| Sport | Golf |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder | New Zealand Golf Association |
| First season | 1963 |
| Ceased | 1980 |
| Countries | Based in New Zealand |
| Most titles | Money list titles: Bob Charles (6)Tournament wins: Bob Charles (20) |
| Related competitions | Charles Tour Golf Tour of New Zealand |
The New Zealand Golf Circuit was an annual series of professional tournaments held in New Zealand between 1963 and early 1980.
A small number of professional tournaments had been held in New Zealand before 1963, the Caltex Tournament had been held annually since 1955 and the Wiseman's Tournament had been held in 1952, 1955 and 1958. However it was not until 1963 that a formal "circuit" was organised. [1] In its first season it was held in late August and September but from 1964 it was moved to a later date, generally starting in mid-November. [1] [2] Initially the New Zealand PGA Championship, was not included in the circuit but from 1968-69 it was added, together with the Spalding Masters, extending the circuit into January. [3]
The circuit enjoyed considerable success for a number of years, but by 1979–80 it had been reduced to just three events. [4] From 1980 the New Zealand events were incorporated into the PGA Tour of Australia schedule and a combined Order of Merit was produced. [5] [6] [7]
| Season | Winner | Prize money (NZ$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 |  Rodger Davis | 15,932 |
| 1978–79 | Bob Charles (6) | 21,548 |
| 1977–78 | David Good | 18,853 |
| 1976–77 | John Lister (2) | 15,737 |
| 1975–76 |  Bill Brask | 15,894 |
| 1974–75 | John Lister | 12,075 |
| 1973–74 | Bob Charles (5) | 10,100 |
| 1972–73 | Bill Dunk | 7,759 |
| 1971–72 | Bob Charles (4) | 10,588 |
| 1970–71 | Graham Marsh | 8,400 |
| 1969–70 | Kel Nagle (2) | 8,925 |
| 1968–69 | Bob Charles (3) | |
| 1967 | Bob Charles (2) | 3,040 |
| Season | Winner | Prize money (£NZ) |
| 1966 | Bob Charles | 1,595 |
| 1965 | Peter Thomson | 1,568 |
| 1964 | Kel Nagle | 1,741 |
| Season | Winner | Points |
| 1963 | Bruce Devlin | 55 |
| Rank | Player | Wins | Years won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Charles | 6 | 1966, 1967, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79 |
| T2 | John Lister | 2 | 1974–75, 1976–77 |
| Kel Nagle | 1964, 1969–70 |
Sir Robert James Charles is a New Zealand professional golfer who won the 1963 Open Championship, the first left-handed player to win a major championship. He won the 1954 New Zealand Open as an 18-year-old amateur and made the cut in the same event in 2007, at the age of 71. His achievements over that period, in which he won 80 tournaments, rank him as one of the most successful New Zealand golfers of all time. He is, along with Michael Campbell, one of only two New Zealanders to win a men's major golf championship.
Peter William Thomson was an Australian professional golfer. In the late 1940s, Thomson turned pro and had much success on the Australasian circuits, culminating with a win at the 1951 Australian Open. He then moved onto the PGA Tour, playing on the circuit in 1953 and 1954, but did not have much success, failing to win. He decided to focus on Europe thereafter with extraordinary success, winning dozens of tournaments on the British PGA, including the Open Championship five times. As a senior, Thomson continued with success, winning 11 times on the Senior PGA Tour. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all-time.
Anthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer. He was the most successful British player of his generation, winning two major championships, the 1969 Open Championship and the 1970 U.S. Open. He was also Ryder Cup captain from 1983 to 1989; Europe winning two and tying another of these four events.
The New Zealand Open is the premier men's golf tournament in New Zealand. It has been a regular fixture on the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament schedule since the 1970s. The 2019 event was the 100th edition of the tournament. Since 2014 it has been held as a pro-am in February or March.
The New Zealand PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament held by the New Zealand PGA. It is generally an event on the PGA Tour of Australasia but in some years has been held as a non-tour event. In 2024, it was held on the Charles Tour for the first time.
Brian George Charles Huggett, was a Welsh professional golfer. He won 16 events on the European circuit between 1962 and 1978, including two after the formal start of the European Tour in 1972. In 1968 he won the Harry Vardon Trophy for leading the Order of Merit and he was in third place in 1969, 1970 and 1972. He won 10 times on the European Seniors Tour between 1992 and 2000, including the 1998 Senior British Open.
The Air New Zealand Shell Open was a golf tournament held in New Zealand between 1975 and 1994. The event was the New Zealand Airlines Classic in 1975 and 1976 and the New Zealand Airlines Open in 1977. The Grange hosted the first and final editions of the event but Titirangi hosted the event the most, 14 times between 1977 and 1991. The only other courses to host the event were Russley (1976) and Wellington (1979).
William Jennings Brask Jr. is an American professional golfer. Although he did not have much success on the PGA Tour he won a number of minor international tournaments. Due to this success overseas – where they used a smaller golf ball – he was referred to as "the king of the small ball" by Lee Trevino.
Walter John Ihaka Godfrey is a professional golfer from New Zealand.
The Asia Golf Circuit was the principal men's professional golf tour in Southeast Asia from the early 1960s through to the mid-late 1990s. The tour was founded in 1961 as the Far East Circuit. The first series of five tournaments was held in 1962 and consisted of the national open championships of the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, plus a final tournament held in Japan. The tour gradually grew over the subsequent years, eventually becoming a regular ten tournament circuit in 1974.
The New Zealand Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of New Zealand. It has been played annually since 1893, except for the war years, and is organised by New Zealand Golf.
Martin Roesink is a Dutch professional golfer. In the mid-1960s he had much success in Australasian region, posting several high finishes culminating with a win at the 1967 New Zealand Wills Masters. The following year he tried out for the PGA Tour and was successful, performing as medallist at the fall Q-School. He played on the PGA Tour for five seasons, recording a number of top tens, including a runner-up finish in 1970. Since then, he has worked primarily as a club professional and golf manager in the American state of Ohio.
The 1963 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the inaugural season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1964 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the second season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1966 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the fourth season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1967 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the fifth season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1968–69 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the sixth season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1971–72 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the ninth season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1975–76 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the 13th season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.
The 1979–80 New Zealand Golf Circuit was the 17th and final season of the New Zealand Golf Circuit, the main professional golf tour in New Zealand since it was established in 1963.