Mount Broughton - New South Wales - Australia

Early in my golfing life, I found myself at Mt Broughton as the sole player late on a wind swept afternoon in 2002 and was soon blown away by the experience.

With beautifully defined fairways snaking their way through open pastures bordered by knee high rough, a sense of isolation & escapism, the romanticism of a country train line running alongside and the feeling that while the course was going to dish out the harshest punishment it was also going to love me back (eg. tee shot on 2nd from the back). Everything triggered emotions that made me fall in love with this location and the game of golf forever after.

On subsequent visits, it lost a little something…the rough was cut back so visually the holes and fairways lost definition, the course was busier, the conditioning was not as good but the impressions from my first visit remain strong.

I haven’t been here for well over a decade but I’m glad the course is still going and I still highly recommend the 90 min drive out here from Sydney for anyone looking for a unique golfing getaway.

Mt Broughton Golf & Country Club was designed by Frank Phillips & Billy Dunk and opened for play in 1994. The course incorporates the main features of the site- being the the creek running through the heart of the property, majestic old trees, and acres of long pasture grass.

Each of these elements has been woven into the strategies of the holes. The third hole is perhaps the strongest example with a tee shot that must carry the long grass, and cross the creek at a diagonal between two trees.

Mt Broughton is very much a rural site surrounded by farm land. For me, the train line running hard on the perimeter of the course added further entertainment- I loved the long freight trains which seemingly went on forever..

The course is well designed and a challenge for even the best of golfers. My only question mark would be whether the shallow bunkers throughout might not be practical given the natural terrain and perhaps some could be replaced with grassy hazards?

Notable holes include:

- hole 1, a dogleg par par with tee shot framed by some magnificent old oak trees
- hole 2, a dramatic long par 3 played from an elevated tee over two water hazards
- hole 3, a par 5 with an imposing tee shot over long rough, between trees, and diagonally over the creek. The long second shot must be well placed to allow an approach to a green protected by two enormous trees and water left- it's one tough golf hole!
- hole 4 is an impressive mid length par 3 requiring an intimidating carry over the long rough
- hole 9 is a tough par 5 which tightens as you get closer to the green. With the fairway bending around the creek on the approach this is a hole that requires both length and accuracy for success..
- hole 10, a pretty par 3 over water
- hole 18, a short nicely bunkered par 4, with the instantly recognisable clubhouse as a background

Mt Broughton Golf Club and Peppers Manor House are well located for any drives between Melbourne & Sydney, and Mt Broughton is a must play for any golf trips to The Southern Highlands

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