Yarra Yarra Golf Club (34)

After a late change the SGA Victoria Movember charity day was heading back to Yarra Yarra Golf Club for the annual event to raise money for this wonderful cause.

Much better weather greeted us this year after last year's storms.

The course had had fairways on nine holes over sown recently and preferred lies were being played.  Did not affect the enjoyment of a wonderful course, with the greens as always in excellent condition running quite fast.

Started the first nine with a reasonable 16 points, but struggled the second nine and finished with 26 points on the day,

Fantastic par threes at Yarra Yarra with the above par 3 11th hole a highlight.  Even with the pin at the front the sloping green makes for a very difficult par.

Settlers Run Golf Club (68)

A SGA Tour Victoria game at the Greg Norman designed Settler's Run Golf Club in Melbourne's south east.

Clubhouse

18th green

Started on the 10th hole and despite a four putt start managed to put together 19 points on the first nine.

17th hole - Par 4

The short par 4 17th hole is a great risk reward hole, where you can lay up leaving a wedge in or go for glory and the green.

Started the second nine with a par at the par 5 first, but then the wheels fell off before finishing for a total of 31 points.

Mildura Golf Resort

A trip to Mildura over the Melbourne Cup long weekend gave a window of opportunity for a game at Mildura Golf Resort. 

1st hole - Par 4

1st green - Par 4

2nd hole - par 3

The course is in good condition, and is currently under going some work on the 10th and 13th holes.  Greens were excellent although a little slow.

7th hole - Par 4

Was surprised that we had the course nearly to ourselves on a Sunday afternoon.

11th hole - Par 5

The course starts with a few holes with a similar feel, all dog leg to the right.

14th hole - Par 4

16th hole - Par 4

The par 3 holes are a good mix of length, culminating with the long par 3 18th hole.

18th hole - Par 3

A reasonable day out playing to handicap

Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club (74)

After recovering from injury it was back to a SGA Tour event at Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club at Point Cook about 45 min west in Melbourne.

Perfect weather greeted an early start with some cloud cover keeping temperature up, no breeze and warming up later in the day.

A reasonable walk from the club house to the driving range at Sanctuary Lakes, but it is an excellent set up with a number of under cover bays, but today we were able to use the turf range. Leuk the Duck came along to check things out.

The Quest is located between the club and the range, handy for a stay and play visit.

10th hole - Par 4

Starting on the 10th tee today and off the white tees which have a slope rating of 132.

11th hole - Par 3

17th hole - Par 3

Managed to get 15 points on the first nine played (10-18 holes).

A good start after the turn with a par at the par 4 first, but managed to tire

Sixth hole - Psr 3

The par 3 holes at Sanctuary Lakes are a highlight, with a mix of lengths and shots required.

Eighth tee

A disappointing finish, but good to get through a game after 5 months off.

Golftec Driving Range and Lesson

After 5 months without swinging a club after breaking my wrist I was given the okay to start practice again.  So after a trip to the local range first it was then time for another lesson at Golftec.



Luke reviewed my swing and looking at the changes I had been working on pre injury appeared some small improvement in correcting the over the top swing were starting to take effect.  We worked on some changes to take away and position of club at top of back swing.



So with this in hand, it was time to test it in a round....

Trentham Golf Club

An early morning tee off meant for a very early departure for the 90 minute drive to Trentham Golf Club.  Their website describes the course as one of country Victoria's best and most beautiful courses.

A freezing morning and I watched the temperature drop from 12C leaving Melbourne to be 6C when I arrived at Trentham.  A quick warm up in the practice nets and a few practice putts and we were off.

The first is a gentle start and despite a wide inviting fairway I managed to put it in the trees to the right.  Not a good start to a stroke round to open with double figures.

A bit better at the par 3 2nd hole, just missing the green and holing out for a par.

The course is short, but still interesting and the tight fairways with a few doglegs with trees that can block out an ill placed tee shot make for a challenging day.  The greens are very good, firm and a good pace.

Par 3 5th hole

 Had started to get round back in some shape with a few bogies and pars.

Was that a real fungi?

Par 4 7th hole

Turned with a 51 off the stick, including the first hole 10, so on to the back nine to recover some of the damage.

Par 4 11th 

Again some short par 4's that give you an opportunity and invite an iron off the tee to lay up.  If only I could be hitting better short irons in.

Par 3 13th

The par 3 13th is the first of two short down hill holes that have the greens nestled together at the base of a hill.  The 13th has a water carry and the 15th is a down hill shot to a green protected by two towering gum trees.  The course guide suggests either going over or hitting a low punch under and between the trees.

Today I tried the over the top route, managed to hit an overhanging branch, and after hitting my second on to the green from top of the slope found that I was the one 'going over' and after slipping on the wet and muddy turf, came a crashing to the ground.

I managed to play out the final three holes in some increasing discomfort and by the time I was back in Melbourne decided a trip to emergency was needed.  Alas a broken bone in my wrist means an enforced lay off for a few months.

Looking forward to next game soon.