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Mangawhai Golf Club will host the 20th anniversary of the Ladies Two Day Classic on February 14 and 15.
Held at the Mangawhai Golf Club on Molesworth Drive, the tournament has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most anticipated women’s golf events in the upper North Island.
Originally conceived as a possible trial event for Northland representative selection, the Classic now attracts top women golfers from Northland and regions stretching as far south as the central North Island.
This year’s anniversary edition is already shaping up to be a standout.
The 36-hole, two-day event is fully pre-registered with more than 100 players, with a growing waitlist reflecting its enduring popularity. Organisers say the field once again includes many of NZ’s best women golfers, promising a closely fought and exciting competition.
The event is sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson for the sixth consecutive year, continuing a strong partnership that has supported the tournament’s growth and prestige.
Club spokesperson Shelley Hamilton says the success of the Ladies Two Day Classic mirrors the wider rise of women’s participation in golf.
Since 2019, the number of women and girls playing the sport has increased by 41 per cent, accounting for around 60 per cent of the net growth in on-course golfers.
“Increased visibility through expanded LPGA Tour schedules, higher prize money, greater television coverage, and the influence of sporting ambassadors such as world number one Lydia Ko have all helped bring women’s golf into the spotlight,” Hamilton says.
Closer to home, national initiatives like She Loves Golf have played a key role in introducing new players to the game. The social, beginner-friendly programme has proven hugely successful across New Zealand, and Mangawhai Golf Club runs multiple She Loves Golf courses each year. Many participants go on to join the club’s popular Novice Membership Programme, further strengthening the local golfing community.
Mangawhai Golf Club officials say they are looking forward to hosting another successful tournament and welcoming players and spectators.
