Oh, and while I'm at it, I thought I would add the unedited comments on three selected courses that I sent to Golf Australia:
Some Comments on Selected Courses
BARNBOUGLE DUNES
Some may be surprised at the high entry of this new links course in Tasmania, but this surprise I can assure you will only be from those who haven’t played it yet. Doak and Clayton have crafted a fascinating course over a piece of genuine linksland that appears as if it has been flown in from Ireland and plonked down in Tassie. For me, the greens are the highlight of the course and the decision to grass them in the same Fescues as the tees and fairways makes them appear simply as if they have been ‘mown out’ of the existing terrain, and not built by man – the highest compliment I think you can give a golf course. Putting here is fun, with many borrows, banks, ridges, shelves and hollows to conquer. The highlight for me is the green on the par three 13th – a homage from the architects to Dr Mackenzie’s 18th green at Sitwell Park in England – a tumbling green that falls severely through many levels from back to front. Hit the green on a different level from the pin and three putts may just be as good as you can do. This is British seaside golf at its best – and the flight is a lot shorter!
BARWON HEADS
This is a personal favourite of mine. The atmosphere on the course and in the clubhouse is pure golf and the links feel is being enhanced by a number of subtle alterations the Club is gradually introducing (and here I must declare an interest as my partner Paul Mogford and myself are guiding the Club with these changes), including lengthening the course by around 160 metres to 5914m for its par of 70. It is rarely calm here and the wind speed and direction influence play most significantly. Course Superintendent Peter Frewin keeps it in immaculate condition and the course earns its place at number 15 in my list.
GLENELG
A 7 year redevelopment is now complete and the remodelled Glenelg course is proving to be Adelaide’s most difficult course relative to its par. Together with tournament promoter Bob Tuohy, I have overseen this redevelopment and it has been a rewarding process to see our vision unfold. The course is strategically bunkered with sod revetted bunkers that give the course a distinctive links character. Bushes and shrubs have been removed to give the course an improved sense of spaciousness and these have been replaced by native grasses and reeds that add to the overall character. It remains a playable course for the members on a daily basis, but the course par has been reduced to 71 while the length has increased to 6267m from the back tees. The redevelopment has seen the playing surfaces improved considerably, with the old Kikuyu fairways and Poa greens replaced by fast and true couch fairways and bentgrass greens. The course is viewed by many good judges as the best kept in Adelaide, a credit to Daryl Sellar the golf course superintendent. A strict test of golf that earns a top thirty position in my list.
Neil Crafter
September 2005