Hastings Golf Club & Events

Great layout of the course.....no "up and back" fairways to worry about a slice hitting you in the face. There are a couple long par 4's that are fun and challenging. I played on a Monday so it was not busy. The course is well layed out so that golfers can get good separation as needed if it is busy. The gnats were horrible, but the locals told me they were everywhere and this was a particularly bad season this year. Incredible clubhouse for what is now a municipal course if I understand correctly. Pro shop is a little sparse but I think it will get more products in time. I had a great time at this course.

Played here for the first time Memorial weekend. On the website, they self proclaim themselves to be "One of the best courses in the state". This couldn't be further from the truth! The course is very forgettable and conditions were sub-par compared to most courses in the area. There were no distinct features or holes that really stand out. I didn't hate the course, but with all the hype they create themselves, it was extremely underwhelming. For the money, I'd pick just about any other Hastings course next time.

Dakota Pines Golf Club has made the transition from being a private country club to its new identity as a somewhat upscale public course. The old clubhouse is still there, with its private club-style locker room and a really nice 19th hole with a patio overlooking the 9th hole so you can heckle your friends as they make the turn. The course itself is a traditional style layout, with moderately wide fairways lined with mature trees, well-bunkered greens, and a few ponds that for the most part don’t come into play. The course is set in an older housing development, but the houses that line the periphery of the course are mostly set back far enough that they aren’t a distraction. The course is moderately challenging, starting with the opening hole, a 400 yard (from the middle, white, tees) par 4. From the elevated tee you see a pond looming on the right, but it’s mostly a distraction that may lure you into aiming left and going into the fairway bunker on the left side of the fairway. If you find the rough, you’ll notice that it is at least 3 ½ inches tall, deep enough to swallow your ball and totally gnarly. Try to hit anything longer than a short iron and you may be hitting a second shot out of that rough. The greens on the course are quite firm, smooth, and moderately fast. Everyone in our group commented favorably on their condition. One of the most memorable holes on the course is the 380 yard (from the white tees) dogleg left par 4 14th. A large pond lies on the inside of the dogleg and the fairway narrows at that point. If you’ve placed your tee shot correctly, you can confidently go for the green. Otherwise you must take care to avoid the pond and the bunkers that protect the green both right and left. Par is a very good score on this hole. The downhill par 3 holes, numbers 6 and 15, are visually quite appealing. At 174 and 180 yards from the white tees they are also very challenging. Your tee shot on 15 must go through what looks like a chute of trees on both sides. The elevation change on these holes makes club selection critical. I enjoyed playing this course and hope that it will be successful under its new ownership.

Course name changed to Dakota Pines & is open to public play. If you like to walk & play golf, this course is excellent. Old style course - tree lined, smaller greens that roll fast. Everything is pretty much in front of you, except for a few sharp dogleg holes. You are likely chipping back to fairway if you miss it off T. Approach shots need to be accurate and greens 5, 8 & 14 have a lot of slope to them front to back. Greens are quick so be sure to hit some putts on practice green before round. I like this course a lot - challenging but fair. Pricing ($45 walking) is high relative to nearby course options. Overall course conditions are good.