Aust PGA at Royal Pines

[Marto65]

Hello 59 ?

[backintheswing]

Will they be playing off the ladies tees?

[Captain Nemo]

Will they be playing off the ladies tees?
Arnt the back tees the Ladies tee's?

[shavey]

It will be off the tips (6600m) and the course will be tricked up. $1M in cash and in kind to secure this event with future changes to the course over the coming years to ensure it's competitiveness.

[shavey]

Ladies Masters plays just under 6000m.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/02/27/447865_gold-coast-sport.html

[sms316]

It just proves that the quality of course means zilch. Boring as bat shit.

[shavey]

It just proves that the quality of course means zilch. Boring as bat shit.

Granted yes but without the purse they don't get the players. I'm surprised even RACV could bankroll what the PGA were asking for which from all accounts is based on the glory days of Coolum.

[matty]

It just proves that the quality of course means zilch. Boring as bat shit.

+1

[spanner039]

+2 now that is boring

Great practice course for the champs though!

[virge666]

Yeah - they are going to have to trick that place up A LOT.

otherwise -25 is going to win it.

[PerryGroves]

It just proves that the quality of course means zilch. Boring as bat shit.

I would like to think pro golfers choose their schedule because of the quality of the courses they are able to play, however in the money roulette that is the end of year in Asia, they could care less.

Royal Pines seems ideally suited to compete against some resort in Thailand/China or wherever for the services of a punter ranked somewhere between 35 and 75 in the world.

[SundayHack]

If a Steven Jeffress can shoot a 62 around there in a pro-am -40 ain't out of the question for the winning total. Would be like
playing Tiger Woods on the playstation.

[Looney]

Royal pines have said they will spend $5m on the course over the next few years to toughen it up. I suggest they build a lot of fairway bunkering or dig more ponds maybe do both or it will be a joke.

[Captain Nemo]

Do we really care what the winning score is ?
Don't people want to see birdies and eagles?
At the end of the day they still have to get the ball in the hole in as fewer shots as they can.
Its just another tourney and the guy with the lowest score wins, even par or -24, whatever.....
Id like to hear Minor Threats or Pete Shaws opinion on the matter considering they are at or have been that level....

[PeteyD]

Par is just an arbitrary number after all.

[virge666]

Do we really care what the winning score is ?
Id like to hear Minor Threats or Pete Shaws opinion on the matter considering they are at or have been that level....

There has to be both.

Otherwise the game becomes a putting comp and ball strikers get overpowered. Coolum is such a good course as it has a mixture of both - and you need that 2nd shot setup to really go low.

[AndyP]

It keeps the appeal of on course accommodation for the players, at least.

[Captain Nemo]

I understand Virge, but it is the Gold Coast after all.
Weve seen in the past with the Ladies Tourny there, weather can and probably will be a major factor....?

[virge666]

I understand Virge, but it is the Gold Coast after all.
Weve seen in the past with the Ladies Tourny there, weather can and probably will be a major factor....?

Yeah - but the girls dont hit it 300... they sort of get around 240 - ish. The boys will turn it into a pitch and putt, even with 3 woods off the tee.

I thought Palm Meadows would have had a shot at it.

much better course too.

[PeteyD]

No money to put up though.

[Looney]

I think Palm Meadows would need a lot of spending done, great course but would need many month of improvement to be ready for a major event like the PGA.

[ddasey]

Wayne GRADY wants the job......

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/golf/australian-pga-shifts-to-royal-pines-on-the-gold-coast/story-fndedw3b-1226586954442

[Monsta]

Does a 59 not count if its on an easy course?? Spose its like getting a hole in one, but not in a comp :mrgreen:

[ddasey]

So does R Chamberlain and every other arkie in the country.
I applied for a small remodel job in Sydney recently and 15 applied...now on the short list of six..six in a shortlist..tough gig.

Best of luck with it Dicky, fingers crossed hey.

As far as Royal Pines, start a poll on who gets the work. I'll vote for you. :mrgreen:

[Webster]

There is of course a way to balance both but not many arkies have been displaying this trait in recent years.

Which ones have been doing this well 69'er?

[Webster]

Dickie, they will get the architect they deserve. They wont go with anyone other than Clayts though.

[spanner039]

Clayton and co would be doing any work - they are the RACV's architects of choice.

They have some very high powerful contacts within RACV, that dosn't take away from the fact they would do a great job.

[spanner039]

Dickie, they will get the architect they deserve. They wont go with anyone other than Clayts though.

I really should start reading all the posts

[BrettM]

Does anyone know if RACV are unhappy with the 9 holes Marsh did? If they bring someone else in then they would most likely revisit those holes to achieve some consistency across the 27.

[spanner039]

Does anyone know if RACV are unhappy with the 9 holes Marsh did? If they bring someone else in then they would most likely revisit those holes to achieve some consistency across the 27.

I wouldn't be surprised if Clayton does a composite. The RA wouldn't know if it's good or not, nor would they care if it's consistent or not.

They will just do what Clayton suggests, I would hope its not to a tight budget. Healesville was very tight budget wise.

[markTHEblake]

It wouldnt be hard to stretch out a few tees and grow a bit of rough, if they want to toughen it up a bit.

[markTHEblake]

Isnt 6600 long enough these days?

[Lagerlover]

It wouldnt be hard to stretch out a few tees and grow a bit of rough, if they want to toughen it up a bit. So Blakey would this mean they'll fill in some holes on the 19th green?

[Dotty]

It wouldn't take long to get 18 fibreglass dinosaurs placed strategically around the course.

Problem solved.

[markTHEblake]

So Blakey would this mean they'll fill in some holes on the 19th green? Thinking about it, first and 10th are probably the only two holes they can stretch out, and they could easily add 50m I guess. I do believe they have already placed a commemorative plaque on that 19th hole. It's crayon written on an adult wipe held in place with a tee.

[popper81]

In current weather patterns, this event will be rained out ;)

[markTHEblake]

Us open style 6" rough and 20m wide fairways?

[markTHEblake]

I was thinking more about the quick fix for the first one. I can't imagine any green changes would be completed in time.

So what would you suggest for this year? Apart from Lagerlover yelling abuse from the ropes

[spanner039]

Well here is one for the books Clayton out, Karrie Webb in!

Early days and they have been inundated by everyone but Webb is now top of the heap.

I didn't think her name was attached to a designer or even had a design team anymore.

[sms316]

Go Karrie!

[spanner039]

No shit! Floored me as well and there is a story, just can't say..........

Early days.

[spanner039]

Don't give up hope on this one 69.

But if Clayton hasn't got it and they are contemplating Webb anything can happen

Watch the RA stuff this one. As a side note I bet they we're wishing they came up with the dinosaur idea first.

[Minor_Threat]

Not a fan if the PGA at Royal Pines at all. Noone wants to see people shoot -25. It just caters to the 'Bombers' out there. Its just like the Qld PGA at Emerald Lakes, ridiculous scoring goes on there.

When I was playing RP was always used as a pre-qual event and you knew you needed at least -5 to have any chance. If the putter was slightly off you were gone.

It should be at RQ again.

[virge666]

It should be at RQ again.

Fkn THIS !!!!

[sms316]

As good of a track that RQ is, I have my doubts about whether it could ever be a venue again. A lot of parking issues around there due to housing developments nearby.

The only alternative that I can think of is shuttle buses from Doomben or Eagle Farm racecourses. I think The Lakes might have similar practice in place when they host.

[Captain Nemo]

Yep, the Lakes use nearby schools etc for parking.
It's a hassle, but it works.
Train station not to far away and they run shuttle buses.

[BrettM]

I read unfortunately that 69er has missed out on the redesign gig, bad luck mate.

Shortlist now at 5 architects.

[BrettM]

Does anyone know if RACV are unhappy with the 9 holes Marsh did? If they bring someone else in then they would most likely revisit those holes to achieve some consistency across the 27.

And Graham Marsh gets the gig. Going to move a lot of soil if they want consistency across the 27 when you see the 9 originally built.

His preferred construction contractor is already underway at Horton Park so provides some good synergies with heavy equipment already up here.

[spanner039]

At least I had Webb for the place, was told Clayton had no chance.

Marsh will do a good job.

[BrettM]

I'm getting older Richard so don't bother reading between the lines on things anymore.

Suffice to say, I have a preferred construction contractor who does work for us and have done so last summer. I will use them again this summer. They make the job easier.