Barnbougle Favourites

[Heath Perrott]

Hello all,
Long time reader, first time poster, very excited contributor.

So my second adventure to the kingdom that is Barnbougle awaits in December, approximately 4 and a half years after my first visit back in early 2012. I am already counting down.

As Lost Farm was only settling into the landscape when I first visited, how has it matured? Is it a worthy companion to the superior Dunes course?

Also, as both courses are now well established on the Australian golf map, the question for me still remains, what are the best holes across the two layouts? I'd have to say 8, followed by 4 and 7 at the Dunes still top my list.

There is something about the awe of a hole like 8, where you become so hypnotised by the design that whatever score you walk away with seems justified. (Thanks Tom/Mike)

Heath

[Rick Emerson]

Glad you are on the board Heath.
I love Barnbougle. I went there in early February this year and had two days of perfect weather. 4th, 7th, 17th are my favorites in that order.
I also got to play many of the great Melbourne gems on the same trip and I have to say Royal Melbourne West was the only other course I liked as much as Barnbougle Dunes.
Lost Farms is good too but not quite as good the Dunes. Number 12 stands out as a hole I am indifferent about. Actually, I only really liked 1 par 5 on the course.
I order the courses I played on my trip
1. RMW
2. Barnbougle Dunes (My one and two alternate constantly. I can't decide which I like better. Today RMW wins.)
3. Victoria
4. Kingston Heath
5. Lost Farms
6. RME
7. Metropolitan.
All these golf courses are wonderful.
Australians are fortunate people. Great courses and the way they are maintained is excellent. Good conditioning where you should be and unkempt where you shouldn't be and firm.

[Kalen Braley]

Not that I have to tell you, but you should check out Rans recent review of BD....it was certainly one of his better reviews!

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/australia/barnbougle-dunes/

[Alan Ritchie]

the more I play these courses the more lost farm goes up in my estimation. the front 9 is really world class and gives the dunes a good run for its money. holes 1 and 2 in particular stand out as ones that I didn't really appreciate to begin with but now do. for instance walk down the left of the bunkeron 2 and see how much easier an approach to the left pin becomes. likewise a left line off the tee on one allows for a more aggressive approach.  The run from 3-8 is certainly world class.

As for faves overall on BD I'd go 3,4,12,15

LF 3,5,14,18

Overall still give BD a 9 and LF 8

[Heath Perrott]

Not that I have to tell you, but you should check out Rans recent review of BD....it was certainly one of his better reviews!

http://golfclubatlas.com/courses-by-country/australia/barnbougle-dunes/

Definitely have had a read Kalen. Enjoyed it immensely. Some great writers here at gca


Have you had the chance to play them?

[Heath Perrott]

Glad you are on the board Heath.
I love Barnbougle. I went there in early February this year and had two days of perfect weather. 4th, 7th, 17th are my favorites in that order.
I also got to play many of the great Melbourne gems on the same trip and I have to say Royal Melbourne West was the only other course I liked as much as Barnbougle Dunes.
Lost Farms is good too but not quite as good the Dunes. Number 12 stands out as a hole I am indifferent about. Actually, I only really liked 1 par 5 on the course.
I order the courses I played on my trip
1. RMW
2. Barnbougle Dunes (My one and two alternate constantly. I can't decide which I like better. Today RMW wins.)
3. Victoria
4. Kingston Heath
5. Lost Farms
6. RME
7. Metropolitan.
All these golf courses are wonderful.
Australians are fortunate people. Great courses and the way they are maintained is excellent. Good conditioning where you should be and unkempt where you shouldn't be and firm.

So true Rick. We are very fortunate to have the quality of courses that we do down here.
Add the new and acclaimed Cape Wickham to the mix, and the prospect of another World Top 100 course in Ocean Dunes on King Island opening this year and it makes this corner of the globe a must visit destination.


On reflection I would have to say that 14 is a brilliant short par 4 on Lost Farm, but I agree with you about the par 5s

[James Bennett]

Par 5's at Barnbougle?

Lost Farm #8 is oustanding.
Lost Farm #1 and #12 are about as good as you can get for par 5's covering flat ground.

Barnbougle #11 is a very good hole.
Barnbougle #1 is a fine hole for a first hole.

Regarding great holes on flat land, Lost Farm #16 may be one of the best ever.

James B

[Heath Perrott]

Par 5's at Barnbougle?

Lost Farm #8 is oustanding.
Lost Farm #1 and #12 are about as good as you can get for par 5's covering flat ground.

Barnbougle #11 is a very good hole.
Barnbougle #1 is a fine hole for a first hole.

Regarding great holes on flat land, Lost Farm #16 may be one of the best ever.

James B

Your reference to 'flat land' is an interesting one James.
Has made me rethink what I perceive 'good design' in a par 5 to be...
I think I can often disregard the decisions that go into creating interest, indecision and strategic choice on such holes with what appear to have uninteresting terrain.
Cheers

[James Bennett]

Heath

#8 and #5 at Lost Farm are great holes on great land.
#1, #2 and #16 are great holes on flat land.

Great holes on great land are better holes than great holes on flat land.

But, you have to really admire the architect who can create a great hole on flat land.
And, feel disappointed in the architect who builds an average hole on great land.

James B

[AJ_Foote]

Heath,


Both courses stand alongside the world's best.


if you played them off, Barnbougle would probably win - just great hole after great hole.


Yet my two favourites on the property are on Lost Farm.


Number 5 is the most heroic of par fours, (but only off the back tee where you have to take on the dune).


Number 14 is my favourite hole in the world - a spectacular driveable par 4 with infinite risk/reward possibilities.


Cheers,


Andrew

[Ruediger Meyer]

If I had to rank them, I'd say those are my Top 6 in order
4 BD
14 LF
15 BD
5 LF
7 BD
[size=78%]8 LF[/size]

[Rick Emerson]

Par 5's at Barnbougle?

Lost Farm #8 is oustanding.
Lost Farm #1 and #12 are about as good as you can get for par 5's covering flat ground.

Barnbougle #11 is a very good hole.
Barnbougle #1 is a fine hole for a first hole.

Regarding great holes on flat land, Lost Farm #16 may be one of the best ever.

James B

I'm not saying the par 5's at Lost farms are bad. The problem is most of the other holes are so good and the land is so dramatic. The drivable 4's are a blast and the best 4 par threes rival Barnbougle as a set. I think number 1 Dunes is better than #1 LF because that one bunker in the right fairway is right in my line for where I want my second shot and the green is really fun to hit a wedge into. I will say that the bunkers on the flat par 5's at LF are well placed and do give the flat holes interest and strategy. It shows that C&C make great strategic holes. It's just the holes in the huge dunes are just so wild that a few of the flat holes seem dull.

[James Bennett]

Rick Emerson

I think we agree - see my post #8 above.

James B