'Haunted' Mahunga golf hole features in top 100 book

The death cries of more than a hundred Maori may sound again with the naming of a hole at Mahunga Golf Club as one of the best in New Zealand.
The ghostly history of Masterton's Mahunga Golf Club is chronicled in award-winning writer John Hyde's latest book, 100 Essential New Zealand Golf Holes.
In the chapter on Mahunga's Par 5 14th Hole, Mr Hyde writes: "The ghost of a Maori man, believed to be from the early nineteenth century, used to appear on this course."
But, according to club member Michelle Coley, Mahunga's fairways were home to more than just one spectre before a blessing in 2000.
The course includes the remains of Kaikokirikiri Pa, formerly the stronghold of the Rangitane chief Retimana Te Korou, and it was near here that the massacre of around 118 tribespeople was said to have taken place.
The stream which runs through the course was named Mangawhero, meaning "to run red", after its water changed colour with the blood of the victims.
Mrs Coley said the victims had been travelling through the area from Manaia Marae but were caught by marauders "just near where the clubhouse is".
She said there had been numerous sightings on the 9th and 11th tees, which are located close to the old pa.
"Uncle Jim Rimene told me that on some occasions when golfers were teeing off, they would hear 'whisperings' as if from a group of people, but when they turned around there was no one.
"Other times, especially if it wasn't a particularly good shot, a kororua (old Maori man) would appear, look at where the ball had been teed up, the flight the ball had taken and was heard to say 'Kaore te pai taua puhi' or 'that wasn't a good shot'.
"I guess it's one thing to be told 'bad luck' by a fellow golfer but to be told by a koroua who lived in the 18th to 19th Century, incidentally he was dressed in the clothing for Maori of his era, could have been a bit disheartening."
"Uncle Jim must have seen the questioning look in my face, and stated "the kororua would have watched the sport develop over the years therefore probably worked out what the purpose of 'golf' was all about".
"These sightings were reported to members of Mahunga Golf Club, where it was decided that perhaps a Kaumatua would visit the troubled site."
The club committee recruited the services of a local Matakete, or spiritual medium, to bless the site.
"As she was coming up the hill to do the blessing she said she could smell blood and death.
"Then, as they neared the site, three chiefs stepped out. She told them to she had come to move on. It was then that about 180 men, women and kids stepped out as well."
Since that day, there have been no more sightings, Mrs Coley said.
Mr Hyde said that if the "ghost" ever makes a comeback, it may be among the pa's old storage pits, whare sites and fortification posts between the 10 green and 11th tee.
"Or he may appear on the 14th, one of the shortest par 5s in the country.
It is only 390 metres long, and straight, more or less.
For big hitters reaching the green in two is no sweat, but there is a catch: the approach
on this hole has to clear the ill-fated stream."
Other Wairarapa golf holes featured in the book, which is due for release next month, are Martinborough Golf Club's 3rd Hole, Te Marua Golf Club's 1st and the Lansdowne Golf Club's 11th.