Golf Golf Course rankings, and general golf course chat thread

[Bicco]

I’d have Hamilton Island in that list.

Exceptional course.

Our pro reckons it's the toughest course he's ever played.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Our pro reckons it's the toughest course he's ever played.

I normally his between 80-85.

I hit 99 and lost about 12 balls.

 

[Pres]

I hit 99 and lost about 12 balls.

I have heard so many stories like this.

Add on the $160 green fee and the mandatory cart due to the un-walkability and I'll happily pass.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I have heard so many stories like this.

Add on the $160 green fee and the mandatory cart due to the un-walkability and I'll happily pass.

I was fortunate to not have to pay a cent to play. Thanks family.

The balls were also supplied by a local who was a friend of the family.

Otherwise, it’s a costly exercise.

Worth every cent though, had I have to have paid.

 

[toxic]

 

[peternorth]

thanks for the link!

 

[BackOnOurPerch]

What an insightful (as always) piece by Clayton. He really nails it here.
"Pine Valley in New Jersey is thought the finest layout in the world and it’s the one course I’ve played where every hole is a truly great hole. It is though, hardly the ideal because it was unashamedly built for excellent players. Royal Melbourne’s composite, by contrast, is manageable by all with a modicum of competence."
Also.
"And who wants difficult golf when the average handicap is 18?"

He truly understands that a golf course is meant to be played by golfers of varying skill levels.

 

[peternorth]

What an insightful (as always) piece by Clayton. He really nails it here.
"Pine Valley in New Jersey is thought the finest layout in the world and it’s the one course I’ve played where every hole is a truly great hole. It is though, hardly the ideal because it was unashamedly built for excellent players. Royal Melbourne’s composite, by contrast, is manageable by all with a modicum of competence."
Also.
"And who wants difficult golf when the average handicap is 18?"

He truly understands that a golf course is meant to be played by golfers of varying skill levels.

I have spoken with clayts many times. He’s a polarising person but I find him very nice.

 

[Pres]

Also as a magazine rater how on earth are you realistically meant to factor in condition into your assessment?

Eg I see RM West in the middle of winter and the Legend couch is soft and the join line with the fescue surrounds stands out like dogs balls. Then I see it for the Presidents Cup when they've had 50-70 people priming the course for 4 weeks and it looks like something out of a fairytale and there is no better conditioned course on earth. What score am I meant to put down for conditioning?

 

[Pres]

I have spoken with clayts many times. He’s a polarising person but I find him very nice.

Here's someone who clearly has problems with Clatys!

Golf - Your latest Round?

Welcome to the all things golf. USER HANDICAP MEMBER COURSE BEST ROUND Bicco 6.2 Royal Hobart 76 TennisPlayerAndy 6.4 Heidelberg 73 Tiimmbo 8.3 Royal Fremantle 78 tigland 7.6 13th Beach 73/44pts buttsauce 9.3 Leongatha South 76 toxic 10.8 Howlong 71 Planet14...

www.bigfooty.com

As an aside that post did not age well. Royal Canberra improved 50 spots between the 2014 and 2018 lists post the renovation!

 

[BackOnOurPerch]

Also as a magazine rater how on earth are you realistically meant to factor in condition into your assessment?

Eg I see RM West in the middle of winter and the Legend couch is soft and the join line with the fescue surrounds stands out like dogs balls. Then I see it for the Presidents Cup when they've had 50-70 people priming the course for 4 weeks and it looks like something out of a fairytale and there is no better conditioned course on earth. What score am I meant to put down for conditioning?

Hah! I seem to recall that 10-11 years ago RMW got knocked off its perch by KH due to its poor conditioning as a result of the drought.
Don't know which magazine did that but there it was. I may be wrong, but the other magazine saw through the conditioning and assessed RMW on its architectural merits.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I played the East course at Royal Melbourne and was less impressed with that compared to Huntingdale.

 

[peternorth]

Also as a magazine rater how on earth are you realistically meant to factor in condition into your assessment?

Eg I see RM West in the middle of winter and the Legend couch is soft and the join line with the fescue surrounds stands out like dogs balls. Then I see it for the Presidents Cup when they've had 50-70 people priming the course for 4 weeks and it looks like something out of a fairytale and there is no better conditioned course on earth. What score am I meant to put down for conditioning?

Great question. I mean, what if youre there and a storm has come through, or its been stinking hot. oh well.

and during the pres (not you haha) cup they prob painted the course green to suit the pga tv people

 

[Pres]

and during the pres (not you haha) cup they prob painted the course green to suit the pga tv people

Funny you say that. Big rumour that a lot of green dye was used.

 

[Pres]

Hah! I seem to recall that 10-11 years ago RMW got knocked off its perch by KH due to its poor conditioning as a result of the drought.
Don't know which magazine did that but there it was. I may be wrong, but the other magazine saw through the conditioning and assessed RMW on its architectural merits.

That was probably a one off given the drought of the late 2000's (around the period that led to Black Saturday). Basically RM ran out of water and had to pay to ship it in and the course really got dry and beaten up.

That period led to most of the sandbelts panicking and building mega-dams. Often with poor architectural results for the golf course (eg Victoria, Commonwealth).

 

[toxic]

I played the East course at Royal Melbourne and was less impressed with that compared to Huntingdale.

I rate Metropolitan above both RME and Huntingdale

 

[Pres]

Other than the sublime conditioning I've never really been able to get the Metropolitan love.

 

[toxic]

Other than the sublime conditioning I've never really been able to get the Metropolitan love.

Personally found it one of the best tests of my golf game I've experienced

 

[peternorth]

Funny you say that. Big rumour that a lot of green dye was used.

no doubt it was imho

 

[Pykie]

I rate Metropolitan above both RME and Huntingdale

Huntingdale - yes.

RME - No way.


Just got back from a trip to Barnbougle.


Actually liked Lost Farm more than The Dunes.

Lost Farm reminded me a lot of Ballybunion in Ireland, which is ranked about 25th in the world and the course Whistling Straights design was based on.

 

[Pykie]

Other than the sublime conditioning I've never really been able to get the Metropolitan love.

I'm a bit the same, I've probably played it 15 odd times.

I have it on the same level as Woodlands, both excellent courses, but a rung down from the very top.

 

[peternorth]

And Australian Golf Digests top 10

1. RM West
2. Cape Wickham
3. Kingston Heath
4. Barnbougle Dunes
5. NS Wales
6. PK North
7. Lost Farm
8. RM East
9. Victoria (no second word)
10. Ellerston (no second word)

 

[Bicco]

And Australian Golf Digests top 10

1. RM West
2. Cape Wickham
3. Kingston Heath
4. Barnbougle Dunes
5. NS Wales
6. PK North
7. Lost Farm
8. RM East
9. Victoria (no second word)
10. Ellerston (no second word)

Peninsula will be stoked.

 

[peternorth]

Peninsula will be stoked.

Indeed we are ️

 

[juss]

Have been looking at different golf trips now that I've saved some leave and money because a holiday has been cancelled, probably aiming to go around September - December when domestic travel has hopefully opened up.

Looking at either around Sunshine Coast, Newcastle or Perth, or any other Aussie destinations outside VIC. Looking for public or semi private courses or courses that aren't mega fancy or too elitist for visitors.