Course 38 for 2023 – Gardiner’s Run, Vic
The 148m 16th, classic Gardiner’s green complex & pine backdrop
Nomadic_golfer : November 2023 – Gardiner’s Run Golf Club, Lilydale, Vic, review
Par 72, 6210m slope 130 $50
4 par3s 148-175m, 10 par4s 304-389m, 4 par5s 493-518m
Property developer money from the sale of the old Chirnside Park Country Club in Victoria’s Yarra Valley (Lilydale), funded this new, opening in 2014. There are some mild elevation changes, tree-plantings separating holes, and a number of water hazards which combined, give it a resort-like feel. It is a very solid track, generous off the tee, gently undulating terrain, it’s well bunkered, has large greens but almost runs with just 2 templates for greens, with a) an hour-glass and b) clover shaped, greens and similar looking bunkering.
Tree-lined fairways with trouble both in the air and on the ground (more sand and ending up in the trees rather than trees impeding progress). It was quite soft underfoot as we experienced a fair bit of rain nearing the end of Spring in Melbourne.
It is a super-strong start, and it pays to be well warmed up before the first tee. The no.1 index, 365m par4 opener sets the scene with some fantastic fairway bunkers on the inside right corner, while the snaking, undulating 500m 2nd tests whether you brought your A-grade ball-striking game with you as it is unforgiving on anything that isn’t straight. If you didn’t, there’s a 150m par3 with a water-carry on 3 to test your nerve. 4 is a tough, uphill 380m par4, before the first chance to take a breath, the 304m 5th. And it is a super, short 4. Downhill, with a blind tee-shot over a crest, which lands on a downhill slope, which either helps you toward the putting surface if you fluked one straight, or into the drink if you hoiked it left. It might pay to noodle an iron down there short of the crest if you are in need of a settling par! (as I was, but didn’t!!)
The par 3s are very strong. After 3, the 175m 7th with front and left surrounded by sand and a ridge through the green, leaves no room for anything but a well-struck mid to long iron, the 166m 11th plays long, with a massive bunker short, extending up the right, drawing your eye from the tee and the slightly uphill 148m 16th has a tiered-green and some excellent bunkering, which is even more effective with any right-side pin.
18 is an interesting finishing hole too – at 380m with a blind tee shot over a crest before turning downhill and left to a green surrounded by water at the back and sides. Any following breeze can make this hole play much shorter, with well struck drives running hard down that hill, getting very close to the green – it does give some incentive to let one rip on the last. The Santa Anna fairways had excellent cover and after a bit of dry weather would be pretty good, while the bent greens were very consistent.
Overall, this is a good test of golf, has many characteristics of a very good golf course and has nice playing surfaces. The one detractor is the cookie-cutter feel about the green complexes.
