The history of Waahi Taakaro Golf Club

For 17 years until 1954 golf was played on a nine-hole course further down the Maitai Valley on land leased from a local farmer. After that arrangement ended it wasn’t until 1971 after the Nelson City Council purchased 1729 acres of land from Miss Ralphine Richardson at Nelly’s Flat between the motor camp and the site of the original golf course that the idea of a municipal golf course emerged on the reserve renamed Waahi Taakaro, meaning place of recreation in Maori.

The project gained the support of several Nelson city councillors, most notably Eric Pearce who would later become the club’s first patron. They were keen on seeing a public golf course established within easy reach of the city as an alternative to Nelson Golf Course. A steering committee was established after a public meeting in early 1973 and architect Doug Leng-Ward hired to design a course.  However, it wasn’t until late 1974 that the course got the go-ahead after fierce debate among councillors over whether the council should provide funding for its initial development. Eventually $30,000 was provided and along with some public donations this allowed work to start in 1975. In the meantime, another public meeting had been held to form a golf club and an interim committee was elected headed by Ken Sharland.

After many working bees by club members to clear gorse, pick up stones and plant trees, green fee players and members were playing six holes by the end of 1975. By then the club had held its first AGM, electing Sharland president and Tom Langley vice-president, and had procured its first clubhouse, which was later added to several times. Club members also helped build the public toilets.

The course was officially opened on May 7, 1977 with just seven holes because of drainage problems on the hillside, with the other two holes becoming operational later that year. A footbridge was installed that year, but it wasn’t until 1994 that the Kearns Bridge was opened giving access to the new 18th hole. A stopbank to better protect the club and course facilities from flooding was built in 1996.

The popularity of the course was such that the club had a membership of 120 a year before it opened and by 1979 this had grown to over 300 with a waiting list.

Since those halcyon days the club has built up an impressive record in inter-club golf, been a nursery for some of Nelson’s finest golfers and attracted some big names to its annual Maitai Masters tournament which began in 1981.

While membership has waned as lifestyles change and golf faces more competition for people’s leisure time, the club continues to punch above it weight and the Maitai Masters remains one of the most popular tournaments on the local golfing calendar.