Taranaki Golf

Novotel Taranaki Masters is underway at Fitzroy and finishes tomorrow at Ngamotu.

🏆 COOPER CONQUERS THE NORTHERN EXPOSURE! 🏆

Congratulations to Ian Cooper from Fitzroy Golf Club, winner of the very first Northern Exposure Bayleys Challenge!

Ian is pictured receiving the trophy from Bayleys Regional Manager Luke Conroy — along with a pretty handy prize… a round at Tieke Golf Estate with three mates! ⛳️🔥

And it sounds like Ian enjoyed the challenge just as much as the win:

💬 “What a great concept and I can’t wait to play in the other challenges. It’s amazing to win — and what a great prize!”

It wasn’t without a few nerves though…

“I thought I had blown it! I had a terrible last hole at Manukorihi — not easy on the nerves. A par or even a bogey would have been nice!” 😂

But perhaps the best part of the Bayleys Challenge?

“I’ve now played two new courses and I’m looking forward to playing the others. Love the challenge. Amazing — thank you so much. And thank you Bayleys!”

👏 Well played Ian!

That’s exactly what the Bayleys Challenge is all about — getting out, playing different Taranaki courses, having a crack and maybe walking away with a pretty decent prize!

One Challenge down… four to go. Who’s next? 👀🏆

⛳️ GOLF NZ ARE COMING TO TARANAKI! ⛳️
And they want to talk Women & Girls’ Golf. 🏌️‍♀️
If you’re involved in women’s or girls’ golf — or simply have an interest in helping it grow — we want you in the room!

This is your chance to:
🙌 Hear what Golf NZ are thinking
💬 Join the conversation
📣 Have your say
💡 Share ideas about what could work here in Taranaki

We want a good mix of people, opinions and ideas — so don’t leave it to someone else!

📧 Register your interest: [email protected]

And yes… there’ll be refreshments, good chat and hopefully some great ideas! ☕️🍪

The news just gets better from Golf NZ! Well done to Jeanette Maw from Kaitake!

A quick reminder about reciprocals… ⛳️

Having a reciprocal with another club doesn’t give you a licence to just rock up and play! 😄

Put on your smile, contact the club, book in and let them know you’re coming.

Reciprocals are a great privilege between our clubs — let’s make sure we treat the host club, its members and its course with respect.

Book first. Smile when you arrive. Enjoy your golf. 👍⛳️

🏌️ NGAMOTU. FITZROY. WESTOWN.
If you’re a member of one of these clubs… why wouldn’t you enter? 👀
Play all three courses over a two-month period, send us your scores and you could WIN BIG! 🏆🔥
⛳ Three great courses
🏌️ Plenty of chances to improve your score
🏆 One Bayleys Challenge – City Central champion!
And remember — you don’t need to wait for a great round. Send in your scores and then go back out and beat them!
👉 Head to the Taranaki Golf website, check out THE BAYLEYS CHALLENGE and GET IN!
Your home course is already one down… two to go! 😎

👍 BIG THUMBS UP! 👍
A huge congratulations to Lencie Thompson from Urenui Golf Club, winner of the 2026 National Aotearoa Cup! 🏆⛳

What a fantastic achievement on the national stage and a very proud moment for Lencie, Urenui and Taranaki Golf.

Well done, Lencie — National Champion has a pretty good ring to it! 👏👏

🏆 THE TROPHIES ARE READY… ARE YOU? 🏆

The five Bayleys Challenge regional trophies are here, pictured with Bayleys Regional General Manager Luke Conroy.

Five regions. Five trophies. Five chances for bragging rights. 👀⛳

But first up… NORTHERN EXPOSURE! 🌊

The first challenge finishes 31 August, so there’s still time to get out there, improve those nett scores and make a late charge.

🔥 Who will be the first name on a Bayleys Challenge trophy?

One trophy. Who wants it? 🏆

Home Club: New Plymouth
Age: 19

1. How did you first get involved with golf?
I got into golf from going ball hunting with my Poppa.

2. What is your favourite golf course?
Wairakei.

3. What’s the best thing about golf?
Brings good and bad moments. Teaches you a lot more than just golf.

4. Tell me what you want to achieve in golf?
Not really too sure yet! Will see how far the new job can take me and go with the flow.

5. What do people perhaps not realise about you?
I do a lot of other sports as well.

6. What would you say to someone who is thinking of playing golf?
Get out there with the boys, good laugh!

7. Favourite hole at your club — and why?
Hole 14 for sure, mean view of the waves and ocean.

8. Favourite golf memory?
2025 Paraparaumu eagles comp, shot -7 and won by 5 shots

9. Who would be your dream fourball?
Dillin Plimmer, Alex Brooke, JVP and John Daly. Nothing would beat that!

10. What’s your go-to club in the bag?
Driver.

11. What ball do you use?
Whatever I can find in the trees.

12. What music do you listen to?
Bit of everything.

13. What’s the best book you have read?
I don’t read books.

14. Best advice you have been given and by whom?
Look for the penny underneath the ball after the swing. By Poppa.

Taranaki local does something amazing 🤩

⛳️ $10,000 SHOT

A Taranaki local’s family getaway to Taupō has ended with an unexpected $10,000 payday.

Bruce Taylor decided to try his luck at a popular lakefront attraction — and it paid off in spectacular fashion.

Read the full story below 👇