Duff finished 10-under-par with no bogeys, eight birdies and one eagle (on the 17th hole).
Stuart Duff’s scorecard from his incredible round.
“I always wanted to eventually break my age,” Duff said.
“But this came out of the blue really.
“I didn’t expect to do it at 63, that’s for sure.”
Duff assumed he might achieve the feat around the age of 66 or 67, if he kept fit.
Hastings Golf Club in Bridge Pā is considered one of the best golf courses in Hawke’s Bay – his previous best was a 64 on the course.
Duff was joined by three mates last week, who verified the achievement.
He was also sure to hole out on each hole (meaning no gimmes).
Duff, from Havelock North, tried not to think about shooting under his age too much during the round, after going six-under through the front nine.
“I was trying not to because a few weeks ago I was six-under through 10, and started thinking about it.
“So, as much as I could, I just wanted to play the shot in front of me.
“Nothing really happened until the 14th and I birdied that … then on 16 I made a birdie, then I eagled 17.
“I hit a four-iron in there to about five feet [from the hole] and wiggled that in.”
Then he parred the last.
He and a group of friends went out for an Italian meal at Alessandro’s in Havelock North last week to celebrate.
Duff has been a handy sportsman his entire life. He previously played 11 seasons as an allrounder for Central Districts and won two Plunket Shield cricket titles (New Zealand’s domestic four-day cricket competition).
He then started playing golf more seriously in his late 20s.
In golf, he has represented the Hawke’s Bay men’s team plenty of times at interprovincial competitions, and is also a member of the New Zealand men’s senior team (over-55s).
In 2019, while representing the New Zealand seniors, he won an Asia-Pacific individual golf title.
Duff previously worked as a teacher at Lindisfarne College for over 30 years and now works at the Hastings Golf Centre driving range at the showgrounds.
His score last week does not count as a course record as he played off the blue tees, rather than the black tees.