Royal Wellington Awarded 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific

Royal Wellington has been named as the venue for the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific.

The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) have announced that the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be held at Royal Wellington in New Zealand from February 12-15, 2026.

This will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the championship, which aims to inspire future generations of women golfers and has evolved into the pre-eminent women’s amateur championship in the Asia-Pacific region.

Each year, WAAP provides the champion with life-changing opportunities through exemptions into three women’s Major championships and elite amateur championships.

The winner will be invited to compete in the AIG Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship and Amundi Evian Championship as well as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Hana Financial Group Championship.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “We are delighted to bring the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to New Zealand for the first time. With the region’s best women amateurs competing for Major opportunities, Royal Wellington, which has already hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, will be an outstanding golf course to test their skill and truly let their talent shine through.”

APGC Chairman Taimur Hassan Amin added: “From the outset, it was the intention to take the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific to different locations around our region. Following successful events in Singapore and Thailand twice each, and once each in Abu Dhabi, Japan and Vietnam, we’re excited to be heading south to New Zealand in 2026 to the spectacular stage that is Royal Wellington. It promises to be a memorable occasion.”

Jeff Latch, CEO of Golf New Zealand, said: “Golf New Zealand is incredibly proud to welcome the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to Royal Wellington Golf Club. As the pinnacle women’s amateur golf championship in the Asia-Pacific region, it provides a platform for the brightest young talents to compete on the world stage and will further inspire the next generation of golfers here in New Zealand.”

First established in 1895 and situated alongside the Hutt River, Royal Wellington is well-renowned as a parkland layout and is one of the premier courses in New Zealand.

Royal Wellington has hosted the New Zealand Open on seven occasions, including in 1976 when local Steve Williams caddied in his first significant tournament for five-time Open champion golfer Peter Thomson. More recently, the course hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2017, won by China’s Lin Yuxin.

Mike O’Neill, Royal Wellington Club Captain and Women’s Captain Jane Paterson both agree. They said: “The hosting of this championship is both a privilege and an opportunity – not only for us, but for all of New Zealand.

“This is our chance to see the best young women amateur golfers from the Asia-Pacific region playing in our own backyard. We look forward to sharing our club and our region with the competitors, their friends and family, and all who visit the club during the championship.”

The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a route for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.

New Zealand Major Events and WellingtonNZ Events have been instrumental in bringing this pre-eminent championship to the country.

Kylie Hawker-Green, General Manager of New Zealand Major Events, said: “New Zealand Major Events is excited to support Golf New Zealand to bring this women’s championship to New Zealand for the first time.

“We have an on-going commitment to supporting women and girls sporting events across multiple codes. As golf is an increasingly popular sport for women and girls across the country, we see this as an excellent opportunity to bring some of the best amateur players to our shores. In addition, through international broadcasting, it will help showcase New Zealand on the international stage.”

Heidi Morton, WellingtonNZ Events and Experiences General Manager, says hosting the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship strengthens Wellington’s standing as a top destination for international sporting events.

She said: “The Women’s Amateur-Asia Pacific attracts a significant global audience and it’s incredibly exciting that one of Wellington’s premier sporting venues – the Royal Wellington Golf Club – and the Wellington region will be centre stage to an audience of millions.

“This championship will showcase the next generation of talent from across Asia-Pacific, and we’re proud to cement Wellington’s role in celebrating and elevating women’s global sport.”

The R&A and APGC are supported by championship event partners who share their commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The WAAP is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Peter Millar, and Titleist.