I recently took a short trip up to Queensland and while I was up there I had the opportunity to play at Royal Queensland, an experience I will remember for a long time.
The Royal Queensland Golf Club has just undergone an extensive redesign by Michael Clayton, who has done a magnificent job up here. I now rank RQ at number 4 on my list of favorite course, ahead of Royal Melbourne.
During the game I took 170 photos, so I should be able to complete a review of the course, and hopefully I can do the place justice. I will do the review hole by hole so that we can perhaps discuss some of the merits of the course.
1st hole: 463m, Par 5, Index 18.
The first hole of the day is a shortish par 5 that is definately reachable in 2 shots. The tee shot is relatively wide, and gives you ample width to negotiate the 3 bunkers on the left side of the fairway. However don't stay too far away from the bunkers because there is a tree to the right of the fairway which is very much in play.
The bunker on the left is 215m from the back tee.
Tee shot:
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0255.jpg)
On the second shot you must decide where to hit your ball. Leave it out the the right and leave yourself a tough pitch over a bunker, or take on the bunker that is 60m short of the green on your second and be left with a nice and easy shot with no bunkers in play along the length of the green.
This shot here is from a short drive about 190m from the tee.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0256.jpg)
After a long drive this is the view that you are left with.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0257.jpg)
The 3rd shot after hitting it over the cross bunker.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0258.jpg)
Looking along the length of the green.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0259.jpg)
And looking back down this fine starting hole.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0260.jpg)
And the interesting flags that RQ use.
![](http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab196/CarlingfordHS/DSCF0261.jpg)
RQ isn't talked about much here (to my knowledge) but I hope after seeing this essay your opinion will change of it. I believe RQ to be the best designed course I've played, as I've never had to think so much about my shots on the golf course.
Enjoy.
Pup