On Par – All about golf in Australia

Steve Keipert, Editor of Australian Golf Digest (definitely worth a read) was interviewed recently on “The Pro Shop”, a weekly locally produced golf show on OneHD (definitely worth a look). Steve was discussing the bi-annual ranking of the Top 100 Australian Golf Courses. The Top 100 ranking like any other ranking is always going to be subjective, but at the same time is a great comparison and snapshot of the world class courses throughout Australia, and is always a topic of discussion.

Steve didnt give away the number one spot which will be announced in the March 2010 issue of Australian Golf Digest, but did note that it wont be Royal Melbourne for the first time since they started ranking courses. This is likely to be a result of the course being ranked as two layouts (East and West) for the first time rather than as the Composite and courses like Kingston Heath and NSW getting additional work and conditioning due to hosting key tournaments.

I would put my money on Kingston Heath to take the Number one ranking, its a classic sandbelt layout requiring plenty of thought on all shots, exquisite bunkering and can be tamed but will also tame. Kingston Heath will have plenty of competition from New South Wales, host of the 2009 Australian Open and even Barnbougle Dunes, the Doak designed links layout in Northern Tasmania. Word is that the new Crenshaw design course, the Lost Farm at Barnbougle is due to open in October 2010 and when matured will be even better than the current layout and will also threaten the top spot!

It will also be interesting to see what happens to some of the other courses in the Top 100, Laguna Whitsundays was listed at 21 in 2008, but when I played there in January 2009 it was in very poor condition and whilst the layout is still superb it didnt rates as a Top 100 course.

The March Issue of Australian Golf Digest will be out in the next week or so.

Played St Andrews Beach Golf course on the Mornington Peninsula recently with Scott and Anthony, and its well worth a visit. The Tom Doak designed Gunnamatta layout opened in late 2005 and was planned as an exclusive private 36 hole layout. The second course (Fingle) was to be added over the next year or so. Played the course just after it opened and was impressed with the layout and condition. Australian Golf Digest ranked the layout at 30 in the 2006 top 100 courses in Australia.

Unfortunately the ambitious project struggled, land sales and memberships didnt meet targets and the course eventually fell into receivership and closed. Thankfully a consortium of saviours reopened the course in October 2009. The following information from the website explains the current situation: “Since reopening in October as a result of the demise of the former ownership structure, much has happened and whilst we have a long way to go in changing this once exclusive and private golf club into one of Australia’s premiere pay to play venues, some major hurdles have been overcome.

For the record, Golf Services Management P/L, has a 3 year management contract to operate the golf activities as a pay to play venue and has no connection or association with the former company Golf Club Properties P/L whatsoever. The maintenance is carried out by The Golf Course Company P/L.”

Thankfully the course is still well and truly playable, the greens are excellent and the fairways are still in great condition. Id recommend packing the clubs into the car with a couple of fellow golfers and playing St Andrews, and a word of advice, if its hot, or you arent feeling too energetic, grab a cart as its a fairly tough walk! Review to follow soon.

This echidna wasnt happy with golfers intruding on its space on the 10th fairway

Stayed at Inverloch in South Gippsland (2 hours from Melbourne) over the Australia Day Long Weekend. Packed the clubs (of course) and played nearby Leongatha Golf Club with Jack and Kim, and the two boys. Leongatha is an excellent country course, heavily treed, undulating and great condition. The course winds over a large hill, with many dogleg holes, blind tee shots and changes of direction, The two boys played nine holes, we continued on for the full 18. The game itself fell away from the career best form at Moonah Links, and much like the Echidna above, turned spikey. So got frustrated early, then combined with poor shot selection on a course that needs thought and local knowledge, the score ballooned. Nonetheless, and enjoyable morning of golf.

Leongatha can be added to the official “Hidden Gems” list, definitely recommend if in the area

Had a quick short game lesson with pro Kevin at Albert Park with Rob.
Problem: stance too open, too much wrist. Lead to inconsistent distance, decellerating downswing, fat, thin, in short, a mess!
Solution: straight stance, swing with shoulders/arms, min wrist, 70% weight on left. Move ball fwd in stance for higher flight.

Overview
Moonah Links Legends Course is part of Melbourne’s golfing Mecca on the Mornington Peninsula. The sister to the Moonah Links Open Course, Legends has quickly developed a strong reputation as one of the best layouts in the country. In 2008 the Australian Golf Digest Top Australian Courses ranked the Legends course at 14th, the Australian Golf Course Guide ranks the layout as the 2nd best public access course in the country behind Barnbougle Dunes, high praise indeed.

The par 3 5th Hole

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Nige chips up to the short 5th hole on the Moonah Links Legends Course

After a warm up nine holes on the Open course the previous afternoon, Chris, Emma, Nige and myself teed off on the Moonah Links Legends course. The Legends course is a very different layout to the Open course, it winds through undulating woodlands and open dunes, with the local Moonah tree ever present. Rugged bunkering and changes in elevation, combine with large green for a great golfing experience. The Legends course is consistently rated higher than the Open course, I agree, its a great layout with a number of memorable holes, and requires thoughtful shot selection – review coming soon!

The form from the previous day continued, driver still accurate, long irons working well, and the gap wedge came into play a number of times. Nige got the driver back on track and carded a solid round, Emma made the most of a borrowed Callaway Diablo driver cracking some excellent drives, Chris was lured to many of the Legends massive bunkers! Finished with 35 points, which included two wipes, so happy with the form.

7 of the best at Moonah Links
Originally uploaded by Doogsta

Played a late 9 holes on Moonah links Open course with Nige & Chris after a planning day. Great weather, and the swing was in rare form. Driver was long and straight, irons good, putts on line. Even after 6 holes with birdies on both par 5s. Another birdie on 8! Made a mess of 9th to finish with a 41. Tommorow we play the Legends course

Mr 8 and I headed up to Yarrambat Park Golf Course last Sunday afternoon for a leisurely 9 holes. We teed off at about 5pm, brilliant weather and not too busy on the course. Mr 8 has played most of his golf to date on the driving range, backyard, hallway and minigolf. We played a family ambrose last year at the Growling Frog which was the first ‘real’ golf he had played.

Golf in the eyes of an 8 year old is golf without fear. There are no mental demons, no pressure from the leaderboard, no memories of past failures and no incessant swing thoughts and tips. Its simply address the ball and give it your best shot. It was great to watch Mr 8s swing improve over 9 holes, by the 8th hole, a par 3, he carried a water hazard and then a bunker on successive shots. Again no fear, just hit it. He secretly wanted to go into the bunker, as he loves trying to hit out of the sand!

The short game is tougher on the 8 year old, as the grip it and rip it approach doesnt work, and touch is a difficult thing to get right (And I should know, I still havent got a short game!). By the end of the round, I was also worrying less about my shots and enjoying the game more. Yes, its only a game after all!
So if the game of golf is getting you down, if you have lost your mojo, or just arent enjoying hitting that little white ball anymore, play 9 holes of golf with an 8 year old, and learn about golf without fear.

Overview
Yarra Bend Golf Course is one of the closest courses to Melbournes CBD. Only 15 minutes drive from the city, the course is busy most days of the week. Part of the Yarra Bend Park, the course follows the Yarra River with holes following the bends in the river.


The par 3 7th Hole

The Layout
The Par 70 Yarra Bend layout isnt long, measuring 5,538 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 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

After a reasonably easy opening hole, the second 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.

Yarra Bend has three short holes that all point roughly Southwest, following the Yarra river. The 7th 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!)

The 8th 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

The penultimate 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 has always been a favourite track for a round of golf after work. Ive blogged about a few rounds played at the course recently and raved about the condition of the course. The summer twilight green fee deal is also a 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

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

Its the start of a new year (and decade!) so time to make a couple of golfing resolutions.

• Find the lost short game.
  In my early golfing years, I had an excellent short game and was even known as ‘Chipman’ for a while. Whilst i struggled with consistency off the tee, I could rely on the pitching and chips to save me from disaster. The short game is a crucial element to the game, yet is rarely practiced. Mine has deserted me and Im determined to find it again!

• More golf with Mr 8.
  After a really fun afternoon of golf with Mr 8 yesterday, Im keen to introduce him to the game further. The look on his face when he nailed a pitch was priceless, and to watch him improve over the course of 9 holes was fantastic.

• More golf reviews.
  Im aiming to add more golf course reviews to the On Par Blog, as they are the most visited pages on the site, and hopefully the most useful!

Heres to a safe and prosperous 2010