SURPRISING
HEALESVILLE I'd accepted it would be fun, but thought it might be a bit of a one-trick pony with wild greens making up for the lack of length-based difficulty. The challenges off the tee and into greens were great and the creek is used fantastically. Heaps of variety, a good walk and you walk off the 18th knowing you just played something unique. R/UP - AVONDALE discrete and tucked away in Northern Sydney's leafy suburbs, so it doesn't get much press. May be Ross Watson's best work - wide and subtly shaped, not over bunkered with fun greens that aren't overly contoured. Definitely worth making time to play after you've seen NSW, The Lakes and Bonnie Doon.
DISAPPOINTING
WOODLANDS perhaps just a case of poor expectation management coupled with a really windy day, but I was underwhelmed and left slightly unimpressed! despite really loving half the course like crazy (3-6, 10, 15, 17, 18). Trees ruined a couple of otherwise great holes (7&12) and I thought the vegetation management needed work. R/UP - 18TH AT NSWGC Just a shame that playing somewhere so memorable and special has to end with that letdown.
BEST NEW
MORFONTAINE Everything golf should be in design and conditioning. Presents the case that Tom Simpson was a genius of the trade in his use of the land and ability to leave it alone at the right time, and his greens have just enough in them to be interesting and challenging, but still sit naturally on the ground. The nine-hole Vallaire course is on steeper land and sports wilder greens, which are just as at home as the flatter offerings on the main course. R/UP ELLERSTON maybe the antithesis of Morfy, but still a lot of fun and loaded with thrilling, memorable shots and on beautiful land in a gorgeous setting.
BEST REPLAY
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS There's no place like home and it was great to be back. The presence of 10-12 great mates didn't hurt that euphoria, either. Just an incredibly special place, with some of the best links land in the world and maybe the best set of greensites in golf. Great surfaces, some unique features and standing on that balcony with a pint, spying France over the channel and the links spread out before you is one of my favourite things in all the world. R/UP - NEWCASTLE Even better than I recalled and in better nick than ever before. Needs some tinkering to bring it up to what it could be, but if it were half-an-hour closer to home I'd join and get up there once a month.
LINKS
Deal was the only links I played this year, so it's the default winner.
INLAND
ROYAL ADELAIDE such a great property and the course constantly surprised and delighted. The lay-up at 2, the 3rd, approaches to 6 & 8, the quirky, very English 10th, approach at the Quarry hole, the tricky drive at 14... No end of holes and shots I can't wait to play again soon.conditioned just right, a decent walk, a club that gets it. A genuine highlight of what has been a great year.
MAYBE I WAS WRONG
ROYAL SYDNEY is a better course than I have previously given it credit for, despite its obvious shortcomings during the back nine, trees choking a few holes and Ross Watson's over-reliance on sand.
AFFORDABLE PRICE
THE COAST AU$30 is a great price for the setting and the quality of the seaside holes. The rest is hit-and-miss, but I'd still rather play here than St Michaels next door.
MODERATE PRICE
Newcastle for AU$50 is as good value as you'll find anywhere.
BEST COURSE
Hard to crown a champion, but the podium would feature Deal, R. Adelaide and Morfontaine.