As a member at a club boasting an RTJ Jr course, ( The National, Cape Schanck, Australia, opened 1988 ), I feel a certain obligation to post here. I’ve played several RTJ Jr courses (almost exclusively in the USA), in addition to his work at my club. In this post, I’ll refer solely to his work at The National. For those interested, I’m in the middle of an essay on the course, which will hopefully find it’s way onto the My Home Course page here at GCA.)
The land on which Trent Jones Jr’s course at Cape Schanck is situated, is grand to say the least. (Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the Australian mainland, is but a quarter mile away). It had been lying under a thick coverage of tea-trees and Moonah trees, prior to construction. The task of finding a course among the thick vegetation must have been quite difficult. When playing, I never cease to be amazed at how RTJ Jr did what he did in mapping out the course. The topography of the land is dramatic in parts, with broad sweeping valleys, and some abrupt peaks and climbs. Some designers would have really struggled to do as good a job, over some segments of the land.
The National Old (as it is now known, courtesy of recent construction of two additional courses on the property) is a stunningly beautiful course. Many teeing grounds and greensites afford breathtaking views of the entire Mornington Peninsula. RTJ Jr has carefully maximized access to such stunning scenery with course routing and other design facets, while designing a course where the quality and integrity of the game is not compromised.
At The National, Robert Trent Jones Jr has designed a course which a past club captain once referred to as “a dramatic, difficult son-of-a-bitch”. The course is subject to winds, which are often wildly variable in intensity and direction, during a four-hour round.
It boasts a wonderful, challenging, and soundly blended group of par 3’s. Par 5’s are solid, interesting, and provide plenty of strategy, with all reachable in two, with the right wind, and two good shots. The collection of 4’s is very strong. Great dog-leg holes, short two-shotters, as well as longer par fours, demanding exacting play. Combined, all 18 holes provide tremendous challenges, thrills, and great fun. A vast array of shots is called for during the journey, and each hole is enjoyable, and different in character. The 90-minute drive to the course from the city of Melbourne quickly passes, when the mind wanders through what shots will be played later that day.
The bunkering is grand and befits such a dramatic and expansive site. The course plays tough but fair. Driving zones are deceptively wide. Skilled short games are needed with missed greens. RTJ Jr has expressed his love of the aussie spirit, and our thirst for a sporting challenge. This is captured this within his work at Cape Schanck.
Some detractors identify RTJ Jr’s penchant for steep and unnatural looking ridges within some of his putting surfaces, so as to make ‘greens within greens’ within some shorter / easier holes. I appreciate the negativity here (to some extent). Critics will be glad to see the ridges have softened a touch through the last 15 years. Additionally, green surfaces have been maintained so as to make the putting less hair-raising.
In trying to sum up RTJ Jr’s work as a designer, and not merely describe the product of a beautiful site, and a host of combined factors, I’m reminded of a friend’s oft-used saying - “there’s not a weak hole out there”. If this course were in America, you guys would rave about it. I am completely comfortable in my objective assessment of this course, despite the obvious link to my home club. No serious golfing trip to Melbourne is complete, without a visit to The National. It is home to one of RTJ Jr’s finest efforts, and one upon which any designer could proudly hang their hat.
Matthew