Blog 143 – Barossa Valley

Nomadic_golfer : October 2021

Par 72, 6026m Blue, slope 123, $30-$40 green fee

5 par3s 144-210m, 8 par4s 298-381m, 5 par5s 430-477m Blue

This Vern Morcom design that was converted from scrapes to greens in the early 90s sits in a lovely bush setting on a sand-based, slightly undulating and wooded landscape. There are a few pines around the place, lots of medium sized gums surrounding generous fairways with penalties for missing on the less harsh side.

The bentgrass greens were excellent, firm and quite quick, and probably represent the greatest challenge on the course. Ensuring you don’t miss on the high side is critical on a number of holes, the par 5 5th the most severe of these with the green running steeply from front right to back left. The 5 x par5 and 5 par3 layout also favours good scoring. Fairway cover is unusual, it looks like a couch base with some pesky Paramatta Grass growing faster, giving a few fluffy lies, along with some bare patches on naturally firm surfaces.

The par 3s were the highlight for me, and a real diverse group at that. A tough 175m to a small, slopey green on 3; 152m index 18 in a picturesque tree-filled setting on 6; another tough 181m to a well protected and slick green on 12; a pretty setting amongst a chute of pines on the 144m 15th; culminating in the devilishly difficult 210m 17th set amongst trees and mounds, on which my playing partner advised ‘you can’t miss this one left or right!’

Overall, this is a nice course in a lovely setting with excellent greens. Combine this course, with it’s 2 big Barossa brothers in Sandy Creek & Tanunda Pines, and its golf trip material. And throw in some great atmosphere with a most hospitable and friendly group of members in the Saturday comp.

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