RACV Healesville Country Club

The 4th SGA Victoria Tour event for 2015 had us up early for the drive out to Healesville.  The RACV Healesville Country Club course is about a hours drive north east of Melbourne and designed by Michael Clayton was recently listed at number 80 in the Golf Digest Top 100 Golf Courses in 2014.  I have not listed the ranking in the title here as my rankings are based on the same 2012 list.

RACV Healesville Proshop and clubhouse

Early morning start

A shotgun start had our group starting on the par 4 12th hole, like many of the holes fairly short but demanding accurate shots to the large greens.

Par 4 12th hole

A par to start the round is always nice.  It was quickly evident that the greens were quite slow today.  In good condition but quite soft underfoot and needing a good hit to get the ball to the hole.

14th tee

Par 4 14th hole

Fairways were suffering a little from recent warm weather with some bare patches.

1st Tee

Par 4 1st hole

 Moved on to the front nine which starts with a dog leg right where an iron off the tee is all that is needed leaving a mid iron in to the green.

4th tee

Par 3 4th hole

The par 3 4th hole is a downhill 176m with a split level green.  Today the pin was tucked behind the bunkers requiring them to be carried if you wanted  to be on the same level and have a better putt.

6th tee

Par 4 6th hole

A couple of poor tee shots on 6 and 7 meant two wipes and some work to do to get scores back up.

10th tee

Par 3 10th hole

The 10th and 11th are both par 3's, an unusual start to a nine, and another 3 putt on ten was frustrating.

11th tee

Par 3 11th hole

 Finished with -2 on the day, in part due to about 6 three putts.

View over ninth green

Sandhurst Club (North Course)

An early Sunday tee off for another SGA Victoria Tour event at the Sandhurst Club which has two Peter Thompson designed courses.  The Champions, which featured in the Top 100 Golf Digest courses in 2012, and the North Course that we were playing today.

Sandhurst Clubhouse

Sunrise

Some strong winds and threatening skies approached as we were about to tee off from the 10th hole.  Luckily the rain stayed away and the winds died down for the second nine.

Par 10th hole

The course was not overly long from the white tees, but the greens are large and there are a number of fairway bunkers some it seems in the line to the green.  Pin positions were fairly tough today often tucked behind a bunker or at front of the green.

Par 4 1st hole

 

I managed 19 point on the first nine (10-18) and turned to the first with more favourable weather.

 

Par 3 Third hole



The par 3 third hole is one of the North courses signature holes with a stone wall around the left an rear of the green.  Another par 3 that I managed to leave it well short.

Par 5 4th hole

Par 4 5th hole

Started the second nine well and with the benefit of a 4 pointer got to 3 up before a couple of double bogies put a dent in scoring to end up with another 19 points.

Approach to par 4 6th green

The par 5 ninth hole curves left around a water hazard and concludes with a iron into the prevailing wind over a burn to a green that is cut right up to the wall of the hazard.  Today the pin was only a few paces on, which made for tricky down hill putts hoping not to see the ball keep going into the hazard.

Auto Club Golf Championship - Mornington Golf Club

The 2014-5 Auto Club Golf Championship had us heading down the Mornington Peninsula late in January. 

The Mornington Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs on the Mornington Peninsula with spectacular views over Port Philip Bay from the high points of the course.

Clubhouse

 A light misty rain cleared before a 8am shotgun start.  We started on the 18th hole, a uphill par 5.  On to the first a short par 4, but it was quickly evident that there were not too many holes where you did not need to consider the slope of the fairway that often had the ball heading for the rough with a sideways bounce.

Par 4 1st Tee

Par 4 1st hole

 

The 3rd hole is a medium length par 4 that requires a drive kept left on the fairway that slopes towards a lake on the right.

3rd green

The par 4 4th hole is rated 1 on the card and is uphill all the way.  The fantastic views of the bay start from here as you reach the green.

4th green

The 5th is the first of the par 3 holes and time for more views.

Par 3 5th tee

Par 3 5th hole

View from 5th tee down 17th hole

The scores were not anything to write home about today, but the weather had turned out kind, good company and great course made the day enjoyable.

The 6th is another medium length par 4, and that brings us to another par 3, the 205m 7th.  Watch out for golfers crossing from the 16th green!

Par 3 7th hole

View from 7th tee

The front nine finishes with another uphill par 4 to the clubhouse.  A short walk to the par 3 10th that plays shorter than its 164m due to the downhill change in elevation.

Par 3 10th

Par 3  10th hole

After the turn I started to hit irons a little better and built up to a more respectable 16 points on the back nine (including a wipe on our starting hole the 18th).

13 tee

13 hole

13th green

The 14th is a long par 5 with a double dog leg right and then left, with the approach aiming straight at the Melbourne skyline.

The 15th has a blind tee shot over a sloping fairway that requires a accurate second to a well protected green.

15th tee

View from 15th tee

15th green

The 16th is the last of the par 3's with possibly the best views of the bay.  A short hole but again demands an accurate shot to the green.

Par 3 16th hole

View back from 16th tee