Commonwealth Golf Club: A pictorial!!! (18th hole posted)

[Kyle Henderson]

Links to other pictorials of my Australian exploits:
Barnbougle Dunes
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,47613.0.html
Barnbougle Lost Farm
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,47929.0.html
Metropolitan
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50812.0.html
Moonah Links-Legends
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,51255.0.html
The National- Moonah
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50449.0.html
The National- Ocean
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49598.0.html
New South Wales
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48698.0.html
Portsea
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49351.0.html
Royal Melbourne - West
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48238.0.html
St. Andrew Beach- Gunnamatta
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48455.0.html
Victoria
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49756.0.html
Woodlands
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48900.0.html

From the club’s website:
“The first holes were laid out by the club professional, Sam Bennett, and play commenced in February 1921. By late 1923, early 1924 eighteen holes were in play. Charles Lane, Captain of the Club from 1923 - 1933, travelled abroad in mid-1926 studying golf course architecture, including with Harry Colt, a former partner of Alister MacKenzie, returning to put the finishing touches on greens and bunker design. Much of this work literally was carried out by Charles Lane himself, often being found out on the course stripped to the waist digging out bunkers. Then, in a three-year programme completed in 1938, all 18 greens were redesigned and returfed, a completely new system of greenside bunkering was implemented, many fairway bunkers were altered and new teeing grounds were constructed. This work was planned and supervised by Sloan Morpeth, Secretary/Manager of Commonwealth for 33 years, 1930 - 1962.

In subsequent years, additional purchases of land and changes to the course layout have been made. Significant changes were made in the mid-1960's when the 10th and 11th holes were redesigned by Sloan Morpeth as Course Architect. The new 10th hole was opened just in time for the 1967 Australian Open, which is the only Australian Open Championship played over Commonwealth's layout. It was a windy week in Melbourne for the event, with Peter Thomson a master in these conditions, scoring 281, 11 shots under par, defeating Colin Johnston by seven strokes.
Other major tournaments include: the Women's Australian Open in 2010 and 2011, the Victorian Open in 1961 and 1972, the Australian Amateur in 1957 and 1983, the Australian Seniors Amateur in 1986, 1991 and 2007, the Australian Amateur Interstate Series in 1957 and 1997, the Victorian Women's Open in 1988 and 1989, and the Victorian Women's Amateur in 1979, 1986, 1995 and 2004.
In 1990, the Club's short par 4 first hole was extended 65 metres to become a 303 metre dog leg hole.
In 1992 the Club commenced a programme to improve the drainage on all its greens. During this reconstruction programme the opportunity was taken to modify the surrounds of several greens and to carry out bunkering, mounding, drainage and reticulation work. The final stage of this programme included alterations to the 6th and 12th holes and the construction of a new 7th hole. Kevin Hartley, the architect retained by the Club to assist it with the greens drainage programme, designed these changes.”


The routing (I am under the impression that members are frequently injured on the course, judging by the number of available first aid stations indicated on this map):


Historical Aerial:


The clubhouse:



1st hole: 303 meters. Par  4.


Replacing a much-beloved drivable par 4, the new opener turns to starboard, away from the 18th green seen at left, rather than continuing in a much straighter fashion like its predecessor. My host tells me this was done to make the course  a tougher overall test.


Most golfers will now keep their drivers in the bag and hit a short, easy tee shot to set up this wedge approach to a slightly elevated green.

[Tom Kelly]

Has anyone got any pictures of the old 1st hole?

The 'new' 1st hole seems a little over bunkered to me.

[Shane Gurnett]

Thomas, the old first (replaced in about 1992). A wonderful hole and sadly missed by many:



The new first is a poor hole. Out of character, woefully overbunkered and a poor green. It was changed/extended to allow "the field to get away" and in the hope of getting the 93 Aust Open which never happened (for a variety of reasons).

Kyle, best to move onto the second hole asap before we become bogged down in bagging the first (again)

Shane.

[Kyle Henderson]

As you wish, Sir Shane.

Hole #2: 466 meters. Par  5.


The 2nd hole should not lead to high scores barring a bad miss, but birdies will be well-earned. Drives must slip past the left-side fairway bunkers to bring the green within reach.


Those willing to flirt with the sand will have the best angle in for their second shot. More conservative players must contend with a right-side bunker set 50 meters short of the green while laying up.


The putting surface is much deeper than it is wide, with shaved shoulders to shrug off approaches unworthy of “putterdome.” This view is from the green’s highest (right/rear) point looking back to the 2nd tee.

[Tom Kelly]

Sorry to bring the 1st up again Shane but....... Were both the green and tee moved to create the new first? I maybe wrong but that photo makes it look as if the tee is was over near to the practice putting green rather than up on the hill where it is now.

I was under the impression that the green was moved back and to the right to lengthen the hole and improve safety with a few too many bunkers added along the way, but the tee was the same as the present hole.

Am I wrong, have I been given duff information/not listened properly?!

Cheers

[Matthew Rose]

I played the course once, about 10 years ago, on a cold and rainy day in July.

My recollection is that the first hole was very claustrophobic, almost shoe-horned into a space that seemed barely wide enough to accommodate a golf hole. We all laid up off the tee and then missed the green with wedges.

[Shane Gurnett]

Sorry to bring the 1st up again Shane but....... Were both the green and tee moved to create the new first? I maybe wrong but that photo makes it look as if the tee is was over near to the practice putting green rather than up on the hill where it is now.

I was under the impression that the green was moved back and to the right to lengthen the hole and improve safety with a few too many bunkers added along the way, but the tee was the same as the present hole.

The green was moved (was straight, now dogleg right), but the tee is pretty much the same. And yes too many bunkers.

Kyle, I think you have understated the quality of the green complex on 2. It is superb, and probably in the top half dozen greens in Melbourne.

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle, I think you have understated the quality of the green complex on 2. It is superb, and probably in the top half dozen greens in Melbourne.

Undoubtedly. But having only seen it the one time, I do not believe I have the knowledge of the putting surface or the linguistic talents to provide a worthy description.

What I do remember:
     -A hollow at the left/front works its way into the green.
     -A subtle ridge/tie running diagonally from short/right to long/left through the heart of the green
     -An overall back-to-front and maybe right-to-left tilt.
     -30+ meters of depth.
     -Embarrassing myself with an abysmal display of chipping and putting.

Do you concur? Anything I missed?

Many thanks, Sir G.

[Kyle Henderson]

#3: 390 meters. Par 4.


As at the 2nd, the 3rd hole rewards a drive near the left-side fairway bunkers with the best angle (as dictated by the greenside bunkers and the slope of the green.


A closer and sunlit look at the approach shot, from the club’s website (I was too busy playing scotch hockey to garner photos of the green) .

[Mark_F]

Undoubtedly. But having only seen it the one time, I do not believe I have the knowledge of the putting surface or the linguistic talents to provide a worthy description.

Kyle,

You should have played Commonwealth a couple more times instead of wasting your time at The National.

[Shane Gurnett]

Kyle, your synopsis of the 2nd is pretty close. There are three great pins on that green - front edge, back left and back right behind the bunker. For a shortish par 5, I think the green is close to perfection in that it is difficult to hit in two, yet a miss in any direction will yield a difficult up and down due to the tilt of the green and the lateral hazards (bunker and short grass

Here is another view of 2 from about 100m out:

[Tom Kelly]

I really like the 3rd tee shot, pity I can't play it!

The cant of the fairway with the water right and bunkers left just messes with my mind, its the same for me as having wind blowing hard at your back/off the left. I get scared of leaking it right and the slope taking it down to the water and then end up hitting a big pull into the bunkers or worse the scrub behind them! You just have to hit a really solid golf shot off the that tee and the hole rewards you for doing so and getting up close to those bunkers.

Its a nice change of pace after the lay up on the 1st tee and then the fairly generous fairway on the 2nd.

[Shane Gurnett]

Thomas, it's a big advantage on 3 to keep the tee shot high on the LHS near the bunkers. The weaker tee shot that leaks towards the lake has to contend with the green which angles away from that line of play, and the tilted green which will push poorly struck shots into the left greenside bunkers. The green slopes sharply, without a lot of internal movement, from back right to front left.

After the second and third holes the player begins to understand the strategic angled principals which make Commonwealth such a pleasure to play.

[Tom Kelly]

Shane,

I agree that you want to be as close to the bunkers as possible which is why the tee shot is so good in my mind.

As I am sure you know the cant of the fairway especially when playing firm as it usually is makes the effective landing area for a good drive finishing up high left on the fairway so small. Anything hitting the right side of the fairway could end up water bound given the wrong bounce or at best leaves a very tough approach. So it is very easy for your mind/body to take over and hit the 'this ain't going right' swing. leaving yourself in the bunkers or scrub.

What makes it even more awkward for me is that the cant of the land tricks my mind into thinking I am playing from a ball below feet lie off a perfectly flat tee! I then get far too far over the ball and swing steep often leading to a cut or pull, or the opposite can happen and I over compensate sit back too much and hit a big hook way left!

It is one of those shots where for me I need to ignore the surroundings and just make a solid swing, which is why I find it so challenging and therefore interesting even though it doesn't really present you with any options, it is a true test of your swing and your mind control as much as anything else...as you can probably tell I sometimes struggle with the latter, I think about things far too much!!

[Kyle Henderson]

#4: 390 meters. Par 4


As the graphic shows, a driver from the 4th tee must fade or start down the right side over the fairway bunker. With this in mind, clubbing down is probably a wise choice for most golfers with decent length.


Again, as seen throughout the round, the fairway bunker here guards the best angle in, with the green tilted to favor approaches from the right side of the corridor (photo linked from the CGC website).


A miss to the long/left chipping area will leave a difficult opportunity for an up-and-down.

[Mike_Clayton]

Kyle,

This 4th hole is never a driver for a decent hitting player. The fairway runs out quickly on the left, the bunker is not in play and it's short enough that you just don't need it.
A friend of mine watched Bert Yancey play the 1967 Australian Open at Commonwealth. It was a really windy week and Yancey started off by hitting a long iron at the 1st - a hole that, downwind, was reachable. Then he amazingly hits irons of 2 and 3 - something nobody would do.
My friend is surprised by this famous American but then he got to 4 and pulled out the driver - 'and hit the most perfect long fade right up by the green.'

[Kyle Henderson]

Kyle,

This 4th hole is never a driver for a decent hitting player. The fairway runs out quickly on the left, the bunker is not in play and it's short enough that you just don't need it.
A friend of mine watched Bert Yancey play the 1967 Australian Open at Commonwealth. It was a really windy week and Yancey started off by hitting a long iron at the 1st - a hole that, downwind, was reachable. Then he amazingly hits irons of 2 and 3 - something nobody would do.
My fiend is surprised by this famous American but then he got to 4 and pulled out the driver - 'and hit the most perfect long fade right up by the green.'

Are you contradicting yourself or are you claiming Bert Yancey was not a "decent hitting player?"

More seriously, does your master plan for Commonwealth include a return to the original 1st hole? I still don't understand why they didn't leave the original as an alternate opener when they built the new one, as the two iterations could feasibly coexist with a few tweaks to the bunker scheme and tree plantings.

[Ben Jarvis]

I've played Commonwealth a few times now and have always enjoyed the 4th. Mike is correct, any drive hit left of centre will be in trouble. Although a short approach, the front to back and left to right sloping green makes it a tricky one.

Here are a couple of photos taken just two weeks ago..

[Mike_Clayton]

Kyle,

The plan suggests a return to the principles of the old hole - but not a simple rebuild of it. i think we can make it as interesting as the old one and that would be a good think because it was certainly an exciting tee shot to hit.

[Sven Nilsen]

Kyle:

I have greatly enjoyed all the photo tours you've done from your trip to Australia.  The depth of quality in the courses on the Sand Belt is amazing, and makes me wish I'd had an extra week or two to have tagged along on your exploration.  Seeing the six or seven courses I did on the trip left me with a great idea of the type of golf you can experience in Melbourne and at Barnbougle, but as with any book, you don't get the whole story from only a few excerpts.

Sven

[Kyle Henderson]

I'm glad you are enjoying the vicarious journey. I think you certainly had a chance to taste the "sand belt flavor." Sound strategic design and proper (sandy) soil really does go a long way in generating great golf courses. Yet, despite the many similarities, each club in the neighborhood has a distinct character. next time, take the extra week, compatriot.

Kyle:

I have greatly enjoyed all the photo tours you've done from your trip to Australia.  The depth of quality in the courses on the Sand Belt is amazing, and makes me wish I'd had an extra week or two to have tagged along on your exploration.  Seeing the six or seven courses I did on the trip left me with a great idea of the type of golf you can experience in Melbourne and at Barnbougle, but as with any book, you don't get the whole story from only a few excerpts.

Sven

[Kyle Henderson]

#5: 376 meters. Par 4.


After wiping my drive wide right, I missed out on a chance to experience the 5th hole as it was meant to be played.  To my eye, it adheres to the general Commonwealth formula: place the greenside bunkers and tilt the green to favor approaches from near the principal fairway hazard.


From the Commonwealth website, a view of the very deep (34 meters!!!) green. Beware the foreground trap, lest ye be proficient in playing the dreaded 50-meter bunker shot.

[Kyle Henderson]

#6: 531 meters. Par  5.


The 6th tee shot heads up and over a small rise, concealing the ultimate goal from first-timers.


Few will have the length to reach in two, but those who do must avoid sand and trees on either side.


The green complex sets up best for an approach from the right (photo from the Commonwealth website).

[Kyle Henderson]

#7: 182 meters: Par 3.


As noted above, this hole was built in 1992 by the club’s consulting architect of that era, Kevin Hartley. It’s a decent and enjoyable test of one’s game, but in a land blessed with so many stellar short holes, it fails to stand out as anything too noteworthy (not that there’s anything wrong with that). What is noteworthy is that the course offers this first chance of a par 3 so deep into the round – just 3 such chances are offered in total by the round’s completion, for a total par rating of 73 for the men.

[Shane Gurnett]

Kyle,

5 certainly favours a tee shot down the right near the bunker for any pin position except the right hand middle or back, where the right to left slope of the green makes it impossible to get the second near the pin from the RHS, and brings the right side pots into play (from where up and down to a right pin is impissible). A very underrated hole and a stern test into the winter southerly.

6 is a bit of an enigma - really good ground for a long 3 shoter, but let down by the lack of width on the tee shot (the trees beyond the RHS pots need to go) and the second shot bunkering arguably should be on the other side (RHS). I quite like the green which requires real precision to get into the LHS pins, whilst still staying under the hole. There was some talk a few years ago of softeneing the green to prevent so many balls running off it to the right (usually from poorly place second shots on the left) and thankfully sanity prevailed. When the club gets the land (which is now owns but leases out) to the left of this hole in a few years time they may be able to rework the hole and increase the width - it could be a really good long 5. Claytons plan would dramtically improve this hole.

7 is a newish par 3 which came into play when the Club extended the course into some vacant land it owned in about 1995. It replaced an outstanding mid length par 3 which was easily as good as 9 and 15, however the current hole is simply long, bland and with a very ordinary green. Nothing wrong with it, just a real let down from what used to be there.