On Par – All about golf in Australia

Overview

Most golfers will tend to avoid a par 3 nine hole course, claiming it as glorified mini golf without the windmills. Having recently played the Melaleuca Links par 3 course, just out of Inverloch in South Gippsland, this stereotype is well and truly broken.  Would even use the words “hidden gem” as this course offers nothing from the highway outside and is truly surprising and fun to play.

Layout

This glorious short course was built on a former market garden and has been lovingly designed and developed.  The layout winds through an impressive forest of  handplanted Melaleuca trees, and a series of challenging water hazards.  Holes range from 110m to 70m, the layout provides a solid test for the short game with small greens, and hazards in play at all times.  The entire course would fit within a 200m x 200m area.

Condition

Simply amazing for a little known and hidden par 3 course.  The course is a labour of love for an ex greenkeeper.  The santa-ana  fairways would be the envy of many private clubs throughout Australia, tees are well grassed, and the small bent grass greens are receptive but considerably quick.

Favourite Holes

Playing with my 10 year old son, the holes present a family friendly environment, with two tees providing a less than daunting golfing experience to the younger golfer.  The look on Sam’s face as he landed his tee shot on the green on the 3rd hole and saw mine overcooked into the water at the back was priceless (Note: the distances on the tee are rough estimates, go with the head not the tee marker!)

The tee shot on the 4th hole (pic above)  presents a full water carry of approx 100m to a small green, tough for any golfer!  Other enjoyable holes included the 3rd, the tiny 5th and 7th, and the links style 9th.

The Word

Im not aware of many other layouts the could claim the title of best par 3 layout in Australia, but Melaleuca Links must be up there as one of the top courses.  If ever in the Inverloch area in Victoria’s wonderful South Gippsland, stop by to play 9 holes, you wont regret it. The course is a very good test for any golfers short game, and an excellent venue for a first game.  Oh, and its a bargain too.  Adults $10, Children under 12 $6.

Course Details

Melaleuca Links 9 hole Par 3 Course Bass Highway, 3kms West of Inverloch

ph: 56743722

E: mellinks@internode.on.net

Overview

Yarra Bend Golf Course is a short, yet chellenging public access course within 15 minutes of Melbourne’s central business district.  Located on the Yarra River, the course offers excellent playing conditions year round on an undulating layout surrounded by gum trees.   Over the last year Yarra Bend has gone through a significant transformation with the addition of a 60 bay driving range and golf academy, resulting in a re-routing of the course.

For those that know the course, the two nines have swapped.  The backnine is now played first, starting on the old 10th hole, a relatively simple par 4 and routing through the same layout finishing on the old par 5 18th, now the 9th.

The backnine has changed more dramatically, with the old 1st hole now part of the driving range, a new 120m par 3 starts the back nine.  As below, the rest of the holes have re-routed to accomodate the changes.

New Yarra Bend Golf Course Layout

The Layout The Par 70 Yarra Bend layout isnt long, measuring 5,409 metres but what it misses out in length it makes up for in the need for accuracy. Whilst the river doesnt come into play at all, large gum trees line all of the fairways with a number of drives needing pinpoint accuracy. The clatter of golf balls into trees is a common sound on the course. The layout is fairly undulating with holes heading downhill to the river, then uphill towards the clubhouse. A number of bunkers dot the course, though they have inconsistent lies and are often unraked, but then they are a hazard!

Condition Given the amount of traffic that this public course gets, Yarra Bend is always in very good condition. As at January 2012, the course is in excellent condition.  Following considerable rain and warm weather, the course is greener than kermits stomach.  The fairways are well grassed and great to hit off, off fairway is penalised by improvising shots through trees. The greens themselves are firm and fairly fast.

Favourite Holes

13th Hole – Over the hill

Previously the 2nd hole, the thriteenth hole is a dogleg left with a partially blind drive over the hill to a downhill green. The drive needs to be just right of the trees gaurding the left corner of the dogleg. The second shot to the downhill green is tougher than it looks. Anything left is gone. Par here is worth it.

16th Hole – Augusta Down Under

Yarra Bend has three short holes that all point roughly Southwest, following the Yarra river. The 16th is my favourite of the three, 148 metres to an elevated green, anything short will run back down the hill. Almost an Augusta feel to this hole (replace pines with gums!)

17th Hole – Pinpoint accuracy!

The 17th is a short 333 metre par 4 requiring an accurate drive (suggest dropping the driver to a 3 wood or an iron), the fairway is very narrow almost claustrophobic with the second shot needing an equally accurate shot to the green. Rated 8 for good reason

What used to be the 17th, the 8th hole at Yarra Bend has ruined many a good round. The 159 metre par 3 sits on the side of a hill with a steep drop to the right of the green. Anything right will kick down the hill and most likely finish under a large tree! Long or left of the green can take advantage of a friendly kick off down to the green.

The Word Yarra Bend is in a brilliant location for 9 holes before or after work, of for the visitor to Melbourne who doesnt have time to travel to golf courses further afield.   The summer twilight green fee deal is a good bargain, nothing better than 18 holes at ‘the bend’ on a balmy summers evening. Yarra Bend will never make the list of Top 100 courses in the country, but its a great public course and well worth the visit. Best value golf in Melbourne.  Be sure to book well in advance, and the course can get very busy on weekends.

The new driving range is a welcome addition to the Yarra Bend golf course, over 60 bays with instruction available.

Course details Yarra Bend Golf Course - Par 70 - 5,538 metres - Address: Yarra Bend Road, Melbourne - Proshop: (03) 9481 3729 - Bookings and Green Fees

The Australian Masters starts tomorrow at Victoria Golf Club, one of Melbourne’s sandbelt gems.   There has been no media hype, but the quality of course and the field sets up for an excellent tournament.   The lack of media attention has been deafening, with very little promotion and limited publicity.   It was always going to be a hard sell after the Masters was unceremoniously booted from its November spot to a week before Christmas.   Of course, something had to give in the hectic Presidents Cup period.  Unfortunately the PGA played on a resort course was given more prominence than the Masters played on a classic sandbelt layout.

The Masters also is Tiger-less for the first time in 3 years but the lineup is still impressive and stronger than the PGA field.   The headline act is another world number one, Luke Donald.  Two years ago, the Australian Masters hosted world number one Tiger Woods at Kingston Heath.   Whilst Donald doesnt have the Tigermania, he has had a pretty impressive year being the first player to top both US and European tours, a quick look at his year:

• PGA tour player of the year – 19 events, 2 wins, 14 top 10 finishes
• Leading PGA Tour money winner: $6.7 million
• European tour – 13 events, 3 wins, 10 top 10 finishes
• Leading European Tour money winner: 5.3 million euros

Very impressive stats from a player who is top of his game.  Donald is also supported by Ian Poulter (always referred to as the Flamboyant Ian Poulter), Italian young guns Matteo Manaserro, and a host of top Australians including Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden and Greg Chalmers aiming for the triple having won the Australian Open and PGA.

More information on the tournament available at http://www.australianmasters.com.au/

Golf in the City – Golftec’s shop front in Exhibition St, Melbourne

Melbourne’s central business district provides a diverse range of experiences from dining in world class restaurants, sourcing the latest fashions from designer shops, sipping a coffee in a cafe, and drinking cocktails in uber-funky bars that are hidden down laneways.   Now its possible to play 18 holes of golf in Melbourne city, indoors, and only a 9 iron distance away from some of the cities finest restaurants, bars and cafe’s.  (And only a lob wedge from my office!)

Golftec is a fully fitted out indoor golf centre located in Exhibition Street, near the corner of Bourke Street.  The Golftec centre is setup with the latest in sophisticated indoor golf systems.  10 virtual golf bays provide access to over 100 golf courses from St Andrews to Pebble Beach.  Play 18 holes on a course of your choice or the bays can revert to a more traditional driving range.   The centre also features an indoor putting green, and the first indoor practice bunker Ive ever seen!    Topped off with a cafe, this is a perfect location to work on the game whilst in the city.

Road Test

Sam, one of the owners, a coach at Golftec and writer for Golf Magazine was only too happy to show me around the complex.  The indoor driving bays are impressive.  Multiple camera’s and sensors track the swing and ball to provide a very accurate indoor golf experience.  Hitting the ball into the screen, the computer graphics take over showing the trajectory of the ball on the hole.  Swing dynamics including swing speed, angle and club face are provided after each shot.   Towards the rear of the centre is a full size practice bunker, and upstairs is a large putting green.  All aspects of the game can be practiced without putting a foot on the course!

As well as offering full rounds of golf and a driving range experience, Golftec have a team of coaches on hand to provide expert tuition.  I caught up with Dion for a lesson on my shortgame.  Dion has played professionally and caddied for some of Australia’s finest.  Being able to have a golf lesson before, during or after work is ideal.  And Dion was able to provide me with some great advise on my very average short game setup.  The virtual golf bays allowed practice from full drives and iron shots through to short chips and pitches, all from the one spot.   You can bring along your own clubs, or brand new Mizuno clubs are available to use as part of the golfing experience.

The Word

Golftec is an ideal location for the golfer working in the city, allowing the opportunity for a lunchtime 18 holes with mates or a lesson before or after work.  Its also perfect for a visitor to Melbourne who may want to work on their swing before heading down to take on the world class sandbelt or Mornington Peninsula courses.

Details

Golftec

• 136 Exhibition St Melbourne
• Mon – Fri: 7:30am to 9:30pm
• Sat, Sun: 10am to 6pm
• Bookings – (03) 9421 2049
• Website
• Email

Moonah Links - rain, rain and more rain

Golfers are an optimistic bunch.  So although the forecast was for rain, and the weather radar resembled a huge mutant swarm of zombies attacking the whole of South eastern Australia, golf was on!  Met Nige, Russ and Tim on the driving range at Moonah Links and even as we hit a few practice balls in the steady rain we were hopeful that by the first tee all would be clear.

The next nine holes were the wettest golf I have ever played, there was no break in the constant heavy rain.  By the time we got to the 10th tee, we were all soaked, everything and I mean everything, was soaked.  And with no sign of the rain clearing, the thought of another 9 holes drenched to the skin, cold and shivering,  was too much and we reluctantly made for the clubhouse.

Last week I was able to watch some of the World’s best golfers play in similar conditions at Royal Melbourne in the Presidents Cup.  Whilst they weren’t able to bail after 9 holes, they did have the services of a caddy and multiple sets of clothes, gloves etc, to stay dry – ish.  Rain adds another element of difficulty to an already difficult game.   And watching the Professionals deal with it shows their level of concentration and skill.

Our foursome also managed the conditions very well.  Before long grips become slippery, and gloves have the gripping properties of oil.  One benefit of this is forcing the swing to be more controlled to avoid the club flying out of your hands onto the next fairway.  This resulted in most of us sacrificing some distance but accuracy was improved.  Putting becomes an interesting lottery, with some areas of the green slower than others because of the rain.

Rain can be the golfer’s worst nightmare, but such is the nature of a game played thats exposed to mother nature.  Dressing and playing to the conditions can allow you to make the most of the conditions and not let the weather rain on your parade.

The Presidents Cup 2011 has been run and won.  Team USA was as imposing on the course as it was on paper.  Despite playing on foreign soil, a local crowd and all the weather Melbourne could throw at them, the USA players held strong and reflected their dominance in the World rankings.  Team International were in no way disgraced, and a number of games could easily have swung the other way.

Despite the dominance of the USA in the Presidents Cup, the format is compelling, competitive and provides a whole new angle and venue to watch the best golfers in the world play team matchplay golf.  With the US also playing Europe in the Ryder Cup, which has been the scene of epic battles over the years, there is now a missing piece to the team matchplay puzzle.  A competition between Europe and the Internationals.

Lets give this mythical event a working title of the “Kings Cup”.  Such an event would be logistically tough to squeeze into the tight timelines of the professional golf calendars but let assume that all could be in one place at one time.

A fictitious Europe team based on current rankings would be as strong as the US with 9 players within the top 25 in the world, and the best 4 golfers!  Ive gone with Bjorn and Clarke for Captains picks.  The International team stays relatively unchanged but Ive swapped Senden and Oosthuizen for Els and Allenby, sorry Big Easy and Rob.    It offers some tantalising matchups and world class golf.

• Captains picks

Of course, the first event would need to be played in Melbourne.  Royal Melbourne is the obvious choice, though Kingston Heath would be as suitable a venue.  Bring on the Kings Cup!

Royal Melbourne 6th(West) - Playing as the 4th during Presidents Cup 2011

With the International and US teams now in Melbourne, the golfing world has turned its focus onto Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the 2011 Presidents Cup.  A look at the two teams gives an advantage to the USA team from a world ranking perspective.  With 10 players in the top 25 top ranked players in the world versus 5 for the Internationals, USA looks very strong,.  Both teams have a good mix of experience in previous Presidents Cups, the US have an added advantage in competing in similar format during the Ryder Cup.  But all thats just on paper.

• Captains Pick

The Internationals have one additional player on their side, Royal Melbourne Golf Course.  The Australians will have an advantage on the home track, especially if the wind kicks in from Port Phillip Bay.  Royal Melbourne has plenty of risk and reward, and together with the undulating greens, there will be drama aplenty.

The 401 metre par 4 4th hole (West Course 6th) sums up the course.  Driving from an elevated tee the righthand dogleg turns sharply providing the player with a bailout but beckons you to take on the corner over the rough and bunker complex.  The green is one of the toughest on the course, and you do not want to be above the hole facing the real threat of putting off the front.

Looking forward to an epic finish on Sunday as the final single matches go down to the wire. Prediction: Internationals 18 – USA 16

The early groups for the opening round of the Australian Open golf tournament are on the course, and already its a pretty impressive leaderboard.   Geoff Ogilvy leads from names including Bill Haas, Bubba Watson, David Toms and Dustin Johnston.  Plus the Presidents Cup captains Greg Norman and Freddie Couples.     Waiting in the Clubhouse are Tiger Woods, Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney, Matt Kuchar, Adam Scott and Jason Day.

The Australian Open has a rich history of world class winners including Norman, Nicklaus, Player, Palmer, Snead and Watson.  In recent years, the Open has fielded the best Australians and one or two top Internationals, providing a great showcase for Australian golf but no real focus outside Australia.   Thanks to the Presidents Cup next week, this weeks field includes 8 of the top 20 players in the World, plus that Tiger guy, and an excellent supporting cast.   It is arguably the best field ever for an Australian Open and hopefully provides more of a spotlight on Australian golf to the world.

Looking forward to a great four days of golf, and it looks as though they will earn it today as Sydney throws some pretty harsh weather their way.

Steve Williams is the Kim Kardashian of Golf, both have used the media to build a high profile that should never have existed.

A good Golf Caddy can be Sherpa, Mentor, Coach, Doctor and more to a professional golfer.  But the best caddy also keeps out of the media spotlight and lets the player go about their business.  Only a true golf tragic would be able to tell you who caddied for Nicklaus, Palmer or Watson.  And who is currently Tiger Woods caddy?

The caddy’s to the Worlds top players generally “turn up, keep up and shut up”.  Which brings us to Steve Williams, no doubt one of the best caddy’s and bag-man until recently to Tiger Woods.   Carrying Tiger’s clubs allowed Williams to become the highest paid “sportsman” in New Zealand.  However Williams wasn’t content with sitting in Tigers shadows and built up his own media profile.  This included quotes in media and public on other players such as Phil Mickelson.

His move away from Tiger was always going to happen, and he has definitely helped Adam Scotts game.  However he hasnt been content to carry Scotts clubs, and his mouth has put him onto the backpages of Newspapers, and the front pages of blogs.  He claimed he’d just had “the greatest week of my life” after Scott won recently, having caddied for Woods in many Majors, this was an open handed slap in Woods face.

And onto this weekend, when Williams referred to Woods as a “black a*hole” causing media hysterics on the eve of the biggest 3 weeks in Australian golf.  Many golfers past and present have called on Scott to dismiss Williams, to have the PGA ban him.  It looks like none of this will happen and the media will have a frenzy anytime Scott gets within 5 iron distance of Woods.

Ideally Williams keeps his mouth shut and allows Scott to play to his best ability.

In two weeks time 24 of the Worlds best golfers will head to Melbourne, Australia for the Presidents Cup.  Here are nine things you need to know.

1. Where and when?

The Presidents Cup was played at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in 1998, and returns to the venue this year for the 9th Presidents Cup.  Royal Melbourne Golf Club sits in one of the World’s golfing mecca’s, the famous Melbourne Sandbelt located south of central Melbourne.  The layout is a composite course comprising 12 holes from the West Course (ranked 12th in the World) and 6 holes from the East Course (ranked 67th in the World)  The event will be held from November 14th to 20th 2011, three practice days followed by four competition days.

2. Whats the course layout?

For those familiar with the Royal Melbourne composite course, the holes have been re-routed from the normal tournament layout to focus on potential finishing holes for matchplay.   The Presidents Cup layout (PDF version) brings 16, 17 and 18 closer to the Clubhouse with the classic 18th hole from the West course and normal composite finishing hole reverting to the 16th, a likely deciding hole.

3. What’s the format?

Based on the Ryder Cup format, the Presidents Cup is a team matchplay event.

• Thursday – Six foresome matches: Teams of two play one ball taking alternate shots.  Matchplay scoring
• Friday – Six fourball matches: Teams of two, best score of the two per hole. Matchplay scoring
• Saturday – Five foresome matches (AM), Five fourball matches (PM)
• Sunday – Twelve singles matches

With a total of 34 matches, one team needs to win at least 17.5 matches to win the tournament.

4. Who is playing?

The International and US teams are made up of the best 10 ranked players and two Captains picks.  So essentially its a cavalcade of Champions.  The US team includes Matt Kuchar, Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, David Toms and Jim Furyk.   The most contentious player being Tiger Woods who didnt qualify through form but was selected as a Captains pick, ahead of players like PGA Championship winner, Keegan Bradley.  Time will tell if thats a good decision.

The International Team includes local heroes Jason Day, Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy plus captain picks Badds and Robert Allenby.  Plus KJ Choi, Ryo Ishikawa, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Both teams include a mix of youth and experience making for a great event.

5. Can I still get tickets?

The Ticketmaster site still has a range of tickets available.  Prices include:  $60 (Adult) to a practice day, $130 (Adult) to the final day, $475 (Adult) for access to every day , right up to $770 (Adult) for access everyday including reserved seating on the 16th hole and Captains Club.

6. Where’s the best place to watch?

The Royal Melbourne composite course provides some great vantage points around the course to watch the play.  Grandstands are located around the course, obviously in prime locations, some are reserved, others are first come first seated.  Some possible spots include:

• The grandstand on the brilliant short par 3 5th hole will be worth it, depending on the wind and pin position, this hole could throw up some early drama.
• On the corner of the classic par 4 dogleg 4th, my favourite hole on the course, watching how much of the corner the players are willing to cut or greenside to see how they deal with this tough green
• Greenside on the 2nd hole, at 476 metres will they attack this par 5 for eagle?
• Fairway on the 6th hole: who doesnt like a short par 4.  another attacking hole?
• Greenside on the 15th hole: As the matches get towards the end, there could be action here as teams take risks to claw back a hole.
• Anywhere on 16th or 17th.  Many results will be decided on these holes, so crowds will be huge.  Find a vantage point, grandstand, mound, tree, anything!

7. Cant get to the course, whens it on TV?

Fox Sports and Channel 9′s Wide World of Sports will broadcast all four days of The Presidents Cup action live. The Today Show will also broadcast live from the Presidents Cup, no doubt with witty banter on golf sticks and sand holes.

8.Where do I find out more?

The official site is http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/presidentscup/ which includes all the detail on players, tickets, access etc.

The host course, Royal Melbourne Golf Club have further details and information on their site.

Follow the Presidents Cup on Twitter for latest news @PresidentsCup

Become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ThePresidentsCup?ref=ts

9. Who will win?

Last time around, the relatively inexperienced and out of form International Team were comprehensively beaten up by the dominant US team on home soil.  This time the International have a core group of Australians who know Royal Melbourne like the back of their hand, and the US team whilst strong, isnt as dominant as last time, at least from a rankings perspective.  Both have a mix of seasoned veterans and young players.

Bookies will still be supporting the US team, but Internationals will be very close.  And it may come down to some acts of brilliance in the final day singles matches.  Internationals in a close one!!!