Mandalay Golf Club ( - )

Mandalay Golf Course at Beveridge is a new Peter Thomson design course that only opened the full 18 holes for play in January 2014.  The clubhouse and other infrastructure is still under construction so there is a temporary pro-shop, no carts yet available and the second cut of rough has been left knee height which led to our competition playing an "Irish Drop" rule on the day.

Early morning at Mandalay 

I was making my first appearance in a 2014 Social Golf Australia Victorian Tour event and with a maximum temperature of 40C forecast, we had an early tee off of 7:15am to avoid the worst of it.  That meant for an early start given the hour's drive north to Beveridge just off the Hume Highway.

A typical housing development with golf course means there are plenty of long walks between green and next tee.  The course though is in good condition for being so new, greens in particular were good, fairways are generous but encourage decisions as to what to hit off the tee as often the landing area narrows at driver length.  There are a few shorter par 4's so again, it was iron off the tee most of the day, particularly in view of the length of the rough.

First hole, 300m par 4

Pleased to say finally managed to strike the ball better and get a few shots away.  Struggled with distances in early holes with 3 sent over the back of the greens.  Perhaps this has been due to the Kieser Training, and I've gained a few metres?  Finished with 33 points.

Second hole, 479m par 5

Look forward to a return visit when clubhouse is complete

Update 9/2/14:  The heatwave conditions resulted in a fire warning being issued the day after our game.