Following on from the success of District Stroke Play events being used for amateurs to qualify for Final Qualifying, all District Stroke Play Championships in 2023 and the start of 2024 will become regional qualifying events.
Each event will have three spaces available plus ties for those not already exempt, provided they finish inside the top 10. Any golfer earning a qualifying place who becomes exempt under one or more categories before the final District Stroke Play event, the Canterbury Stroke Play, will be awarded to the next non-exempt golfer at the District Stroke Play Championship they originally qualified at.
Players who are in the top 10 on the Golf New Zealand Order of Merit on January 1, 2024, are also exempt into Final Qualifying.
Golf New Zealand has also updated its own exemption categories for the New Zealand Open Championship, with all five now coming at the discretion of Golf New Zealand. One of those spots will be given specifically to a Maori golfer at the discretion of Golf New Zealand and the New Zealand Maori Golf Association. While these five exemptions will primarily be used for amateur golfers, Golf New Zealand will reserve the right to use a spot for a professional golfer if deemed appropriate.
In addition to this amateur qualifying process, all members of the New Zealand PGA are exempt into final qualifying.
Final Qualifying will take place at Cromwell Golf Club and a yet-to-be-determined Auckland venue on Monday, 26 February. Six qualifying spots will be up for grabs across the two venues.
The New Zealand Open Championship will take place at the Millbrook Golf Resort from February 29 – March 3, 2024.
2023/2024 District Stroke Play Championships
Northland Stroke Play Championship
- August 29-30
- Venue: Waipu GC, Northland
North Harbour Stroke Play Championship
- May 6-7
- Venue: Redwood Park GC, North Harbour
Auckland Stroke Play Championship Incorporporating the North Island Stroke Play
- May 12-14, 2023
- Venue: Pakuranga GC, Auckland
Manawatu-Wanganui Stroke Play Championship
- May 20-21, 2023
- Venue: Marton GC, Manawatu- Wanganui
Waikato Stroke Play Championship
- July 14-16, 2023
- Venue: Tieke GC, Waikato
Wellington Stroke Play Championship
- September 9-10, 2023
- Venue: Miramar GC, Wellington
Bay of Plenty Stroke Play
- September 15-17, 2023
- Venue: Whakatane GC, Bay of Plenty
Southland Stroke Play Championship
- January 2024
- Venue: Invercargill Golf Club, Southland
Taranaki Stroke Play Championship incorporating the North Island Stroke Play Championship
- January 2024
- Venue: New Plymouth Golf Club, Taranaki
Otago Stroke Play Championship
- January 2024
- Venue: Otago GC, Otago
Canterbury Stroke Play Championship
- February 2024
- Venue: TBC, Canterbury
