletes at the 2026 AAC will be presented with a chance to test themselves against an elite international field while playing in familiar conditions.

Golf New Zealand General Manager High Performance and Talent Development, Gregg Thorpe said “This is a great opportunity to showcase a truly magical part of New Zealand, while giving our next generation the chance to test themselves against the best young golfers in the Asia-Pacific region on home soil.

"The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has a strong history of revealing the region’s next superstars, so I’m looking forward to seeing which of our Kiwi players put their hand up at Te Arai Links.”

Nick Hill CE Tataki Auckland Unlimited said “Helping to bring the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship to Tamaki Makaurau Auckland is a huge win for Auckland Council Events. Te Arai Links will be the perfect stage to showcase Auckland as a world-class golfing destination and we can’t wait to extend our manaakitanga (hospitality) to everyone next year.”

Coupled with hosting of the sister tournament in the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship at Royal Wellington Golf Club in February, New Zealand is set to host the two premier amateur golf tournaments in the region in the same year for the first time since Thailand in 2022 and for just the fourth time in history.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A said “We are delighted to be taking the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship back to New Zealand and to be staging it at Te Arai Links for the first time.

“Te Arai’s South Course is an exceptional venue and will provide a fantastic test of golf in a spectacular location. Our goal for the Championship is to continue to inspire and develop the region’s most talented players and we look forward to another outstanding edition in 2026.”