[Robin Doodson]

Follow the link to see some pics of the new Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove. Designed by Ross Watson the course is due to open in early 2011. Very interesting bunkering using Plateau bermudagrass which is extremely slow growing. The course is a complete re-build of an existing course and will complement the Arnold Palmer designed Pines course.

www.flickr.com/photos/45403628@N06/sets/72157623556430219/show

regards

robin

[Kevin Pallier]

Robin

I haven't played the Palms for a number of years - what's the premise of the redesign ? For mine the old layout was very uninspiring.

Is the routing chnaging at all ? Looks from the photos of new greens and Magenta Watson style bunkering ?

[Steve Strasheim]

Wow, thanks for the memory.

Had actually forgotten about the time I hung out there for a few days. Was a long time ago and the golf was secondary to the little MG rental car and  the sheilas in surfers paradise. So, I don't recall much about the course except the clubhouse making me rent spikes instead wearing my normal travel sneakers.

[Richard Chamberlain]

Thanks Robin,
I'm keen to see how the Plateau Couch works out. It seems to be going very well at the other courses like pac Harbour and must be a massive plus for staff with less edging time.

[Robin Doodson]

Robin

I haven't played the Palms for a number of years - what's the premise of the redesign ? For mine the old layout was very uninspiring.

Is the routing chnaging at all ? Looks from the photos of new greens and Magenta Watson style bunkering ?

Kevin,

the course is a brand new routing and will definitely be more inspiring than the previous layout. At just over 6000m from the tips it's not going to be a monster but par is definitely protected at the green. Ross describes it as a "boutique" golf course which i guess means bring your thinking cap rather than your driver. Going to be a lot of fun and something very different for the gold coast.
Feel free to come and have a look if you are in the area.

robin

[Kevin Pallier]

Robin

Cheers for the information - it will be interesting as to how the "boutique" course is recieved post opening.

Would be great if you could post some final pics when complete. And yes - will look you up if I am up that way.

BTW - any changes or tinkering being made to The Pines course whilst Watson is there ?

[Robin Doodson]

Robin

Cheers for the information - it will be interesting as to how the "boutique" course is recieved post opening.

Would be great if you could post some final pics when complete. And yes - will look you up if I am up that way.

BTW - any changes or tinkering being made to The Pines course whilst Watson is there ?

We are currently looking at our options for the Pines. now is obviously not the time to get too involved as we have 1 golf course closed. The Palmer group have given us a masterplan to work to which involves some very extensive works to the Pines to bring it up to date. when this work will be carried out i'm not sure and who will carry it out i'm not sure either. i would be interested on your thoughts on the pines as i noticed that you were the only panellist to rate it in your top 50 in the Golf Australia rankings.

robin

[Brett_Morrissy]

Robin,

I mate who used to have a lovely big boat moored at Sanctuary - with many great fun rounds with friends on the Palms and a few rounds on the Pines.

I believe the issue of the birdlife and what they left behind, esp on the greens, was one of the main reasons to go back to the drawing board?

Was this in fact the case - or contributd to it - and if so, what has been done about it for the redesign.

Interested to see if the bunkering fits in naturally after grow in.

BM

[Robin Doodson]

Robin,

I mate who used to have a lovely big boat moored at Sanctuary - with many great fun rounds with friends on the Palms and a few rounds on the Pines.

I believe the issue of the birdlife and what they left behind, esp on the greens, was one of the main reasons to go back to the drawing board?

Was this in fact the case - or contributd to it - and if so, what has been done about it for the redesign.

Interested to see if the bunkering fits in naturally after grow in.

BM

Brett,
as with most cases the reason for going back to the drawing board was strictly financial. bit of a land swap has taken place with the developer and it has all been tied in with the sale of the club to the membership. The other thing that you would probably remember was that the two first tees were miles apart and you had to drive ten minutes to get to and from the pines course from the clubhouse. the new clubhouse has now been built next to the first tee of the pines and the new palms course now starts from the same place.

the bunkering is definitely one of the main talking points with the course. most comments from our membership have been extremely positive and they can't wait to play the finished course.

robin

[Richard Chamberlain]

Robin and Co.

With the old Palms course what do you reckon a 10 round split would be ?
I know it had some very poor holes but I have never been a fan of the Pines...I think its just a bit of a slog.

I'd split 10 rounds 5-5.

From what I have seen so far on the newly constructed Palms it would swing about 9-1 the Palms way.

[Trent Dixon]

The old Palms had some pretty fun risk/reward holes, but also some awful nothing holes. The Pines for an average golfer is really to long and narrow from the Back and even the Medal tees, too many par 4's that they're no hope of getting near in 2. The thing that really sticks in my mind about both courses though is how flat and uninteresting the greens are/were. Given what I've seen of Ross Watson's recent work that's something I'm sure won't be able to be said about the new Palms  As for a 10 round split, I'd say it probably would have been a 6-4 split to the Pines, hoping the 6 would be the rounds I was driving straight.

[Robin Doodson]

The thing with the Pines is that it can actually play easier off the back tees because all the trouble becomes unreachable. a lot of our low markers love playing off the very back blue tees because the course rating goes up to 76 and they can smash their driver on every hole which is obviously their strength. the new Palms will be the exact opposite with very little value in bombing it and more emphasis on positioning your ball around the course. the greens have undulation and interest but are certainly not radical. the par 3's are absolutely sensational with great variations in the difficulty of the holes to the different pin positions.  the Pines struggles because the greens are so flat and we are putting on couch. not a good mix as the greens always seem slow.

Richard, for political reasons i'm not going to divulge my 10 round split. i'm not allowed to favour one course over the other. you can probably guess which way i'm thinking.

robin

[Richard Chamberlain]

Richard, for political reasons i'm not going to divulge my 10 round split. i'm not allowed to favour one course over the other. you can probably guess which way i'm thinking.

robin

I hear ya mate...I'll assume...Palms (0), Pines (0), Hope Island (10).

[Andrew Thomson]

My 10 round split between Pines and Palms would be 3 pines, 3 Palms and 12 hours on the range.

[Scott Warren]

My 10 round split between Pines and Palms would be 3 pines, 3 Palms and 12 hours on the range.

Shouldn't you spend that 12 hours around the short game area and putting green?

[Robin Doodson]

My 10 round split between Pines and Palms would be 3 pines, 3 Palms and 12 hours on the range.

funny you should say that andrew. we've just built a new double ended driving range and a 2500m2 practice green. knock yourself out.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Robin,
it sounds like an extremely positive new direction, and a potential review of the Pines sounds like the final step in the big picture.
I had forgotten how far it was to the tees, but remember now, have you built a large clubhouse? how many members? how do you accomodate public green fees and members in the new clubhouse?


Brett

[Kevin Pallier]

I would be interested on your thoughts on the pines as i noticed that you were the only panellist to rate it in your top 50 in the Golf Australia rankings.

Robin

I think the Pines played off the right tees is a good challenge. Given that it is routed over very flat terrain I think the designers did a pretty good job. Whilst it's not my favourite on the Gold Coast - it's up there.

[Robin Doodson]

Robin,
it sounds like an extremely positive new direction, and a potential review of the Pines sounds like the final step in the big picture.
I had forgotten how far it was to the tees, but remember now, have you built a large clubhouse? how many members? how do you accomodate public green fees and members in the new clubhouse?


Brett

the clubhouse is extremely grand yet modern and ties in very well with the new practice facilities. the 360 degree views of the golf course are pretty spectacular. We currently have around 1200 members and would like up to 1800 once the new course opens. accommodating the public with our new set up is going to be a bit of a challenge but we still have the old clubhouse building which is currently being renovated as a Recreation Club and function centre which i believe will host the paying public when they visit.


robin

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