Golflands

Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's sunniest regions, a broad coastal plain framed by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges, better known internationally for its Art Deco architecture and world-class wine country than for golf — though the area supports a healthy cluster of courses taking full advantage of the reliable climate. Hastings sits at the heart of that plain, and Golflands is a compact, pay-and-play facility that serves the local community as an accessible entry point into the game rather than a destination test for the scratch player.

The layout reads as an executive-style course — shorter holes that reward accuracy and course management over raw distance, making it particularly well suited to beginners, juniors, and anyone looking to sharpen the short game without committing to a full 18-hole round in terms of time or cost. That accessibility is genuinely useful in a provincial city where the major clubs serve their membership base.

Hawke's Bay's dry, warm summers mean conditions tend to firm and fast underfoot — ground game golf, running approaches, bump-and-run shots around greens. Even on a modest layout, that regional character gives the experience a distinctly New Zealand feel.