Course 7 for 2022 – Richmond GC, Richmond, Tas
On the 1st/ 10th tee 340/ 360m par4
Challenging layout with spectacular views. Some fitness required
Nomadic_golfer : January 2022
Par 66, 4782m, slope 106, $20 green fee
4 par3s 105-193m, 12 par4s 205-369m, 2 par5s 437&463m
This is the hilliest 9 holes I’ve experienced. Set on the side of a hill, 1/2 way between Hobart and the historic town of Richmond, this is a well maintained (the bentgrass greens were pure, but not quick) track that has beautiful views across Coal River from the clubhouse and around the course.
The one characteristic that is permanently on your mind is the change in elevation. The gradient on 4 or 5 of these holes is immense and has a huge impact on your club selection and driver-carry. The 340m first is the steepest: I would think this hole would get driven regularly by golfers who normally hit it ~250. Those same golfers are hitting hybrids for their 2nds into the 343m 5th, which is a beautiful snaking hole played away from the river into an elevated green with a diagonal row of pines as a background. And it is a bloody good walk, 18 holes here is very good exercise.
Fairways are typically on the narrow side and between rows of medium size trees, mainly gums. The fairway grasses and rough are soft, so there isn’t unlimited run on those downhill holes. Greens are small, with 2 or 3 very shallow or narrow greens, while there aren’t any bunkers. The green on the 275m 7th is particularly shallow and at the end of a very steep, short uphill par4 requiring a blind pitch, many balls will end up on the hill over the back!
There are 3 par3s and 6 par4s in a par of 66, and with those small greens and sloping surfaces, and club selection tricky, scoring is tough.
Overall, this is an experience you wouldn’t take on without a good level of fitness or a cart. But it should be pursued, surfaces are neat and there is much to be learnt here about varying trajectories and lengths as you move up and downhill; not just from tee to green but on those short pitches and chips. Greatest of all time hills, and on a Friday morning there was a large posse of volunteers working on maintenance and some course improvements.
