Cooroy GC Par 70 Scratch 67(white) Slope 113 5184m
Starting to head further south now with a stop-over at Noosa and was intending to play Tewantin Noosa but on booking a round the pro shop advised "greens were cored yesterday and are shit", so wasn't keen to fork out $55 to play on crap greens, so it was off to Cooroy.
Cooroy is a compact 18 hole course built on a sloping site, tree lined with a number of water hazards and lots of elevation changes throughout the course. Originally it was a nine hole course converted into an eighteen hole layout so has an unusual layout where you play 9 holes out away from the clubhouse (10th is in the middle of the course) and then the second nine works its way back to the clubhouse.
The fairways were getting firm but played ok, the greens were in good condition but looked quicker than they were. Sped up they would present some challenging putts.
The front nine has no Par 5's and three Par 3's and several Par 4's that are short but tight and don't always require a driver off the tee. The back nine adds a bit more length with four Par 5's but also three Par 3's. Knowing the slopes and where to hit (played with some locals) helps as a few hazards are hidden.
Best holes around the course I thought were the 7th Par 3 at 155m uphill to a hidden green surface which has a big slope from front to back, walking off with a two putt is good achievement. A lot of the Par 4's on the front are risk reward where hitting driver to the right spot can leave an easy pitch into the green, however off line can bring some pain.
The 11th is a Par 5 at 474m, drive to an uphill fairway, leaves a semi blind shot to a green sitting at the bottom of the hill with water front and OB back and right. Can be hit in two but again a risk reward hole.
Three good finishing holes, 16th Par 5 449m, trees left and right with a water hazard all down the left up to and around the back of the green, again reachable but trouble if you stray.
17th is a Par 4 at 322m, layup to 160m as a large water hazard crosses the fairway and all down the left side. And lastly the 18th a Par 5 at 454m, hitting to a wide fairway leaves an uphill second - trees right and OB left to a blind two tier green which from front to would be 20m.
Cooroy was an interesting layout where the variety in the holes made up for the short nature of the course, some local knowledge will help if you are playing it.
Green Fee $38