Omaha Golf Club – Ongoing Improvements
Omaha Golf Club is continually working to enhance our facilities for members, visitors, and the wider community. Recent upgrades have focused on the practice areas and course development, with more improvements planned around the clubhouse and surrounding areas.
Below, we’ve outlined current projects so you’re aware of any changes happening both on and off the course. All developments are carefully planned by the committee with the long-term vision and sustainability of the club in mind.
If you have suggestions for future improvements, we welcome your input. Please email them to gm@omahagolf.co.nz for committee review.
Celebrating 50 Years – The last step in the Pitman Plan journey Nov 11th 2025
Hello Members,
As we celebrate our 50th Jubilee, there’s no better time to reflect on how far we’ve come — and to look forward to what’s ahead for Omaha Beach Golf Club. The club has grown faster than ever in recent years, and together we’ve built something truly special. Now, as we mark half a century of golf at Omaha, we’re ready to complete one last step in the re-building of the Northern 9: the creation of a new par 5 – Hole 3.
Our Journey So Far
Every improvement we’ve made exists because members like you said, ‘I’ll help make it happen.’ And this step nears our collective legacy — a project built not by a committee, but by our community.
Back in 2001, the course was expanded to 18 holes with the addition of the Southern Quarry 9, constructed in conjunction with the residential development at that end of Omaha Beach. On the northern side, the first changes to the original 9-hole layout were the rebuilt 13th and 14th. Just a few years later, the Pitman Plan was adopted by the members as the blueprint for the Northern 9 — a long-term vision for the original 9 holes.
Pitman Plan
The first project following approval of the Pitman Plan began in 2011, when the new 1st green was completed off the back of a private fundraising effort. This led to the incorporation of the Friends of Omaha Beach Golf Club (Inc) and its registration as a Charitable Trust, so that donations to course development and improvements could be tax-deductible.
From there, fundraising enabled construction of the 2nd hole (par 3), and the lake extension, new green and surrounds for the 16th.
In 2021 the Club and Friends launched Vision 2022, an ambitious project to achieve the new 15th, 17th and 18th holes,
Kura Plan
The Vision Project saw members donate more than $750,000. Their incredible generosity transformed our course.
It’s a remarkable legacy — a small volunteer-run club that has evolved into a nationally recognised 18-hole course admired for its quality, setting, and now this past week the host club for the Freyberg Masters-a New Zealand national title.
The new Par 5 3rd
Important parts of rebuilding the old 2nd and 3rd into a par 5 have already been achieved – the tees and 2 of the fairway bunkers between the existing par 4 3rd and the 13th fairways have been in place for some time. Now the club is ready to complete the project, which will be done in 2 stages, the first stage starting early 2026.
The design will merge the existing 3rd and 3A holes into a flexible, modern, and beautifully playable hole that perfectly complements the rest of the course. It is the only par 5 on the course that can be developed to include an alternate green and set of tees to enable another hole to be taken out of play while retaining 18 holes in play.
Key features include:
• A new par 5 hole, with an alternate green positioned 150m short and to the right of the reconstructed fairway.
• Retention of the old par 3 tees, giving us the flexibility to play the hole as:
– Par 5 (Hole 3) – Par 4 (Hole 3A) – Par 3 (Hole 3B)
Is this making the course harder? In short, no. The redesign won’t make the course harder — just smarter. By converting the 2nd and 3rd into a par 5, the layout is more playable for most golfers, while still offering strategic challenge for the lower-handicap players. On most par 5’s your approach shot is normally the shortest shot to hit a green in regulation. Once complete, our course will have a perfectly balanced mix of 4 par 5s, 5 par 3s, and 9 par 4s. The rebuilt also removes the 2 worst greens left on the course – the 3rd and 3A greens and enables poorly drained areas to be developed in wetlands and native plantings as has been done in other locations to great effect.
Why This Matters
Projects like this don’t just happen. They’re made possible through club sponsorships and member donations via the Friends of Omaha Beach Golf Club Charitable Trust. This funding model keeps membership fees manageable while letting our sponsors and donors see the real, lasting impact of their generosity.
While the redevelopment of Hole 3 will mark the completion of our long-term Pitman Plan project rebuilding the Northern 9, it’s by no means the end of progress with course improvements. We’re already planning fairway and drainage improvements on the 14th and 16th holes along with an on-going work program of enlargement and upgrading of tees throughout the course.
Your Chance to Be Part of It
Many of you will remember the incredible energy around the Vision Project — the fundraising effort that helped make the course what it is today. Since then, our club has grown by over 400 new members. For many of our new members, this is your first chance to leave your mark — and help fund the final major step in the transformation of the original 9 holes at Omaha Beach, the course you all call home.
To bring the new Hole 3 to fruition, we’re aiming to raise $300,000. Thanks to a $50,000 donation to Friends of Omaha Beach Golf Club last year, we’re already well on our way.
We’re aiming to reach $150,000 by the end of February to get started and break ground in early 2026. Meeting our fundraising targets means we can complete the project by the end of 2026. If even half of our members contributed $500 each, we’d reach our goal very quickly. However, whether you can give a little or a lot, every donation makes a difference- even $50, $100, or whatever feels right — we’ll finish what we began together.
All contributions are paid to the Friends of Omaha Beach Golf Club Charitable Trust, and you will receive a receipt from the Trust which can be submitted with your next income tax return. The incredible generosity of members who backed the Vision Project transformed our course and as was done with the Vision 2022 project, you will be recognised at the clubhouse as a donor, unless you request anonymity.
Donation payments should be made to Friends ASB account 12 – 3095 – 0237820 – 50. You must include your initials and surname in the Payee reference so Friends can complete your donation receipt.
Please make your donation before 28 February 2026. Friends will aim to get your donation receipt to you before 31 March.
Rob Begg Richard Brabant
Club President Friends of Omaha Beach Golf Club