Hastings

The members and visitors who are members and guests Hastings Golf Club which is than locally known as Bridge Pa - play their golf on a beautiful parkland course, which is free draining, set out over the 210 acres of Heretaunga Plains (next to the aerodrome) situated close to Hastings.

The club was established in 1898, relocated to their present location in 1912, and gradually built the course, with help by Charles Redhead over the years. In 1970, the decision was made to drastically change the course. According to the organization "to give the club two nines we have in the present" and the current layout is a direct result of the vision of the former president Roy Skittrup and his committee that was formed half a century ago.

"Flaxmere" can be described as the fifth hole of Hastings and is the most difficult hole on the course. A par four, 420 yards that doglegs slightly left (with the fairway being out of bounds down the fairway) into a long green with two levels that seldom yields better than the bogey score.

One of the most beautiful holes of the nine back is the 365 yard, par four fifteenth ("Land's end") which is where the tee shot goes through a narrow gully of trees. The elevated green, which is split-level, is guarded by a huge tree to the left and a bunker to the right.

A few of the more renowned golfing sons of Hastings are Stuart Jones - seven times national amateur champion who has been an excellent representative for Hastings throughout several years off and on the course. In celebration of 100 years on Heretaunga Plains, Hastings hosted the New Zealand Amateur Strokeplay Championship in 2012.