I've seen a number of posts on other threads indicating that people are keen to hear about Ranfurlie, Mike Clayton's first 18 hole design for Amstel Golf Club at Cranbourne in Victoria.
I'm a member at Amstel and have had about 6 rounds at Ranfurlie since it opened on 29th March.
There are some photos of the first nine at
http://www.amstel.org.au/openday.htm.
The course has come up very well. the vast majority of members are very satisfied with how it has turned out so far and so they should be.
A plead to those planning a visit in the near future; please don't be too critical about the condition of the course, it's brand new and there are still a number of bare patches around on the fairways where the couch runners have not closed over quite yet as well as lines where recent drainage works has occured. I believe the fairway grass is Legend couch and the greens bent. The holes at the back of the course (4, 5, 6, 12, 18, 17, 14) which were constructed first and are a bit older are in superb condition.
From the back tees, the course is probably relatively short by the standards of the higher profile developments around at a moment at a touch more than 6200m par 72.
However, there is great variety of in the holes:-
- Par 3's vary between 128m and 180m
- Par 4's vary between 270m and 419m
- Par 5's vary between 468m and 530m
My favourite hole, even though I have not got close to parring it yet, is the 5th. The par 4 5th is about 380m uphill and runs towards the south, i.e. into the prevailing wind. The green, which is a large two tiered affair, is guarded by 2 large bunkers on left side, one greenside, the other about 25m short of the putting surface. Most times for the Saturday member competition, the flag has been set on the top step on the left side. The shortest club I've hit for my approach is a 6 iron, but into the breeze you will needs long iron or even wood to reach and as hinted before, don't go left. From the photos in the URL above, you'll see that it is a visually attractive hole as well as being psychologically daunting.
In general, it is a relatively easy driving course; that is, the fairways are very generous in width, so finding the short grass of the tee should not present huge difficulties. However, the fun starts on your approach shots. Attempting approaches from the wrong side can put quite a dint in your score. The slopes on the firm greens mean you need to hit very good shot to get close.
By way of example, the 12th hole is probably the weakest on the course, but last Saturday the flag was cut on the right side close to the front edge. A bunker is located about 5m short of the putting surface, on the right side. I tried to approach from the centre right position with 53 degree wedge. My ball pitched about 6 feet past the hole, the proceed to head straight to the back edge, a good 50 feet from the hole. What I needed to do was approach from the left side of the fairway, taking the bunker out of line on play and pitch the ball short of the green and let it run up.
If you miss the fairways, the first cut of rough of about 3-5m is not too unforgiving, buy many fairways are lined with long grass. Not thick like at The National where missed fairway means lost ball, but thick enough that hacking out with your wedge is required.
I think the course is similar in style to The Dunes. The land is not as spectacular as The Dunes, but I also think that Ranfurlie is more strategically demanding. At The Dunes, you stand on the tee and it becomes quite obvious where to hit it while the punishment for not hitting it there is far from severe. Not so on both scores for Ranfurlie. You must hit it in the right place off the tee to give yourself the best chance on your approach, then you must hit the approach very well from there.
All in all, I think the course is great fun to play and hope any visitors also enjoy it...
