[Kevin Pallier]

Golf Australia recently published its Australian Top100 courses. The magazine has historically published a Top50 but for the first time expanded it’s list. A few GCAers are panellists for the magazine and it will be interesting to compare Golf Australia’s list to Australian Golf Digest who will publish their Top100 in a few weeks.

A few observations:
- Lost Farm TAS debut at #4
- Some recently opened courses are in the list (Hamilton Island QLD, Healesville VIC, Kalgoorlie WA, Yering Meadows VIC)
- GCAers Mike Clayton redesigns have been seen favourably as has Neil Crafters

Top10
Royal Melbourne (West)
Kingston Heath
Barnbougle Dunes
Lost Farm
New South Wales GC
Royal Melbourne (East)
The National (Moonah)
Victoria
Metropolitan
Royal Adelaide

Top20
St. Andrews Beach (Gunnamatta)
Woodlands
The Lakes
Lake Karrinyup
The Golf Club Kennedy Bay
Newcastle
Peninsula (North)
The National (Old)
Commonwealth
Barwon Heads

Top30
Royal Sydney
13th Beach (Beach)
Kooyonga
Moonah Links (Legends)
The Dunes
Royal Queensland
Magenta Shores
Peninsula (South)
Glenelg
Grange (West)

Top40
The Australian
Portsea
Joondalup (Quarry / Dunes)
The Cut
The National (Ocean)
Brookwater
Yarra Yarra
Hamilton Island
Elanora
Huntingdale

Top50
Moonah Links (Open)
Royal Canberra
The Glades
Spring Valley
Concord
The Vintage
The Vines (Lakes)
Hope Island
13th Beach (Creek)
Terrey Hills

Top60
The Grand
Sanctuary Lakes
Healesville
Port Fairy
Pelican Waters
Settlers Run
Long Island
Pacific Harbour
Sanctuary Cove (Pines)
Amstel (Ranfurlie)

Top70
The Heritage (St John)
Meadow Springs
Sanctuary Cove (Palms)
Bonville
Mount Lawley
The Links Lady Bay
Hyatt Regency Coolum
Avondale
Cranbourne
Sandhurst (Champions)

Top80
Cottesloe
Pacific Dunes
Secret Harbour
WA Golf Club
Twin Creeks
Capricorn (New)
Eynesbury
St Michael's
Kalgoorlie
Twin Waters

Top90
Sorrento
Narooma
Lakelands
Riversdale
The Heritage (Henley)
Tasmania
Royal Perth
Kooindah Waters
Horsham
Alice Springs

Top100
Royal Hobart
Keysborough
Sandhurst (North)
Murray Downs
Yering Meadows
Southern
Paradise Palms
Castle Hill
North Lakes
Pymble

Thoughts ?

[Michael Goldstein]

Kevin, thanks for posting.

1.  Did the panelists share their individual views in the magazine like before?

2.  Quick thoughts are that it is a pretty good list, particularly the first 20. Perhaps Victoria is a spot to low, maybe NSW a couple too high. I think that Lost Farm firmly belongs at 4, if not higher, despite the naysayers.  Also, St Andrew's Beach should be a number of spots higher (and I think would be were it not for its checkered history).

3.  Royal Adelaide is a difficult one given their current situation, but I guess 10 is about right.

4.  Port Fairy is way too low.

5. At first glance there are some bizarre numbers towards the back half (like Sandhurst (Champions) etc) but I will look more at 51-100 later.  That said, I'd be shocked at a number of the courses above me if I was from a course like Royal Fremantle which is not even on the list.

[Mark Chaplin]

I'm fortunate to have played 6 of the top 10 and a smattering elsewhere. Pleased to see Kennedy Bay getting plenty of love, but scratching my head at Royal Hobart, it's been a few years since I played and really enjoyed the course. Are there really 90 courses in Oz better than Royal Hobart?

Will Bonny Doon appear post refurb?

[Kevin Pallier]

Michael

1. No - whilst I used to like the transparency Brendan James (Editor) decided against that this time. The GCAers that I know that are on the panel are Mike Clayton, Mark Ferguson, Matthew Mollica, Rich Macafee, David Elvins, James Bennett, Robin Doodsen and yours truly. I too think the Top20 is representative - I have them pretty much the same albeit in a slightly different numbering.

2. I dont think the checkered history of SAB would have much influence. Most of the guys I know above have played it numerous times.

3. Royal Adelaide will be an interesting one to watch given it's current state of flux.

4. I have not seen Port Fairy to comment on that one.

5. I think the addition of the back 50 is an interesting one. BTW - two private courses Capital (Vic) and Ellerston (NSW) aren't included in the makeup.

[Kevin Pallier]

I'm fortunate to have played 6 of the top 10 and a smattering elsewhere. Pleased to see Kennedy Bay getting plenty of love, but scratching my head at Royal Hobart, it's been a few years since I played and really enjoyed the course. Are there really 90 courses in Oz better than Royal Hobart?

Will Bonny Doon appear post refurb?

Chappers

I think Royal Hobart is about where it should be.

As for Bonnie Doon ? I know a Mr Warren is hoping pretty high 

[Josh Stevens]

Good to see the Australian maintaining its plunge down the lists.  May eventually inspire them to dig it up and start again

[Kevin Pallier]

Josh

The Australian is an interesting one in a comparison with the two main magazines.

Golf Australia = has had it move backwards every year since 2002 when it was listed at 8 to now 31.

Australian Golf Digest = has had it no worse than 11 over the same period.

[Scott Warren]

Having played 11 of the top 20, I'd say they all sit in fairly reasonable spots, but I do think RM East is too high given the state of 6-8 and 14-15. With that fixed, as I understand is being done, it is top 5-6, IMO.

Newcastle has moonwalked a few spots backwards, and it's likely that will continue at pace if they ever act upon their Ross Watson masterplan.

It's wonderful to see The Lakes receive its due and I believe that before too long it and NSWGC will be very close to one another in the rankings, around #10.

Chappers: IMO there is little doubt that a completed Bonnie Doon GC will enter the top half of this list, on the strength of the first seven holes being finished currently. The big question at the moment -- as stage 1 draws to a close -- is when we will have a completed Ogilvy Clayton Design golf course. I hope, as do the members I've discussed it with, that will be some time in 2013 or 2014.

Josh: The word around Sydney is that The Australian has contracted Nicklaus Design to come back and redesign the course. Not sure how comprehensive that work will be.

[Kevin Pallier]

A breakdown of the States shows the relative strength of courses by area:

VIC  = 41
NSW  = 20
QLD = 16
WA = 12
SA = 5
TAS = 4
NT = 1
ACT = 1

[Josh Stevens]

I suppose the Aus is in a tricky position. Now surrounded on all sides by Clayton renos, and so probably because of their status, don't want to be accused of playing follow the leader.  Is the ghost of Kerry Packer still haunting the place??  It really must be done, but by whom?

[Josh Stevens]

Kalgoorlie has obviously improved. Oiled sand greens and iron stone fairways when I lived there.  did teach me to nip the ball cleanly to avoid sparks.

[Michael Goldstein]

Kevin, cheers.  You must get to Port Fairy it is pure and belongs far higher.

I think a list of 50 would have been good - very credible & different to golf digest.

I find the drop off quite stark after the first 10-12.

[Ian Andrew]

It's a pretty good listing.
I can't argue much with anything really.
I've only seen 16 courses, but I think they are all appropriately placed.

I happen to like Woodlands and Commonwealth a little more, but I understand why they are ranked where they are.

[Mike_Clayton]

Perhaps the most significant thing about this list is that a 5500 yard course was rated 53rd.
It is looked upon kindly by many on this panel and it won't be so high in the GD list but for those who thing golf takes too long and is too hard - and not enough fun -  it answers those questions.

[Kevin Pallier]

Mike

Where do you have Healesville ? I presume much higher than the overall position ?

[Mike_Clayton]

Kevin

49 - so a bit higher.

[Matthew Mollica]

KP & Clayts, I've got Healesville much better than that.

As I wrote in a review at the start of the year - "5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are all of high calibre".
The set of 18 green complexes, as a collective, simply must be among the top 10 in the country.

MM

[Ben Jarvis]

I played Healesville for the first time in May.

Firstly, congratulations to Mike Clayton for the success it has received. It is a FUN course, requiring you to hit short approach shots into wildly undulating greens - something you very rarely experience these days.

Unfortunately, there is a significant drainage problem though. While this doesn't detract from the architectural merits too much, it is an issue that needs attention. Without any rain in the week leading up, and a dry sunny couple of days while visiting, the course was incredibly wet. So much so that the ground was moving beneath the feet and balls almost hidden entirely when plugging into the fairways.

Has there been since or are there any plans to improve the drainage situation in the short term? It is such a wonderful facility, it would be a shame to see the course drainage detract from the experience.

[Mike_Clayton]

Ben,

Not unless the superintendent calls us - and that is unlikely.
It has been an unusually wet year and it will inevitably get wet but I am not sure he is looking to us to suggest anything.

[David Kelly]

I've played the Top 12 plus a couple of others but have limited rounds on most of them.  I would move Victoria and SAB up a few spots and Moonah and NSW down a couple but otherwise I think the list is solid at the top.  I think there is a decent sized gap between the top 3 and the rest of the list.

Does everyone think Yarra Yarra is where it belongs?

[Michael Robin]

For those that have seen it, where would Ellerston fit in this list?

[Matthew Mollica]

Michael,  Ellerston seems to be in almost everyone's Top 5.
If it were to be included. It was once, and was around that mark from memory?

Conditioning is unreal, and walkability is the only thing holding it back.

David, I think you're pretty much on the money there with all your suggestions.

YY is slipping down the list gradually. Their course is sufferring in comparison to many,
where a comprehensive, and thorough approach to presentation and design is prevalent.

In reality, YY has only several really good holes too (IMHO anyway)...

MM

[Kevin Pallier]

KP & Clayts, I've got Healesville much better than that.

As I wrote in a review at the start of the year - "5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are all of high calibre".
The set of 18 green complexes, as a collective, simply must be among the top 10 in the country.

MM

MM / Mike

Unfortunately - I haven't seen Healesville yet to comment on it. Though it is on the top of the list to try and do next time I'm in Melbourne.

I presume you are both surprised with Ranfurlie ? and by comparison 13th Beach (Creek) ?

[Sean Walsh]

4.  Port Fairy is way too low.

Michael,
I call you friend..

Also what are the resident panellists views on Horsham. I've only played it twice but 88 seems a little low to me.

[Kevin Pallier]

Sean

Form mine it's closer to the Top50 than where it sits. It's vegetation management wasn't its stong point but it didn't deserve to have a certain fire destroy both its clubhouse and much of the course.

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