Te Arai Links to Host 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

POSTED ON October 24, 2025 @ 1:32 pm

The 17th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) will be contested at the stunning Te Arai Links’ South Course in Tomarata, New Zealand, from October 29 to November 1, 2026.

The announcement was made by the founding partners—the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament, and The R&A. This marks the second time the prestigious event has been held in New Zealand, and its debut at the highly-rated Te Arai Links.

A Path to the Majors

The AAC annually gathers the top male amateur golfers representing the 43 affiliated organisations of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. The stakes couldn’t be higher:

The 2026 AAC champion will receive an invitation to compete in the following year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.
The winner also earns an exemption into The 155th Open at St Andrews.
The runner(s)-up will gain a coveted spot in Final Qualifying for The Open.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, expressed excitement over the choice of venue. “Te Arai’s South Course is an exceptional venue and will provide a fantastic test of golf in a spectacular location,” Darbon said. “Our goal for the Championship is to continue to inspire and develop the region’s most talented players and we look forward to another outstanding edition in 2026.”

World-Class Venue: Te Arai Links

Located 75 minutes north of Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island, Te Arai Links opened in 2022 and has quickly established itself as a world-class destination.

The Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed South Course is a par-72 links-style layout, featuring firm, fast fescue built on natural sand dunes.
Its dramatic setting includes 16 holes with ocean views, looking directly out over the Pacific.
The facility is also home to ‘The Playground,’ reputedly the largest putting green in the world.

“This is one of the top amateur tournaments in the world… As a very young facility, this reiterates what a special place we have here in New Zealand,” said Jim Rohrstaff, Managing Director of Te Arai Links, adding that the team, membership, and local community are incredibly honoured to host the Championship.

Championship Alumni: A History of Success

The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has a proven track record as a launchpad for professional careers.

Notable alumni include:

Hideki Matsuyama (2021 Masters Champion and two-time AAC winner).
Cameron Smith (2022 Open Champion).
Other successful pros like Takumi Kanaya, Keita Nakajima, Cameron Davis, Min Woo Lee, and the Republic of Korea’s Si Woo Kim.
New Zealand’s own Ryan Fox, who holds the course record at Te Arai Links, is also a past competitor.

Collectively, alumni of the Championship have gone on to win 33 tournaments on the PGA Tour and more than 150 events across major professional tours worldwide.

The 2026 event will mark the Championship’s return to the country nine years after it was last held at Royal Wellington Golf Club.

For more information, visit AACGolf.com.