New Zealand will host one of the world's most prestigious amateur golf tournaments.
The Royal Wellington Golf Club has been awarded the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in October 2017, which will be broadcast live around the world.
The tournament is one of the largest of its type in the world, with the winner earning a place at the following year's Masters and a spot in The Open qualifying series, the final stage to gain entry into The Open Championship.
The top 120 amateur players from the Asia-Pacific region and will compete with 10 places available for New Zealanders as host.
"Royal Wellington is honoured by the invitation to host the tournament at the Heretaunga championship course," said club captain Andrew Meehan. "Hosting this tournament will give New Zealand international exposure only possible through an event like the Rugby World Cup."
The decision was announced at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong, which is hosting this year's championship. Mr Meehan, who was there for the announcement, said it was a fantastic opportunity for the club, for the Wellington region and for golf in New Zealand.
"Hosting this tournament at Heretaunga is the culmination of a lot of work and considerable planning by many people," he said. "It also follows a substantive redevelopment designed by Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson to create a true championship course that was recently voted the best members' course in the country."
Established in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship has quickly become one of the most celebrated amateur golf tournaments in the world.
