TON FUN OF
TWO YEARS AGO WE BROUGHT YOU OUR FIRST EVER COMPREHENSIVE RANKING OF THE NATION’S TOP-100 COURSES. HOW WE FOLLOWED THAT RANKING WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE INTERESTING. WE MADE SOME WHOLESALE CHANGES TO OUR JUDGING PANEL AND HERE IS THE RESULT … THE ULTIMATE LIST OF AUSTRALIA’S TOP-100 COURSES. WORDS: GOLF AUSTRALIA EDITORS
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PHOTO: GARY LISBON
F
or the past quarter century, Golf Australia has closely monitored the ever-changing golf course landscape of Australia. To do so, our editors and judging panellists have travelling the length and breadth of the country to ensure that every two years we can produce the most accurate and comprehensive ranking of the nation’s best courses. We produced our first list – of just 20 courses – back in 1989. That number increased to 25, then 50 in 2006 and to 100, for the first time, in 2012. The length of the list has not only evolved but the way we rank the courses has also changed dramatically.
The National’s Moonah Course maintained its top-ten spot on the list.
For example, there were just six judges in 1989. Today, we have a panel of 24 judges, who live in every state of Australia and regularly hit the road to play and see courses a long way from home. The judging panel is a combination of golf-course design aficionados, Golf Australia readers, contributors and editors. We have listened to critics of previous rankings and there are no course designers sitting on our judging panel for this 2014 ranking. “We copped a bit of flak from various sources over the years for including course designers on our panel,” Golf Australia editor,
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Royal Melbourne’s West course has again been voted Australia’s best.
Brendan James, said. “In 2012, the knockers grew quite vocal on golf or played during the past two years. forum websites and in letters to the magazine. The criteria used by each judge places greater emphasis on a “Perhaps the greatest criticism surrounded the inclusion on the panel course’s design and less on its conditioning. While a layout’s general of Mike Clayton, whose stable of course designs and redesigns like The presentation remains important, we felt it was unfair to place too much Lakes, Lake Karrinyup, Royal Queensland and the Peninsula courses, all weight on this element for two main reasons. A judge might happen improved in 2012. to visit a course at a time of year when the conditioning is not at its “A course-design contemporary of Clayton’s even suggested to me, best. Less emphasis on conditioning also addresses the problem of without knowing the voting process, that Clayton had a hand in getting courses being elevated beyond their true rank based on immaculate his courses elevated ahead of his because the former Tour professional conditioning courtesy of a huge budget, rather than its overall design is a paid columnist and senior writer for Golf Australia magazine. It and conditioning qualities. was an accusation that is simply not true. But this questioning of the You will note one major credibility of the ranking and the process by which it is compiled was change in the top-ten of the the motive for excluding all designers from the panel in 2014. ranking with the inclusion “Interestingly, of the 11 courses Clayton has done major redesign of Ellerston, the ultrawork on that appear in the top half of our 2014 ranking, five improved exclusive Packer family on their position, one course made its debut and the remaining five held course in the Hunter Valley their position or dropped a minimum of two spots. Mike Clayton might of New South Wales … have sat on his last judging panel, if he has any say in it.” more about that later. As you read through our list you can be assured the courses featured We have, however, are the best of the best – the cream of Australian golf. In fact, 149 continued to accept the courses received votes from our judges but, obviously, only the top-100 ongoing request from the is celebrated here. management of Capital Golf Club in Melbourne for that course not To come up with the Top-100 ranking it is a lengthy process that to be ranked. begins nearly two years beforehand, about a month after the previous No matter what a certain other list may claim, course rankings can ranking is published, with judges starting to visit courses across the never be definitive. Our stringent criteria (see story on page 54) set country, sometimes covertly. in place a framework for our panellists to establish benchmarks, but S e i k o _ SEach P Mjudge _ G Awas D Pinstructed _ J a n to- submit 1 2 0 1fi3 1 1only - 1a5month T 1 1 : 1 5 : 1beauty 8 + 1 really 1 : 0is0in the eye of the beholder when it comes to courses, their nal- list before publication and to include only a list of courses they had seen and we should celebrate that.
... beauty really is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to courses, and we should celebrate that.
PHOTOS: GARY LISBON X 3
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2 The change in the judging panel, as well as the inclusion of some courses not ranked in 2012, has seen plenty of movement – up and down – in this year’s ranking. All things considered, we feel that our approach produces a true golfer’s guide that you can rely on to plan future visits, and we hope our rankings inspire you to get out and play the best courses in Australia. Before we reveal the ins and outs and the final list, we should acknowledge the hard work our judging panel has put into compiling the rankings. It may seem like a dream job to play some great courses, and our panellists are of course extremely privileged. But they are not paid any form of remuneration or expenses and undertake their task for the love of the game. Our biggest thank you, though, goes to the clubs and courses that have hosted our panellists, because without their kind co-operation, producing these rankings would not be possible.
ROYAL TOPS AGAIN
Royal Melbourne’s West course is again the premier layout in Australia – a crown that has been bestowed on it by this magazine for the past 25 years. There have been times when that crown looked a little bit shabby and there was pressure to dethrone the classic Alister MacKenzie design. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club has done an about-face in recent years. Course superintendent Richard Forsyth can be very proud of the dramatically improved conditioning of both the West and East courses on the back of changing the playing surfaces across all 36 holes. That said, the design of both layouts, which is now overseen by acclaimed designer Tom Doak, is always the memorable aspect of a
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Barnbougle Dunes rose one spot into second place in the ranking.
The surge of the Barnbougle courses forced Kingston Heath down to No.4.
6 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Packer family-owned Ellerston has been ranked for the first time in six years; Victoria remained in the top-ten despite dropping one spot; St Andrews Beach moved up one place to round out the top-ten; Lake Karrinyup’s star continues to rise, having moved up two spots since 2012.
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round there and even the drop off in condition wasn’t enough to topple the West course from the top spot during the bad times. “The drought certainly took its toll on the West and East courses, but the mammoth task to returf their greens and fairways, as well as the greens surrounds has paid dividends,” judge Ben Jarvis said. “The choice of fescue around the greens is the best choice of all, as it allows the player to bounce their ball short and let it run on to their famously firm and fast putting surfaces.” Golf Australia editor Brendan James agreed: “The fescue-grass surrounds have been a great addition and really complement the outstanding design. Royal Melbourne is fun to play again.” And this from course-design aficionado Matt Mollica: “Royal Melbourne West stands above all others. It boasts a vast number of world-class holes, brilliant green complexes and bunkering, is routed exceptionally well and sits on brilliant golfing land. “Add in, now, the consistently high level of course presentation, and it is easy to see Royal Melbourne West has no equal in this country, and few peers anywhere in the world.” Judge Shane Gurnett summed up his thoughts this way: “The West course offers timeless strategic design unsurpassed in Australian golf. With its condition issues well behind it, the firm and fast setup really lets the design elements shine through.”
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And, finally, this comment from panellist Richard Macafee: “Royal Melbourne West is easily the best golf course and golf experience in the land, and again an easy choice as No.1. “It is just the finest example of great architecture on great land. You need to shape the ball both ways off the tee, and every approach has the golfer visualising exact shot shape, flight and spin to leave the ball in the best position.”
HEATH SUCCUMBS TO TASSIE WONDERS
One of the most significant changes at the pointy end of the ranking has seen Kingston Heath drop two places to No.4, replaced by Barnbougle Dunes as the second-best course in the land. The Bill Coore-designed Barnbougle Lost Farm also moved up one spot to No.3, after debuting in the 2012 ranking. Most of our judges had the Tasmanian wonder courses near the top of their list, but they were polarised as to which of the two was the best. When all the votes were tallied, Barnbougle Dunes finished only a fraction of a point clear. Barnbougle Dunes rightly deserves its spot at No.2. As one judge, David Elvins, said: “At just over $100 to play all day, Barnbougle Dunes is the best-value great golf course in the world … lucky us.” And this, from fellow judge Kevin Pallier: “Barnbougle Dunes is the
PHOTOS: GARY LISBON X 2; BRENDAN JAMES X 2 (ELLERSTON,ST ANDREWS BEACH)
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greatest links experience in Australia. It easily compares with the best I’ve seen in Great Britain and Ireland.” The judges were equally as impressed with Barnbougle Lost Farm, while several made mention of how the two Barnbougle courses complemented each other so well. “Barnbougle Lost Farm opened to considerable acclaim several years ago, and has lived up to the sizeable pre-play hype,” Mollica said. “With a portion of the course routed over flatter, almost uninspiring land, Bill Coore’s considered hand has resulted in an elegant, strategic, playable and enjoyable course. Different in character to its sibling across the Forester River, Lost Farm is a course of high quality.” Elvins agreed: “Lost Farm gets better with every visit. With Barnbougle Dunes, it makes up one of the world’s best golf destinations.” Macafee reckons Lost Farm, in time, will push to be the No.2 course in the land. “Lost Farm has now settled in and it has established itself as my second-best golf course in the land,” he said. “It is a truly worldclass golf course due to its strategy, design, playability, conditioning and experience. No course in the country gives the player more choices from the tee, but there is always a reward for playing to your strengths and for taking on a hazard. Any golfer of any ability can enjoy the experience equally. “Lost Farm is exactly what golf should be, and is exceptionally well balanced with subtle directional changes and a mix of shorter tempting
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Since its redesign, Royal Queensland has gone up eight spots in the ranking.
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Commonwealth was liked by the judges and it moved up three spots.
holes and longer more demanding ones. Lost Farm would be the No.1 course in a lot of countries.” Kingston Heath’s two-spot fall is in no way reflective of any drop in standard at the Sandbelt club. In fact, only 1.2 points separated Barnbougle Dunes in second from Kingston Heath in fourth spot, with a slightly larger gap then back to the No.5-ranked New South Wales course. This suggests that in years to come, it won’t take much for some exchanging of positions to occur among the three courses immediately behind Royal Melbourne West. ‘The Heath’ still polled impressively across the board and the judges remain enamoured with the layout. “One struggles to suggest any improvement that can be made to better Kingston Heath,” Elvins said. “Especially now that pot bunker has been removed from the 11th fairway.” Mollica heaped praise on Kingston Heath for its magnificence. “Kingston Heath is a magnificent place to play golf, and features so many wonderful shots,” he said. “The course’s bunkering consistently wins acclaim from all who play there, and the green complexes are among the best in the nation. “The class with which it meets the dual task of suitability for member play and tournament hosting is second to none.” Pallier agrees: “NSW has undergone significant alterations, though I’m not sure all are improvements on what was already there.”
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South Australia’s Glenelg layout keeps winning accolades from the judges.
PHOTOS: GARY LISBON X 3
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35 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Rave
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reviews from judges has seen RACV Healesville rocket up seven places in the list; Stonecutters Ridge made a spectacular debut at No.35; Western Australia’s Meadow Springs advanced three places on its 2012 position; The Greg Norman redesign of Grange East debuted at No.39.
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STATUS QUO FOR NSW
The New South Wales course at La Perouse maintained its position at No.5 in the ranking but the mix of comments from our judges suggests that might not be the case in the future. “In the past few years, considerable work has been done at New South Wales, with MacKenzie bentgrass now on all greens, a new putting surface on the 6th hole and reworked 3rd and 4th holes,” Mollica said. “There have also been other works and it seems more heavily planted and bunkered, with an apparent emphasis on target golf and increased difficulty, which is often at odds with fun and playability ... especially on a windy, exposed coastal site.” Elvins added: “The recent dry weather in Sydney has the course playing hard and bouncy with minimal rough, which has brought the course to life. But the seven or eight fairway pots on the 18th hole are at odds with the rest of the course.”
ELLERSTON RETURNS
It will stir controversy – it already has – but our decision to re-include the ultra-private Ellerston course has merit.
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The exclusive domain of the Packer family, nestled deep in the Upper Hunter Valley region of NSW, returned in the No.6 position after a lengthy period during which Golf Australia opted not to rank the course. In fact we did so only once, in 2008 when it came in seventh. That decision was based largely on the course’s sheer inaccessibility as generally only connections to the Packers can play there. Back then we felt it was wrong to publish a ‘bucket list’ of sorts for Australian golfers to play and include a course that was anything but accessible. However, curiosity welled inside some readers who wanted to know just how good the Greg Norman/Bob Harrison design really was. Likewise, Ellerston today is marginally more available under James Packer’s reign than it was under his father Kerry’s. A few more golfers buy their way to Ellerston through high-end charity auctions that raise money for worthy causes, which still makes it among the most exclusive places in Australian golf but not impossible to play. In the end, we agreed with the critics who felt Ellerston deserved to be included. After all, the only eligibility requirement for our ranking of Australia’s Top-100 Courses is that the course is in Australia. A group of ten Golf Australia judges visited Ellerston in late October
PHOTO: GARY LISBON; SUPPLIED; BRENDAN JAMES X 2
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TOP: Avondale, on
Sydney’s north shore, goes from strength to strength and jumps up another seven ranking spots in this list. BELOW: The Graham Marsh-designed Kalgoorlie has improved six spots on its debut position in 2012. BOTTOM: The Henley course at The Heritage is starting to realise some of its potential and rose 11 places in the list.
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OUR RANKING CRITERIA
just before our ranking period closed for this 2014 list. Most were seeing the course for the first time while it was a return journey for others. The golf course is truly impressive – and in immaculate condition, thanks to its full fleet of course staff and low traffic rate whereby 20 rounds represent a busy week. The design brief from Kerry Packer to Norman in the late 1990s was to make it tough and, even though aspects of the layout have been softened slightly with time, it is a bruising journey and not one that golfers above a 12-handicap could handle. For instance, the tee shot at the 451-yard 7th (yes, all measurements are in imperial at Packer’s behest) needs to fly about 200 metres to carry babbling Pages Creek and find a tapered fairway that widens only for the longest hitters. There are zero bailout options. Which isn’t to say brutally difficult automatically equals good in assessing the quality of a layout. Yet at Ellerston, the opportunities to take on heroic shots are heightened by the sheer exhilaration of successfully pulling them off. The hole that best indicates this attribute is the 456-yard 16th, an L-shaped par-4 where drives that hug the left side of the fairway afford a direct route to the green across the rocky creek in a white-knuckle approach. Alternatively, there is a generous lay-up zone straight along the fairway that leaves a tricky downhill pitch for the third shot. It’s one of those memorable holes that’s not quite a par-4 and not quite a par-5 but plays somewhere in between – and is emblematic of Packer. As one judge put it upon reflection after the visit: “Musicians, painters, fiction writers, architects and other creative types either consciously or subconsciously invest an element of themselves (personality, philosophy, etc.) in their creations. If someone set foot on the course at Ellerston and at the end of the round had to describe Kerry Packer without ever having heard of him, they’d probably suggest he was tough, uncompromising, proudly Australian, big and bold, with an eye for what punters want – which is quite an accurate representation.” Another judge, David Elvins, had a slightly different view. “This is Australia’s best inland course, by a mile,” he said. “A succession of thrilling holes in a great Australian bush setting. Only Packer’s reported obsession with difficulty stands in the way of this contending for the No.1 spot.” Mollica believes Ellerston is brilliant and is arguably the finest design by Bob Harrison during his all his years working alongside Norman. “Ellerston is a thrill to play,” he said. “The course presents an abundance of demanding drives and thrilling approaches. Set in a gorgeous valley, with Pages Creek hugging and intersecting
To be considered for this ranking, courses/clubs had to receive votes from at least a third of our panel of 24 judges. All judges were instructed that they must only vote on courses they have played or seen since October 2011. Judges were also given the following criteria to help them establish their ranking list:
DESIGN (60%)
CONDITION (20%)
• Is there a good balance of par-3s, 4s and 5s?
• How fair is the course for all players?
• The overall condition of playing surfaces. Take into consideration elements out of control of course staff, like drought, bushfire and flood.
• Does the design offer a wide selection of shots based on length of holes and routing of holes bringing any variation of wind direction into play?
• Are the fairways cut to be well-defined from semi-rough and rough?
• How memorable are individual holes and the course as a whole?
• Have the bunkers been well-presented?
Judges were instructed to ask the following questions to themselves to determine where a course stands in the list. • Is there a good variety of long and short par-4s? • Is risk-and-reward a factor on many holes?
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Judges were instructed to consider:
VISUAL APPEAL (20%)
Visual appeal is an important factor in not only attracting golfers but also getting those same golfers to play the course again and again. Judges were asked to consider: • How aesthetically pleasing is the course to look at? • Are there many holes that have ‘wow’ factor? • Does the course bIend well with its surrounds?
PHOTOS: BRENDAN JAMES X 3
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88 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The
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Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett redesign at Manly has seen the Sydney club make it back into the Top100; Curlewis debuts on the list, adding to the quality of Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula; Yering Meadows moved up five spots in this list; Royal Perth improved for a second ranking in a row.
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the majority of holes, it is an exacting, demanding, memorable, enjoyable course. “It’s likely Bob Harrison’s finest work, in a portfolio of many highcalibre designs. It’s a shame so few will experience it.” We know the decision to allow Ellerston to return to our ranking won’t sit well with some readers, however there is still benefit in knowing where such a pristine private haven sits as a yardstick to Australia’s other elite courses.
ON THE MOVE
The inclusion of Ellerston and the improved positions of St Andrews Beach (up to No.10), Lake Karrinyup (up to No.12) and Commonwealth (up to No.16) saw 11 courses between No.7 and The Links Kennedy Bay at No.20 suffer small falls in position from 2012. The biggest upward trends in the top half of the ranking came from Commonwealth, Royal Queensland (up four places to No.22) and Peninsula South (up three places to No.25). “Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts at subtle course improvement and tree clearing are yielding results, with better turf quality and improved course aesthetics,” says Mollica. “Their Legend couch fairways are now
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bedded in, and laying well. Work on bunkering consistency, greens surrounds, and a small number of design tweaks is slowly seeing the course return to its glory days as one of the top handful of layouts in the nation.” Richard Macafee had this to say about Lake Karrinyup: “The presentation and playability of Karrinyup is hard to beat. It is the example of using land behind greens in the hole strategy, something that is done too rarely in Australia. Unfortunately, for mine, the mid to long par-4s have a sameness to them that is hard to overcome and stops the course pushing into the top bracket in the country.” Other improvers include The Vintage (up three spots to No.43) and the Mike Clayton-redesigned RACV Healesville (up seven spots to No.46). “RACV Healesville is not your average course; par 68 with a length under 5,000 metres. Yet, the course possesses many holes of wonderful design,” says Mollica. And this from Macafee: “Healesville is playable for literally anyone who can swing a club. When you walk off the 18th green here, you just want to go back to the 1st tee and go around again. It is the perfect antidote for long, unnatural, over-bunkered modern courses with huge multi-tiered greens.”
PHOTOS: BRENDAN JAMES X 2; GARY LISBON (YERING); SUPPLIED
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COURSES TO LOOK FOR IN 2016 Even during a comparatively flat period for new-course
the property, will make for an impressive setting.The Eastern
clubhouse. It is a more scenic site than the original course
projects in Australian golf, the landscape as we enter
project could be the only one of these three new additions
and one blessed with naturally occurring couch grass as
2014 will still be markedly different two years from now.
to open in time to be eligible for our 2016 ranking, but each
Harrison’s artistry at Bungool completes what will be a fine
is sure to figure prominently in the Top-100 eventually.
complement to the Gangurru course.
construction or growing-in phase, with a handful of
Closer to completion is Bob Harrison’s Bungool course
First to reach a conclusion could be Gardiners Run in
established courses also currently being redeveloped. Most
at Riverside Oaks (pictured).The north-west Sydney club
Melbourne, which is scheduled to welcome play in March
intriguing of the former group is the Cape Wickham project
and resort’s long-anticipated second layout is due to have
or April as members of Chirnside Park Country Club relocate
on King Island’s northern tip.This exposed, windblown site
The 3rd hole of Riverside Oaks’ new Bungool course, designed by Bob Harrison.
in the heart of Bass Strait could open later this year but 2015 is a more realistic timeframe – and depending on the exact timing may debut in our 2016 ranking. Most
to their new golfing home. Phil Ryan of Pacific Coast Design penned the Gardiners Run layout, which is the site of a former clay quarry and comprises a series of lakes and gentle natural undulations.
of the earthworks were completed in September but the
Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett’s Black Bull course on the
developers won’t rush the opening of this Mike DeVries
Murray River at Yarrawonga will progress to 13 holes early
design that places eight holes directly along the coastline
in the new year with a view to the complete 18 opening in
and promises to be a classic. Across on King Island’s west
2015.The existing holes run to the shore of Lake Mulwala
coast is Ocean Dunes, a Graeme Grant design that likewise
and weave through a lifestyle development, featuring rippled
utilises its extraordinary coastal setting to create memorable
fairways and a variety of bunker shapes. It’s one course that
holes.The addition of these two courses will further change
continues to slowly blossom.
the shape of golf south of the mainland.
The same goes for Sydney’s Bonnie Doon, where Geoff
Elsewhere, Greg Norman’s design team are busy with
Ogilvy and Mike Clayton’s masterplan keeps taking shape,
three major projects on the move. Eastern Golf Club’s new
stage by stage. Once complete, the new-look ‘Doon’ layout
site in the Yarra Valley will see the Melbourne club relocate
will place it among the top five to ten courses in the harbour
sometime in 2015 to a 27-hole, Norman-designed facility.
city. On the other side of the country, the Ogilvy/Clayton
Also in various stages of development and construction
partnership is making headway at Sun City, where the
are Norman’s Great Keppel Island and Huntley courses.The
addition of three new holes has allowed gradual changes to
first of these promises to be a site for golf unlike anything
take place at the northern Perth course.
else: an ecologically sound course that’s part of a broader
Our 2014 ranking saw Jack Nicklaus’ redesigned course
revitalisation project for one of Australia’s favourite Great
the full 18 in play by this coming March after the front nine
at The Australian Golf Club rise two places, however with
Barrier Reef destinations.The Huntley project near Dapto,
holes opened last April.This first nine includes a collection
further growing seasons (and hosting a national Open
south-west of Wollongong, is a former coal mine site tucked
of holes directly alongside the Hawkesbury River, while the
later this year) there is every chance it will leap ahead as
in against the imposing Illawarra Escarpment.That backdrop,
second nine moves back and forth within a pocket of land
the 2016 ranking of Australia’s Top-100 Courses stands to
coupled with rolling terrain and a chain of creeks traversing
tucked between the river and huge rocky ridge behind the
present a vastly different complexion.
“It is a layout focusing primarily upon fun and playability. Despite its modest length, RACV Healesville deserves its place in the upper echelon of the nation’s courses. It boasts many fine holes, which would be the envy of many courses throughout Australia.” Four courses – Portsea (No.32), Brookwater (No.36), Yarra Yarra (No.37) and Links Hope Island (No.48) all maintained the ranking they achieved in 2012. There were four debutante courses in the top-50 of the ranking – the previously mentioned Ellerston re-entered and the Greg Norman and Bob Harrison-designed Stonecutters Ridge, which comes into the ranking at No.35, less than half a point ahead of their now 12-year-old Brookwater design. “Stonecutters Ridge is a brilliant addition to the Sydney golfing landscape,” Golf Australia editor Brendan James said. “The front nine offers wide avenues and several playing-line options while the back nine covers more varied terrain and is arguably the more interesting of the two. “The only thing I would change is to play the reachable par-5 18th as a par-4. Its only defence at the moment is a strong southerly wind but as a par-4 it would represent a challenging closing hole and would really bring the fairway bunkers into play.” The Grange’s East course, redesigned by Norman and opened last January, has soared into the ranking at No.39, less than half a point
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behind the Geoff Ogilvy/Mike Clayton major redevelopment of Sydney’s Bonnie Doon. “Grange’s East course is bolder than the West course, and more spectacular to look at but not quite as intricate,” judge David Elvins said of the Adelaide course. And James Bennett added: “I don’t know how Greg Norman managed it, but he has been able remove the congestion of the East course and create a feeling of width and separation from the adjacent holes. The course still needs to settle in, but the work so far has exceeded the expectations of many a golfer.” Interestingly, the redesign of the ‘Doon’ is not yet complete but more than half of our judging panel voted highly for what they had seen of the ‘new’ course. The courses trending upwards the most in the bottom half of the ranking include Bonville Golf Resort (up nine to No.55), The Heritage’s St John course (up four to No.57), Mt Lawley (up five places to No.60), Avondale (up seven spots to No.61), Kalgoorlie (up six to No.73), The Heritage Henley course (which jumped 11 spots to No.74), and Royal Perth (which moved up six places to No.81). Judge Matt Mollica praised the Tony Cashmore-designed Henley, one of the biggest improvers in the ranking, saying the layout had “matured since opening” and was now a more enjoyable place to play. While Elvins had this to say about its neighbour, the St John course:
PHOTO: BRENDAN JAMES
Several new courses remain in either an approval,
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100
The Ogilvy/Clayton redesign of Sun City is not complete but already the judges like what they see.
THE NEXT 20 The following courses received votes from our judges but did not accrue sufficient points to make the Top-100. They appear here in alphabetical order:
• Albany
• Pennant Hills
• Alice Springs
• Rosebud Country Club
• Bunbury • Duntryleague • Federal • Leongatha • Long Reef • Macquarie Links • Mandurah • Monash • North Lakes
(NORTH COURSE)
• Royal Hobart • Secret Harbour • Shepparton • Southern • The Sands Torquay • Yarrawonga Mulwala (MURRAY COURSE)
• Paradise Palms
“It has interesting greens and a good variety of holes, which is a highlight.” Of the final 15 courses on the ranking, six were not ranked in the Top-100 in 2012. Manly, which was completely redesigned by Peter Thomson and Ross Perrett, has jumped onto the list at No.85. One of the hidden gems of the Bellarine Peninsula, Curlewis, moves in at No.88 after several years of finishing in the list of 20 courses just outside the 100. “The water initiatives put in place by the club a few years back are really paying dividends and the quality of the playing surfaces now complements the very good and enjoyable design,” Brendan James said. “I can see Curlewis now enjoying an extended period of time in the Top-100.” Both Indooroopilly’s West course (No.93) and nearby Brisbane Golf Club (No.99) were not considered for the 2012 ranking because of the damage and ongoing restoration of the courses after the floods of January 2011. Both layouts have returned to their best and should improve on their positions in future rankings.
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JANUARY 2014
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THE JUDGING PANEL BRENDAN JAMES (Golf Australia editor)
CRAIG READ (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
STEVE KEIPERT (Golf Australia deputy editor)
SCOTT WARREN (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
ALEX CLEAVE (R&A member, champion senior golfer)
MICHAEL GREEN (aussiegolfer.com.au)
MATT LAVERTY (PGA pro & corporate golf guru)
BEN JARVIS (Golf operations manager, Thirteenth Beach)
CAMERON HOWELL (Royal Adelaide head professional)
SUSAN JOHNSON (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
MATTHEW MOLLICA (Course design aficionado)
JACQUI LEE (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
RICHARD MACAFEE (Course design aficionado)
FELICITY CHAPMAN (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
KEVIN PALLIER (Course design aficionado)
JAMES KING (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
DAVID ELVINS (Course design aficionado)
JOE THOMAS (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
JAMES BENNETT (Course design aficionado)
LUCAS ANDREWS (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
SHANE GURNETT (Course design aficionado)
SCOTT NIELSEN (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
ANDREW PRESNELL (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
ALEX CHAPMAN (Golf Australia reader/contributor)
golf australia
PHOTO: BRENDAN JAMES
A panel of 24 judges was assembled for Golf Australia’s Top-100 ranking and for the first time in 25 years there are no golf course designers on the panel. It is interesting to note that Golf Australia is the only magazine or website that produces a course ranking with input from female judges. Our list of judges is a mix of ordinary golfers like you who have a love for the game and are keen students of course architecture.
Arundel Hills (No.95) on the Gold Coast makes its debut in our ranking this year, again, after many years in the ranks of those courses just outside the Top-100. “Fred Bolton’s design at Arundel Hills has never been questioned as a fine one,” James said. “But there was a long period when the conditioning had been in decline. The club has turned that aspect of the layout 180 degrees and it has returned to the well-manicured gem it one was.” Creeping into the Top-100 for the first time is Sun City (No.100), the rolling layout about 45 minutes’ drive north of Perth that is in the middle of an Ogilvy/Clayton redevelopment. Like Bonnie Doon, our judges already like what they see without the full redesign being complete. At Sun City, only a handful of holes have been redone but that was enough to impress our judges so that it moved from just outside the 100 into the ranking. “If the work that has already been carried out at Sun City is indicative of what is to come, it will be another West Australian course to cement a spot in the Top-100 for some time,” judge Joe Thomas said.
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HOW THE RANK
COURSE/ DESIGNERS
AVG. 2012 POINTS RANK
1
ROYAL MELBOURNE (West course)
2
BARNBOUGLE DUNES
3 4 5
COURSES
Dr Alister MacKenzie (1931); Tom Doak (ongoing)
Tom Doak & Mike Clayton (2004)
BARNBOUGLE LOST FARM
Bill Coore (2010)
99.67
1
98.16
3
97.54
4
KINGSTON HEATH
Dan Soutar (1925), Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926), Graeme Grant (1983-1995); Mike Clayton (2005)
96.96
2
NEW SOUTH WALES
Dr Alister MacKenzie (1928); Eric Apperly (1937 & 1951); Greg Norman (ongoing)
6
ELLERSTON
7
ROYAL MELBOURNE (East course)
Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2001)
95.35 94.88
5 N/R
RANK
COURSE/ DESIGNERS
26
KOOYONGA
27
ROYAL SYDNEY
28
GLENELG
75.47
23
74.33
21
73.6
29
72.47
31
72.33
24
71.29
30
71.27
32
71.21
34
70.65
33
69.5
N/R
69.11
36
68.67
37
Lance Giddings & Eric Apperly (1937); Prosper Ellis (1951); Ross Watson (1995 to 2003); Geoff Ogilvy & Mike Clayton (2011 and ongoing)
65.81
N/R
65.44
N/R
65.3
39
64.88
35
64.83
27
61.13
46
61
38
60.92
43
60.5
53
60.47
50
60.44
48
60.42
45
59.7
44
Herbert L. Rymill (1924); Martin Hawtree (2008) Carnegie Clark (1921); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1987); Ross Watson (2003) Herbert L. Rymill (1927); Vern Morcom (1955); Neil Crafter & Bob Tuohy (2004)
29
THE AUSTRALIAN
30
MOONAH LINKS (Legends course)
31
Jack Nicklaus (1977 & 2013) Ross Perrett (2003)
GRANGE (West course) Vern Morcom (1956), Mike Clayton (2008)
32
PORTSEA
33
THE CUT
34
JOONDALUP (Quarry/Dune course)
35
STONECUTTERS RIDGE
Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge (1979 & 1997); Mike Clayton (2009); Tom Doak (ongoing) 90.24 10
36
BROOKWATER
12
LAKE KARRINYUP
37
YARRA YARRA
13
METROPOLITAN
38
BONNIE DOON
8 9
Alex Russell (1932); Tom Doak (ongoing)
THE NATIONAL (Moonah course)
Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
10 11
ROYAL ADELAIDE
Tom Doak (2005)
Alex Russell (1928); Mike Clayton (2008) J.B. MacKenzie (1906); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Dick Wilson (1959); Mike Clayton (2006 and ongoing)
92.15
7
92.05
8
90.6
11
89.45
89.17
14
9
WOODLANDS
J.D. Scott & Rowley Banks (1913); Sam Bennett (1917); Mick Morcom (1928)
15
THE LAKES
16
COMMONWEALTH
Bruce Devlin & Robert Von Hagge (1970); Mike Clayton (2009) Sam Bennett (1921); Charles Lane (1926); Sloan Morpeth (1962); Kevin Hartley (1992)
17
NEWCASTLE
18
PENINSULA (North course)
19
THE NATIONAL (Old course)
Eric Apperly (1937) Sloan Morpeth (1969); Mike Clayton (2002)
Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1987)
20
THE LINKS KENNEDY BAY
21
BARWON HEADS
22
ROYAL QUEENSLAND
Michael Coate, Roger Mackay & Ian Baker-Finch (1998) Victor East (1921); Neil Crafter & Paul Mogford (2005 and ongoing) Carnegie Clark (1920); Dr Alister MacKenzie (1926); Mike Clayton (2007 and ongoing)
23
THIRTEENTH BEACH (Beach course)
24
THE DUNES
25
PENINSULA (South course)
62
6
VICTORIA
Oscar Damman, William Meader & Dr Alister Mackenzie (1927); Mike Clayton (2001 and ongoing)
ST ANDREWS BEACH
14
94.09
Tony Cashmore (2001)
Tony Cashmore (1997 and ongoing) Sloan Morpeth (1967), Mike Clayton (2007) JANUARY 2014
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golf australia
86.89 86.29
Jock Young (1926); Sloan Morpeth & Jack Howard (1965); Mike Clayton (2000) James Wilcher (2004) Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1985) Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2012) Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2002) Alex Russell (1928), Martin Hawtree (2011)
12
39
GRANGE (East course) Vern Morcom (1967); Greg Norman (2013)
13
40
ELANORA
41
THE NATIONAL (Ocean course)
Dan Soutar (1929); James Wilcher (2007)
85.83
19
84.7
16
42
MAGENTA SHORES
84.22
17
43
THE VINTAGE
83.83
18
44
HAMILTON ISLAND
83.8
15
45
THE GLADES
46
RACV HEALESVILLE
47
TERREY HILLS
48
LINKS HOPE ISLAND
49
CONCORD
50
SPRING VALLEY
82.04
20
80.95
26
80.67
22
77.32
25
77.27
28
AVG. 2012 POINTS RANK
Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2000) Ross Watson (2006) Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2003) Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2009) Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000) Mike Clayton (2009) Graham Marsh & Ross Watson (1994) Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (1993) Dan Soutar (1916); Ross Watson (1998); Mark Parker (ongoing) Vern Morcom (1948); Mike Clayton (ongoing)
RANKED RANK
51
COURSE/ DESIGNERS
AVG. 2012 POINTS RANK
HUNTINGDALE
Charles Allison (1941); Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (1998 and ongoing)
59.5
40
59.2
51
59
54
58.69
55
RANK
COURSE/ DESIGNERS
76
COTTESLOE
77
LINKS LADY BAY
78
PALMER COOLUM RESORT
79
THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
David Anderson (1931); Graham Marsh (1998 and ongoing)
52
THE GRAND
53
PORT FAIRY
54
PELICAN WATERS
55
BONVILLE GOLF RESORT Terry Watson & Ted Stirling (1992)
56.83
64
80
LAKELANDS
56
THIRTEENTH BEACH (Creek course) Tony Cashmore & Sir Nick Faldo (2004); Tony Cashmore (ongoing)
56.46
49
81
ROYAL PERTH
57
THE HERITAGE (St John course)
54.6
61
58
THE VINES (Lakes course)
82
EYNESBURY
54.5
47
59
83
TASMANIA
MEADOW SPRINGS
53.73
62
60
MT LAWLEY
84
SORRENTO
Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (1997) Club members (1963); Kevin Hartley (1989); Mike Clayton (2000) Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
Jack Nicklaus (2000)
Graham Marsh & Ross Watson (1989)
Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1993) David Anderson & James Tinlin (1928); Michael Coate (2004 and ongoing)
61
AVONDALE
62
LONG ISLAND
63
SETTLERS RUN
64
MOONAH LINKS (Open course)
Eric Apperly (1927); Ross Watson (2008) Gordon Oliver (1938); Vern Morcom (1945) Greg Norman, Bob Harrison & Harley Kruse (2007) Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (2001)
65
AMSTEL (Ranfurlie course)
66
PACIFIC HARBOUR
67 68
Mike Clayton (2002)
Ross Watson (2006)
SANCTUARY LAKES
Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000)
SANCTUARY COVE (Pines course)
Arnold Palmer & Ed Seay (1989)
69
CRANBOURNE
70
ROYAL CANBERRA (Westbourne course)
Sam Berriman (1954) James Herd Scott (1945); John Harris (1962); Peter Thomson & Michael Wolveridge (1984)
PACIFIC DUNES
Jack Newton, Graeme Grant & John Spencer (2000) Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1988 & 2009) Eustace Cohen & Victor Steffanoni (1927); Alex Russell (1928); Graham Marsh (2001 and ongoing) Jack Nicklaus (1997) Club members (1908); David Anderson (1930); Terry Gale (1988 and ongoing) Graham Marsh (2008) Al Howard (1972) J.D. Scott (1929)
40.25
66
38.46
67
38.33
74
38
83
36.44
87
36
77
35.56
86
35.12
81
85
MANLY Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2012)
34.44
N/R
53.57
68
86
SANDHURST CLUB (Champions course) Peter Thomson & Ross Perrett (2008)
32.13
70
51.58
57
87
HORSHAM 31.13
89
51.5
56
88
CURLEWIS 30.33
N/R
51.06
41
89
RIVERSDALE 30.11
84
50.82
60
90
YERING MEADOWS (Nursery course) 30
95
50.25
58
91
29.83
76
49.2
52
92
TWIN WATERS Peter Thomson, Michael Wolveridge & Ross Perrett (1991)
29
80
48.6
59
93
INDOOROOPILLY (West course) Ross Watson (1985 & 2008)
27.22
N/R
48.45
69
94
NAROOMA 26.9
82
42
95
ARUNDEL HILLS
48.16
26.75
N/R
96
MURRAY DOWNS 26.67
94
26.2
75
26
88
Sam Berriman (1949); Neil Crafter & Paul Mogford (ongoing) Vern Morcom (1947); Mike Clayton (2009) Alex Russell (1930) Ross Watson (2009)
CAPRICORN RESORT (Championship course) Karl Litten (1992)
John Spencer (1980) Fred Bolton (1992)
47.9
72
72
SANCTUARY COVE (Palms course) Fred Bolton (1988); Ross Watson (2011)
63
97
TWIN CREEKS
47.57
73
KALGOORLIE
79
98
KOOINDAH WATERS
46.36
74
THE HERITAGE (Henley course)
85
99
BRISBANE
46.09
75
ST MICHAEL’S
44.92
78
100
SUN CITY
Michael Moran & C.W. Cole (1938)
71
65
James Wilcher (2005)
Tony Cashmore (2006)
43.6
53.6
71
Graham Marsh (2010)
AVG. 2012 POINTS RANK
Ted & Geoff Parslow (1990) Graham Marsh (2006) Ross Watson & Craig Parry (2006)
25.66
Carnegie Clark (1904); Ross Watson (ongoing)
Murray Dawson (1974); Geoff Ogilvy & Mike Clayton (2012 & ongoing) 23.5 golf australia
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JANUARY 2014
N/R N/R
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