Federal - ACT - Australia

My first impressions of Federal were that it was "very Australian"- gum trees, kangaroos and a rolling bushland site. The kangaroos outnumber the players, and look very much at home on the pristine, tree lined fairways.

Federal is quite a challenging course, but not at all 'tricked up'. The routing is impressive and takes you to all points of the compass, incorporating up and downhill holes. It makes the most of the native bushland. It's all there in front of you- you just need to keep playing good solid golf to position.

Federal GC is one of 5 quality courses in the A.C.T. With so much to see and do in Canberra, it's an ideal spot for a golf trip. Any such trip would always include Federal GC

Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review.

I'm fortunate to have played Federal many times and it really is one of those courses where I just don't tire of it, probably because to play Federal well, you have to be playing well with all facets of the game. There are always missed opportunities and the feeling that shots were left out there. Probably due to the subtle slopes on the fairways (smartly combined with dog-legs in the design) and greens that test even the best of putters. Then add in a really interesting mix of long and short holes, including amongst the par 3s and 4s and some strategic run off areas where you have to really plan for where you're hitting and what you have is a high quality course.

Most of the other Canberra courses are cheaper to play, but they're not in the same league as Federal as a high quality design. For the same reason, having played over 2/3rds of the Australian top 100 listed on this site, I think Federal should be rated significantly higher, probably somewhere in the 50-70 range.

I could be very biased here but that's not the intention of reviewing golf courses, it's meant to be honest and fair. Federal GC is one of Canberra's premier golf venues and is one of the best inland courses you'll find, even though it's about to have some work done to it whereby residential units are going to be built on it's perimeter, this wont affect the course at it's core level, hopefully some bunker work will take place to boost it's value.

The course is set in and around Red Hill which features beautiful natural Australian bushland and excellent views of the local Brindabella mountain ranges.

The routing here is good, with all directions covered and it ties in well with the natural land that rises and falls on many holes with fairways off setting to the best line which makes for a challenge in itself.

Rolling fairways are pleasure to play on in the warmer months, it can get a bit boggy during winter, but for the best part drains well.

The greens are larger than most courses and run very true with the good variety and undulation, glass like in the summer time, bunkers are in need on some work and hopefully this happens sooner rather than later.

Cheers, Tyson