Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Kyle Henderson on September 25, 2011, 09:18:32 PM
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Links to other pictorials of my Australian exploits:
Barnbougle Dunes
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,47613.0.html
Barnbougle Lost Farm
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,47929.0.html
Royal Melbourne - West
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48238.0.html
St. Andrew Beach- Gunnamatta
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48455.0.html
New South Wales
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48698.0.html
Woodlands
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48900.0.html
Portsea
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49351.0.html
The National golf Club - The Ocean Course
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49598.0.html
“Fresh” from a 20+ hour journey, on an empty stomach and with little sleep after some connection delays from Sydney, I promptly fumbled my tiny rental car along the left-hand lane of foreign highways through the heart of Melbourne on my way to The Victoria Golf Club. My experience there was sublime – I couldn’t imagine a better introduction to the Australian golf scene. Victoria GC enjoys one of the better clubhouses in the Melbourne Sandbelt, and I highly recommend a night’s stay on the top floor for those able to make such arrangements.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6178821582_279176a146_b.jpg)
The club also boasts a fine golf course, with many of the salient features that define the great tracks of the neighborhood. The brand of golf offered was very much to my liking, and the membership embraced me to a degree far beyond anything I deserved. I hope you will enjoy my anecdotes as I recount my experiences, and I hope many of you will share some of your own.
Historical tidbits: Founded in 1903, the club moved to its present location in 1927. Oscar Damman and Bill Meader are credited with designing the course with assistance from The Good Doctor. The club rose to prominence in 1954 when members Doug Bachli and Peter Thompson won the British Amatuer and Open Championships, respectively. More recently, Geoff Ogilvy brought home the U.S. Open Championship trophy in 2006.
Overall Impression: The layouts at Royal Melbourne (particularly the West Course) and Kingston Heath are praised most highly in this region of the world, and rightly so -- RMW features the best design on the best land (just across the road from Victoria!!!) , and KH makes the best possible use of its smaller, flatter property just a few miles away. The “second-tier” Sandbelt courses are thus relegated to their supporting status not because of any stark deficits in quality, but rather because of the fierce competition found so nearby. In fact, I reckon Commonwealth, Metropolitan, Victoria, Woodlands and Yarra Yarra would all deserve “top 30 status” if they were magically transplanted to California. Correspondingly, there is no clear consensus as to which is the best of the lot. Each has its proponents and detractors, among those I’ve polled. I loved them all, but I think Victoria would be my first choice of the lot in applying for membership.
After a hasty visit in the pro shop, and with just enough daylight left to lap the course at a comfortable pace, I set off as a single. A foursome ahead kindly waved me though after reaching the first green.
The opening hole is just 233 meters long. Ogilvy describes it by saying, ”A unique start with a reachable par 4. A birdie chance for most, but easy to fall victim to the bunkers. Short and left is never bad.”
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6178234759_7545b445e2_b.jpg)
With a light tail wind, I promptly hit a 5 wood over the green near the property fence, flopped a high pitch to 12 feet and lipped out the birdie putt as my stomach growled mightily.
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Kyle,
What a gorgeous looking first hole. I can only imagine the number of players who, so eager to make an eagle on the first hole of the day, swung just a little bit too fast and found that perfectly placed cross bunker short-left of the green. Please show me the hole they then walked to with their head down and a 5 on their scorecard.
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We rebuild this hole a few years ago and tried to emphasise the importance of thinking about where you best wanted to play the second shot from.Obviously the green is ideal but if you miss in the wrong place it makes making 3 difficult.
We also wanted to emphasise the importance of hitting a specifically shaped shot from the tee - in this case a high fade is ideal.
Whilst it looks a little different it is based on the same principles of the original opening hole at Commonwealth.
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We rebuild this hole a few years ago and tried to emphasise the importance of thinking about where you best wanted to play the second shot from.Obviously the green is ideal but if you miss in the wrong place it makes making 3 difficult.
We also wanted to emphasise the importance of hitting a specifically shaped shot from the tee - in this case a high fade is ideal.
Whilst it looks a little different it is based on the same principles of the original opening hole at Commonwealth.
Mike,
A much improved hole since our round there, it looks great. How much work has been done to the course in the last few years? I spotted a large irrigation pond on No. 17 which now plays prominently on the hole, any other significant changes?
TK
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Tyler,
I can't exactly remember where the course was when we played - and Kyle's pictures coming will help.
We took out a lot of invading scrub to the right of 2 and 3 and redid the bunkers. 8 changed quite a lot.The trees came out on the right to widen the fairway and restore the view of the green from the tee. We built a new bunker quite a way past the old one.
All the tea-tree was removed from over the right hand fairway bunker at 13 and that was a big improvement.
14 was rebunkered and is much better.
And the club added the lake to the right of 17 which is, fortunately, beginning to be hidden by some tea-tree.
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When I played Victoria they had a nice little stay and play package with dinner, breakfast, overnight accommodations and a 18 holes of golf. Unfortunately I couldn't avail myself of the dinner or breakfast because I didn't have a jacket but the golf was fine.
Even though many golfers can drive the first green (or drive close to it) I think that having a very short hole works as the first hole of the round. In terms of waiting I would much rather have a longer wait on the first tee than during the middle of the round.
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We also wanted to emphasise the importance of hitting a specifically shaped shot from the tee - in this case a high fade is ideal.
Do you mean a high draw? Seems to me if you faded it you risk going into the bunker and your 2nd shot would be over the bunker. If you hit a draw the green is completely open?
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Joel,
No - high fade. The green is orientated from left to right. A draw runs across the green and into the left bunker.
A low fade will do as well - landing short and bouncing up onto the green. A low draw is no good at all.
If you over-cut a tee shot it will find the bunker.
We also deliberately made the green difficult to hit so no one could make the 2002 Australian Open mistake of playing the hole from a different tee as a par three.
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Mike,
I knew that some work was done to #1 over the years. Was the previous iteration of a similar length? Was the green altered much? Is it easier to make changes to the putting surfaces on such a sandy site?
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#2: 392 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “A nice mid length par 4. Longer hitters may want to take on the right bunkers from the tee, but the prudent play will always be to the left. It will be quite straightforward from there.”
I was disappointed to see my slightly pulled drive roll into the sizable left fairway bunker, but even more upset to lose the ball in the dark rainwater that had collected there. According to the members I spoke with, a clay subsoil sits just a few feet beneath the superficial sands, and their extremely wet summer had served to saturate this space. Thankfully, most of the course still played quite firmly.
Unable to take a dry stance, I dropped out of the bunker before toeing an iron to the front/right corner of the green. After nearly coming to rest, the ball slowly fed into a swale further right, forcing me to nip a pitch off of tight turf (over a bunker) that failed to check up for me. Another lip-out from 10 feet left me with the taste of a Victoria Bitter bogey.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6178759536_26b7cf86f8_b.jpg)
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Kyle,
There have been a few versions of the 1st hole. The original was altered by Peter Thomson in 1980 and was in play for the 1981 Australian Open..He raised the green and put in some quite significant contour that was softened a few years later. it was a more difficult hole that the one it replaced. There was no realistic chance (there was a gap about 3 paces wide between the front bunkers) of running the ball on and the required shot was high and straight.
The current green looks and plays nothing like the Thomson green.
My memory of the original hole was that the green was lower, flatter and much easier to hit. in this age you could almost have justified calling it a par three. it was a good hole though and if it had remained I doubt we would have changed it.
The tee has not been changed and it has always been about 235 meters. Ideally it would be 20-30 meters longer but there is no way to gain even five meters.
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The tee has not been changed and it has always been about 235 meters. Ideally it would be 20-30 meters longer but there is no way to gain even five meters.
There is a way, but it would involve massive earthworks and a cage to protect the first tee from play on the 18th (to move the tees back) or removal of the tees for the 2nd (to move the green farther away), so it's best left undone.
I like the 1st at it's present length in it's own right, but I've yet to decide if I like its place in the rotation as the opening hole.
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The front/right swale that nabbed me at the 2nd green...
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6190644653_ae6b136d85_b.jpg)
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Kyle,
That swale used to be a part of the greenside bunker.
So many of the bunkers were filled in and/or rounded off after the Second War. Many have been restored but not this one.
Putting it back would create some 3rd tee access issues but I would guess we will get to it eventually.
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#3: 401 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “This hole is a bit like the second’s bigger brother with bunkers on the right giving the drive a similar look. A much tougher hole though and will take two great shots to make par or better. Avoid the fairway bunkers if you can, and short right is the miss up at the green.”
The 3rd tee shot skirts between the 2nd green (left) and the property line (right).
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6178759652_3923eea581_b.jpg)
As mentioned by Mr. Ogilvy above, the fairway bunker defines the requirements of a good tee shot. Anything hit over or past its left flank will be sittin’ pretty, but too far left leaves a long approach from the wrong angle.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6178759814_1b82cb7c95_b.jpg)
In typical Sandbelt style, this greenside bunker is carved directly from the left margin of the putting surface.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6180/6178235511_90fe033b42_b.jpg)
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In fact, I reckon Commonwealth, Metropolitan, Victoria, Woodlands and Yarra Yarra would all deserve “top 30 status” if they were magically transplanted to California. Correspondingly, there is no clear consensus as to which is the best of the lot. Each has its proponents and detractors, among those I’ve polled. I loved them all, but I think Victoria would be my first choice of the lot in applying for membership.
Kyle
Top30 ? How about Top20 - I reckon your're underselling them ;D
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Kevin,
I'm giving a conservative estimate, given that I've played less than 1/3 of California's ~600 (if I recall correctly) golf courses.
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#4: 164 meters. Par 3.
Ogilvy says, “A nice medium length par 3 with a very narrow green at the front that widens as it goes to the back. If the pin is close to the front it is prudent to hit a little past to the wider part of the green. A lot of good starts have come unraveled in the bunkers to the side of the green.”
My first taste of a Sandbelt 1-shotter was not a disappointment. After carefully considering the headwind, elevated green and yardage conversion (add 9-10%), I hit down a little too steeply. This sent my shot straight up into the breeze. My ball came to rest even with the greens’ front portion, but thankfully not in a bunker. Another chip up and another lip-out had me shaking my head but smiling on to the 5th.
From the tee, the green’s elevation and protective bunkers disguise its extreme depth of 40+ meters.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6178760274_9b571f1a85_b.jpg)
This view offers a better sense of scale and a peek at the front/left bail-out.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6178760654_1a90488241_b.jpg)
I can imagine many players playing from one bunker to another across the green’s narrow waist. Over the back is not much better, as it leaves a tricky pitch off of a tight lie to a green that runs away.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6178761008_71bb29894b_b.jpg)
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Cool hole. The front of this green is extremely narrow (think 15 KH) and it's almost always best to play long. It's often played downwind which also aids to the treachery of the front pin location.
IMO Victoria is a top 100 golf course.
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Mike
The restoration of the bunkering around the green here was the first job we did at Victoria. That narrow front part of the green had evolved into an apron making the front bunker about 15 feet short of the front of the green - something that made no sense to me.
In tournaments now they move the tee forward and play to that front pin - it plays around 135 yards and its a dangerous shot. Normally thre are quite a few twos and a few fives as well.
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As it happens, there's a Victoria Golf Club review thread in progress currently, on an Australian based golf forum
The link is - http://www.thegolfforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5026&st=0
This is the review of the fourth hole from that thread. It adds a little extra to Kyle's work here.
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#4
Par 3, 164m
Turning to the south, another great par 3 of the sandbelt awaits at the fourth. This hole features a wonderful green, and really thoughtful bunkering.
From the air
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/Vic4.jpg)
From the tee
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/VictoriaGolfClub036.jpg)
and a little closer to the green
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/VictoriaGolfClub037.jpg)
The narrow portion of putting surface at the front, pinched by bunkering right and a depression left, places a real premium on accuracy.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/VictoriaGolfClub038.jpg)
Bunkering at the back right of the green lies slightly removed from the putting surface, while the hazard on the left defines the left edge of the green. The shot from the back right bunker is demanding, in that it is played uphill, must travel a bit to get to the green, but must invariably stop quickly. This sort of proposition allows a good player to show their skills, and can seperate good players from ordinary ones without having to resort to length as a demand. Smart golfers also know to avoid the right bunker should their sand skills not be up to scratch.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/VictoriaGolfClub039.jpg)
It's little features like this that are sometimes overlooked in course assessment. They're thoughtful elements of design, and seperate the 'average' from 'really good' holes.
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Kyle, Thanks for the pics.
My golf coach, Brett Latcham, used to work, I believe, and play at Victoria. He says it is an awesome course.
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MM,
Nice work on the concurrent thread! I might have to poach your aerial shots, with your approval of course.
Let me know if your need supplemental photos.
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#5: 398 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “A fairly self-explanatory hole from the tee -- go left of the fairway bunker, then attack from there. Not one of the harder holes at Victoria, but it can be tricky around the green, especially if missed left."
I played this hole exactly wrong. After hitting a drive just short of the fairway bunker (thank you headwind!), I pulled my approach well left of the green. Fortunately, I managed a delicate up and down from the shaved slope over there.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6165/6178236909_9e6dcb2fd3_b.jpg)
...and an added photo, for Kevin, of the left 5th tee that melds with the back of the 4th green.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6204319118_2d1c261c44_b.jpg)
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Kevin,
I'm giving a conservative estimate, given that I've played less than 1/3 of California's ~600 (if I recall correctly) golf courses.
Kyle
I think it's more of a quality argument rather than a quantity one.
One thing that stood out for me at Vic vs. a lot of other courses is how they've cut the grass from green to the next tee. There's no separation on a lot of holes and one just melds to the next.
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Playing at Victoria tomorrow. Very much looking forward to it!
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There is a sameness to 2,3 and 5 with the tees being in the corners by the fence,fairway bunkers down the right and that feeling of playing left.It helps with the boundary problem - but the line of Kyle's photo is not from the main tee (which is further right) but from the line of a small tee behind the 4th green.
It is rarely used but it is by far the best line and it is higher up that the lower tees.
Our suggestion to to use this tee position - which is about 30-40 meters forward of the back tee - and take the green back.
Originally the green here was down by the 12th green but was moved forward and up the hill.
The best line into the green here from the left half of the fairway and away from the fairway bunker on the right - something that does not make a lot of sense.
Kevin,
Ian Todd has been instrumental in that short grass from green to tee policy and it is both unique, elegant and successful.
It has really improved holes like 16 where it used to be horrible over the back of that green - and it wasn't like the shot back to that green was easy.
it would be good to see a photo of that spot because it was where Ogilvy said he learned to play that shot he hit from the front of the 72nd green at Winged Foot when he won the US Open.
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They've recently sanded the entire surrounds of the 16th, in preparation for the Masters in December - but you get the idea.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o64/kiteboymm/VictoriaGolfClub021.jpg)
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Mike
Kudos to Ian - I'd much prefer to see more of that than long grass. Cheers for that as well as the addition of the photo MM - I do see the resemblance to Winged Foot's 18th from down there.
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Here's a view of the slope behind the 16th green as viewed from the left, with the grass trimmed all of the way to the 17th tee on the left edge of frame, and I added a shot of the 5th tee above as well, for reference.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6178818246_6369322d22_b.jpg)
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#6: 398 yards. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “A much stronger hole with two straight shots required to reach in regulation, a three shot hole for most. Trouble won’t end there though, the green may be the most sloped on the course. Short will always be the best miss.”
Tracking in the opposite direction and turning the opposite way (but equal in length) to the 5th hole, golfers will face a tee shot that favors a draw.
With the wind at my back for the first time since the opening hole, I piped one over the temporary water hazard (more evidence of the wet summer down under) to short-iron range.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6178237293_7801edbf15_b.jpg)
These fine gentlemen waived me up to play the remainder of the front nine with them, and I managed to cozy my pin-seeker to about 10 feet directly past the flag position near a deep, port-side bunker.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6178761986_27c5baaa81_b.jpg)
One of my new playing partners was not so fortunate as I, but he played a nice recovery. After my 1st putt lipped out for the 4th time in 6 holes (!!!), we both made par.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6178237959_a1bd2bfefd_b.jpg)
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#7: 165 meters. Par 3
Ogilvy says, “The second one shot hole will play a similar club to the fourth. Here though aim to hit the ball through the gap at the front left of the green. With that route almost every pin on the green is accessible.”
Curiously of the same length and compass orientation as the 4th(from the tips), the 7th is still an altogether different beast. The green is not quite so elevated, narrow, or deep as its predecessor and the trapping is mostly confined to its front half.
Having caught the pack, I chatted quietly with my new playing partners about the group ahead – the hatless fellow was the reigning British Amateur Champion at the time this photo was taken and the other two are young touring pros.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6178762830_d21288d365_b.jpg)
The area in front of the tees has been nicely groomed to balance playability with natural ruggedness.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6164/6178763296_744fa67d65_b.jpg)
Being slightly elevated, the green makes it difficult to discern the exact pin location before making a swing. Likewise, the result of your effort may not be readily apparent until after a brief walk.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6174/6178239213_8bd55716cb_b.jpg)
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#8: 448 meters. Par 5.
Ogilvy says, “A long straight hole that will be a birdie hole for the longer hitters, and a nice wide hole shouldn’t present too many problems for most. The right of the green is some of the best bunkering on the course.”
Though wide, the fairway also slopes to the right and can quickly sweep fades into precarious lies.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6178239497_498867f3f0_b.jpg)
Another temporary pond is seen 80 meters short of the green. Sadly, it swallowed both of my playing partners’ chances for par. Up ahead, the green is guarded by sand bilaterally -- there is some room to miss in front and behind.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6170/6178239999_95f84f6957_b.jpg)
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This plays as a par 4 in the tournaments nowadays.
It was a case of a taking an easy 5 made harder by tree planting down the right. Before the removal you would not have seen the green side bunkers on the right.
There was a fairway bunker on the left - between the two shadows. We filled that one in and added one further along.
It's a long way off the tee - maybe 300 yards - but Tiger Woods carried it in the Australian Masters last summer - staggering.
The further left you drive the better the angle - but the slope is always wanting to take the ball to the right.
It is an easier hole now - but a better one and as a quite difficult par four.
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#9: 559 meters. Par 5.
Ogilvy says, “A true three shot par 5 for all but the very longest hitters. It will take 2 great shots to get over the hill for most, and tree or bunker trouble on the way will result in a lost shot, and from there a short iron to a green very hard to hit it pin high (sic). Par is never a bad score on 9 for anyone.”
This is a very good piece of property used very well to create a very good golf hole.
View from the tee.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6178240427_e7c40315cb_b.jpg)
Landing area/2nd shot.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6178765332_ebcda5e5d4_b.jpg)
Approach.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6152/6178241301_cbf527636b_b.jpg)
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10th hole: 348 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “A nice dogleg left to head away from the clubhouse again. Aim over the left bunker if you can carry, slightly right if not. A big advantage her to hit a good drive as the 2nd shot can be played from a flat lie to a green abve your feet. An underrated green with short beingthe miss, as long will prove to be trouble.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6171/6178812834_c870484e0c_b.jpg)
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11th hole.: 348 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “A tough hole that needs to be respected. Give the right of the hole some respect and head up the left side. From there it is tricky to get the right club for the second shot. Short again here is the miss as the green is heavily sloped back to front.”
Bunkers separate the 15th green from the beginning of the 11th fairway.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6172/6178288881_597f2208bf_b.jpg)
Longer tee shots must thread the needle between bilateral sand traps to set up a shot, uphill approach.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6167/6178289281_691c5d6df4_b.jpg)
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12th hole: 370 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “Perhaps the most dramatic tee shot here at Victoria. Hit left of the right bunkers as there is plenty of room over there. A downhill second will be semi blind for all but the best of drives.”
From the tee, one might be uncertain as to which way they should proceed. The line of play turns right past the starboard fairway bunker.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6164/6178813940_98413d0b9a_b.jpg)
The green is guarded by a back/left bunker. Behind the 12th green is Reserve Road, a motorway that separates Victoria Golf Club from the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6165/6178815200_b70f1193bf_b.jpg)
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13th hole: 390 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “I think the hardest hole on the course. A tee shot to avoid the right bunkers is a must, and from there a very long second to a very hard green to hit to (sic). Longer hitters lose some advantage here as it narrows and there seconds are played from a downslope. A tough green where respect is required all around. Short probably the miss (sic).”
Long hitters will blast drives well over the crest and should favor the left side, as the fairway slopes away and to the right.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6151/6178291287_947578fcef_b.jpg)
Bilateral greenside bunkering favors directional precision over distance control.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6176/6178291607_98c3dc29c4_b.jpg)
From the downslope, approaches are often “fatted” short of the green or skulled into the bushes behind. Par will win the hole in most matches.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6162/6178816078_db722a122a_b.jpg)
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Geez Kyle...
This looks awesome! No wonder you have it up there on your short list of preferred courses down under.
I'm kind of kicking myself for not finding a way to play it :-[ ...
I'm pretty impressed overall thus far. Really looks good.
That 4th really does it for me. I love the invisible false front there with the bunkers playing camouflage. That's inspired. I can't remember seeing one like that on the trip. Can you?
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That 4th really does it for me. I love the invisible false front there with the bunkers playing camouflage. That's inspired. I can't remember seeing one like that on the trip. Can you?
Not to the same degree. Certainly, there are several short holes in the sand belt that feature fronting bunkers which mask the front of the green (e.g. Commonwealth #15, Woodlands #17) and false fronts are a common staple of greens for holes of any length in that neighborhood, but the combination and "amplitude" of those features do stand out for this particular hole.
I quite enjoyed Victoria, but I'm not sure that you should have left another course off your itinerary to include it (maybe Metropolitan?).
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14th hole: 142 meters. Par 3.
Ogily says, “A tricky short hole as the heavily sloped green is surrounded by some of Victoria’s toughest bunkers. Consider one more club as it will play long and the ball will roll off the front if not well onto the green."
Playing uphill, the 14th green is hardly visible, congruent with most of the greens on Victoria’s short holes. Due to the shallow landing angle of approach shots, a strong tail wind adds considerable difficulty.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6178/6178292319_63b710dfa1_b.jpg)
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15th hole: 289 meters. Par 4.
Ogilvy says, “Another of the sand belt’s wonderful short fours. Be as aggressive as you dare as reaching in one is possible for the long hitters, and eagles have been made. The smart play is a shot well to the right and perhaps level with the first bunker. From there, a short iron, and maybe a putt for birdie.”
Tee shot.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6175/6178816682_24845307dd_b.jpg)
An expansive bunker complex challenges the shortest line of attack.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6167/6178817314_1deac6c36a_b.jpg)
The short approach faced by those that choose the “smart” play.
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6156/6178817024_4a9f308305_b.jpg)
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The advice about 14 to 'take one more club' is probably more to do with the fact that there is nowhere in the front third to place a pin.
15 is one the greats. Everything from D to 6I is an option off the tee. Even a man of slightly longer than average length is a chance to make this green if he can get the right shape and kick down the fairway.
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16th hole: 178 meters. Par 3.
Ogilvy says, “The toughest par 3 on the course. A long iron for most to really a very small flat area of green. Long is completely horrible, but must be taken on a little if you want a makeable putt for two. Otherwise short right is the only real place to miss.”
The imposing uphill view that defines the 16th tee shot.
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Fronting bunkers are flush against the green’s margin.
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A photo taken from the green’s left side illustrates the vexing slopes found at the green’s rear flanks.
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17th hole: 550 meters(!). Par 5.
Ogilvy says, “Like number nine, this will be out of range in two for all but the longest. A tee shot played short of the left bunkers, with a second played up level with the bunkers on the left will leave the best third. A tricky green, where short once again is the correct miss."
The tee shot now includes views of an odd-looking lake (well above the level of the fairway) installed by the club within the last few years in response to drought concerns. The water hazard seen in the fairway’s right/center is of the casual variety.
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Bunkers protect the outside of the dogleg, for those that swing wildly or steer away from the water.
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Those going for the green in two may be required to shape their shots from left-to-right to avoid the starboard bushes and port-side sand traps.
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Low-running shots must negotiate fronting undulations to stay online, while the green’s frontward tilt makes a long miss quite penalizing.
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Hole 18: 461 meters. Par 5.
Ogilvy says, “A wonderful par 5 to finish. A birdie chance for the long hitters, but a tough slog for those who won’t get to the top of the hill. Bunkers to be avoided all of the way there and a green that slopes from front to back makes your shot in hard to get close, from any distance.”
The drive is played up and over the crest of a crowned fairway that feeds toward lateral bunkers on either side.
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Viewing the approach, the first bunker on the right is set more than 30 yards short of the surface (obscuring one’s view of paired bunkers that guard the green’s right flank), while the left bunker is flush against the green’s front edge. Happily I was able to play a soaring 7-wood that came to rest 15 feet beyond the pin for a two-putt birdie – a nice end to my first day “down unda.”
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From the right side, one can perceive the green’s rearward tilt.
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After a 20-hour journey and a walking round on an empty stomach, I was relieved that I’d be spending the night on property.
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To make matters even better, my playing companions and ~25 of their friends were kind enough to share libations, a delicious meal (shrimp on the Barbie), and war stories until 11:30 that night. I could not have imagined a better introduction to the Australia golfing experience.
The last few “stragglers” of the evening insisted on a group photo before their departure.
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