13th World Golf Awards: New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji Claim Regional Crowns
The premier golf courses, luxury resorts, and tour operators across Oceania have been recognized on the global stage as the World Golf Awards officially unveiled its 2026 winners at the 13th annual Gala Ceremony in Egypt. Hosted at Madinaty Golf Club in New Cairo—marking the organization’s historic first staging on the African continent—the event brought together golf tourism leaders from around the globe.
While international headliners included Portugal taking the marquee World’s Best Golf Destination award and Mission Hills Haikou in China winning World’s Best Golf Hotel, the results delivered standout victories for Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
New Zealand Dominates Regional Honours
New Zealand emerged as the standout powerhouse across the Tasman, capturing the coveted title of Oceania’s Best Golf Destination 2026.
The South Island’s picturesque landscapes proved unbeatable in the regional facility categories:
- Oceania’s Best Golf Course: Queenstown Golf Club claimed top honors for the continent, prevailing over leading contenders across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.
- Oceania’s Best Golf Hotel: Millbrook Resort, also situated in Queenstown, secured the regional hospitality crown.
- Oceania’s Best Golf Tour Operator: Veteran travel company PaR nz Golfing Holidays was named the region’s premier golf tour operator.
In New Zealand’s domestic categories, Queenstown Golf Club doubled up to take New Zealand’s Best Golf Course 2026, while The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay won New Zealand’s Best Golf Hotel 2026. In the travel services sector, Remarkable Golf Tours took home New Zealand’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator, and Golf Encounters won New Zealand’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator.
Kingston Heath and Barnbougle Lead Australian Victories
Australia cemented its reputation as a world-class golfing haven, led by its iconic Melbourne Sandbelt and Tasmanian links layouts:
- Australia’s Best Golf Course 2026: Kingston Heath Golf Club secured the top course honor in the country, leading a competitive field of renowned Australian championship venues.
- Australia’s Best Golf Hotel 2026: Tasmania’s famed dual-links complex, Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm Golf Resort, took home the national golf resort award.
- Tour Operators: Gold Coast–based Signature Golf Tours was awarded Australia’s Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator 2026, while Melbourne’s CGE Golf took the title of Australia’s Best Outbound Golf Tour Operator 2026.
Fiji’s Coral Coast Sweeps Pacific Island Titles
Across the Pacific, Fiji’s Natadola Bay precinct swept the nation’s golf tourism accolades:
- Fiji’s Best Golf Course 2026: Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, famed for its sweeping Coral Coast views, was voted the nation’s top course.
- Fiji’s Best Golf Hotel 2026: Adjoining the course, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa secured the luxury accommodation crown, continuing its sustained multi-year streak as the country’s benchmark golf destination.
Global Milestone in Cairo
The 2026 World Golf Awards Gala marked a milestone year for the program, celebrating excellence across tourism, apparel, and design. Highlights from the global section included Robert Trent Jones Jr. receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, PING winning World’s Best Golf Club Brand, and India’s Aashish Vaishnava and the UK’s Jon Hunt (AV IDG) sharing the title of Golf Course Designer of the Year.
The World Golf Awards are decided through a year-long voting process, with ballots cast by golf travel industry professionals, international media, and travelling golfers worldwide.
full list https://worldgolfawards.com/winners/2026
