I recently took a short trip up to Queensland and while I was up there I had the opportunity to play at Royal Queensland, an experience I will remember for a long time.
The Royal Queensland Golf Club has just undergone an extensive redesign by Michael Clayton, who has done a magnificent job up here. I now rank RQ at number 4 on my list of favorite course, ahead of Royal Melbourne.
During the game I took 170 photos, so I should be able to complete a review of the course, and hopefully I can do the place justice. I will do the review hole by hole so that we can perhaps discuss some of the merits of the course.
1st hole: 463m, Par 5, Index 18.
The first hole of the day is a shortish par 5 that is definately reachable in 2 shots. The tee shot is relatively wide, and gives you ample width to negotiate the 3 bunkers on the left side of the fairway. However don't stay too far away from the bunkers because there is a tree to the right of the fairway which is very much in play.
The bunker on the left is 215m from the back tee.
Tee shot:
On the second shot you must decide where to hit your ball. Leave it out the the right and leave yourself a tough pitch over a bunker, or take on the bunker that is 60m short of the green on your second and be left with a nice and easy shot with no bunkers in play along the length of the green.
This shot here is from a short drive about 190m from the tee.
After a long drive this is the view that you are left with.
The 3rd shot after hitting it over the cross bunker.
Looking along the length of the green.
And looking back down this fine starting hole.
And the interesting flags that RQ use.
RQ isn't talked about much here (to my knowledge) but I hope after seeing this essay your opinion will change of it. I believe RQ to be the best designed course I've played, as I've never had to think so much about my shots on the golf course.
Enjoy.
Pup