The Moonah Course at The National Golf Club, Australia   

3rd hole, 430 yards; The fairway has a spine running at a 45 degree angle and separates the fairway into two distinct bowls. The green is completely visible from the left hand bowl and is tucked into its own natural amphitheatre. Given the hole's length, the green was left bunkerless and the hillside to the left will channel the ball onto the green. In fact, the best way for the golfer to approach the back left shelf on this green (one of the best hole locations on the course) is to use this tightly mown hillside to his advantage. The closely mown banks around some the greens provide plenty of short game variety.

The ideal tee shot on the third carries the spine in the fairway...

4^th hole, 440 yards; Even though the hole is over a tumbling landscape, there is a preferred position off the tee, namely the far right hand side of the fairway which (1) offers a flat lie while (2) opening up the length of the green, which is tightly bunkered on its left side.

The ideal tee shot is over the dead tree on the right side of the fairway

5^th hole, 165 yards; It took real vision to find this hole as it lies along the ridge of a sand dune. The green site is the high point on the outward nine so don't look for any favors from the wind. The green is canted so as to receive the controlled lower tee ball.

9^th hole, 370 yards; The fairway is quite broad (51 yards across) for a hole of this modest length but once again the thinking golfer will seek the right hand side of the fairway as it is more level and opens up the length of the green. Given the windy playing conditions, the challenge will be in controlling his ball flight with his remaining short iron approach to the well defended green.

The flatter right side of the fairway is ideal, as it opens up the ninth green.

10^th hole, 400 yards; This hole will appeal to many golfers in part because of its charm and in part because of its lack of difficulty. The 40 year old windmill was luckily preserved during construction - the crew was erroneously making plans to tear it down until the architect stopped them. The sloping green gives this hole its real value and a back right hole location can only best be accessed by once again using the tightly mown areas around the green to funnel the ball back onto the green.

The charming 10th complete with windmill.

11^th hole, 350 yards; Tucked in the far south east corner of the property, this hole is the Bob Harrison's favorite, in part because it occupies the most spectacular spot on the course. Mountainous 200 foot dunes frame beyond the hole and the drive is a thriller and it must slot between two sand dunes. Once successfully accomplished, the approach is to an imaginative punchbowl green complex.

The punchbowl 11th.

12^th hole, 565 yards; The drive is the only completely blind one on the course but the real challenge comes with the next two shots. The hole doglegs to the right around rough ground at the 360 yard mark. The golfer is thus given a 'bite off as much as you dare' diagonal shot over scrub and bunkers. The green seats atop a sand dune and a string of mean bunkers down the right hand side of the dune come back to the golfer. So yes, while the golfer appreciates he would like as short a club in, he is best not to get too greedy. This kind of diagonal hazard seems curiously missing from UK courses and gives this dunesland course something unique: a thrilling second shot on a genuine three shot hole.

Looking back on the long 12th hole.

It should be noted the finishing three holes are very strong indeed and require stout hitting. When coupled with all that has gone before them, don't be surprised if this course is used as a prominent tournament venue in the years to come.

The low marker will find a thorough test, yet one that allows him to display his abilities as opposed to mask them. The holes will play well in part because a CT2 Bermuda (known as GN1 in the United States) was used on the fairways. Though it allows plenty of run, it also will hold the ball better than the fine fescue normally employed on a links. A fescue grass over these kinds of pronounced slopes would have turned ridiculous in the hot Australian summer with parched fairways and a howling wind. The grass selected best suites the site and allows the course to play as it was intended.

While the site is indeed exhilarating, the severe topography and the windy conditions prevalent along the southern bottom of Australia could have lent themselves to yield a course of overwhelming difficulty, especially to The National's average club member. Instead, the Norman Design Team found an ideal routing and instilled in each hole the elasticity to give the members a challenge they will never tire of for years to come, a sure sign of a truly engaging course.

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