Tripping Australia

[MAZA68]

Enjoying the journey with you and dreaming of better days when I was single and could do something like this.

Thanks, just need to be children free!

[MAZA68]

oh. it was about a 360m par 4 before , the narrowest part of the fairway was 200m so was a tough tee shot for a fader coming out of that chute.I hate that log, I hate it almost as much as the 7th. Hardest 80m par 4 I have ever played.

Yea not long but tight and tough second.Par 3* mate had a hole in one there last week.

[MAZA68]

Continuing the move south (not for the weather!), might have to actually buy some long pants to play golf in!
Got a start in the local comp at Tuncurry, playing with three guys from Newcastle, two of them hadn't played the course like myself, so a learning curve for us.
Tuncurry is set in coastal bushland to the north of the town, with the course cut through the thick bushland where a lot of the fairways are set apart from one another. Its actual quite hard to work out which direction you are going in sometimes.
Having had bushfires in the area a lot of the tall bush around the course had been burnt out but is now coming back with thick low scrub/bushes.
The opening holes pretty much set the tone for the course with slight doglegs across undulating fairways and thick bush lining the fairways. If your lucky enough to find you ball in the bushes, its generally not going to be an easy out. The course was playing long after recent rain had softened the sand based fairways. A few bare patches on the fairways but placing was available. The greens were superb, excellent surfaces to putt on and soft to grab the good shot. Chipping was tricky as they tended to run a lot more than thought. Good bunkering and swales around the greens to grab the stray shots.
Played off the forward (white) tees but the course can be stretched back to the Black tees. Interestingly off the back tees several of the fairways bunkers (around 200-240m off the whites) would not be reachable off the blacks.

Highlight Holes

The first three holes are Par 4's, slight doglegs, around the 330m -315m mark but all play different. The key to all of the holes is getting a drive in the right part of the fairway that then gives a reasonable straight forward shot into the green. All the fairways are lined by bush so anything wayward will be in trouble. The first green is fairly flat and the second and third provide a bit more slope to deal with.
The Par 5 5th hole is deceptive with bunkers and the bush-line from the tee appearing to be in play but in fact there is plenty of room. The second shot can bring the fairway bunkers short of the green into play, a shot left side of the fairway is the best option for a short pitch into a green with subtle slopes. The other Par 5 on the front the 8th, has a lot tighter driving line and a big fairway bunker in play on approach to the green. The green has a good slope from back to front and a deep bunker on the left.
The 9th a Par 3 at 130m, has a big deep bunker front left and deep swales in front and will sit in front of the new clubhouse being built.
Two good Par 5's on the back, the 11th and 15th both shape from right to left, with bush all down the left and bunkers in play off the tee. The second on the 11th plays slightly uphill, with the two tier green protected by a large bunker front right. The approach to the 15th, once at the corner of the dogleg is straight but anything pushed right will bring the bush into play. The green has a gentle slope from back to front.
The 17th is rated 1 and at 380m is a strong Par 4, requiring a tee shot to the corner of the dogleg. Trees hang out on the right if the corner is cut to fine. The long second plays to a slight raised green, with thick bush all up the right and several large trees on the left to catch the offline shot.
Lastly the 18th at 326m Par 4 with a slight dogleg. Has a tight driving line, with trees hanging out on the left and anything too straight will find bush at 200m or less. The green has a steep slope from back to front, bunkers left and rear plus OB rear.

Overall an enjoyable course to play, where if you stray off the fairways you will find big trouble, or in fact probably need to reload. The greens were in super condition. In windy conditions and stretched to the back tees, the course would be a very tough challenge.

Tuncurry GC

Par 72 Scratch 72 Slope 116 5703m -White Tees

Green Fee $45 (Comp)

[markTHEblake]

the photos are the 4th and the 8th right? I thought the 8th was a cool par 5. very short but a difficult green for the 2nd shot as its angled sideways for a better approach from short left.

[WBennett]

Didn't Tuncurry just host the Mid Am?

[MAZA68]

the photos are the 4th and the 8th right? I thought the 8th was a cool par 5. very short but a difficult green for the 2nd shot as its angled sideways for a better approach from short left.

8th the Par 5 yes and the 16th Par 3.

[MAZA68]

Didn't Tuncurry just host the Mid Am?

Not sure, one of the blokes in the group did say they are going to have the womens NSW open there, not sure when.

[markTHEblake]

Thanks Maza, i cant even remember the 16th

Thats one of the things about Tuncurry, quite a few of the holes are not memorable especially the straight holes that run side by side.

To be honest I preferred playing at Forster.

[MAZA68]

Next up was a round at the Nelson Bay Golf Course, a 27 Hole layout that sits between the township and the national park.
I played the Christmas Bush layout, that is Holes 10-18 and 19-27, with a couple of locals in the comp.
The 18 hole layout is a mix a flat holes and then a few with some elevation changes. The course was looking very good with nice lush fairways, due to the recent rain. The greens were soft as well and slow to putt and chip on.
The course itself is heavily tree lined and the outer edge of the course sits next to national park, which is deemed a hazard (not OB) and generally you will be lucky to find your ball if you go in that part. Good bunkering around the course, with some greens protected along with fairway bunkers on a few holes as well - water comes in on a couple of holes as well.
The front nine starts out quite strong, with a Par 4 @ 374m that plays to a rise with fairway bunkers left and right and then a slight down hill shot to the green. The second a Par 3 @ 165m and then the 3rd a Par 5 489m has a fairway that sweeps around from right to left. If your second gets past the corner, then the second shot is uphill to a blind green surface. Trees line the fairway all the way and hang out if the bend is taken too tight.
The 4th a Par 4 @ 358m has a sharp dog-leg left to right playing down hill with bunkers and water at the top corner of the dogleg. A brave shot is over the corner, but too long and straight will find water.
5th a short Par 3 @ 122m, water short left to a green with a steep drop off if you go to long.
6th a short Par 4 293m down a narrow fairway, hazard left and trees right, and the 7th, 365m Par 4, dogleg left, where a big hitter can carry the corner, also plays slightly down hill.
8th a Par 4 @ 368m plays long as it is slightly up hill to a two tier green.
9th Par 5 at 440m, plays over a rise, trees right and left. Green protected by bunkers in the front and if very wide water right, to a deep green.
The 19th (10th) starts with the tee block right in front of the club house, a Par 4 @ 285m to a narrow uphill fairway that doglegs left to right. Depending on what is played off the tee, the second can be a long or short shot to a green that sits well above the fairway and slopes back to front. A bunker lurks short right and a steep slope in front of the green will spit anything back.
20th a Par 3 @ 154m has a steep drop to the green below, a bunker front left and trees right and left. 21st short Par 4 @ 302m, blind tee shot over a ridge.
22nd is a long Par 5 @ 535m, off the tee, bunkers loom down the left and the hazard is all down the right side to the green. The fairway narrows on the second towards the green, which has a gentle slope from back to front.
23rd another short dogleg Par 4 @ 316m, again big hitters can take it over the corner, to a flat green.
24th @ 321m Par 4, plays long with an uphill tee shot and a second to the green as well.
25th a down hill Par 3 @ 144m, bunker short left and drop-off rear for anything long.
26th Par 4 @ 318m plays long as well with a tee shot to an uphill fairway that turns left to right. The green is protected by bunkers in the front, right and left.
The 27th is a Par 5 @ 438m, plays slightly up hill off the tee. The second plays down hill and with firmer conditions reaching the green is possible. Green has water right and slopes from back to front.

Overall a nice course to play, in good condition. Had a good mix of holes, quite a few doglegs but once you know the layout some play straight.

Nelson Bay Par 72 Scratch 71 Slope 129 5787m
Green Fee $40 (in comp)

[AndyP]

Many roos around? When I played there over 10 years ago, it was felt that there were too many and they were ruining the course. They wanted to cull, but weren't allowed.

[MAZA68]

Many roos around? When I played there over 10 years ago, it was felt that there were too many and they were ruining the course. They wanted to cull, but weren't allowed.

Only saw a couple. There have been more on other courses. The course was busy, so maybe they come out later in the day

[MAZA68]

Short trip into the Hunter, where I managed a round at the Hunter Valley Golf and Country Club. The course is built around a resort with the two nines playing in different directions, with the 9th and 18th holes running alongside each other to finish up with a joined green in front of the resort.
The course was in pretty good condition, the odd damp patch in the fairways but the bunkers had been washed out and were unplayable. The greens were very receptive, with wedge shots gripping and spinning back. Although the greens were a little on the slow side, they putted very true.
The course is pretty flat, protected by tree lined fairways, several waterways and good fairway bunkering, providing plenty of challenge.
The course starts are fairly gently with a couple of short Par 4's and a short Par 3. The course then gets some teeth where the next holes will get your attention - Par 3 167m with a water carry to the green, Par 4 400m, pond in front of the tee to a fairway that turns right to left with OB left and trees right.
The next two Par 4's require water carries, the 6th off the tee and the 7th for your second. The 7th at 392m, has bunkers in the landing area and then turns left for the water carry into the green. The next hole, a Par 3 at 207m, needs a good straight shot to avoid the big bunker on the left. The only Par 5 on the front, the 9th @ 515m has a waterway crossing the fairway around the landing area, that also runs up the left of the fairway to the green.
The back nine has a stronger selection of holes with three Par 5's, two long Par 3's and some tight Par 4's. The 10th a Par 3 @ 176m, has water all down the right-side to the green. The 11th is a short Par 4 @ 262m, that turns left to right and has six small bunkers up the left side of the fairway. A decent drive could carry the trees and hazard to reach the green, although OB is on the right as well.
A good straight drive on the 12th - Par 4 328m, will avoid OB right and trees left. The green has big drops right and rear.
The 14th is a long Par 5 @ 502m, a decent drive up the right side avoids the pond down the left and gets a kick around from the tilt on the fairway. Trees line the fairway right and left.
The 15th a Par 4 @ 330m has water that sneaks in on the left side of the fairway. The vineyards and foothills make for a pleasant background. The Green is slightly elevated, with drops off to the right and rear.
To finish off, the 17th a Par 3 @ 159m, has a deep bunker front left and small grass bunkers right side of the green. Left and rear of the green have steep drop offs. The 18th has a tight drive area off the tee, but then opens up in the landing area. The hole curves around left to right with the green tucked around the corner behind a stand of trees. OB and bunkers sit on the left side of the fairway.

Hunter was a challenging course, in good condition (except the bunkers) that had a good mix of holes to keep you interested.

Hunter Valley GCC

Par 72 Slope 127 Scratch 73 5774m
Green Fee $45

[Hatchman]

Good game of pinball could be had once you get in those Pine trees.

[MAZA68]

Good game of pinball could be had once you get in those Pine trees.

Yea, certainly the potential for that!

[MAZA68]

First time on a links course for awhile when I took on the Belmont course. Belmont is situated just south of Newcastle, right on the beach front with several holes that give a fantastic view of the coastline. Most of the course is quite open, with a few holes on the front nine playing through some bushland. Luckily on the day I played the wind wasn't up too much, but it was still a bit fresh. The course was in reasonable condition, the fairways had recently been airated so placing was available. They were also on the soft side due to the recent rain. The fairways in most part are generous, but stray off the fairways and all sorts come into play from sandy ground to bush and ice plants. The greens were disappointing. They were very variable in pace, bumpy on some and varied in firmness. Quite a few bunkers around the course and water in play on a few holes as well, but the biggest test will always be the wind.

Hole Review:
The first few holes are fairly flat with water, hazards and OB on the right side of all the fairways on Holes 1 - 6. The 1st plays into the SE breeze and at 380m is a tough starter. The 7th plays straight toward the beach and at 333m plays longer into the wind to a raised green. The 8th hits to a blind landing area with the sandhills down the right side, the green slopes from back to front. Both these holes have more of the links humps and hollows. The 9th, a Par 5 at 482m requires a water carry off the tee to a wide fairway. The holes curves around the wetlands, towards the green. Good size green, with OB at the rear and a few humps and hollows around the green.
The second nine has more of a links feel than the front nine, with several holes playing towards the sea or running alongside the ocean/sandhills. The 10th a Par 5 at 430m doglegs up hill to the green with bushes on the corner of the dogleg. A steep front into the green will throw back anything short. Big drop off rear and to the sides of the green, with the green surface blind form the fairway.
The 11th and 12th are Par 4's. The 11th plays downhill and curves right to left at 352m bushes down the left and right of the fairway. The 12th is 394m and plays slightly uphill back towards the ocean and into the SE breeze. The hole turns right to left with a water hazard up the left side of the fairway. The 13th a Par 3 at 166m, plays towards the ocean with a big hump in front and steep drop offs around the green. The next holes, 14 and 15 play alongside the ocean with great views up and down the coastline. The 14th 401m Par 4 needs a carry over the sand dunes/bush to a fairway that kicks the ball right, all this with the wind coming blowing from left to right. The 15th is one of the new holes, Par 5 433m, again needs a tee shot over the sandhills, with wind pushing across the fairway. Fairway bunkers sit on the right side of the fairway. The fairway is full of humps and hallows, so the lie for the next shot can be challenging. The Green has a steep front and and bush rear for anything too long. The 16th a short Par 3 at 110m hits to a green with steep drop offs on all sides. With the wind at your back its a tricky shot. The green was very firm and extremely hard to hold, even with a chip shot.
The 17th and 18th are Par 4's, 17th has water left for the big hitters, and up toward the green as well. The 18th at 382m doglegs around to right to a large green with OB rear.

As the first links course I have played for a while it was a interesting challenge. It was a pity the greens were so inconsistent, as it made it hard to enjoy.

Belmont GC Par 72 Scratch 72 Slope 125 5997m
Green Fee $40

[Hatchman]

That looks great.

[wazamac]

Course design thing. Why do majority of holes that run along coastlines, cliffs, beaches, with the water on the left?

[3Puttpete]

Course design thing. Why do majority of holes that run along coastlines, cliffs, beaches, with the water on the left?

90% of golfers are right handed and most of those hit a slice?

[Hatchman]

90% of golfers are right handed and most of those hit a slice?

I prefer the term Power Fade.

[jimandr]

Course design thing. Why do majority of holes that run along coastlines, cliffs, beaches, with the water on the left?

Maza is clearly the best person to answer this using his experiences in this thread.

But, delving into my memory bank, in NSW there might be two factors (apart from the slice factor as mentioned by 3pp). Generally, the most common breeze is a northeaster in the warmer months, so there is greater challenge playing the beach holes into the wind. And I guess you can make them a bit shorter and have more of them into the wind.

On a similar theme, if the clubhouse is at the northern end of the property, you want the players to play the most spectacular holes toward the end of their round. So you go south to start, and north along the beach to finish.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of too many courses with genuine beach frontage. Belmont, Wollongong, Gerringong, Narooma, Magenta and the Sydney seaside courses are the ones that spring to mind.

[3Puttpete]

I prefer the term Power Fade.

You’d need power for that

[MAZA68]

That looks great.

The best part of the course for the true links feel.

[MAZA68]

Maza is clearly the best person to answer this using his experiences in this thread.

But, delving into my memory bank, in NSW there might be two factors (apart from the slice factor as mentioned by 3pp). Generally, the most common breeze is a northeaster in the warmer months, so there is greater challenge playing the beach holes into the wind. And I guess you can make them a bit shorter and have more of them into the wind.

On a similar theme, if the clubhouse is at the northern end of the property, you want the players to play the most spectacular holes toward the end of their round. So you go south to start, and north along the beach to finish.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of too many courses with genuine beach frontage. Belmont, Wollongong, Gerringong, Narooma, Magenta and the Sydney seaside courses are the ones that spring to mind.

At Belmont the OB and the hazard areas for a slicer will be more of an issue than the ocean/sandhills. With the predominate SE or NE breezes, the most exposed ocean holes at Belmont push your slice across the fairway away from the ocean into bunkers and bush, as they play to the south.
From memory, up north the easterly or SE are the toughest winds to play in.

[wazamac]

Maza is clearly the best person to answer this using his experiences in this thread.

But, delving into my memory bank, in NSW there might be two factors (apart from the slice factor as mentioned by 3pp). Generally, the most common breeze is a northeaster in the warmer months, so there is greater challenge playing the beach holes into the wind. And I guess you can make them a bit shorter and have more of them into the wind.

On a similar theme, if the clubhouse is at the northern end of the property, you want the players to play the most spectacular holes toward the end of their round. So you go south to start, and north along the beach to finish.

To be honest I'm struggling to think of too many courses with genuine beach frontage. Belmont, Wollongong, Gerringong, Narooma, Magenta and the Sydney seaside courses are the ones that spring to mind.

Was talking more in general around the world. Not just Australia.

[MAZA68]

Course design thing. Why do majority of holes that run along coastlines, cliffs, beaches, with the water on the left?

Wind direction would influence the design possibly.