Golf in Australia - the Ashes Tour

[James Bennett]

The high point of Cricket is about to get underway in Australia - England vs Australia, with England currently holding the Ashes (the burnt remnants of the original stumps from a century ago).  This is one of the higlights of colonial life, and the expectations in Australia of correcting the world order and winning back the Ashes are high.  Ticket sales for the event are unbelievable for all five tests for all five days of each.  The event is eagerly awaited.

So, what about a golf overlay for this travelling circus as it moves around Australia?  Are you interested?  My proposal is that we discuss the Australian golf courses that the cricketers might like to play on their days off as they tour from test to test, city to city.

PS  what is the difference between a one day game of cricket and a 5-day test between England  and Australia?  About two days!  (actually this was quite funny, until England beat Australia two years ago in a fantastic series, to regain the Ashes).

The tour commenced yesterday with the Prime Minister's XI vs England in Canberra.  The outcome was a resounding loss to England in this one-day game - Australians 5 for 347 at Manuka Oval, English visitors all out for 181.  England struggled with the initial transition to 'firm and fast' conditions down under, but it is early days.

An imminent three-day fixture (almost a test match!) is versus South Australia in Adelaide on 17 to 19 November.

The first test is in Brisbane from23 to 27 November.
The second test is Adelaide December 1 to 5.
The third test is Perth December 14-18 (the poster child for firm and fast cricket).
The fourth test is Melbourne December 26-30 (the boxing day test, one of the absolute great moments in world sport is the first ball on boxing day - nearly 100,000 rabid Melbournians 'relaxing' at the cricket at the MCG after a hectic Xmas day).
The fifth and final test is in Sydney from January 2 to 6.

If you wish to participate, the first cab off the ranks is the recently visited Canberra (the site of the English'd first practice match, and loss).  Any comments on Royal Canberra, on Federal, or Yowani or perhaps the newer creations nearby?  Or perhaps just on Canberra.

James B

[Andrew Summerell]

James,

I’ve got to say that I have always felt less impressed than I think I should have when I have played Royal Canberra. Not to say that I haven’t enjoyed my games there (I have only played it twice), I just believe it should be better.

I actually don’t mind Federal. It’s probably not considered to be as good a course as Royal Canberra, but it doesn’t claim to be. Federal would be pleasant enough to play on a weekly basis & holes like the 3rd, 8th, 9th & the 12th are plenty of fun.

Yowani is just too tight for mine. The back nine has no other strategy except hit it up the middle.

Gold Creek is maid up of mostly 2 fairway corridors between houses. Even though there is more room than many other housing estates I’ve played, most of the holes have the houses on the slice for a right hander, which is a little weird.

Gungahlin Lakes is pretty average, but Murrumbidgee is reasonable without being exceptional.

I haven’t played the other 2 or 3 courses in Canberra, but I don’t think they are that special.

Well James, I think the PM’s XI deserved a game at Royal Canberra or Federal, but the way the English capitulated, they only deserved a hit at one of the army courses.

[Kevin Pallier]

I pretty much concur with what Andrew has said and add that Canberra suffers from a distinct lack of quality courses. After RC, Federal and down to say a Yowani or Gold Creek there are pretty much very basic public access tracks after that.

Murrumbidgee, Queanbeyan (NSW), Belconnen, Gungahlin Lakes, Capital GC and the Military courses are well below that quality in that region.

[Anthony Butler]

Royal Canberra has about 8 really good holes and with some work on the other 10 holes (speaking of the two nines used for tournament play) could make it into the top 20 in the country pretty easily. All the same, hitting your second over the rise and being greeted by the pack of kangaroos surrounding the green at the first hole...  quite a slice of nature!

P.S. If the Poms get up again I will be beyond shocked.

[James Bennett]

Andrew

thanks for the informative post.

I have played the front nine at Yowani, and seen Federal from the top of the nearby Red Hill.

Yowani's best asset appears to be the condition of the greens.  The course is certainly well wooded, with more recent plantings.

Federal appears to play in a valley tucked behind Red Hill. I don't know what frost issues they have in winter (it does get down to -8 in Canberra overnight in winter) but I expect they have their challenges.

I have not seen Royal Canberra, but have heard mixed things about it.  I think they played an Australian tour event there a few years ago (perhaps 10 - I am guessing) and scores were quite low - not that that means anything.  Tom Ramsey wrote eloquently about the place in the '25 Great Australian Golf Courses' around 1980.  Some of the quotes give a flavour of the place.

"It moved Arnold Palmer to say how much the course reminded him of Augusta National...This observation ... no doubt was made after playing the fairways, which have been carved through thousands of Mediterranean and Californian Pines, blue-grey Cyprus obtained from Arizona, birch from the English forest glades, Cedars from Lebanon and the Himalayas ... as well as thousands of Australian natives."

Apparently the course was designed  by Commander John Harris
and opened in 1962.  It was built in Westbourne Woods at Yarralumla in Canberra.  Large 2-tier greens up to 12,000 sq feet are a feature.  Gary Player won a Dunlop International there in 1970.  No prizes for guessing what he said about the course.

"This is the most beautiful course in Australia."

Re the military courses - I had forgotten those, which is surprising since they are near the airport and are visible on the commute into the town centre.  Quite rudimentary in design and construction - with regimented lines of tree plantings lining the visible holes.  I wonder whether most military courses have common features given the military nature of their initial architects?  Certainly I had an element of similar 'feel' and 'aura' when I visited Fort Ord at Monterey.

For our American friends - Canberra is halfway between the two principal cities of Sydney and Melbourne (don't tell this to people from Sydney).  Canberra was built because the Commonwealth of Australia couldn't decide where to build the new nations capital at the start of the 20th century.  Canberra has some similarities to Washington DC in terms of function, urban architecture, and in being surrounded by reality .  The gardens and reserves of Canberra were planned, so the mix of trees seen at Royal Canberra is in keeping with that of the general neighborhood, although definitely not the indiginous vegetation.

James B

PS

Has the full complement of the English cricket team arrived yet?

[James Bennett]

Three photos from 1980 (c/- Tom Ramsey and Allen Fox), showing the nature of Royal Canberra.

The 14th, a long par 4 where the trees do not come into play (a rarity).  Apparently, Lake Burley Griffin laps the right side of this hole, but it can't be seen in this picture.  I think the gentlemen is playing his 'driver of choice', a 3-wood.  Looking at the grip, I suspect he has played more cricket than golf!


The 16th, a difficult 4 that bends right and down into a vally, before climbing back to the green.  Trees obviously line both sides of the fairway (this photo reminded me of Yowani).

The 11th green with its rhino's back.  Apparently, Lake Burley Grifiin is at the back of this green, although you can't see it in this photo either.


James B

[Bill_McBride]

Okay....

James, could you please spend maybe three or four hours explaining cricket and its scoring?  England scores fewer points ("runs?") but wins the match?  They break for tea?  Everybody wears white?

Maybe you can brief me in Scotland in March!  

[Andrew Summerell]

James,

Royal Canberra has biult a 3rd nine since those photos were taken. I’ve been fortunate enough not to play it as yet.

You say the shot of the 16th at RC reminded you of Yowani. You should see the back nine now. I last played is 2 years ago & they were planting more trees. It’s a wonder they can grow grass on the fairways with all the shadow. Not only do you have to hit your ball straight, but you have to walk down the fairway sideways just to fit.

[Anthony Butler]

Three photos from 1980 (c/- Tom Ramsey and Allen Fox), showing the nature of Royal Canberra.

The 14th, a long par 4 where the trees do not come into play (a rarity).  Apparently, Lake Burley Griffin laps the right side of this hole, but it can't be seen in this picture.  I think the gentlemen is playing his 'driver of choice', a 3-wood.  Looking at the grip, I suspect he has played more cricket than golf!

The 16th, a difficult 4 that bends right and down into a vally, before climbing back to the green.  Trees obviously line both sides of the fairway (this photo reminded me of Yowani).

The 11th green with its rhino's back.  Apparently, Lake Burley Grifiin is at the back of this green, although you can't see it in this photo either.
James B

Thanks for posting the photos, you reminded me that most of the good holes are at the beginning or end of the round. They certainly don't need any more trees screwing things up.

Had an interesting experience on the 15th green, one of the remote sections of the course. I was playing by myself during the week and a little 'joey' (very young kangaroo) hopped up to my bag as I walked off the green... Realized just in time that someone else was probably watching and would not appreciate if I came between her and junior... Just as I backed away, I noticed Momma boring holes through the back of my skull. One more step and I would have been dealing with a very pissed off 6 foot Grey, and only my putter for protection.

[James Bennett]

Had an interesting experience on the 15th green, one of the remote sections of the course. I was playing by myself during the week and a little 'joey' (very young kangaroo) hopped up to my bag as I walked off the green... Realized just in time that someone else was probably watching and would not appreciate if I came between her and junior... Just as I backed away, I noticed Momma boring holes through the back of my skull. One more step and I would have been dealing with a very pissed off 6 foot Grey, and only my putter for protection.

Don't tell George Pazin about this.  He'll link it to those other 'killers' so prevalent on Australian golf courses, eg Spiders and Snakes (poisonous ones).


Bill Mc Bride

Test cricket takes 5 days to play (well, when there are two evenly-balanced teams it does).  I'll tell you about it in in March in that more northern country of Scotland where they don't take cricket quite as seriously (apart from Mike Denness, the ex-captain of England).

James B

[James Bennett]

You say the shot of the 16th at RC reminded you of Yowani. You should see the back nine now. I last played is 2 years ago & they were planting more trees. It’s a wonder they can grow grass on the fairways with all the shadow. Not only do you have to hit your ball straight, but you have to walk down the fairway sideways just to fit.

single file huh.

Which back nine did you mean  where they are planting more trees - Royal Canberra or Yowani?

James B

[Shane Gurnett]

Had an interesting experience on the 15th green, one of the remote sections of the course. I was playing by myself during the week and a little 'joey' (very young kangaroo) hopped up to my bag as I walked off the green... Realized just in time that someone else was probably watching and would not appreciate if I came between her and junior... Just as I backed away, I noticed Momma boring holes through the back of my skull. One more step and I would have been dealing with a very pissed off 6 foot Grey, and only my putter for protection.

Anthony, the small ones are good eating (if you cook them slowly)

[Anthony Butler]

Had an interesting experience on the 15th green, one of the remote sections of the course. I was playing by myself during the week and a little 'joey' (very young kangaroo) hopped up to my bag as I walked off the green... Realized just in time that someone else was probably watching and would not appreciate if I came between her and junior... Just as I backed away, I noticed Momma boring holes through the back of my skull. One more step and I would have been dealing with a very pissed off 6 foot Grey, and only my putter for protection.

Anthony, the small ones are good eating (if you cook them slowly)

As a matter of fact I served them as hors d'oeuvres at my wedding in Australia... took care to wait for our American guests to tell me how good it tasted before I let them know the source... it does need a lot of marinating before you cook and is best served in very thin slices...

[Marty Bonnar]

Uncle Bill (and you other followers of the 'diamond' game), here's the easy-to-follow introduction to cricket for furriners.

1. You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.

2. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

3. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out.

4. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

5. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.

6. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.

7. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Easier than Baseball, I think you'll agree. We'll explain further in March (over a Belhaven or two...)

FBD.

[Bill_McBride]

Uncle Bill (and you other followers of the 'diamond' game), here's the easy-to-follow introduction to cricket for furriners.

1. You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.

2. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

3. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out.

4. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

5. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.

6. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.

7. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Easier than Baseball, I think you'll agree. We'll explain further in March (over a Belhaven or two...)

FBD.

Thank you, Martin, everything is now crystal clear.   Sounds a bit like "Who's on first."

[Marty Bonnar]

Why the great big interweb thing is the bestest invention ever...

Crapo sound quality, but:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/windows_media/whos_on_first.wma

Sublime.

FBD.

[James Bennett]

Bill

I'll provide some real explanations about cricket later.

In the meantime ...

England are currently playing their second practice match, against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.  The English bowlers are still struggling for form at this early stage, so NSW is 5 for 310 which is quite a high score for one day's cricket.

This week in Sydney, the Australian Open is being played at Royal Sydney Golf Club on Rose bay in the eastern suburbs.  To try and explain the nature of Royal Sydney, I'll use a word that I had never heard of until I visited Philadelphia.  "Cache".  I think Royal Sydney would epitomise "cache".  

Aaron Baddely won here in 1999 as an amateur, beating Monty down the stretch in a fearless display of an amateur teenager blessed with an aggressive putting stroke.  Since that time, the greens have been rebuilt using local sand.  The members refer to the new course as 'Viagara' - it isn't any longer it is just harder!  It would be fair to say that the changes have not been universally liked (some past members (?GB) probably needed therapy).  I haven't seen Royal Sydney since that 1999 Australian open so I don't realy know what I will see on the TV this week, nor whether I will be able to pick the changes.

James B

[Marty Bonnar]

Bill

I'll provide some real explanations about cricket later.

But James,
my 'explanations' are real! Well, sort of...

Re English Cricket. About in as parlous a state as I can ever remember. What is bizarre is how it is currently being reflected by both the Soccer squad and their Rugby XV. Dismal performances on both fronts recently. Beaten by ARGENTINA yesterday. How the mighty 'World Champions' have fallen.

Not gloating in the slightest ,
FBD.

[James Bennett]

Martin

you left out the rugby league team performance on the weekend as well - although it is the British Lions, not just England.  Thrashed by New Zealand.

England losing in the Rugby to Argentina - the tabloids will be having a field day.

I understand England was the top of world sport for a week or so two years ago - Rugby world cup, Cricket ashes, some success by the British Lions in rugby league, some soccer (football) success somewhere.  I expect England will return to that point later this century.  However, the real cricket hasn't started yet.  Australia has to win to regain the ashes.  England can draw.

By the way, Australia 'demolished' Italy in the rugby (just as well) by three tries to nil and were just in front on the scorebaord (Italy kicked a lot of penalty goals).


James B

[Andrew Summerell]

James,

Does this mean we are moving on to Sydney courses ?

Sydney has been my home town (officially) for 40 years, so I feel I have a good understanding on Sydney golf.

There are only 3 ‘must play’ golf courses in Sydney.
1)   New South Wales Golf Course
2)   New South Wales Golf Course
3)   New South Wales Golf Course

In fact, if you had to choose a 2nd course you’d drive 2 hours up the coast & play Newcastle GC before playing anything else in Sydney. (Harsh, I know, but I’ve had to live her for 40 years, remember)

[James Bennett]

Andrew

I think we should hold fire on the NSW golf courses (both of them  ) until the fifth test just after new year. We can have the anniversary discussion for our overseas visitors who played at Newcastle on New Years Day last year when the temperature was over 40 degrees celsius (note to George Pazin - heat stroke and sunburn are far more real issues to contend with in an Australian summer than are snakes, spiders and big momma kangaroos).

However, as the 'whatever they call a 14 a side, sub-on-and-off as you like, forced declaration, not a first-class match' match is on in Sydney at present, and the Australian Open is being played at Royal Sydney, lets limit ourselves to Royal Sydney for the next few days.

PS  What do you call an Australian batsman?  A Pommie basher!  

James B

[Andrew Summerell]

My apologies, James, for jumping the gun.

I’m interested to see if the changes to Royal Sydney really make any difference to the pros. The new bunkering makes it harder for the average golfer, but the pros will be able to negotiate themselves around without getting in too many bunkers.

If the greens are running fast it could make a difference, but I hope they are not running too fast.

[Michael Robin]

Andrew -

Where is Ellerston(sp?) and have you been there? What is its reputation in terms of architecture? I'm aware of its reputation in terms of privacy.

[James Bennett]

Michael

Ellerston is in the Hunter Valley, perhaps 90 minutes north of Sydney.  It is a Bob Harrison/Greg Norman course that has a high regard.  It was 'ranked' very highly in an earlier national ranking (perhaps top 5 I think) but the PRIVATE course has asked to be excluded from such matters.

I know of two people on this board who have played there - One australian and one canadian.  I think you know at least one of them.  Both spoke well of it.  There are very few rounds of golf played there.  There are several pictures of Ellerston in Darius Oliver's Australian Golf Courses.  I understand that the architecture is designed to test the better player, which is just what the course sponsor would have wanted (Kerry Packer, RIP).

James B

[Kevin Pallier]

We can have the anniversary discussion for our overseas visitors who played at Newcastle on New Years Day last year when the temperature was over 40 degrees celsius (note to George Pazin - heat stroke and sunburn are far more real issues to contend with in an Australian summer than are snakes, spiders and big momma kangaroos)

James

You should mention the amount of flies....and in the case of Newcastle the sand flies and the old saying "don't forget to bring the aeroguard with you"