Araluen

Featuring some pleasant elevation changes and several strategic water hazards, the course at Araluen Golf Resort was laid out by Michael Coate and the late Roger Mackay – the duo who, along with Ian Baker Finch, designed the acclaimed Kennedy Bay course – with two distinct circuits of nine routed around a couple of residential developments.

The par five 1st offers a stiff start to the round at Araluen, dominated as it is by a large tree 165 yards from the green on the right hand side of the fairway. Architect Roger Mackay had wanted the tree removed during construction but it remained firmly in place. When he died, a plaque was put on the tree trunk stating: “If you've just hit this tree, don't blame Roger, he wanted it cut down.”

The front nine ends with a thrilling downhill par four where the approach to the green must carry a lake protecting the putting surface. On the back nine, the 16th – said to be the hole around which the course was designed – is a wonderful par three where the tee overlooks a drop of almost 200 feet to a green that sits behind a pond.