Monday, February 28, 2011

Peninsula (North)

The slightly uphill nature of the 2nd is well camouflaged from the tee.

The drive at the short par five 5th is one of the best "how brave am I feeling?" drives on a course full of them.

The centreline bunker on the short par four 6th allows all golfers to select a challenge suitable for their skill level.

The 7th green features bold bunkering that eats into the putting surface.

The par four 12th, with its hogsback fairway and well-bunkered green is one of the best holes on the course.

The driveable 13th is a great example of both the bunkering at Peninsula tying in with the native vegetation and a bunkerless green that depends itself stoutly.

With its daunting front bunker built on a grand scale and clever false front/side, there's plenty to like about the 16th.

Course name: Peninsula (North)
Location: Frankston, Victoria
Four Word Course Review: A course for life

Wide fairways, greens surrounded by short grass, bunkering that's both visually appealing and effectively placed and greens featuring a fun mix of internal contours, false fronts and runoffs... what's not to love about Peninsula (North)?

It's hard to imagine a golf course that could be more fun to play day-in, day-out than this - length is rarely the feature that issues the challenge, instead it's a constant process of placing the ball with consideration for the next shot and deciding whether taking on a hazard is within your capabilities.

Of course both those things are at the heart of great golf architecture, but they're not seen regularly enough and rarely featured more effectively than here.

The opening hole, a slightly uphill mid-length par four, provides a great introduction to how well Peninsula's bunkers are tied in to the natural vegetation, while the rise in elevation is well camouflaged on the approach shot to a slightly domed green.

After another well-hidden rise at the par three 2nd comes the first real test of bravery (or restraint!) at the short par five 3rd, a drive over a smartly-placed fairway bunker brings the green into range with the second shot, a crack at the green that leaks right almost certainly taking birdie away if the pin is within the well-contoured front section of the green.

The 4th green is a fantastic L-shaped effort, calling for precision from the mid to short iron approach, with run-offs both long and right.

Completing the wonderful opening stretch are another par 4.5 hole tempting you to drive over a sculpted fairway bunker for a shot at the green from the valley fairway and a short par four with a diagonal centreline bunker running a great distance up the fairway, which sets up any manner of approaches to the blind green atop the hill depending on the wind and the player's preferences.

Six holes in, you can't help but be impressed, not just by the number of sublime shots on offer, but by the myriad ways most of the holes could be played depending on wind, pin positions and how well you're striking it on the day.

Further to that - and I was to discover in subsequent days that this is a hallmark of the Sandbelt - I could imagine my 76-year-old 38-handicap grandmother being able to easily navigate her way around without feeling overwhelmed, while my single-figure handicap game was feeling well and truly tested.

Again, it's something taked about regularly but seen on the ground all too infrequently.

While the holes from the 7th to the 11th may not assert themselves as among the best handful on the course, they are a great example of how well low-profile and bold design are each well-utilised in the right place, often depending on the nature of the land.

Subtle bunkering at the flat ground 9th and 10th holes is combined well with greens that play tougher than they look, and the fairway bunkering on the 8th hole - on choice terrain - displaying more panache reminiscent of the holes on the opening stretch. The 7th green's bunkering is also a highlight for the way it eats into the putting surface.

The 12th - a driver, mid-iron two-shotter - was perhaps my favourite on the course. The tee shot to a hogsback fairway where the point at which the ball will roll away is well-disguised to create indecision. The green is flanked by deep bunkering, demanding that the vagueries of the inevitable sidehill lie are handled without error.

Next comes a short par four in the same league as the 6th - the two of them setting a high standard for the rest of the Sandbelt to match (and of course I was to learn that Melbourne is a hotbed of great 270-300m holes). The green is a toned-down version of my beloved 6th at Deal, the recovery shots demanding deft touch, but allowing any number of approaches, from the putter to the lob wedge.

The final two par threes (14th and 16th) each utilise false fronts and ample bunkering, but set up in different ways to ensure there is no feeling of repetition.

Following each of those mid-iron holes are lengthy par fives, adding some balance to the course following shorter holes of the same par on the front. The 15th is probably the better of the two, despite a flanking creek not playing a great role in the strategy of the hole.

The home hole is an attractive sharp dogleg left that climbs significantly on the drive, acres of room to the right for the player who - as he has had the choice to do all the way around - wishes to avoid the hazard.

On a mixture of ideal land and some flatter areas, Peninsula (North) does well to provide masses of variety, the different character of the land creating an ebb and flow that mixes drama with subtlety.

I could play Peninsula (North) for the rest of my life and be absolutely content. When it comes down to it, that's as high a compliment as any course coud wish for.

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