After more than two decades, organisers of one of Bay of Plenty's most popular golf tournaments says the event just keeps getting bigger and better.

Eves 5 Course Classic teed-off today, with the tournament being played on five of region's championship golf courses over five days.

Competitors taking part in the tournament at Tauranga Golf Course. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Bay of Plenty Golf chief executive Chris McAlpine says the event has reached 'iconic” status after 21 years.

'It continues to attract a huge field of golfers in what is arguably one of the biggest stableford competitions in the world of golf.”

Chris says 400 golfers from 106 clubs throughout New Zealand, along with international players from 10 different countries, are taking part in the tournament.

'A testament to the success of this event is the percentage of golfers who return year after year to rekindle friendships and enjoy the social interaction which is such an important feature of the sport.”

The tournament is being hosted by Mount Maunganui, Omanu, Omokoroa, Tauranga and Te Puke golf clubs.

Chris says on 10 per cent of the golfers taking part in the event are members of the host clubs.

'The popularity of the event can be attributed to having five championship courses all within close proximity of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. The climate, beaches and other attractions all play their part in endorsing this wonderful summer playground.”

He says the field is split into four groups of 100 and each group plays one round on each of the host courses with the aim of accumulating as many points as possible over the five rounds.