Course 69, Tenterfield, NSW
Nice layout, good condition – 12th hole my favourite in region
Nomadic_golfer : October 2020
Par 71, 5693m, slope 116, green fee $25
5 par 3s from 134-178m, 10 par 4s from 244-388m, 4 par 5s from 440-516m
Saddle up for a game here
It was early October and we were still loving our Kaiiwi Estate base, just out of Glen Innes. An hour north is the iconic town of Tenterfield, where Sir Henry Parkes delivered his Federation Speech in 1889. Peter Allen was born here and he put it on the map, with his award winning 1972 song ‘Tenterfield Saddler’.
This is the best conditioned course in the region with tight knit kikuyu fairways (just brought back preferred lies) and bent greens with really good cover but not quick. It seems like they have access to more water than the other clubs. Trees are predominantly pines and poplars, majority of fairways are lined with trees but not thick at all. It’s not long (remember we are still at altitude also), and misses are not penalised too much so it is a course to score well on.
Very soft opening with first 3 holes all par 4s under 320; you can get a real hot start. There are some interesting holes, even in that soft start. The best of the short par 4’s is the 2nd (318m down hill right to left with OB left and poplars right and bunkers on each side of green, plays much shorter than yardage), while I also like 17 at 295m right to left also, has a bit of risk and reward too. However, there are two standout par 4s in: 5 (388m right to left, two big pines on inside corner, fairway at reverse camber and more big pines as you approach the green so don’t get too cheeky from the tee); and 12 (absolute ripper of a hole; best in the region and 2 main photos here. 384m downhill with blind tee-shot over brow, wide fairway with OB another 20m wide, thicker trees down left, then flattens out to a green in a pocket of pines with water hazard short right. Best approach is from left, so best to take on the bigger trees and aim down left. Great aesthetically and strategically).
Overall, an enjoyable track, not too difficult but well worth the $25.
