Sunrise over the 6th at NSW - part of an amazing three-hole stretch
Tomorrow I'm off to the UK to see what golfing wonders await, and thinking about that has got me thinking about the courses I have already played in the past 13 years. Turns out there are 85 of them. Those below are my favourites to date. If my wish list gets filled in the coming two years, I can't see more than one or two being in my top 10 by the time I return home.
Course name: New South Wales Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Never ceases to amaze
From go to whoa this is an amazing course, in one of the most beautiful locales on earth.
Holes like 5, 6, 13 and 14 take your breath away. If I could play no other course than NSW for the remainder of my days I would die a happy man.
I first played NSWGC when I was about 14. My dad got invited on occasion by a corporate member and recognised early on that of a group of 8-12 golfers, one or two could be relied on to pull out just before tee time more often than not, and started bringing me with him to "caddie", my clubs and golf shoes in the boot of the car just in case. I got to play more often than not!
The 2nd hole aside, I love every hole at NSWGC. The mix of fantstic penal design, some great strategic holes, amazing views and the ever-changable wind make it one I could never tire of playing.
Course name: Newcastle Golf Club
Location: Stockton, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Play for 5-7 alone
This is worth playing just for the stretch from 5-7, but there is much more to love than that.
This layout is proof that Eric Apperley deserves more credit for what he did at NSW. The green sites and routing are great.
It feels so natural, the 10th hole a case in point as it lumbers over the dunes, just as the 7th is perfectly located on a gentle hillside and the 2nd combines the gentle uphill second with its green-front bunkers to hide some of the devil in the green from view as you approach.
It has had some tree removal since I played it, and when I return home, I can't wait to play it again!
Course name: Terrey Hills Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Class holes, great finish
The course takes you on a journey through a gorgeous piece of Aussie bush. The terrain changes are well utilised and the finish combined with the par fives is worth the price of admission alone. I'm also a huge fan of the 7th - a par four along the side of a ridge, and the par three 12th.
Course name: The Lakes Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Back nine is unforgetable
The back nine is the reason this course is so named. Water carries that tempt you on the par 5s never stop drawing you in, and the new work by Mike Clayton should make a huge improvement to the front nine.
Course name: Royal Canberra Golf Club
Location: Yarralumla, ACT
Four Word Course Review: Aesthetics help lift it
Somewhat sentimental, because it was the first "good" course I played. The tall pines and great conditioning gave me a feeling down my spine that I'd never felt before, and made me want to play as many good coures as I could.
Course name: St Michael's Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Land deserved better design
Next door to NSWGC, this is great fun to play, but falls short of the greatness its neighbour has achieved. Not much ocean-front land, but what is has it makes a poor use of, I think. The 2nd and 11th are great short-ish par fours and the par three 3rd, 5th, 12th and 15th holes are also among the better holes, along with the par five 17th.
Course name: The Vintage
Location: Pokolbin, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Shame about par threes
The par threes on this track, except the 17th, are a joke, but it speaks volumes of the other 15 holes that it still sits so high. A great piece of land, and Norman and Harrison came up with a layout that flows well and combines length and guile. The par fives stand out, as do the dogleg par four 2nd and long par four 9th, though I am not sold on the trees guarding green fronts at the 1st and 4th or the extreme breaks of some very small greens.
Course name: Bonnie Doon Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Renovations should do wonders
The rolling terrain is perfect for golf, and the holes are not overly long (which I like), but can sting you in a hurry at the green, and the bunkers have some great shapes that complement the land.
Course name: St Michael's Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Land deserved better design
Next door to NSWGC, this is great fun to play, but falls short of the greatness its neighbour has achieved. Not much ocean-front land, but what is has it makes a poor use of, I think. The 2nd and 11th are great short-ish par fours and the par three 3rd, 5th, 12th and 15th holes are also among the better holes, along with the par five 17th.
Course name: The Vintage
Location: Pokolbin, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Shame about par threes
The par threes on this track, except the 17th, are a joke, but it speaks volumes of the other 15 holes that it still sits so high. A great piece of land, and Norman and Harrison came up with a layout that flows well and combines length and guile. The par fives stand out, as do the dogleg par four 2nd and long par four 9th, though I am not sold on the trees guarding green fronts at the 1st and 4th or the extreme breaks of some very small greens.
Course name: Bonnie Doon Golf Club
Location: Sydney, NSW
Four Word Course Review: Renovations should do wonders
The rolling terrain is perfect for golf, and the holes are not overly long (which I like), but can sting you in a hurry at the green, and the bunkers have some great shapes that complement the land.
0 comments:
Post a Comment