Blog 5 – Kingston SE

Course no.5 – Kingston SE, Sth Aust

Down on the windy South East coastline of SA is this well manicured all-year golf course. It rates higher on the condition scale than the interesting layout measure and has these somewhat unique, thick and grassy surrounds that substitute for bunkers and are very difficult to get ‘up and down’ from….

Nomadic_golfer : January 2020

Par 72, 6066m, slope 118, $30 green fee

4 par 3s from 162 – 198m, 10 par 4s from 325 – 380m, 4 par 5s from 469 – 502m

Lots of water gets poured onto this course through summer, with the green playing areas providing stark contrast to the straw-like surrounds. The couch fairways were lush and soft, while the bent grass greens were very smooth, but slow. A fair bit of repetition with the par 4s; 6 of them between 350 and 360 metres and the 3 starting holes were all a bit similar. No bunkers but mounds and grassy hollows (thick) which may be more difficult than sand.  Highlights are 4 (198m Par 3 with unusual large bowl shaped green that keeps the ball on the green), 11 (502m par 5 that turns sharp left well after the driving area. I was about to criticize it for not giving a “go for it” option, but there is one; very high 2nd required over towering pines; ultimate risk/ reward) and 16 (380m par 4 and no. 1 index, strong hole with a very tight tee shot but gutter shaped fairway helps you out. It’s then a tough 2nd up a slight hill to a green with a sharp drop off on the right). Overall, not as good a design as a Casterton, but better condition. It’s tricky to get up and down around here.