Royal Wellington Golf Club
Founded in 1895 and settled at Heretaunga since 1906, Royal Wellington is the capital region's senior club and one of New Zealand's finest. Its championship Heretaunga Course, rebuilt by Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson and opened in 2014, is a par 72 of about 6,601 yards that hosted the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
Photo: Royal Wellington Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Royal Wellington carries history and modern pedigree in equal measure. The club was founded in 1895 and moved to its Heretaunga home in Upper Hutt in 1906, where it has remained ever since, set among lush forest, rolling hills and the Hutt River just north of the capital. The Royal title and that long lineage make it the leading club of the Wellington region.
In recent years the golf has been brought fully up to date. The championship Heretaunga Course was redesigned by Scott Macpherson Golf Design with Greg Turner and reopened in 2014, and the club's standing was confirmed when it hosted the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, run in partnership with the Masters and the R&A and beamed to a worldwide audience. For a traveling golfer it is the obvious centrepiece of a Wellington trip, a genuine championship test in a beautiful river valley.
Royal Wellington at a glance
- Club founded
- 1895
- Course reopened
- 2014
- Designers
- Turner, Macpherson
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,601 yd
Designers, year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1895 and the championship Heretaunga Course, redesigned by Scott Macpherson and Greg Turner, reopened in 2014, a par 72 of about 6,601 yards that hosted the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur. Visitor access is by arrangement, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Turner and Macpherson rebuild gave Royal Wellington a course that holds up to elite amateur scrutiny while staying playable for members and visitors. The routing uses the river flats and the gentle rises of the property, with mature trees lining the corridors and water and contour bringing the strategy. The greens are firm and well shaped, so judging the right portion to attack is as important as the tee shot.
Length is there from the back tees when the course is stretched for a championship, but the everyday markers offer a fair and enjoyable test that asks for position rather than brute power. The par 3s are a particular strength, varied in length and angle, and the closing holes are built to produce drama when something is on the line, as the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur showed.
It is a course that flatters the complete player. Drive it to the correct side, control your distance into the greens and respect the contour, and Royal Wellington gives back one of the most satisfying inland rounds in the country.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitors and reciprocal players welcome by prior arrangement |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees apply where access is granted (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Contact the club ahead; weekends carry more member competition |
| On the day | Walking course with carts by arrangement; full clubhouse; smart golf dress expected |
| Getting there | Heretaunga, Upper Hutt, about 30 minutes north of central Wellington |
| Best months | November to April for the warmest, driest playing season |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Royal Wellington Golf Club where published; policy changes, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Central Wellington, about half an hour south, is the natural base, with the capital's harbourfront hotels, its lively dining and coffee scene and the national museum Te Papa all within easy reach for the evening. It makes a cultured, characterful home for a golf trip.
For a quieter, closer stay, the Hutt Valley around Upper Hutt offers lodging within minutes of the first tee. From either base you can pair Royal Wellington with the wider North Island circuit, including the celebrated Wairakei course to the north, for a fuller New Zealand itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Wellington.
Build a New Zealand golf trip
We build Royal Wellington into a North Island itinerary, pairing it with the country's best courses and booking the lodging, dining and transfers around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Wellington questions
Who designed the Royal Wellington championship course?
The championship Heretaunga Course was redesigned by Scott Macpherson Golf Design with Greg Turner and opened in 2014. The club itself was founded in 1895 and moved to its Heretaunga home in 1906.
What championships has Royal Wellington hosted?
Royal Wellington hosted the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, run in partnership with the Masters and the R&A and televised to many countries. The winner earned places in the following year's Masters and Open Championship.
What is the par and length of Royal Wellington?
The Heretaunga Course plays to a par 72 of about 6,601 yards, set among forest, rolling ground and the Hutt River north of Wellington.
Can visitors play Royal Wellington?
Royal Wellington is a private members club that welcomes visitors and reciprocal players by prior arrangement. Contact the club to book, and always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, year, par and yardage verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.