Dear Guest,

PRESIDENT’S UPDATE – 2026/27 SUBSCRIPTIONS

As we approach the start of the new financial year, the Management Committee has completed its review of the Club’s 2026/27 budget, including membership subscriptions and green fees.

Membership Subscriptions

From 1 October, the principal Full Playing membership subscription will increase by 10%, with the other membership categories adjusted as a percentage of the new Full Playing subscription.

These figures include GST, Hole in One insurance and Golf New Zealand levy.  The levy charged by Golf Hawke’s Bay is awaiting confirmation and will be added once advised.

Under 40 and Quiet Day remain closed membership categories.

Other membership charges: From 1 October 2026, the one-off Membership Entrance Fee for new members will increase from $500 to $750. Any new direct debit facility established from that date will also incur an annual $50 administration fee.

We appreciate this is a meaningful increase. The course is the Club's largest operational commitment, and the cost of the essential materials, specialist services, parts and maintenance required to protect its playing standard and presentation continues to rise. Every area of expenditure has been analysed in detail, but the budget must still provide adequately for the work required to maintain the course and facilities members use throughout the year.

Capital expenditure continues to be programmed and prioritised. Where it is operationally sensible, some larger course machinery will be retained beyond its previously scheduled replacement date. This reduces the immediate capital and depreciation impact, but it does not remove the cost: ageing machinery requires more servicing and repairs to remain reliable. Accordingly, Course Plant Repairs has been budgeted higher than our current year. This is a deliberate balance between extending asset life and avoiding deferred maintenance that could compromise course operations or playing standards.

Subscriptions remain the Club's principal and most dependable source of income for meeting these day-to-day costs and maintaining sound working capital. The increase is therefore not simply to fund new equipment; it supports the ongoing cost of operating and maintaining the course, while priority capital purchases continue to be considered and funded separately.

Youth Membership

As part of this year’s review, we are also simplifying our youth membership structure.

Subject to the required rule change at the AGM, the existing Student and School Under 13 categories will be closed.  A single Youth Membership is established from 1 October 2026 (Rule 17.1 (k)), and from October subcription for all categories will increase to $195 per annum.

Junior Full Playing will remain as a separate category for young golfers wanting full playing and competition rights.

The purpose is not revenue driven; it is simply to streamline two similar categories and conditions making the pathway into golf and Club membership easier to understand.

Green Fees

Members are not being asked to carry these increased costs alone. Green fees have also been reviewed, with increases being applied to a number of visitor and other rates for the coming year.

Rather than simply applying an across-the-board increase, green fee rates and actual rounds played have been analysed by category, with changes made where appropriate while remaining conscious of our position in the market.

The Management Committee recognises that increasing subscriptions is never welcomed. Our focus remains on managing the Club prudently while continuing to provide the standard of golf course and facilities our members expect.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Hastings Golf Club.

Robyn Bell
President