The Masterton Golf Club was established in 1899 and is one of the oldest golf clubs in New Zealand. The course was designed by Arthur Ham (Professional of the Wellington Golf Club (now Royal Wellington Golf Club)) and the layout remains much the same today.

Rolling hills north of Masterton have provided scope for 18 holes of slopes and gullies, which the designer used to maximum benefit: there are beautiful views all around.

To the west lie the Tararua Ranges, snow capped in winter, to the south Cook's Strait, and to the east a series of hills extends towards the Pacific Ocean.