I played Victoria, part of the Sandbelt for the first time a few months ago. It was a little different to what I expected - it really is a course of two halves, a very undulating back nine, which I played first, and the much flatter front nine. The greens, too, especially on the back nine, were mostly sloped quite hard from back to front, with minimal interior contour.
The back nine contains the best holes - 11,13, 15 and 16, whilst only the 3rd - or 6th, depending upon your point of view - and the 4th being of much interest going out.
First hole - 250 odd metres downhill, a vast difference to the indifferent hole it replaced. The green, as you may notice as you continue the round, is quite out of place with the others here.
Bailing right isn't much of an option.
Second hole - 388 metres. The two bunkers from the tee look a little closer together than they really are. The green has a horizontal ridge running across 1/3rd the way up.
Behind the green - going long is definitely unwise on the back nine, but there are a few features on the flatter front nine holes which make long no bargain either.
Third hole - 400 metres. Probably the pick of the front nine holes. Running uphill alongside the boundary, the bunker needs to be carried for the best angle into the angled green.
Closer to the green.
Fourth hole - 165 metres. Ever so slightly uphill and consequently vision impaired, this is possibly the pick of the par threes, with the narrow front tongue providing exceedingly difficult hole locations.
From a different angle, more is revealed.
The fifth is a forgettable mid-length par four, then the sixth hole is a stout 400 metres, bunkered on both sides of the fairway,although the best side is close to this bunker, to a quick green which slopes from front to back.
The seventh is a similar length par three to the fourth, again playing slightly uphill, to a green with a large slope from left to right, which can be used to bring the ball in to right front pin positions. A sort of reverse redan, I guess.
From past the first left bunker.
The eighth is a mundane short par five, then the 9th is a long par five of some 550 metres played over a beautifully rolling piece of ground.
Tee shots landing in the bunker will have a long third to the green;those carrying it may roll down into the bottom of a valley leaving a blind shot to a large and flattish green well guarded by three more bunkers.
The tenth is a down then up drive and pitch hole of some 330 metres, unless you play with Mike Clayton, apparently, where it is some thirty metres longer?
The second shot is uphill to a knob green with death over the back, however shots coming up short could roll back into the fairway, or this bunker.
The eleventh is a mid-range par four of some 370 metres that turns from left to right as it flows beautifully uphill to a sharply tilted green with perhaps the best interior contours. Some judicious tree removal on the right side of the fairway would open up the hole for the better.
The twelfth is some thirty metres longer than the eleventh, but plays sharply downhill. Best line in is over this bunker, which I think is a recent addition. The older bunkers have a wonderful ancient eroded look to their edges.
The second is into a nice green protected front left by a bunker, some subtle rolls off to the side as well.
If the eleventh isn't the best hole on the course, then the thirteenth must be. A similar length to the twelfth, you face a blind drive over a bunkered rise to face this fantastic second from a downhill lie to a green that slopes from left to right. Similar to the twelfth, there are some nice man-made rolls short of the green.
From behind.
The fourteenth is a short par three of around 140 metres, more sharply uphill than the other par threes, making it difficult to ascertain exactly where the flag is on the green. It's really just a matter of figuring the distance then hitting it, with little requirement to shape a shot.
The fifteenth is a driveable par four slightly less than 300 metres, to a fairway which tightens up significantly near the green, where once again, going long is death.
The sixteenth is an excellent long par three, 178 metres uphill.
Again, don't go long.
The seventeenth is another long par five of around 550 metres. Best line in is next to this bunker, the outside of the slight left to right dogleg.
Closer to the green, which has been rebuilt several times because of boundary issues.
And so to the eighteenth, along with six the only hole bunkered both sides of the fairway. A medium par five with a blind drive over a rise, and then a second to an away sloping green.
It's an odd course, Victoria. It kind of looks like it is attempting to be a cross between Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, but doesn't quite pull it off. Few holes have the strategic interest of the other Sandbelt courses, especially Woodlands and Commonwealth, which are vastly superior, although for some reason generally ranked behind Vic.