grantphelps

Played the Vintage today as part of an ongoing quest to knock off most of the top 100 Oz golf courses (70+ and counting). This is a fairly standard Norman course - if you've played others this will be pretty familiar. It's a solid design with a few quirks - too many doglegging short par 4's on the front, a very forgettable short par 3 (11th) on the back. you'd be happy to be one of the 400 members here, except for the condition of the course, which was surprisingly poor. It feels like it gets lots of play from people who dont really care - lots of bunkers not raked, lots of unfixed plug marks, lots of divots. that would drive most members nuts and rightly so. This one fits in the bottom half of my personal ratings. I cant put it in the 40's. Having said that, it's a very pleasant place to play and a pretty decent day out in a nice part of the world.

Played the renovated north course twice last week as part of a group trip to Peninsula Kingswood for 4 days - well worth staying on site. The renovation is amazing, but perhaps a little overdone in that the amount of maintenance required now must be very high, particularly in the many new sandy wastelands. Agree with other's comments re the quality of bunkering - it's up there with the best of the sandbelt now. The north is only let down by the 8th, which has a green site out of keeping with the sort of shot that you're expected to play to it. For mine the work done on the South course (which doesnt have as much truly great land to work with) is perhaps even more impressive and it's probably the one i'd choose to play every week as a member. Both now legitimate top 10-15 in Australia courses and a terrific club to visit and stay at.

A pleasure to come back to CW. As per my review of OD, I dont think there's much if any gap between these two. CW rightly gets the plaudits for its location - hard to imagine a better view in golf that than the view looking north from what passes for a clubhouse over 18/14 et al towards the lighthouse.Where CW falls back a little for me ( but not too far - it is outrageously good) is in the reliance on sea views on too many holes - at the expense of some outrageously good land (e.g. why wasnt the valley to the left of 8 used - what an amazing hole that could have been...) and in the lighthouse loop, where the green site at 15 doesnt quite work for me, and 16 which i just cant work out how to safely navigate unless i play it as a par 5. Small criticisms, as the finish of 17/18 is out of this world. Missed my birdie putt on 17 but who cares. Both CW and OD need to be on people's 'must play' list. King Island has it's own attractions and is well worth a few day stay - and do not miss the King Island golf club - community golf at is purist and finest.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I think I rate OD ahead of CW. It's a bit like rating one of Royal Portrush or Royal County Down ahead of the other, as both are great, but OD's best is just extraordinary. Others have talked about 2 and 4 but 13 is just all world with one of the most imaginative greens you'll find anywhere, and 8 and 10 are just amazing with 8 one of the best green sites I've ever seen. Yes bits of it feel a bit forced ( the constrained 2nd on 1, the approach to 9), the green to tee walks are a bit long in places and the finish lacks the sea views that make most of the rest of it, but most of it is just a relentless assault on the golfing senses. Have played it before but played this time in a 50km westerly with intermittent rain and had a ball. Highly recommended. Not perfect but well worth seeing and clearly inside my personal top 10 in Australia, along with CW.

15th in the nation is about right for Newcastle. This is an extremely good golf course. I played it twice this week, on both occasions in at least a 3 club breeze. It is difficult - precision driving and precision iron play will be rewarded with good scores. I struggled with the poa greens, and wonder about a couple of design features ( the trees which obscure the fairway on 14, the blindness of the tee shot on 15) but each and every hole to that point is strong, with no weak shots anywhere. The stretch of 4 through 11 is I think as good as anything in Australia. 5 might just be in the top 3 or 4 holes in the country. The front 9 in particular is just really good golf, if a little quirky at times. I'm not fussed about conditioning - golf courses don't need to be outstandingly manicured to be great ( I suspect there might even be an inverse relationship).The only think keeping this course from being right among the very elite of Australian golf is holes 16 and 17 and maybe 18. This will be dealt with when/if they go ahead with a major renovation after releasing the land that 16 and 17 and 18 sit on for commercial use. If the land they are opening up at the back of the property for new holes is as good as the land that 4-14 sit on and if the new holes are as good as those existing holes, then Newcastle has every chance to enter the very elite of Australian golf. It should be wonderful. I look forward to coming back to see it.

Victoria is genuinely in the upper echelon on Australia's golf courses - clearly within most people's top 10 and really only behind <a href="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/royal-melbourne-west">RMW</a>, <a href="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/kingston-heath">KH</a> and <a href="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes">Barnbougle Dunes</a> ( am yet to play <a href="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/cape-wickham">Cape Wickham</a> so I cant comment on that with authority). It's only weakness in my view is that all 4 par 3's are uphill with only the 4th giving a glimpse of the green from the tee. That and the rather unsightly dam which encroaches on the right of 17. Otherwise it is hard to fault Victoria. Tremendous fun, rewards good shot making, and a pretty decent walk over some of the best golfing land in the world. Fabulous. Do not miss this if you're in Melbourne.

I think top 100's ranking of #29 is about right for Port Fairy. Other Australian based rankings have it way too low. Having played in a number of times over the past 20 years I've watched it get better and better. Clayton's changes from a few years ago have made an already terrific course into a fabulous course. If PFGC were in or near Melbourne or Sydney it would be ranked within the top 20. It's that good. It is one of the few genuine links in Australia - think of it as <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle Dunes</A>/<A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-lost-farm" target=_self>Lost Farm</A>'s little brother and you'll get the picture. It's a bit short, but it never feels it, because in the prevailing westerly 'breeze', even shortish into the wind par 4's need a long iron 2nd and the small greens mean you need to be precise. I think this is a better course than <A href="/golf-course/barwon-heads" target=_self>Barwon Heads</A> - with which it is often compared. Fewer weak holes and a more coherent flow. PFGC has a lot in common in my view with <A href="/golf-course/paraparaumu-beach" target=_self>Paraparaumu Beach</A>, another of my personal favourites. Oh, and the stretch from 12-16 is just world class. Fabulous. I cant recommend PF enough. A lot of fun shots throughout, and how they keep it in the condition they do with such a limited ground staff is beyond me. You'd be happy to play this for the rest of your life, particularly when you consider the cost. As a visitor, I paid $25. That's the best value golf of this quality in Australia, if not the world.

A vast improvement over the previous course. RQ is now in the upper echelon of Australian golf courses and in my view is clearly the best course in Queensland. Clayton's greens are challenging and I can understand why some have expressed reservations, but there's a lot of fun to be had on some of the more expressive greens in Australia. No weak holes and terrific use of the previous corridors. An excellent design on one of the flattest sites you'll find. 17 is in some ways a twin of the short 7th at <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle Dunes</A> - miss it at your peril. I'd be very happy to play RQ every week. A drink on the balcony watching the storms roll in late in the day is a perfect way to finish your day at a wonderful golf course and a great club.

One of the 4 genuinely great courses in Australia - always a pleasure to play at "the Heath",   even with recently sanded greens and in a 3 club wind.    This must be one of the greatest designs on a small parcel of land in the world.  Perhaps the fairest test of golf in Australia - no tricks / no funkiness,    just genuinely classy golf with not a weak hole in sight.     Like all great courses,   it puts a premium on position off the tee.    Smart golf wins around here.You must be prepared to use every club in your bag and if your short game's not on song then good luck. Finish it off with a meal and a drink in perhaps the best club house in the country.   A day not to be missed.

Played CK last week in perfect weather (thankfully). The whole experience is hard to fault. The place exudes class at every step. You wont find a better conditioned course anywhere, and the welcome from John in the pro shop is first class. As an example the small but extremely functional golf shop / golf house is just lovely - and just right. Not ostentatious in any way. As for the golf course... I was really impressed. I'm not a big fan of rankings but having played a lot of golf I'd be happy to put this in the top echelon - it's clearly world top 100. The par 3's are all top notch and the 13th is just all world. 11 through 15 is where the visual action really reaches its peak and it's a good thing that the quality of the golf in those holes matches the views. I don't understand why 15 rates #1 on the course - it's a pretty straightforward par 5, but it's certainly reasonable to rate it #1 on visual impact. My only 'criticism' is that I'd like to see it set up a little differently - it needs a slightly lower first cut - miss the fairway and you're likely to be able to only advance it. And whilst I'm having a slight grizzle, the Australian in me doesn't understand why the bunkers sit within the rough - cut the grass around the bunkers to encourage the running ball to feed into them. Otherwise, it's a fabulous golf experience. Highly recommended - just pick a perfect day like we did!! What's disappointing about CK is that at its price point and with its location it's a course that people are probably only going to play once as a 'golf bucket list' exercise. That's a shame, as I suspect with multiple plays it will reveal a lot more of itself.I give Tom Doak top marks for designing CK - it's not great golfing land - unlike his Australian twins Barnbougle Dunes and St Andrew's Beach - both of which are on all-world golfing land.

Played Paraparaumu Beach last week in what is probably best described as a gale.  at least 4 clubs - maybe more.  And absolutely loved every minute of it.    This is world class links golf in every way.  In many ways it is the truest expression of links golf in Australasia - the fairway's arent perfect,   and the wind impacts in all sorts of unpredictable ways,   but my goodness what a course.  No weak holes ( 10 and 11 wouldn't survive in Australia as the houses are so close to the left edge) and a never ending diet of fun,  rolly polly fairways and fabulous green sites.  The club deserve praise for not flattening their fairways like some clubs have done - genuine links bounces everywhere here.And yes the par 3's are world class - they would all be right at home on the best of British links courses.       As close to golfing heaven as a links golf tragic can be in Australasia.  Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm just beat it as a golf experience but  unlike them, I'd happily play PBGC every week.

Well this might just be the best course in the country.   Others will disagree ( it's clearly top 5 - this comes down to personal preference....) but I think Lost Farm now lays claim to being the best of the Barnbougle pair.  Since opening 2 years ago,  the course has firmed up and is now running fast and firm - fabulous links conditions,  and interestingly, subtly different to its neighbour which is a little softer and without as much run.    The stretch from 3-7 might just be the best 4 hole stretch in Australia,  and 4,5 and 6 are simply world class - they'd be at home on a 'best of' anywhere..    The only limitation is a lack of longish par 4's, but who cares - the sum of the parts is still fantastic,  and a great test of your mental resolve when the wind gets up.    I dont really think it matters where we rate LF and BBD,   they're both fantastic and we're very lucky to have them.  For the quality of the golf courses, $130 for a day must be the best value for money golf in the world.

Well it just keeps getting better.   My group has been coming back to "Barny Dunes" since it opened.   This is a world class golf experience in every way - getting there is part of the fun,   the accommodation simple but more than adequate,  the food the best value for  quality golf course food in the country and the golf course..... well,  in my view this is in the best 2 or 3 courses in the country,   and one of the other 2 is just over the river.   What a pair these courses make. The BBD stretch from 3 - 8 is just great.  The whole absolutely world class,  without a weak hole.   The putting experience on 13 worth the trip by itself.   Australia is indeed fortunate to have these courses on our doorstep.  Congratulations to all involved for their foresight in giving this to the world.   Tasmania now has world class sporting and cultural attractions at both ends of the island  ( suggest if you can visit MONA in hobart on your way to Bridport).

Played TOC recently as part of a grand golf tour of the UK. Having travelled from the Australia, we were really looking forward to playing at the home of golf and set aside 3 full days to appreciate everything that St Andrew's has to offer. St Andrews is indeed a special place, and a number of us are now looking for future summer courses at St Andrew's university to allow us to complete our (golfing) education. Unfortunately we copped TOC on the only wet day of our 3 week tour. The upsides of TOC for someone with a feel for the grander elements of this crazy game are the remarkable and palpable sense of history you experience at several points throughout your round ( but particularly on 1/17 and 18). You do have a sense that you really are somewhere special - it is a near religious experience(!). You can also get a sense as you go about how the course has influenced golf course design over the years, and particularly around the importance of visual deception. On the downside, it’s a course that really only gets going in the back half – like a lot of classic links courses you’re often lulled into a false sense of security by what seems a pretty straightforward course heading out. The front half we felt was amongst the easier of the front 9’s we played on our trip – <A href="/golf-course/royal-dornoch-championship" target=_self>Dornoch’s</A> is harder, <A href="/golf-course/royal-county-down-championship" target=_self>RCD’s</A> better, <A href="/golf-course/royal-birkdale" target=_self>Birkdale’s</A> a much better test of your long game – but the back half is all action. Our sense was that this is a course you need to play a lot to fully appreciate – which brings me to the major downside of playing TOC. As other reviewers have suggested, there is so much pressure to get players through in rapid fire time that there’s very little time to fully appreciate where you are. If there’s one course in the world that deserves a 5 hour round it’s this one. There are so many subtleties and so much intrigue on the back 9 that you really want to take your time with it. The caddies also have a raft of stories about previous Open’s and other tournaments that you really want to learn more ( e.g. Ernie Els’ brain fade on 16 in the Dunhill). The day we played wasn’t overly busy but despite being (very ) wet we were still pushed along at a 3.5hour round pace. Yes there’s a lot of demand on the course but the day we played it wasn’t full by any means. We could have taken a lot longer and appreciated it a great deal more. The overriding sense is that it’s all about pushing people through to get more 130GBP players through the gates. It feels like the Links trust are selling the soul of the place and that’s sad. We felt TOC was behind County Down and Dornoch for all round golf quality, but as a place to experience the raw beginnings of golf it’s second to none. It’s just sad that golf’s become too commoditised on TOC. You just have to play TOC as pat of your golfing education, but the New course was by contrast a lot more fun as we could take some time to fully appreciate it’s subtleties and clever design features.

You must play Lahinch if you get the chance.   It is about the most fun you can have on a golf course anywhere.   It's the course i'd play in golf heaven,  as it is outrageously beautiful,    fabulously maintained,   and a riot to play.  it rightly deserves its place amongst the very best golf courses in the world.

I'm also from Melbourne and have just returned from a golf tour of Ireland/Northern Ireland,  Scotland and the north of England.  I'd have to agree that RCD is simply the best course i have played.  It is a magical place, and a truly wonderful golf course.  I think it shades RP by a short half head - it flows better,   and rewards great shotmaking a little better.   RP is fabulous,    but RCD is a little more fabulous.  I'm puzzled by those who say its finish is a let down.   i rate 16/17/18 higher than RP and higher than just about anything else i've played,    including all of the major Australian courses.   RCD is just strong throughout - there are no weak elements.  As for the blind tee shots - let's all start a people power movement to encourage modern designers to build these sort of courses.   Fantastic.