2016 Eynesbury Masters Pro-am

A fine morning and an early start for the drive west to Eynesbury Golf Club for the 2016 Eynesbury Masters pro-am.

I have played this event three times now and it is always well organised and a great experience at a reasonable cost.

Today we were partnered with professionals Wade Lowrie and Daniel Smith.

Started on the long par 4 fourth hole which is rated hardest on the course.

Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club

The SGA Tour Victoria were heading to Marysville Community Golf club and a clear day but cool morning greeted an enthusiastic bunch of golfers for a early morning shotgun start.

Marysville clubhouse

Started on the par 3 18th hole and a first up 3 putt was not they way to start.

A frosty practice green

The course is one of the most picturesque I have had the pleasure to play on and although not long the holes demand accuracy and the tree lined fairways snaffled a few of our tee shots.

Par 3 4th hole

18 points on the first nine, and 16 coming in for 34 points with two wiped holes after lost balls on  each.

Par 5 12th hole

The back nine has a few climbs but the views at the end are worth it.  A recommended trip if you have never played  Marysville before, with easy online booking.

Oates Vic Open Thirteenth Beach Golf Links

The weather was perfect and so a day off and an early morning start for the drive over the Westgate towards Barwon Heads and the wonderful Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.

It was the second round of the Oates Vic Open an event where mens and womens championship is played together with alternating groups.  For the spectators it is up close as you get to walk the fairways with the players.

First two rounds are alternated on the Beach and Creek Courses.

The practice range and green was busy for the early morning start with first group off at 7am.

I chose to follow a group of women international players being Amandeep Drall (India), Charlotte Ellis (England) and Jessica Macphee (Canada).  They were teeing off at 8am on the 1st tee of the Creek Course which I have not played before so was a good opportunity to walk the course.

Amandeep, Jess, Charlotte on 1st tee

The Creek course is interesting with bunkers strategically placed and plenty of swales around the green giving some challenging short pitches.

Creek course 1st tee

Driver time

Sponsor tee markers

Heathcote Golf Club

The 3rd SGA Tour Victoria game for 2016 had us driving up the Northern Highway to the Heathcote Golf Club.

But we started on the 5th

The weather the night before had seen heavy rain and storms in the north of Melbourne and plenty of rain at the course too.  Not sure if it was the weather but the locals were out in force.

Today was the first round of matchplay championship and we were paired up in fairly even matches, as no shots were given in our match.

Par 3 13th hole

We started on the 5th hole, and after 4 holes I was 4 down, before managing to turn things around, halve the next and then win 4 to be all square after nine played.

Par 5 14th hole

The course is very green, fairways in good condition although the volume of kangaroos that make their presence known is on most fairways.

Par 4 15th hole

After light drizzle, we had a few holes of heavy rain before it again eased off till the end of our match.

The second nine was closer with game going up and down before I managed to string a couple of wins together to finish with a win 3&2.

Real photo - no photoshop involved - I swear

Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club

A midweek day off gave some time for the drive across the Black Spur Road and a visit to Marysville Community Golf & Bowls Club.

Walk to the first tee

After some warm weather in recent days a few light showers on the drive out and as we teed off but they cleared to a overcast day.  The first thing noticed was the amount of flies buzzing around that called for the insect repellent to be regularly applied.

Par 5 1st hole

1st green

The views of the ranges as you make your way down the first fairway are amazing.  There is still evidence of the 2009 bushfires evident on the hills.

The front nine is an interesting mix of holes, some shorter par 4 holes but tight driving and small greens present a challenge.

Par 3 4th hole

A number of water hazards come into play for wayward shots.

Par 4 5th hole

The short par 5th hole above is typical with two tall gums protecting the drive to the right hand side and another tree to the left of the fairway requires a faded drive around the corner.

Par 4 7th hole

 

 The par 4 7th hole is another very short one, but with water to the left of the green.

 

Par 3 11th hole

A couple of longer par 3's on the back nine also demand accurate tee shots.

View looking over 12th green

The back nine takes us more in to the edge of the hiills with a couple of steep climbs to elevated greens.  Again, shorter par 4's but the approach is a long iron and then 9 iron or wedge in.

Par 4 13th hole

After catching our breath following the climb to the 12th green, the 13th tee again asks for a long iron to bottom of the hill before short iron uphill to the green.

Dog leg par 4 15th

The par 4 15th is a tough dog leg that has tall gum trees protecting the corner and the approach requires a carry over a creek just short of the green.  I hit a medium iron over to the 16th fairway that still left a 160m carry over the creek to the green.  Dangerous as the trees mean the tee shot may end up anywhere but seems a better direction to approach green from.

Approach to 15th green

Looking back to 15th green

The par 4 17th is another tough par 4 with a water carry approach.  The round finishes with a par 3 18th with the green in the open, the condition of this green probably bet of all.


Overall the greens were reasonably quick given the conditions and I imagine on a warm day would be quite fast.