Golf Courses up North

[Geordie-Lee]

Does anyone know of any decent tracks up near the top end that i should be playing? At Broome atm and leaving today, gonna give Derby Golf Club a shot on the way up to Darwin. Whats the best courses to play in the Darwin area that arn't to expensive?
Heading to Cairns after Darwin, then down the East Coast.

Cheers Lee

[popper81]

Lee, ditch golf and go fishing.... :)


I am sure there will be a few lads that will be able to help with your question in regards to which courses to play. Courty always recommends Royal Gordonvale in FNQ.

Apparently the other courses are all full of NAGA's, tall freaks, silverback Apes, sandbaggers & St George supporters. Best to stay well clear.

[markTHEblake]

There is not enough golf courses in Darwin to consider options!

Darwin Gc is the better golf course (Thomson/wolveridge design). Palmerston GC is 2nd, price would be about the same for both.

Then there is a couple of 9 Holers, RAAF base and then last the public next to casino which is ok for a giggle but after Derby you might appreciate the grass.

[AndyP]

Humpty Doo is a little bit south of Darwin but it was good fun. The same for Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park. Both are 9 holers.

Neither of the courses in Katherine are great, and I doubt that RAAF Tindal is still open anyway. Still, they are also only 9 holes, so it shouldn't take you long to play.

[Geordie-Lee]

Cheers for the replies, playing Derby tomorrow morning, will check out other golf courses. What about golf courses over Cairns way?
Tried the fishing, just as bad at fishing as i am at golf. Gonna take some pictures so will try and get them on here soon.

[Courty]

There's a few courses within an hour of Cairns, listed here in order of preference (mine):

Paradise Palms (Top 100)
Sea Temple (Top 100)
Cairns GC
Mareeba GC
Atherton GC
Mossman GC
Half Moon Bay GC
Millaa Millaa GC
Mirage Port Douglas CC
...
...
...
Gordonvale GC

[Geordie-Lee]

Cheers for that Courty, al have another look at this once am closer to Cairns. Should be up in Darwin withinn the next week so hoping to fit another round in. Was looking forward to having a hit at Derby, was at the first tee for about 7am, payed my $10 for 9holes and found out they were coring the greens!!! Anyways, popped a drive high and right off the first tee and that just set me up for the day. Played shocking, havn't played in a while and was so disheartened with the whole round. I don't play enough at the minute with travelling so can't expect too much.
Anyone got any advice on whats the best attitude to go out on the course with?

[AndyP]

Don't have any expectations about the score and just appreciate the courses that you are playing.

[Geordie-Lee]

Short n sweet! sounds good to me. Would have been hard at Derby though when some of the greens looked like bunkers!

[AndyP]

You can just laugh it off as an experience.

I played a course called Pussy Cat Flats near Pine Creek that had long grass on the greens, so I didn't use the putter the whole round. It was disappointing, but I'm glad I played there.

[Geordie-Lee]

Cheers for the advice Andy, hopefully playing Darwin GC in the next week so will try the new mindset out. Al let you know if it works!

[markTHEblake]

So you haven't played sand greens yet? That is an experience.

[Geordie-Lee]

Played the nullabor links, first two holes were at Ceduna and they were my first 2 sand greens. Didn't know how to play them and 4 putted the first hole, think thats the first and last sand greens for me!

[jiminy]

Hi GL...I am a member at Darwin GC and your visiting at the right time....Darwin GC is the best of a limited choice up here. Nice Thomson design with lots of tricky run off areas. Not an overly long course but you have to put the ball in the right spots on fairways and definitely greens. The weather has been dry up here so plenty of run in the course atm. Hope you get to enjoy some NT hospitality while your up here

[Geordie-Lee]

Gonna play Palmerston GC first then up to Darwin GC, should be playing both of them within the next few days. Really looking forward to both of them, just hope the weather isn't too hot! Is it best to play very early in the morning? and does it get busy in the morning?

[AndyP]

I tended to play in the late afternoon/evening when I could.

[Geordie-Lee]

You reckon that it'll be cooler in the afternoon ? I'm at Pussy cat flats at the minute Andy, staying here for one night, you can't even make out the course the grass is that long!

[3Puttpete]

Douglas hot springs and butterfly gorge are worth the trip if you've got time GL

[Geordie-Lee]

Yea will defo have a look at them. Can you get to butterfly gorge in a 2wd or is it just 4wd ?

[AndyP]

You reckon that it'll be cooler in the afternoon ? I'm at Pussy cat flats at the minute Andy, staying here for one night, you can't even make out the course the grass is that long!That or very early in the morning, from memory. Either way, it's pretty hard to avoid the heat.
I played late in the day, because I could squeeze 9 holes in after working.
Maybe I got lucky with the grass at Pussy Cat Flats.

Have a read of this thread, where I posted about my trips and golf up there:
http://www.ozgolf.net/showthread.php/88-AndyP-Leyland/page4

[3Puttpete]

It was a long time ago and it was 4wd back then.

[Geordie-Lee]

Thats it sorted, drive to Palmerston tomorrow morning and tee off the following morning!
Your right about it being hard to avoid the heat! it's after 10 here and the two fans in the van arn't enough.
Cheers for giving me the link for the thread, itching too play now.

Cheers Pete, think it's mostly 4WD up that way :( thinking about skipping out Kakadu national park aswell since we only have a 2WD.

[markTHEblake]

I lived there for 8 years and I can't remember when is the best time of the day. I always played afternoons anyway. As its May the weather is a hellava lot better than November.

[Geordie-Lee]

Gonna play tomorrow morning, bloke in the pro shop said to tee off at about 6.45am. Still hot here in May for me, used to be a sun worshipper until i hit the NT!
Anyone fancies a knock about tomorrow at Palmerston al be there bright n early.

[markTHEblake]

Here is some quick tips.
10th. Par 4 Dont hit it too far, you will go through the sharp dog leg left. Dont hit it too short, as you wont reach the corner.
13th. Par 5 Just hit over the trees on the corner, the internal OOB hardly comes into play.
17th. Par 4 Just aim straight at the green over the trees, and putt for eagle. A bit of a slice will clean up the golfers on 9th tee though.

P.s. I accept no responsibility if the trees have grown in the last 20 years.

[Geordie-Lee]

Cheers Mark
First hole looks a straight hole. You getting mixed up with a different hole?
Al let you know if the trees have grown, hopefully i wont have to go anywhere near them though!

[markTHEblake]

It was only 9 holes when i was there, so they must have made the original 9 the back. Fixed it!

[Geordie-Lee]

Good recovery ;)

[Geordie-Lee]

Played Palmerston, was a decent course just a shame i couldn't play the full 18. Played the front 9 and once i got on the back 9 there were no flags on any greens, went back to the clubhouse and the bloke said he only found out 5mins ago that the back 9 wasnt open today! Derby greens were getting cored when i went for a round there and now Palmerston, think am gonna wait until the East side for my next round. Way too HOT aswell!!!

Rant Over :D

[AndyP]

They only had pipes in the holes for that nine when I played instead of flags (since they probably get stolen).


I played Palmerston again yesterday.

This time mostly on the nine holes that has plenty of water. I thought the quality of that half was worse. I think it's because it's well away from the clubhouse. They didn't even have flags in the pins, just pipes (I'll assume the flags go up for comps), the fairways grass was a bit long and some of the bunkers had weeds. It was probably the tougher nine though. That said, it was good value for $10.

[Geordie-Lee]

It's a fair walk to the 1st tee aswell. Looked as if someone had been dancing in the bunkers! Did enjoy the layout though, some good holes. Bogeyed the 1st, then had 3 shocker holes (losing balls), birdied the 5th, then went par par, shocker on 8th then bogeyed the 9th. Had a much better attitude though, not going to beat myself up over playing bad :D

[Chapzzzz]

You're playing Darwin GC on Thursday then?

You'll most likely have to play in the morning as there's the comp on in the afternoon.
Friday will also have to be an early start as there's a corporate day in the afternoon.

Drink plenty of water.
The course isn't in too bad a condition at the moment.
The greens are good at the moment and it's certainly 100% better than Palmerston.

Cheers
Chapzzzz

[Geordie-Lee]

Naaa thats it for golf up here for me chapzzzz, can't handle the heat! How do you cope playing in the heat??? think a buggy would of been a good idea!
Next course al be playing will be over Cairns area.

[Chapzzzz]

Heat ???
This is the best time of the year...

Heat & Humidity are the killer.
That's Wet Season golf and we've just started our dry season.

[markTHEblake]

The heat isnt a problem if you drink water while you are playing and dress properly, and May is fantastic weather like Chappzzz said. Good luck if you think Cairns is gunna be any different!

[Courty]

To play in the heat, pre-hydrate by drinking a litre of water before the round. You're too late if wait any longer than that.

[Geordie-Lee]

It's hard when you usually play in the wind, rain and snow. Not used to the heat.
Just have to put up with it in Cairns then.
Al give that a try before the next round Courty.
Cheers for the advice everyone.

[markTHEblake]

How do you think I felt when I moved from Darwin to NSW in July during a cold snap. Didnt even own a blanket!

[Geordie-Lee]

Haha must have been hard. Am looking forward to it being a bit cooler down the East Coast, once we get there!

[rowey]

It's hard when you usually play in the wind, rain and snow. Not used to the heat.
Just have to put up with it in Cairns then.
Al give that a try before the next round Courty.
Cheers for the advice everyone.

I hope you have packed your wet weather gear, the weather in Cairns area has been rubbish lately

[Geordie-Lee]

How bad is rubbish rowey ? got all my waterproofs packed away, didn't think i would need them again!

[Chapzzzz]

It works in reverse too.

Wazandnick & Titleist will both confirm I don't handle the cold too well.
After last weekend I do now own a really nice FJ Merino Wool Lined Pullover.
Bloody useless up here though and it's the only trendy warm thing I own.

[Geordie-Lee]

Where was it cold last weekend chapzzzz? You played golf in the UK before?
Went back home at xmas for 5weeks, a was all wrapped up in plenty of layers and my mates were playing in thin jumpers!
Thats what a year over here did to me haha

[rowey]

How bad is rubbish rowey ? got all my waterproofs packed away, didn't think i would need them again!

Has been overcast, wet, drizling, raining, windy & cold the last week in the Cairns area. You can get lucky & just have a light shower come through or it could piss down...........

[Chapzzzz]

On the Murray around the Yarrawonga area.

And yes there were plenty of locals walking around in shorts & polos.

[Geordie-Lee]

Right up my street that Rowey, just like playing back home. Would love to play on a cool day over here though!
Would probably be a perfect temperature for me Chapzzzz.