Kevin P

Royal Canberra is a private golf club less than a five minute drive west from Parliament House in the A.C.T. It is a 27 hole facility with the Westbourne 18 originally designed by Commander Harris. The Peter Thomson design company added a further nine holes in the <img src="/images/royal-canberra-westbourne-golf-course-review-ROCN003---16c.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Canberra (Westbourne) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Canberra (Westbourne) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> 1990’s.
Michael Clayton design firm was contracted in 2014 to upgrade the Westbourne layout and there are plans in future for the company to alter the Thomson nine as well. The majority of the Thomson holes are set across a road south west of Dunrossil Drive. One can see a lot of ground has been moved to create artificial mounds spread throughout holes 19 to 27
I recently played the revised Westbourne holes and what a refreshing sight I saw. There has been a lot of tree removal and all the greens and bunkers have been redone. The changes made the course all the more enjoyable to play. The 4th and 6th were shortened and lengthened respectively to a P4 and P5 in-line with the original layout.
I found the back nine immeasurably more enjoyable to play and <img src="/images/royal-canberra-westbourne-golf-course-review-ROCN001---14b.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Canberra (Westbourne) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Canberra (Westbourne) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> love the new set of tees on the 14th (see pic). The lake is much more in play as is the new bunker on the centre line drive.
The 15th has been remodelled to have a creek cross in front of it. The 16th through 18th are as tough a P4, P3, P5 finish as there is to play in Australia from the back tees.
The thing that still lets Royal Canberra down for mine are the collection of P3’s. None are particularly “great” holes. The 3rd is a long P3 and the 8th the total opposite. The 13th is a downhill P3 and the 17th is an uphill one.
That said the ambience and conditioning of Royal Canberra is first rate and it is in my opinion, the best course in the A.C.T.

Cathedral Lodge is a secluded private golf course two hours NE of Melbourne CBD. It is owned by David Evans, a merchant banker who lived every golfers dream by establishing a golf course on his own property.
I am led to believe membership at Cathedral Lodge will be capped at around 150-200 people. David engaged the services of <img src="/images/cathedral-lodge-golf-course-review-CATE001.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Cathedral Lodge Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Cathedral Lodge Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> Greg Norman to design him a course that he hopes might host a pro tournament one day.
Cathedral lodge is probably the most “restrained” Norman design I have seen. Unlike the layout Norman (& Harrison) built for the Packer family at Ellerston where close to 100 bunkers were created and dominate the layout, Cathedral lodge has one third that and most of those are on the B9.
Comparisons with Ellerston will undoubtedly occur though they are two completely different designs. Whereas Ellerston was built to be a strong and demanding test of golf Cathedral Lodge is built with the member golfer in mind with around four sets of tees on each hole. Ellerston’s holes snake across a mix of flat and undulating land throughout its property. Cathedral Lodge on the other hand moves into a large canyon with a ridge running through it. Cathedral Lodge’s fairways are very large and many of them are shaped to funnel the ball to specific areas. Like Ellerston, the designers have used natural creeks to flank and cross in front or behind many of the holes.
Cathedral Lodge has an interesting layout with five P3’s <img src="/images/cathedral-lodge-golf-course-review-CATE002.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Cathedral Lodge Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Cathedral Lodge Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> and five P5’s and some short P4’s with very testing greens.
The P3 15th is Cathedral Lodge’s best hole in my opinion. A short P3 measuring 138m from the “Shark” tees the green is set in a low lying area of the course with the ever-present creek providing an ominous threat left (see pic)
I also liked the P5 11th. (see pic) The driving zone is quite narrow with a rock face right and a creek left really testing your driving accuracy. The hole then bends slightly downhill to the left and one is faced with an unbunkered green with the creek following the tee all the way to and around the back of the hole.
The course officially opened only two months ago and was in good condition. The region where Cathedral Lodge is located had over 300mm of rain the week before I played it and you wouldn’t have known as there were only a few wet patches on the fairways.
Cathedral Lodge will be a very sort after location and many guests are helicoptered in. I thoroughly recommend a game if you are lucky enough to score an invite.

Spring Valley is located in the famous Sandbelt region of Melbourne. I categorise it as one of the best “Tier II” courses of that area ie: it is not in the class of Royal Melbourne or Kingston Heath but is still a strong course all the same.Originally designed by Vern Morcom it has undergone a big makeover and significant upgrade by the OCCM golf course design group. Mike Clayton and his team have over the years altered virtually all of the tees, greens and bunkers. Their tinkering has improved the overall quality of the course even though they left the original routing as such.Spring Valley isn’t blessed with undulating topography but make the most of what changes there are much like Kingston Heath.My favourite hole is the short P3 10th which requires an accurate tee shot as the green is surrounded by large and deep bunkers.The layout is quite tight in places but the quality of the design is impressive. At only 6,200m long Spring Valley will really test your driving accuracy and iron play. Often overlooked in the past due to the tip that was located nearby - that should not be the case anymore as it has been closed and will be replaced by a reserve. I thoroughly recommend a game at Spring Valley for those that venture to that area of Melbourne and believe you will not be disappointed.

The Vintage is the best course accessible to the general public in the Hunter Valley of NSW. A Greg Norman & Bob Harrison design it has a lot of their usual features: bold bunkering, use of natural features and a strong variety and collection of holes.There are plenty of elevation changes throughout the layout with the F9 being the tighter of the two. The B9 at The Vintage is more open and has a wetlands feel to it.The 7th is a P5 is flanked by a vineyard on the left hand side the full length of the hole. The 8th is a strong P3 across water with numerous tees to choose from to suit your ability.There is plenty of water on the B9 at The Vintage with the uphill slight dogleg right P4 18th the only hole without a lateral or water hazard on it.Chateau Elan at the resort has different accommodation types including hotel rooms and villas overlooking the course and vineyards. I can recommend a game at The Vintage when in the famous wine district of the Hunter Valley.

Perennially rated in Australia’s Top50 courses Magenta Shores is a must play when on the Central Coast of NSW. Magenta Shores is probably Ross Watson’s best design in his portfolio.The golf course has gone through a transformation over time. When Magenta Shores first opened back in 2006 deep fescue grass surrounded a lot of its bunkers. Many golf balls either were lost or caught in the long grass and the windswept site made golfing very difficult.Thankfully common sense prevailed and a lot of the fescue grass has been cut-back and/or removed completely making Magenta Shores immensurable more playable.The F9 has been built on the top of an old tip site and plenty of sand was moved to create the dunes and “links like” feel too many of the holes. The first few holes provide some great ocean views before the 8th through 10th are cramped on a small parcel of land near the housing estate.The B9 transitions into some very undulating property with the 13th through 15th being my favourite holes on the course adjacent to the National Park. The 16th through 18th are designed on open terrain and are routed in the same direction back towards the clubhouse.The ownership of the resort has passed through different hands over the years but I can recommend the villa style accommodation for any travelling golfer and their family.

Ellerston is one of the World’s most exclusive golf courses. It is built on the 70,000-acre private estate of the Packer family in the upper Hunter Valley of NSW. The Packers are one of Australia’s wealthiest families and made their fortune in the media and casino industries. The late Kerry Packer who was well renowned as a golf fan contracted Greg Norman back in 1999 to build him a tough and challenging golf course.Together with Bob Harrison, Norman did just that and unfortunately not too many people get the opportunity to play this amazing course. Access is next to impossible and many guests are helicoptered in. There is a strict no picture policy once on the property and one needs to respect that as it is after all the Packers own private country estate.Ellerston is built over some spectacular undulating land and is play is reserved for carts. Pages creek dominates the layout and the natural hazard is incorporated into many of the holes. The 6th green has been washed away numerous times due to floods but every time it is rebuilt in exactly the same location.To explain more about Ellerston the routing is as follows:1st = long relatively straight P5 with bunkers protecting the drive both left and tight. Pages creek is located in front of the green for those keen to try to reach the green in two.2nd = a great short P3 set against the creek.3rd = a long and testing dogleg right P4 with a second shot over a deep gully.4th = this P4 has a wide landing area that then doglegs left uphill to a very narrow green.5th = a demanding P4 with the green set at an oblique angle to the fairway.6th = a mid P3 protected by the creek to the left and bunkers to the right.7th = a long P4 with a tough drive – favours a draw off the tee then a fade into the green flanked by the creek on the right.8th = blind uphill P4 with the fairway cambering to the left. The second shot must carry over another deep gully.9th = a dramatic P5 with a severe downhill to the green. The green is hard to reach in two as the creek and trees protect the greensite.10th = uphill P5 with a lone tree left guarding the landing zone. The hole is bunkerless with a small creek crossing in front of the green.11th = downhill P4 and a cluster of trees right protect the drive. A front to back sloping green awaits.12th = uphill mid P3 with the green narrowing towards the back.13th = downhill then uphill P4 that doglegs right. Greensite situated at the top of a hill14th = a mid P4 with a heavily bunkered fairway15th = a steep drop-off P316 = hard dogleg left P4. The green is situated on an outcrop of land that falls to the left. Again, Pages creek protects the green which is unbunkered.17th = P5 with the tee accessed by a bridge. Creek follows the fairway left then crosses in front of the green.18th = long P4 with a wide landing area that narrows to the green.The only thing lacking for mine at Ellerston is a great short P4. Off the Championship tees the course is over 7,318m (8,000y) long. The mandate for the designers was to build a demanding golf course and that they did. In my opinion, Ellerston is the toughest golf course in Australia. Ellerston is kept in immaculate condition and is set-up for guests each day even if no-one plays it. I was fortunate to play 36 holes the day I was there and the maintenance crew re-cut the greens and hole locations between rounds!Ellerston has an amazing routing and a very strong collection of holes. It is wildly dramatic, provides great challenges off the tee and on the greens and will undoubtedly test your game if you ever get the opportunity to play there. An invite to Ellerston is both a treasure and a treat much like Augusta National I would presume.

Cruden Bay has a very unique 'Figure 8' design and probably the best 14 holes one could wish to play. I say 14 because the 1st two and last two are a bit of a let down when compared to the rest of the course but that said -  CB has a wonderful mix and variety of holes. The 4th has an idyllic setting and is one of the best Par3's in the UK and the 15th is similar to the 'Dell' at Lahinch - only 85 yards longer !! The Par4's 4 and 10 have amazing views from the tee and the Par5 6th places a premium on accuracy over power. The two short Par 4's on the F9 tempt you to attack them but their 'bite' can be lethal as is evident by the fact that Slains Castle (purportedly of Dracula fame) is a backdrop to the course. The course winds it's way through the dunes and all facets of your game will be tested when you play Cruden Bay - definitely recommend a visit. KP 9/10

I thoroughly enjoyed my round on the pure heathland layout but I'm sure I'm not alone when I came away thinking 'if only they could find another 300-400+ yards then they would have a fine Championship layout. It's difficulty definitely belies the Par 68 on the scorecard. What WSGC lacks in length is more than made up by strategic placement of heather and bunkers (especially on the doglegs) and I used my 3W and 3iron on a few holes to ensure I found the fairway. In particular I was impressed by the well renowned 6th but also long P3 12th and taken with the Par 4's = 13 and 14  were for mine the best stretch of holes on the course. The 4th and 5th were also lovely holes the later would be a great Par 3 (if only) it was a few yards longer ? 10 and 16 were also good doglegs left and right respectively. The course was well presented and overall the greens true and the only hole which I thought was 'lacking something' was the 1st which is a 'soft' opening hole. A classic heathland course - definitely worth a visit. KP 8.5

If ever a course requires you to bring your 'A Game' then this is it. It has the biggest and deepest bunkers that I've ever played out of - they have to be seen to be believed. Put simply this is a course that only should be played by 'decent' golfers otherwise you will have a very frustrating day. That said the Bracken Course is also on offer at Woodhall Spa and is a reasonable parkland layout. The Hotchkin has some great holes: P3's 5 + 12, P4's 11 + 13 and P5 9th are the stand-outs. Often compared to <A href="/golf-course/sunningdale-old" target=_self>Sunningdale</A> as the 'Best Inland' course in the UK - the Hotchkin is better value for your money (half the price!) and a must-play for all serious golfers who like a challenge. KP H=9 / B=6.5

Rye is a 'quirky' little links course and it definitely has the feel of a walk back in time. The combination of rock hard undulating fairways and wispy rough ensures the driver stays in the bag most of the day. The 4th is a fantastic 400+ yd  P4  with a 'table-top' fairway and a WW2 bunker overlooking the green. 7 is a great little P3 and 10 + 13 are solid Par4's the later having a long blind 2nd shot to an unbunkered green. 11 is a hole that's a little out of character with the rest of the course but strong holes like 17 (long P3) and 18 (long P4) underlay it's tough under-belly. It's a pity that it's not a little longer but I'm sure that the members are happy with things just the way they are. KP 8.5/10

Do whatever you can to grace the fairways of RD (due to it's Nth location you can play there very late at night in the summer) as you will not be disappointed. Portrush gets more accolades but for mine Dornoch is a better overall package. Superb linking of holes Par 3 6th, Par 5 9th + bunkerless Par 4 14th 'Foxy' are standouts. 'Crowned' greens ala D Ross (Pinehurst fame: above) are abundant and test your short game. Rating 9.5/10 KP