Ōpōtiki Golf Club members have every reason to be smiling.

The club’s intermediate and junior pennants teams returned with trophies after some tough matches in Taupō last weekend.

The intermediate team took on Mount Maunganui and won, while the junior team knocked over Springfield Golf Club to pick up the title.

Their efforts show the great work that is continuing with golf in the small Eastern Bay town.

The club also won the intermediate and junior sections in 2021 with the intermediate team going on to successfully defend its title in 2022.

It’s been three years since the club last held a pennants trophy and they are stoked to have some new golfers feature alongside stalwarts such as Ngawai Amoamo.

Amoamo, who was part of the intermediate team, said it was awesome to see the club bag a couple of wins.

“Pennants is as close to a team sport as you are going to get in golf, with many of us ex-rugby players loving the team aspect.

“We played the Mount, which has over 1000 members. It was a real David versus Goliath, but no-one told us that. We have won the intermediates three times now 21, 22 and 25.

“I have been in all three wins, although I've been playing pennants for 20-plus years.”

He said the ongoing success had been huge for the club, the town and their families.

“Golf has grown heaps. As the walls of the old guard have started coming down, it’s more accessible to anyone and is no longer seen as ‘elite’; it's actually become cool.”

Amoamo said there were plenty of talented golfers in Ōpōtiki and the future looked bright.

“There are six divisions for pennants champs, silver, senior, intermediate, junior and silver ladies with Ōpōtiki fielding a team in each: a huge feat for our small club.

“Champs have promotion/relegation and we’ve been in there as long as I remember.

“A lot of it in my eyes is about keeping that competitive side alive and the team aspect of pennants certainly helps.”

It’s been a successful season for the club’s younger members with some making BOP representative teams for golf.