Formosa to become 9-hole residential golf complex

10 May 2022

According to reports on the NZ Herald website, the owners of Auckland’s Formosa Golf Course Resort are planning to half the 18-hole Sir Bob Charles–designed golf course, and add 3,000 new apartments and houses to the property.

The Russell Property Group, who co-own the golf course with the NZ Super Fund, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Hāpai Development Property LP, confirmed to the news website that a plan change and rezoning application had been lodged with Auckland Council, in order to accommodate the new development.

The owners told the NZ Herald that although they were reducing the golf course from 18 holes to 9 holes, they would invest in those remaining 9 holes to improve the standard of golf.

The NZ Herald article included the following information about the proposal:

The 255ha Beachlands South scheme could take around 3000 dwellings, commercial, retail, education and open space developments.

Coastal boardwalks, playgrounds, parks and open spaces are planned and Russell said that could be a catalyst for the community to get new primary and secondary schools.

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki has mana whenua for the area and supports the scheme, Russell said.

Hapai is an iwi owned property fund that has 20 investors. These entities bought 5 per cent of the Beachland South Limited Partnership, the statement said.

Two years ago, the Herald reported how an entity established by the NZ Super Fund and the owner of one of New Zealand's largest construction businesses had bought Formosa Golf Resort and would amalgamate that with a neighbouring site.

A joint announcement in 2020 came from the fund and Russell Property Group which owns major national builder Dominion Constructors.

That would buy 250ha of land: the 170ha club at 110 Jack Lachlan Drive and a further 80ha at 620 Whitford-Maraetai Rd already owned by an associate of Russell Property Group. The properties are collectively valued by Auckland Council at $81.5 million.

No price was announced and no plans revealed back then.

While the Formosa Golf Course has its shortcomings, the site is well located within 40 minute drive of the Auckland CBD and airport, and does enjoy nice views over the Kauraki Gulf. The loss of 9 holes in a metropolitan area is never ideal for our game, but there is an opportunity here to improve the standard of the remaining holes at Formosa, and one hopes that the ownership group are at least serious about creating a genuinely high-quality 9-hole course for members and residents. Auckland golfers will no doubt watch developments closely.

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