The Courses

Cape Kidnappers is perched high atop a windswept plateau 500ft above the sea. American architect Tom Doak in 2004, cleverly designed the course along a series of ridges perpendicular with the coastline, with most ridges framed by deep canyons.

An aerial view reveals a series of ‘farm land’ fingers reaching out into the Pacific Ocean giving the course its ranking among the world’s most precarious places to play the game.

A round at Cape Kidnappers is not for vertigo sufferers – six of its holes are along the edge of a 183m sheer drop into the sea. “Steel yourself in particular for the 15th signature hole, known as the Pirate’s Plank.”

Hastings is one of New Zealand’s bestknown club courses, host of many amateur events over the years and proudly the home of arguably New Zealand’s best amateur players, Stuart Jones.

In addition to a raft of club and district titles, Jones won a staggering seven national amateur championships. He represented New Zealand from 1953 to 1975, playing in seven Eisenhower Trophy events. His most notable achievements came when he won two professional events and the 1967 Canadian Amateur Championship. Although Jones passed away aged 87 in 2012, his legend continues.

Hastings Golf Club is an outstanding course, well known for its quality of greens and beautiful grassed fairways.