Links at Hope Island (one of Thomson's better ones?

[ed_getka]

As I continue to research for my trip I came across this course in the courses by country section of the site. What do you guys who have seen it think of it?

[Mike_Clayton]

Ed

It's their best course in Australia.
It was build in some miserable swampy ground and most term it a 'links' - which it is not.
Typicaly there are lots of bunkers in the middle of fairways which makes for a lot of interesting strategies,lots of mounding and they employed their usual style pot bunkers.
If you go to the Golf Coast - which if you are playing golf in Australia is not really worth it ahead of fully exploring Melbourne,Adelaide and Barnbougle - it is the course to play.

[ed_getka]

Mike,
  I think that is what they call damning with faint praise. No worries, I wasn't going there anyway, at least not on this trip since it never showed up on any of the 15 lists you guys suggested when I asked for recommendations.
  Where would you put Ranfurlie on your recommended list? Don't be modest. Have you done any other projects that you would recommend ahead of Ranfurlie?

[Mike_Clayton]

Ed.

I would put Ranfurlie about 10th in Melbourne - but if it was in any other Australian city it would be a lot closer to the top of the list
It is worth seeing if you want to see our work.


Hope Island is strategically very interesting to play - I'm not a great fan of the look of the work but the shots are really fun.
I assume you are going to Peninsula and Portsea - which are the two best major redesigns we have done.

[Andrew Thomson]

Ed,

While I agree with Mike that it's easily Thomson's best work in Australia I can't agree that it's the pick of the bunch in the area.  Perhaps on the Gold Coast but not in SEQ.

I'll state my bias now as a member, but I'd rate Robina Woods as a better course than Hope Island, Hope Island has suffered with a change of grass that has taken away some of the interesting shots in recent years.  The Gold Coast has about 10 tracks that will all charge $100 AU and be worth $20 at the most, I'd skip it for sure unless of course you'd like to visit me in Brisbane.

The best course in the region is likely to be Brookwater, but there is also a private course called Indooroopilly which has East and West.  Their composite course is superb but is rarely played due to the routing ruling out any decent use for the remaining 18 holes.  Royal QLD is currently undergoing renovation and redesign by Mike and I've nominated for membership there as a result, hopefully he doesn't let me down!

Having said all that, if your trip is purely for golfing purposes I'd give QLD a wide berth, if you're actually on a holiday and would like to see some beautiful scenery QLD is a must.

To be honest I don't think there's a course in QLD that I'd have in the Top 30 in Australia.  Brookwater and Indooroopilly Composite perhaps could knock on the door.

PS: Mike is being modest - I had my first game at Ranfurlie 3 weeks ago and it's superb.  Perhaps 8th in Melbourne if I include Kingston Heath above it which I haven't played.

[tonyt]

Ed,

On the way back into town from either St Andrews Beach or National, it is worth a drive to at least take a good look at Ranfurlie, perhaps instead of devoting a full game there.

[Mike_Clayton]

Andrew.

Hopefully Royal Queensland will be worthy of a place amongst the better courses in the country.
I think if you like Ranfurlie you will enjoy RQ. The site better and the holes we have done so far have turned out pretty well - and they were on the worst of the ground around the old practice fairway.

It does surprise me how many Queensland courses are charging more than Barnbougle for 18 holes.

[Andrew Thomson]

the site simply isn't for golf Mark.

It's fun to play, but if you're looking for any architectural stimulation you're better of reading a book in the mcmansion clubhouse.

It was better 10 years ago when it had bent greens, but only slightly.