[Jason Topp]

  Because my family was at the Zoo I had a free afternoon in Melbourne.  I drove around to look at some of the sand belt courses I was not playing on the trip and decided to see if I could play Woodlands, which they kindly allowed me to do.

  Perhaps because I did not know what to expect, I was shocked at how wonderful the course is.  It is in terrific condition, has a wonderful variety of holes, terrific bunkering and very challenging, small greens.  The club website gives a description of the holes  http://www.woodlandsgolf.com.au/guests/holes.mhtml

  The terrain is relatively flat, but not completely so.  Holes that stood out to me included:

The 3rd - 300 meter par four - A slight dogleg right with a wide fairway.  Despite this width, the player is tempted to be aggressive with the tee shot because the green is so small and well defended by bunkers.

The 4th - 251 Meter Par 4 - pretty wide open hole without any bunkers in play.  The green makes the hole interesting because it is very narrow from side to side, making a birdie difficult from the side of the green.  This hole design could be created anywhere and I would like to see holes of this type more often.

The 17th - 151 meter par three - terrific green that uses bunkers and a slope off of the left side to punish a wayward tee shot.

  My pictures were not the best, except this one of the
16th Green from 17 tee.  I think it captures the essence of the place.



  If I lived in Melbourne, this seemed like the club I would most like to join.  The course seems endlessly fascinating, very challenging and I liked the feel of the place.  
   

[James Bennett]

Jason

I enjoy the balance of Woodlands holes.  Two of the par 5's are 3 shotters (#6 and #15) of quality whilst the other two (#2 and #18) are more par 4.5's (although I am always happy to get a 5 there).  There are several short 4's (#3, #4 and #13, although #7 is quite short also).

Woodlands is almost the poster child for a course that is defended at the green.  The greens are very firm, and very fast, and generally play small.  Take a longer play from the tee andget the wrong line, and you can be short sided.

I also like the #5 par 3 - a wonderful hole over what is probably flattish ground, although it doesn't seem so.

Another intersting feature of the routing is the proximity of greens several holes apart.  You keep returning to similar parts of the course, even though you weren't expecting to (because of the change in difrection involved throughout the routing).  Examples are greens #3 and #8, with tees 4 and #9.  Also greens #7 and #13 with the tee #8.

In a recent publication, I think I saw a comment from a senior ustralian Golf Union official commenting that they would like to play an Australian Open at Woodlands.  It has certainly hosted the Victorian open in years gone by, and has always been revered.  As I understand it, Woodlands is 'the southern edge' of the sandbelt in Melbourne.

James B

PS  what did you think of the adjacent Morrabin airport?  The noise of the small planes is bearable, but the constant flow of such small planes can be quite intriguing.  Where are they all flying too?

[Mike_Clayton]

Jason,
I'm glad you enjoyed Woodlands - It's the most underrated course in Australia and great fun to play.
15 is a fantastic par five with multiple secod shot options and a really difficult pitch to the green.

[Shane Gurnett]

Woodlands is probably the most underrated course in the country. A very good mix of short and long holes, small greens, decent bunkering. You will use every club in your bag playing there.



3rd hole, dogleg right, taken from the inside of the dogleg.

Jason what condition were the greens in? I last played there about a month ago and they were very soft and slow which was defeating the strategy somewhat as you could bomb it on the green from just about anywhere, which is most UnWoodlands like.

[Jason Topp]

James:

Thanks for the added description.  I had heard about the airplanes, but was surpised that they were all small and did not fly directly over the course when I was there.

In Minneapolis, many of the more famous courses are right under the pathway for the big airport and are much more of a distraction.

[Jason Topp]

Shane:

The greens were a bit slower and softer than other courses and the pro was a bit apologetic about that.  I thought they putted fine and were much more firm than the typical US course.  I can imagine the course would be much more difficult if they were in normal condition.

[James Bennett]

Jason

small is overstating the size of the planes.  One and two eseaters are common, with an occasional 6 seater.  I have been there when both runways are being used, and they are launching over the course.  One runway is close to the #6 par 5, whilst the other is more along #15 par 5.

As I tried to imply, it is quirky rather than offputting.  I haven't seen a 'jet plane' take off, just lots of small propeller craft.

James B

[David_Elvins]

Shane,

I played there on Sunday.  The greens wer still slower and softer than usual (though apparently firmer than they had been).  To my untrained eye it seems like they are making sure that they will be perfect for the Vic Open in a few weeks, gradually getting them firmer and shorter without risking the health of the grass in the meantime.

And I agree with everyone else.  Fantastic understated and under-rated golf course.  

Jason,
You are right.  THe 4th hole is a great example of what can be done to make an interesting hole on relatively uninteresting land.    Graeme Grant writes a great article on it in Paul Daley's book "Favorite Holes by Design".  When the greens are firm at tournament time, the scores are all over the place.  Plenty of 6s, 7s, and 8s, to go along with a few 2s and 3s.  It is no good driving pin high if you are not straight on to the green.

[Jason Topp]

Graeme Grant writes a great article on it in Paul Daley's book "Favorite Holes by Design".  

Of course, the only Paul Daley book I do not own.  

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