Course 32 for 2024 & 395 all-up: Noosa Golf Club, Qld
Beautiful green setting at the par5 16th
Nomadic_golfer : July 2024 – Noosa Golf Club, Qld, review
Par 72 6093m Slope 126 $75
4 par3s 135 – 182m, 10par4s 321 – 414m, 4 par5s 476 – 503m
This is a busy golf club with a very down-to-earth vibe, reinforced by the homely feeling of the clubhouse with its large deck overlooking the 18th green, 9th green and 1st tee. It was also the home of the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic and continues to host large local events.
The course started off as 9 holes with sand-scrapes in the mid 1930’s, and they were playing 18 grass greens by 1978. A $1m upgrade with input from Jack Newton, took place in 1999. They have now embarked on a renovation program, including enlarging the greens and enhancing the playing surfaces, which currently boast well-covered couch fairways, converting the greens to Tiff Eagle, and the tees to Zoysia.
As far as the layout and landscape goes, the lasting memory here is of the natural bush feel, the native fauna (roos and kookaburras prominent on my visit) and lots of small ponds that come into play. The tree-lined fairways are of standard width and errant tee shots are met with a variety of outcome, from those small ponds, to heavily wooded areas, to more lenient & less heavily wooded spots.
Most memorable holes for me were: 3 (slight right to left 410m par4 with a semi-blind pond guarding the right and back-sides of a bunkerless green); par5 14th (out of play on my visit, that snakes its way up to an interesting, undulating green with a pond short right that catches any miss right on a brave attempt at hitting the green in two); 15 (unique looking right to left par4 of 405m, small palm in middle, pinches in then opens up as green approaches, OB all the way down the left and no bunkers; and 18 (only 360m but index 3, left to right and slightly uphill but its all about the green complex – elevated, narrow with bunkers at the front gate both sides and a tier straight through the centre. Not to mention a deck full of people drinking beer and ‘cheering’ you on.
The three short par 3s, despite being all the same yardage of 135m, have some character: 5 has a shallow green and drop-off into a creek behind; 7 is played over a gully with steep drop offs and a pot bunker at the front, making front pins a real game here; and 12, which has a drop off on the front of a 2-tiered green and 2 bunkers guarding front, right side.
Overall, this is a solid layout in a beautiful Aussie setting with a great club atmosphere. While not quite in the same league as it’s big brother, the current returfing programs will elevate it further and grab some more of the tourist market I’m sure.
