Dear Guest,

Inter Club Golf 2026

If you’ve been thinking of goals for the new year in the various facets of your life, why not consider taking your golf to the next level by playing some man-against-man competition for your club. By that I mean matchplay. It is quite different to strokeplay in that your overall score doesn’t matter – the only thing that matters is beating your opponent on each hole. So if he’s in the bushes, so long as you can keep it on the straight and narrow, you stand a good chance of beating him on that hole. If you have a blow out, it doesn’t matter so much because you can try and get him back on the next hole. When you pull off a victory, especially when it comes down to the last, it is very exhilarating – and hard to compare with a stock standard round with your mates. Don’t feel you need to commit for the whole season either – just let the managers know what you can manage.

This is what we have lined up for the year:

Pennants (Inter club series)

We have four teams you can join, two where the matches are played without handicap (off the stick) and two that use handicaps. You’ll play other clubs e.g. Napier, Maraenui, Dannevirke, CHB etc. Teams are made up of 6 players, and you’re welcome to express interest but note certain dates you aren’t available.

Dates as follows:

• 22^nd February
• 1^st March
• 15^th March
• 29^th March
• 19^th April
• 3^rd May

If you’re interest in playing in the non-handicap teams (Champs 1 and Champs 2) then please get in touch with the manager, Dennis Hirshman on dhirschman@icloud.com or email info@specialteegolf.co.nz. A big thanks to Dennis for offering to manage Champs 1 and 2 this year.

If you’re interested in playing in one of the handicap teams then email info@specialteegolf.co.nz

Champs 1 and 2

Selection for Champ 1 and 2 will be based on handicap, past performance at club and representative level, form, and ability to fit into a team environment.

In addition, this year, we plan to get together the players at the champ grade level as a group and play a short course event to be crowned the inaugural “short course champion”. Format will be something along the lines of:

4 hole qualifying to get the top 9 (chip off on 4th if required).

Then knockout, with one player being eliminated per hole for 8 holes (2x around) until the top 2 are playing the last to be the “short course champ. The idea is to get your competitive juices flowing and create some pressure.

Tentative date is Monday 19^th Jan.

Coronation Cup

This is an inter club matchplay event where representatives from the various clubs play each other over a short period of time (two weekends). Teams are made up of 12 and the matches are played with handicaps.

The first three rounds are on 11 and 12^th April

And the finals are on 23^rd and 24^th May

The venues are yet to be decided.

Pike Cup

This is a seniors (over 50 yrs) team matchplay event to be held on 13^th September. It’s being held at Waipukurau this year and the format is yet to be confirmed.

Greenwood Cup

This is an inter club, 10 man team, individual matchplay off the stick event held over two weekends.

First weekend is at Dannevirke on 4^th and 5^th October.

Second weekend is at Maraenui with dates to be confirmed.

Happy golfing in 2026!

Nicholas Schnell

Men’s Club Captain

menscc@hastingsgolfclub.co.nz