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Mark Chaplin

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Golfing Down Under
« on: January 24, 2008, 04:56:43 PM »
I will be taking a month long trip to Australia and New Zealand next March/April and should be able to sneak in a game in Sydney a couple in Melbourne and one or two in NZ.

Firstly, is it relatively easy to secure a time at NSW? We should be staying in the clubhouse at RS in Rose Bay so I believe NSW is only 30 mins or so in a cab. Where would you recommend if NSW is unavailable? I've played RS a couple of times so would like to try something new.

Likewise with Kingston Heath is it easy'ish to get on? Failing this where else on the sandbelt do you recommend? I love Metro and have played there several times but would like to hit a new venue.

I will spend a day at RM and can host up to 3 guests so would like to hook up with some of our GCA cousins, play some golf, eat some decent food and drink the tiny beers you boys struggle with!

Where do we recommend in NZ? I will probably visit both islands with an ocassional golfing mate and our non-golfing better halves so will not want to pay mega $$$ or drive for miles just for golf.

Sadly BD will have to wait for another trip.

Chappers
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Cave Nil Vino

Matthew Delahunty

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2008, 09:41:49 PM »
Mark,

From recollection, NSW has one or two days a week where visitors can play unaccompanied.  As long as you book in a little in advance you shouldn't have a problem. The one time I played there I called the club the day before.

I guess it will be a similar story with Kingston Heath. You shouldn't have a problem playing midweek.
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rchesnut

Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2008, 09:59:13 PM »
My experience was similar to Matthew's for RM and KH -- there's a day or two that's reserved for member's play only (weekends, I think), and hours during the week were a little limited.  But if you can play during the week, I didn't have any problem setting things up a couple months in advance.  I recall that RM didn't want to let visitors play both courses on the same day.  

You should rearrange things and go to Barnbougle Dunes.  It's a quick one hour flight from Melbourne, and it was a phenomenal experience, you really shouldn't miss it if you're that close.  

Rob
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Terry Thornton

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Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2008, 10:49:59 PM »
Mark,

NSWGC generally accepts unaccompanied guests as follows;

Monday 10.00 - 11.00, 12.15 onwards
Thursday 1.40 onwards
Friday 8.10 - 11.30

The earlier you contact the office the better as times are often tight, especially Fridays.
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ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2008, 11:44:24 PM »
Mark,
  The must see courses in Australia are RM, KH, NSW, and Barnbougle Dunes. If you aren't going to take a day out for BD, then I would try to get down to Mornington Peninsula for St Andrews Beach and/or National Moonah. I have only been down once so I would pay most attention to the advice of the Australian gents.
  In New Zealand, the 3 courses to see are Paraparaumu Beach, Cape Kidnappers, and Titirangi. Seeing all 3 of these will not be possible if you don't feel like doing a bit of driving.
   Regardless of where you are going to play I would make it a point of getting together with the local GCA'ers. Those guys were most responsible for me having the greatest golf trip of my life.
   I still need to finish my review of the courses, which I have been pathetically slow at getting around too. If you look back there are some great reports from Philip Gawith, Matt Cohn (see his opinion piece), and I had a few threads about a year and a half back asking the same stuff you are and had many great responses.
  Happy planning.
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"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

Kevin Pallier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2008, 12:13:19 AM »
Mark

Glad to hear you're coming down under (again)- would love to try and catch up for a game - if you're keen ?

Recommendations on the Sandbelt after RM / KH would possibly be a trip to Peninsula which has two very good golf courses (+accommodation). Mike Clayton over the past few years has remodelled both and from all reports has done a fine job.

Woodlands / Victoria or even Commonwealth would also be good choices.
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RichMacafee

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Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2008, 12:28:38 AM »
Email sent  ;)
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"The uglier a man's legs are, the better he plays golf. It's almost law" H.G.Wells.

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2008, 04:55:18 AM »
Thanks guys, I will be in touch in due course. I am in the fortunate position of being able to host at RS, RM and Metro so hope to be able to catch up during our trip.

It is tough having to miss BD but Mrs C is a non golfer and I buggered off to Melbourne for 3 days during our honeymoon, leaving her in Sydney so cannot get away with that one again.
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Cave Nil Vino

Dieter Jones

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2008, 06:05:43 AM »
If you can't get on NSW then I would suggest the only other place in Sydney worth trying for golf is the airport (ie go to Victoria a day earlier). ;)

Re Barnbougle - does your wife drink wine?  Plenty of wineries between Launceston and Barnbougle including some of the best sparkling wines outside of France (good Pinot's too).

Have fun

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Never argue with an idiot. They will simply bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2008, 06:23:42 PM »
Dieter,

Mrs C loves a glass or two and we have fond memories of a week in Tassie including a day with some very kind members at RH. I got the bus out to the club, played in the monthly medal and a member drove me back into Hobart. Fine course and four seasons in one spring round incluing hail.

Having been to Oz several times and visited every state we are very aware of spending too much time travelling and not enough time enjoying places. Which is why BD will need to wait until a trip when I can devote a bit more time to Tasmania. I'm not one for the fly in, play a round and b$gger off without enjoying the whole experience.

Mark
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Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2008, 10:30:09 AM »
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Jason Topp

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2008, 10:34:08 AM »
Mark:

I really enjoyed Woodlands, which I played on a whim because my family was at the zoo.  It is a terrific course and, at least a couple of years ago, was lower priced than the main sandbelt courses.
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Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Golfing Down Under
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2008, 04:06:51 PM »
Hi Mark,
In addition to those courses mentioned by Ed, these others are worthy of consideration depending on time and your itenary:
Kauri Cliffs
Wairakei
Kinloch
Christchurch G.C.
There are others as well as those above.
Feel free to im me and I will do my best to help.
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