Blog 239 – Warwick

Nomadic_golfer : April 2023

Par 69, 5601m slope 114 $32

6 par3s 119-183m, 9 par4s 322-405m, 3 par5s 427-522m

This is an interesting course just out of the Southern Qld town on the side of a moderately sloping hill. There is no real use of the slope through dramatic elevation change, rather a constant slope over the whole property which does influence distance on many holes. Gum-tree lined fairways with a mix of tight and generous widths, overall quite standard. The trees are tall and pervasive but not too thick, so there is some escape.

Condition was pretty good, with the 328 Bermuda greens quite consistently smooth with a tinge of brown and the predominantly kikuyu fairways firm underfoot but with plenty of cover. There is some variety in the green complexes, with the odd tier, swale, mound, water hazard around the place and a moderate number of bunkers, including some of the fairway variety.

The par 69 track consists of 6 par 3s and 3 par 5s and for me, the 3s as a group were the highlight with good variety of length, direction and features. The 173m 5th and 134m 7th are the pick of the holes on the front, while the 185m 9th is tough, bordering on unfair; uphill with trees flanking both sides and a firm, raised table top green to boot – a par 3 1/2 deal.

It seemed like the back 9 had more of the distinguishing features, with my favourite 2 holes on the course being the 369m 12th (downhill, left to right with fairway bunkers on the outside corner which is the best line to approach the green which is tucked a little right, guarded by a gum. The green is quite narrow and drops off on the left but its greatest defence is the reed-filled pond which abutts the back and right side of the green, reinforced by some sleepers. There is a bunker short, right too – its a ripper of a green complex ) and the 522m par5 15th (undoubtedly the signature hole here – downhill with a slight left to right about it, with a large dam starting at about 250, that covers about 100m in length and is backed up by a small dam that starts where this one ends. The right side is full of gums and the green is tucked back around to the right so you do need to take on those dams down the left to get a look at it. There is also an OB fence long and left, a creek that crosses the fairway 50m short of the green and another pond, green high on the right for good measure. There is a lot going on here, it is packed full of features and makes stunning viewing as you come down the fairway and as you look back up the hole from the green and admire the horses being trained in the facility across the road).

Overall, this is a fun course; its well maintained, provides beautiful Aussie bush views, gives you plenty of lattitude on most of the par4s, chucks in some fun par3s and just when you think its getting a little bland, gives you the 15th – one of my favourite par5s on this tour. And a big call-out to local pro Troy, who has been there for 30 years but displays the enthusiasm of someone just starting out; a very hospitable dude.