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

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

Nige in trouble on the par 4 12th Hole at Settlers Run

The Layout The course makes the most of the undulating terrain, with numerous changes in direction, the large bunker complexes feature Norman-esque rough around the edge, water hazards and deep rough combine for a challenging game.  At 6,607 from the blacks, the course is a long layout, so unless you have your ‘A’ game or want to be punished, try the Gold tees which take almost 600 metres off the distance!

Favourite Holes

3rd Hole The third hole plays from an elevated tee, through a gully to and elevated green.  From the forward tees longer drivers will have to layup to avoid running out of fairway or hitting the fairway trap.  From the back tees, the hole plays differently with the second shot a tough one trying to hit the elevated green with a mid iron.

8th Hole Any par 3 rated in the top 10 toughest holes on a course needs to be given respect.   The 8th at Settlers Run is well protected by bunkering on the right of the green and a raised green.  When the wind picks up, the club selection is vital.

14th Hole Ranked hardest hole on the course for good reason, at 431 metres from the tips, the drive heads over a ridge requiring placement down the right side of the fairway to open up the green.  Fairway bunkers on the left are deep and will require a lofted club to recover, avoid.  The green undulations are subtle and as the green is slightly elevated approaches need to be up.

17th Hole The short par 4 is a great risk and reward hole. From the elevated tee the fairway bends around a lake surrounded by deep rough.  Beware of driving too far left and running out of fairway, with a layup as the other choice providing a tougher second shot to a small, well protected green.   (Snake watch:  even in cooler April we came across snakes next to the 17th tee, one of my partners stepping on once whilst searching for an errant tee shot!)

The Word Settlers Run is well worth playing, the Norman design requires accuracy off the tee or a large number of spare golf balls. Condition from tee to green is excellent.  A drinks and food cart is on the course most days, and the well stocked  pro-shop and clubhouse provides excellent service and a great spot for a quiet drink after the round to discuss the days play.

Course details Settlers Run Golf & Country Club - Par 72 - 6,607 metres - Address: 1 Settlers Run, off Pearcedale Road, in Botanic Ridge, Cranbourne - Proshop: (03) 9785 6072 - Scorecard - Bookings and Green Fees

Layout Lost Farm sits a short iron across a narrow inlet from Barnbougle Dunes, but the two courses have very distinct differences and layouts.  Lost Farm reaches further in behind the dunes than Barnbougle providing more variability with the seemingly ever present wind, and a mix of hole styles.  Lost Farm adds another quirk, playing as a Par 78 20 hole layout, with holes 13A and 18A two extra par 3′s.   As per Barnbougle, Lost Farm eases the golfer into the round with a simple opening hole, though the tempo lifts very quickly.  The fairways are generous, though need to be if the wind picks up, and the rough is the same ball eating seaside grasses and bushes as Barnbougle.  For such a young course (opened November 2010), the greens are good, the fairways excellent, and will only improve.  No motorised carts, and walk does take you up and over a number of big dunes, again carry your bag if you can.

Favourite Holes

Fifth Hole – Par 4 400metres The toughest hole on the course, and the most daunting tee shot.  A huge dune blocks most of the line of sight and depending on tee box, needs to be carried or faded around.  Once on the fairway, the approach shot is uphill to a huge green.

Eight Hole – Par 5 525 metres

An excellent links Par 5, the drive should be down the left side of the fairway to open up the gradually bending fairway.  Mounds and fairways traps need to be avoided to setup the approach shot to the green tucked into the side of a large dune, anything right is consumed by a huge waste bunker.

14th Hole Par 4 251 metres

A fantastic short par 4, once you have taken in the view, decision time.  Do you take the driver and attack the hole, a thin margin for error but risk rewarded, or layup with an iron and face a difficult short iron into the green. The huge dune on the right protects the tee from some of the wind, but the green is exposed.  Love this hole.

15th Hole – Par 3 164 metres

Picture postcard hole, the tee sits on top of a dune overlooking the green and the ocean.  On the huge dune to the left sit the impressive Lost Farm Spa and restaurant/bar.  Large bunkers gaurd the green which is fairly accomodating unless the wind picks up off the water, then this hole can get nasty.

Course Layout

The Word Lost Farm is good, very good.  The most common question is which course is best, Lost Farm or Barnbougle Dunes.  When Australian Golf Digest reviewed them in a head to head matchplay it was a tie, both courses are unique but I also cant seperate them.  Instead Ive put together a composite course of my best holes from both layouts.  Be sure to include both courses on your itinerary and pack extra golf balls.

Course details Lost Farm - Par 78 (20 holes) - 6,102 metres (Terra-Cotta) - Address: Near Bridport, Tasmania (One hour drive from Launceston) - Proshop: 03 6356 0094 - Course Bookings

So Ive designed a composite course of my favourite 18 holes from both courses.  The composite layout includes some of the classic short par 4s from both courses especially Lost Farm’s 14th and Barnbougle Dunes 4th, and the short par 3s that require pinpoint accuracy.  The composite course finishes with two tough par 4s, the dogleg 5th at Lost Farm and ends with the brute of a hole, the long 8th at Barnbougle Dunes.

Barnbougle Dunes & Lost Farm Composite Layout 4, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3,4   Out: 33 5, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4   In: 36

1. 3rd Lost Farm – Par 4, Wide fairway narrows to a green protected by sand and large dunes

2. 15th Barnbougle Dunes -Plenty of fairway to play with, dont be left of the green

3. 7th Lost Farm - Tee shot must navigate the dune in the middle of the fairway

4. 13A Lost Farm – Luckily Richard Sattler kept this sublime little par 3, best 13A hole ever!

5. 4th Lost Farm - Sitting on top of a dune, little more than 100metres, should be easy right?

6. 11th Lost Farm – Demanding tee shot needs to carry the ridge and avoid huge trap on the right.

7. 12th Barnbougle Dunes – Par 4, only 250metres, another short but subtle hole

8. 7th Barnbougle Dunes – Who said Par 3′s had to be long, very small green, big bunkers, tough into wind

9. 16th Lost Farm – Tee shot needs to be left side of fairway to provide angle into the protected green

10. 10th Lost Farm – Par 5, drive threads a gully to a receptive fairway, tricky green

11. 5th Barnbougle Dunes – Downhill par 3, huge bunkers protect an accommodating green

12. 14th Lost Farm – Another cracking short par 4, layup or attack?

13. 15th Lost Farm - Par 3, Exposed tee provides no protection from the wind.  How about that view!

14. 17th Barnbougle Dunes – One of the toughest drives on the course, especially into the wind

15. 4th Barnbougle Dunes – Short par 4 tempts with a risk and reward drive, green well protected, Awesome hole

16. 8th Lost Farm – A great par 5, slight dogleg follows contours of a dune to the well protected green

17. 5th Lost Farm – Massive dune obscures the tee shot, uphill second to huge green. Toughest hole at Lost Farm. 18. 8th Barnbougle Dunes – Very tough Par 4, multiple placement options from the tee sets up a huge uphill approach shot over bunkers and rough.  Toughest hole at Barnbougle Dunes.

Round 1 – Lost Farm
Early start and a short flight from Melbourne to Launceston, followed by a one hour drive got us to the first tee at Lost Farm at lunchtime. Weather was about as good as it gets in this part of the world, slight breeze and a few clouds. Kel had an additional handicap using a borrowed putter after realising that his putter was back in Canberra. I opened the scoring with a birdie, possibly peaking too early and after an early struggle to tune the putter, Kel found his range and racked up the points.

Lost Farm 4th Hole

Lost Farm is in sensational condition for a course so young, it can only improve over the next few years. After a great start, my game fell apart on the 9th and never recovered, meanwhile Kel and Nige were sinking some big putts and Steve found his game off the tee. The rough at Lost Farm is thick, impenetrable dune grasses and bushes, a wayward shot is almost certainly lost.

Steve tackles the rough on the 14th

The back nine is a long one with two extra holes (13A and 18A), and the scoring slowed as the swings got tired, and the lure of a cold Boags beckoned from the clubhouse. The climb from the 13th green to 13A tee is real mountain goat stuff, but is worth it to play the sublime 13Ath hole. Then the heartrate lifts again as the view down the short but testing 14th comes into view. Then the 15th adds yet another wow factor.

Lost Farm 15th

Sitting on the deck with a cleansing ale overlooking the front nine at Lost Farm, we reviewed the scorecards and the days play. Kel had the lead with 37pts, Nige 35 pts and Mike and Steve both carded 32pts.

Round 2 – Barnbougle Dunes
After staying the night in the nearby sleepy seaside town of Bridport, we teed up the following morning at Barnbougle Dunes. The more established course of the two, Barnbougle already has an impressive trophy cabinet of accolades and course rankings. And by the time you stand on the 4th tee, you already know why. The stretch from the 4th to the 8th is awesome golf, with the approach to the 8th green one of the toughest you can get. Kel was making it tough for any of us to catch him by playing some great golf, over the front nine and held the lead coming into the final nine holes.

Approach shot to the 8th green at Barnbougle Dunes

As if on queue, as we walked to the 10th tee the wind gusted up and started to really blow. Barnbougle was about to turn ugly. The large accomodating fairways started to narrow, and even putts had to allow for the wind. The masochistic golfer in me was thrilled, this is links golf, shots have to be adapted, margins are narrowed. The layout of Barnbougle meant that holes were either played with a huge tailwind, or back into the teeth of the gale. 12, 15,16,17,18 were all played straight into the wind, short holes got tough, tough holes got brutal.

The second trip to Barnbougle improves on the experience, the two courses are indeed gems, the remoteness and landscape adds to the mystique, the design and layout are exceptional. Words cant really explain how good this place is.

Barnbougle Dunes, 15th green

Kel handled the conditions the best, and finished with 30pts for a total of 67. Congrats to Kel on winning his second Purple Jacket and King Challenge. Nige finished second with 65 pts (35,30), an impressive effort, Mike third with 63 (32,31) and Steve fourth with 57 (32,25).

More pics from our Lost Farm and Barnbougle Dunes trip on Flickr

Kel & Steve, Mike and Nige

15th green at Leongatha

The course requires thought off the tee, with driver needing to be kept in the bag on many holes. There are doglegs aplenty that require placement to setup the second shot. Favourite holes include:

2nd Hole: Par 4 dogleg, drive played to the corner with an uphill approach to a well bunkered green.

6th Hole: Par 5, tough uphill drive needs to be played leftside to allow for right sloping fairway. Green tucked behind a corner.

9th Hole: Par 4, long hole played back up to the Clubhouse, tough second shot

16th Hole: Par 3, played downhill, elevated green punishes anything left or short

Long uphill Par 4 9th hole at Leongatha

Course details The Leongatha Golf Club
- Par 70
- 5,795 metres
- Address: Koonwarra – Inverloch Road, Leongatha South
- Proshop: 03 5664 3314
- Website

The Layout
Tom Doak has created a magical layout winding through the seaside dunes in Tasmania. The opening par 5 eases you into the round but by the time you play the 4th, the course has accelerated to awesome! Many holes run between and around untouched dunes, with most of the rough made up by coastal grasses, they consume golf balls! An “Irish drop rule” is in place for lost balls, drop taken at point of entry to the rough for a 1 shot penalty. This local rule alone should be enough to ensure that you carry plenty of balls. There are no motorised carts on the course, big wheeled push buggies are available, though I would recommend carrying your clubs if possible.

Favourite Holes

Fourth hole – Par 4 271 metres, index 17

At only 271 metres from the tips, the par 4 Fourth hole initially tempts the driver to be pulled from the bag. A huge dune obscures some of the direct line from the tee, a large bunker will punish anything less than perfect, but an accurate drive could find its way onto the dancefloor. On further review of the hole from the tee, the driver will often be swapped for iron. Of course, laying up next to the bunker presents a blind second to the raised green. A classic risk and reward, short par 4, requiring careful thought and shot selection.
Seventh Hole – Par 3 112 metres, Index 12

The short par 3 has almost gone the way of the Tasmanian Devil in modern golf course architecture, so a big shoutout to Tom Doak for creating the exquisite little par 3 seventh. At only 112 metres from the back tees, its tiny yet punishing if not treated with respect, huge bunkers protect the small raised green. If the wind is blowing, the exposed hole will grow even more teeth. Treat with respect.

Seventeenth Hole – Par 4 400 metres, index 3 Barnbougle Dunes has more than its fair share of great views from tees, this is yet another one. Looking out over the rivermouth and out to sea, this exposed tee is a Kodak moment, with no wind its a daunting drive to avoid fairway traps and rough, with wind I can only imagine the increased severity of the tee shot. Having negotiated the drive successfully, the angled green is a narrow target for a medium to long iron approach.

The Word
Barnbougle Dunes, believe the hype. In only five years, the course has established itself as one of Australia’s best layouts. Do yourself a favour and plan a trip to one of the World’s newest golfing destinations, and with Lost Farm Golf Course just opened next door, its got to be one of the best locations in Australia for a short break golfing trip.

Course details
Barnbougle Dunes
- Par 72
- 6,148 metres (Forrester)
- Address: Near Bridport, Tasmania (One hour drive from Launceston)
- Proshop: 03 6356 0094
- Course Bookings

The Layout I agree with the rankings, the Moonah Links Legends course is a great layout. The variety of shots that are required, the change in landscape, the bunkering and many risk and reward opportunities makes this a tough but fair course. Designer Ross Perrett states “The course is a loop of 18 holes that generally follow the valleys through a variety of landscapes ranging from ancient Moonah woodlands to open links land. The fairways are generous and the putting surfaces gentle, but the bunkering style is bold and wild in appearance. At 6,315 metres, the course should be fun, but it won’t be a pushover”

Condition In one of the countries best regions for golf courses, the Legends course is always in excellent condition. As at January 2010, the fairways were perfectly grassed and great to hit off, off fairway the rough is often long grass and Moonah trees. The everpresent bunkers are a mix of links style pot bunkers through to huge expansive waste bunkers where a shovel may be a better option than a wedge. The greens are large and undulating, firm and fairly fast. The 15th green in particular is massive, the largest green in the Southern Hemisphere can play anywhere between long iron and wedge depending on pin position and wind.

Favourite Holes

Placement off the tee is crucial

After easing into the round with a short par 5, and a short par 4, the third is a tough par 3, then the golfer is confronted with a tee shot from an elevated tee to a sharp dog leg left. The hero line is a driver with draw hugging the left hand tree line over the bunkers to the raised fairway plateau. Mere mortals should gear down to an iron and hit the fairway leaving a tougher mid iron to the green.

A touch of Scotland

After emerging from the wooded section of the course, holes 7 through to 13 are played in open links conditions, the 8th hole is a classic links hole, played with a semi-blind tee shot, fairway bunkers are strategically placed to capture drives. The approach shot to a double green needs to be up to avoid the false front.

Classic par 3

The par 3 10th hole is a tough start to the back nine. At 177metres from the back, the hole is tough enough, wind will make it a true test! A waste bunker captures anything too short, and a nasty pot bunker protects the front of the green. Steep slopes around the green will impact tee shots that arent on target.

Much thought required

The dogleg 15th will wreck a good round if not played with thought. Anything long off the tee will run into rough, anything left into a waste bunker. There is reward for trying to draw a long drive but the landing area is tiny. A well placed iron is the best choice, then a tough approach to an elevated green with trouble everywhere!

The Word Moonah Links Legends course lives up to its rankings as one of Australia’s best layouts. It should always be part of the itinerary for the Mornington Peninsula golf trip, and teams up nicely with the Open course for a weekend. A golf cart is recommended for all but the fittest golfers, the landscape would make for a tiring walk.

Course details Moonah Links – Legends Course - Par 72 - 6,315 metres (Black) - 5,939 metres (White) - Address: Peter Thomson Drive, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula - Proshop: (03) 5988 2088 - Course Bookings

Condition
Given the amount of traffic that this public course gets, Yarra Bend is always in very good condition. As at January 2010, the course is in excellent condition. The fairways are well grassed and great to hit off, off fairway is penalised by improvising shots through trees. Closer to the green, some of the rough has been grown deeper providing a nasty penalty for missed greens. The greens themselves are firm and fairly fast. There would be private courses around Melbourne that would struggle to compete with the conditioning of Yarra Bend at the moment.

Favourite Holes

2nd Hole - Over the hill

7th Hole - Augusta Down Under

8th Hole - Pinpoint accuracy!

17th hole - Dont go right!