The story of Mercury Bay Golf Club began on 1st June 1932 with a public meeting in the town hall. Twenty-four people attended and waterfront land in the area of now Halligan Road through to Jackman Ave was offered by Mr Bryce and Mr Wells. Three weeks later nine fairways and greens were marked out. The greens were hand-mown and fenced with sheep looking after the fairways. Local rules were… without penalty balls could be lifted from wheel track, hoof marks, pig rooting and from a bone heap on the course. A penalty of one was imposed for a pickup from shell pits, swamps, and ditches.

This course was used until 1945 when it was transferred to a dairy farm owned by Mr Hare with the entrance beside what is known as the “second bridge” on Buffalo Beach Road. Our current patron, Shane Hardy, can remember walking with his father on this course and the clubs and bag he used are on display in our clubhouse.

In 1950 the course was moved again to Lee’s Farm at Kaimarama, now the site of the new town cemetery. Another five years and the course were back in town on rented land in the Eyre St to Jackman Ave area.

The committee of 1955, 56, 57 (probably tired of moving) sought out and purchased for one hundred pounds per acre a 47-acre area of land where the front nine of our existing course sits. After much scrub cutting, drainage and fencing, this 9-hole course opened on 12th June 1960.

In 1984 the area of land where the back nine now sits was purchased from Thames Coromandel District Council and the course became 18 holes after a time of further development.

We are indebted to the men and women who voluntarily gave their time to develop and maintain the various versions of the Mercury Bay Golf Club.