Townsville Courses

[Nut]

Just getting right back into golf after almost 5 years away from competition. Im looking to join a club next year and get my handicap back plus play some more regular golf.

I was wondering what everyones opinions were on the Townsville clubs? Townsville golf club seems to be the most popular but $1200 membership fees is ridiculous for the most poorly maintained course out of the 3! Rowes Bay looks great at the moment and is certainly the cheapest at $600 but i fear the layout might get a little monotonous. Willows is by far the pick of the 3 as far as condition and layout goes and is reasonably priced at $800 but is 30 mins drive from where i live.

Just wondering what the latest state of the Townsville clubs were and what everyone recommended? I dont want to start a club war just after opinions.

Cheers
Nut

[AndyP]

There aren't many Townsville residents here, Nut.
One that I know of, doesn't visit the forum very often.

[Dazza]

G'day Nut.Willows is definitely the best course around at present, receivers have currently got it up for sale so who knows what the future holds.I'm thinking about joining up at Rowes Bay. For the amount of golf I play (Stuff all) I can't see the point in paying top dollar etc.Haven't played Townsville, so can't really comment there. Had heard their treatment plant bugs died and only the tees and greens are being watered at present.CheersDaz

[markTHEblake]

Support your local club, Join the closest one.

Sorry to hear how Townsville Gc is getting on, it was the best club and course by a long way when I was there.

[BrettM]

Townsville GC are hanging out for a partner to join them in the redevelopment of the course. It will involve housing and apartments (to 3 storey) in the middle with the new course around the outside. They don't have the coin to fund the development process which has been going on for a little while now. If it goes ahead it could turn out nicely and will go from 27 down to 18, new clubhouse, and more importantly a new treatment plant which is stuffed at the moment.

Willows for mine but can get busy.

[Nut]

Cheers for the advice guys! The current condition of Townsville GC definitely reflects what you've heard, the fairways are actually dirt throughout the majority of the course. Willows is by far the pick however the whole receivership is a little concerning I guess.

Might end up being Rowes Bay, it is my closest course and I have to give a big props to the club because it is in fantastic condition!

[Dazza]

Send me a PM if you're keen to go for a hit.

[Courty]

Move to Cairns. ;)

[Nut]

Cheers Dazza will do.

Yeah Courty too true, will most likely end up there in the coming years! Cant wait to get up there for my next MTB/golf weekend!

[mike]

Played 9 or 10 or 11 holes at Rowes Bay this arv. (I got lost ). Super impressed. Very tidy and green considering how brown the city is. Best greens I've played on in a long long time.

[Sws]

Played 9 holes in Townsville GC two weeks ago in an early morning. The course is very tidy and a lot greener than I expected. Hope they can keep up the good work and I will definitely play there again.

[Courty]

Played 9 holes in Townsville GC two weeks ago in an early morning. The course is very tidy and a lot greener than I expected. Hope they can keep up the good work and I will definitely play there again. What was the condition of the greens like?

[Sws]

I played the first 9 holes and found the greens good enough for me. As a beginner, don't have too much experience with the green in other golf courses. I usually play at Rowes Bay, I would say the greens at TGC were comparable if not better the Rowes Bay. However, the green was very slow becuase it was very wet with the morning mist (i started at 6.30am).

[backintheswing]

I have played Townsville over 20 times in the last few years and their greens are always very well watered, very slow to putt on and the grass is about 8mm long.

Lovely to look at and that's about it.

[BrisVegas]

bump!

I'm moving to Townsville next week and am considering joining Rowes Bay, as we'll be living on that side of town. Anyone have any inside knowledge of issues at the club that would be a red flag? i'll check out the other two (T'ville and Willows) but would prefer to be a part of the nearest course if possible.

Cheers in advance.

P.S. Any ozgolfers in Townsville want to show me around? :-)

[backintheswing]

I play up there all the time in comps, as I work there occasionally. I always prefer to play comps at Rowes Bay.

Townsville's greens are usually in a terrible state and Willows is just Willows.

Can't go wrong at the Bay.

[BrisVegas]

cheers mate. I'm chomping at the bit for a game on the courses to check 'em all out.

[markTHEblake]

I was a member at Townsville GC, but a long time ago, and only because i lived walking distance to the club. I would have joined whichever club was the closest to me at the time, as I didnt have a car, but its a huge advantage anyway to be close. You might even get away with having a beer afterwards if the Shrek co pilot can provide transport to and from :-)

Townsville not such a busy place so its pretty easy to get around, but it does seem to take forever to go to the Willows from anywhere.

At the time I was there Townsville was the premium club and course by far, but they are struggling financially for some time. Willows was new and was way too difficult and long for its condition, and Rowes Bay albeit interesting was just a poorer cousin of the other two, but I times have changed.

From what I hear, you probably wouldnt regret joining any one of these three courses, its probably going to come down to just the people you meet.

[BrisVegas]

I was a member at Townsville GC, but a long time ago, and only because i lived walking distance to the club. I would have joined whichever club was the closest to me at the time, as I didnt have a car, but its a huge advantage anyway to be close. You might even get away with having a beer afterwards if the Shrek co pilot can provide transport to and from :-)

I should be able to walk home from Rowes Bay if needed. Looks like they've got a pretty decent and active junior program for the kids too.

The other area we were looking at was Hermit Park, which would have been handy to townsville GC, but the seaside suburbs won out in the end.

[Steve]

I have been a member of Townsville and RBGC, I would say that RB was usually the more social and friendly of the two course.

[BrisVegas]

thanks Steve.

[BrisVegas]

I joined Rowes Bay yesterday. Will try and get out for a hit this weekend. The kids will start juniors next Saturday, once the club champs are finished.

[Steve]

Congrats, and enjoy

[Dazza]

Townsvegas just doesn't have the same ring to it. :p
Bit late I know, but IMO Rowes Bay is the pick of the three at present.
Went up to Mystic Sands a month or so back, greens were ordinary but everything else was in fair to good shape.

[Trento]

When I was 17 I was in Ayr for 9 mths, members included Karrie Webb, the Haller boys and Stephen Oliver was the club pro.
Good times up there

[BrisVegas]

Think I'll need to get a big hat, long sleeve golf shirt and one of those umbrella holders for my buggy to deal with the sun.

[Steve]

Yep

[Dazza]

Can't wait til the buildup! About the only time I get a chance to play anymore!

[BrisVegas]

Dazza. I had to Google what the buildup was. :-)

[markTHEblake]

Townsvegas just doesn't have the same ring to it. :p


Villegas

[markTHEblake]

Can't wait til the buildup! About the only time I get a chance to play anymore!

Whats it building up to, it doesnt even rain there.

[Dazza]

Dazza. I had to Google what the buildup was. :-) Oh you'll know about it soon enough!

[BrisVegas]

Played my first game at Rowes Bay today. Not bad at all! Which is lucky i suppose, as i'd already joined! A couple of funky short holes with risk/reward options and some solid long par 4's. There are 3 par 5's on the back 9 and one of them was a monster into the afternoon seabreeze. Greens were fast and pretty true.

Can't remember my last comp game, was probably 2-3 years ago. I hit a few domes and shanked two, but managed 11-18 for 29 points. They put me off 6 (5.6) FFS, so will be a while before i get back to that level. There were a few rays of hope in there and i birdied the long par 4, 10th! Big comp field of 200 ish too, fwiw.

[BrisVegas]

Whats it building up to, it doesnt even rain there.

I call BS. It's raining right now.

[Steve]

Is the 10th the RH dog leg, or the one along the fence line with oob left and the tree in the middle of it

[petethepilot]

Hey BV,
I have an overnight up there with work on 18 Oct.
Want to catch up for a beer and or a steak?

Pete

[BrisVegas]

Sounds good Pete. Are you still with Qantas? i'm not far from the airport. my mobile and email details are in the contact list thread, just remind me again closer to the date.

[BrisVegas]

Is the 10th the RH dog leg, or the one along the fence line with oob left and the tree in the middle of it

long straight par 4 with fence along the left and a tree in the middle of it. The first is the dogleg right with water both sides. Apparently they flipped the nines a couple of years ago. The 18th is a par 3 over water now.

[Steve]

Thought they might have, so it would be very tricky to get a hole in one on the 2nd now :p

[petethepilot]

Sounds good Pete. Are you still with Qantas? i'm not far from the airport. my mobile and email details are in the contact list thread, just remind me again closer to the date.

Dion,
Unless your mobile has changed, I have it.
Give u a call the week before!

Pete

Yep, still with Qantas!

[BrisVegas]

Coming up on a year now since I joined Rowes Bay. Still amazes me how good the course is. Excellent greens and fairways thanks to waste water treatment plant. I've only managed a dozen games but I still enjoy playing it when I can. Haven't managed to get to the other two courses in town yet. One day... my kids are enjoying the sat morning juniors clinics which is great.

[petethepilot]

Glad to hear that Dion.
My friend Craig tells me Townsville gc is hardly playable.
Not sure if the re-do has started yet.
Give u a ring on my next t'ville overnight.

[BrisVegas]

Glad to hear that Dion.
My friend Craig tells me Townsville gc is hardly playable.
Not sure if the re-do has started yet.
Give u a ring on my next t'ville overnight.

Yeah I've heard the same. Rowes Bay has picked up a lot of disgruntled ex-Townsville members. There are allegations of embezzlement in the rumour mill too...

[Courty]

Good to see you keeping in touch with the game, Dion.

I really enjoyed Rowes Bay last time I played there. The word about Townsville has made it this far north as well. Shame, because there is a bit to like about the course.

[BrisVegas]

I've played a couple of weekends in a row and started to hit some reasonable shots. The game sucks you back in!

[Steve]

I'm heading back to Townsville next year. So if TGC is so bad I might be of to RBCC. I've been a member of both in the past.

[MAZA68]

Think they are doing some bunker work at Townsville GC at the moment, if not very soon.