Kevin
Outstanding!
We stopped off at Horsham on the way over, but it was raining. We saw the 'links' post bushfire. Good things can come out of tragedy, and the course looks mighty fine to my eye. We will probably stop for a walk there on the drive home. However, it was really sad to see absolutely no sign of the previous clubhouse, gone in the fire. The office is running out of a shipping container, and a temporary clubhouse has been established. I think there are plans on the wall for the new facility but I don't know what the status is. At least the rains have returned and so the local community will be more prosperous.
So far, Royal Melbourne East, on the Sunday just gone. Restrained grandeur. To see all of these holes I have seen and loved, and then gradually realise which hole is which, a really grand day. It was meant to rain, but we never had a brolly up. The Masters was on just across the road, but you wouldn't know. I loved the first two paddocks, plus much of the third paddock. There are really good holes on the East on the flatter parts of the third paddock, but because they are on slightly lesser ground, they just don't get the same love. Personally, I would be happy to play the lesser holes every week - they are still good holes. Golf as a three-ball in about 3 hours 40 minutes.
Then, fly to Launceston (Launy!), pick up the hire car and the four of us drive to Bridport, to Barnbougle. It is a different country there. I must say the accomodation set-ups there are absolutely perfect for golf, and the quality of the food in the clubhouse is far beyond what can normally be expected in such a location. First class.
Golf started at Barnbougle - Lost Farm. It wasn't very long before the 'Jizz in my pants' was happening. Remember, I haven't been to Ireland, and I hadn't (at that time) played the Original course. We got around (as a 4) in about 4 hours, despite the camera snapping and the occasional re-putt. In the afternoon, Geoff Ogilvy and Mike Clayton were playing Lost Farm, at times with persimmon, pro-trajectory and small ball as well as current day equipment. Fascinating stuff. I was too tired to replay in the afternoon, but watching Ogilvy play all 18 at Lost Farm was more memorable.
The sub 300-yard holes at Lost Farm are excellent, as are two or three of the par 5's.
Then Tuesday golf at Barnbougle - Dunes. The Original course. Hit off at 7.10, and finished close to 12. We were slower, because we were more tired, took just as many oictures, but also because we replayed more putts. The greens there are amazing, perhaps over the top for the card and pencil set, but truly amazing. The front nine is more intimate, with individual holes within the dunes, whilst the back nine is more communal with sweeping views across the other holes. There is more play on top of dunes on the back nine.
In the afternoon, Ogilvy and Clayton were there playing the back nine. I saw them play the last five.
The views across the river from the original to the other course are so often there. Certianly, the 'lost farm' aspect is apparent from the Original's 16th tee, with the flatter bowl area surrounded by dunes (the flatter area houses the practice fairway and the first hole).
We had perfect golfing weather, no umbrellas, lots of sunshine (to my skin's detriment on the Monday - so much for forecasts!). It really is a great place. The two courses are very different, with perhaps two holes of Lost Farm able to be switched the the original course, and perhaps one or two holes at the 'original' able to go to 'the other course'.
We flew back to Melbourne, and settled in our lodgings for the rest of the week, down at Sandringham (near the coast and RM, about 500 metres from Clayton's new offices).
Yesterday, it was Kingston Heath. What a fantastic course. Fast greens, immaculately presented. A full set of strategic bunkers everywhere. To say we had problems on the fast A1 bent greens after two days of fescue is an understatement. Suddenyl we were confronting subtle borrows which moved a long way! Kingston Heath has certainly benefited from the heavy rains this winter, probably fluching the soils of problems from the last few drought years. The greens could have been firmer if they were in heaven, but only because heaven would not have been flooded the preceding weekend (if you recall, the Saturday morning at adjacent Victoria was squee-gee greens day!).
I don't think I have seen a course presented in a better manner for member play. There are similarities in the quality as there is at Valley Club. You could golf quite happily as a walking golfe till you are 90, but still have just enough movement in the ground to give changing views and uneven lies. The Haeth isn't blessed with the 'cathedral-size' ground of Royal Melbourne but it isso good in its total package, from course, to practice facilities to clubhouse. A truly wonderful club. I finished golf that day and felt like I still had the energy as well as the interest to go and out play again straight away, even after 4 days of golf.
Today, we are at Royal Melbourne again, possibly East course. Then Commonwealth tomorrow, with some playing 'retro golf', complete with small balls, persimmon woods and blade irons. I think there are 12 playing on Friday, but not all are 'retro-ing'. I have a titleist pro trajectory 90 to use that day, three persimmon woods and a wooden putter. I hope the greens are fast - that suits the wooden putter.
We have about 20 going to the get-together on Friday night.
We conclude on Sunday morning at RM West - probably an ideal timing for play there, concluding on such a grand course. Then home Sunday night.
Pictures another time guys.
cheers
James B