Blog 330 – Mareeba

Nomadic_golfer : June 2026 – Mareeba GC, Qld,review

Par 72 6002m Slope 118 $30

4 par3s 142-182m, 10 par4s 281-395m, 4 par5s 470-516m

A surprisingly good quality 18 hole course on predominantly flat land, just inside town limits of this FNQ town, at 400m above seal level, population 12k, an hour inland from Cairns.

There is a slight, but noticeable difference in the land that the front 9 and last 3 holes sit on, to the holes 10-15. The front 9 and last 3 sit on dead flat land, with a shallow (dry on my visit) drain running across it, bordering on a wide-open feeling, with flat fairways, generous landing areas, sparsely populated trees (dominated by 20-30m pale-trunked gums) and generally long golf holes. The first 6 of the back 9 sit in the extreme North-East corner of the property, on land with some undulation and modest slopes. Fairways are narrower, trees more heavily populated (less ghost-gums) and there is more onus on accuracy than length off the tee.While both 9s have pars of 36 with the standard 2 par5s and 2 3s, the front measures 3142m, while the back is only 2860.

Consistent throughout the 18 holes are the firm & fast fairways (season dependent in FNQ), small to medium size, moderately elevated greens, with good putting surfaces, that were also firm and quick. The greens do exhibit great variation of shape, size and make-up, with some really quirky small/ narrow greens, especially on the back 9. The last 3 are real eye-openers (really small green on par5 16, very narrow & crowned green on short par4 17, and another very small green on 18, the most elevated green on the course with the only 2 bunkers on the course (one hidden). That 18th hole is a little weird, looks like its part of a different golf course, there must be 10 different tree-types on it and when you get up onto the elevated green complex and see the hidden bunker, you are left scratching your head. .

I really liked the 395m par4 7th, playing long into the prevailing breeze, shallow drain cutting across the fairway 20m short of the elevated green, but what grabbed me was the cleverly designed par5s, all with something to be revealed as you make your way down the hole. 1 is 516m that gives you some width to start with, and isn’t too penal on a miss off the tee. It looks like a gentle handshake but then the subtleties on the approach play a big part – large gum on left 50m out isn’t too subtle but the diagonally-placed grassy mound 20m out, short & right, then the crowned green with more mounds left and drop-off right, all ensure you plan where you leave your 2nd, then execute an accurate pitch. 5 is 481m that narrows up between two gums at around 230m from the tee, where it turns right and heads straight for the next 200m, where you are greeted with gums on either side of the approach and that (blind) drain cutting diagonally across the front of the green. 16 is 470m and you feel like you are in an open paddock from the tee, just avoid OB well right. Then trees line both sides from 150m off the tee and it still feels quite bland. But once the green and surrounds come in sight, you discover a ‘ring’ of ghost gums that circle about 225 degrees of the green, starting at just centre-left of fairway. Relax as much as you like with the tee shot, but the second must be centre right as the really small, elevated green must be attacked from the fairway, and that side. The last is funky, and I’m still scratching my head.

I thought the course was really interesting. It feels like a really good test of golf; demands some length, while asking you to be precise on occasions and attack from the right side on others. There is good variation of hole lengths, shapes, and composition; and they come in clumps. Oh, and btw my late Saturday arvo round revealed the most roos I have ever seen on a golf course, they quote 400 that call it home!! .