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.

Growling Frog Golf Course (-)

The second SGA Tour Victoria game for 2016 had us travelling north to Yan Yean to the Growling Frog Golf Course designed by Australian golf legend Graham Marsh.

Clubhouse

An early tee off had some local wildlife out and about with numerous kangaroos around until it warmed up later.

Kangaroos a plenty

A shotgun start but we were off the 10th hole.  After one hole, a northerly wind picked up out of nowhere that was soon about 2 clubs worth and made for some long holes back into it.

Par 4 10th hole

We were off the blue markers or back tees today.  15 points on the first (back) nine holes played with 1 wiped hole.

Par 5 15th hole

Handicap of 22 (GA18.4) and I didn't make the most of two shot holes.

Par 3 16th hole

The long par 3 16th hole was playing straight back into the northerly.  Couldn't hit a 3 iron any better and still short.

Par 4 4th hole

The wind helped on the 18th hole as I can't remember hitting 9 iron in for second on a 400m par 4 before.  Made the turn and was looking to improve and play to handicap.




Lon par 4 6th hole

A good drive away on 6th had me well placed to take advantage of 2 shots but beware getting ahead of yourself when you forget about the blind water hazard to left of fairway on second shot....ooops!

Par 5 8th hole

After wiping 6 and 7th holes, please to make 3 points on each of the last two holes to recover for 31 points.

Although not in the 2012 rankings that I am using to list my courses played, the course is listed at 78 in Golf Australia magazines Top 100 public access courses in Australia

Melbourne Golf Academy Driving Range

Visited the Melbourne Golf Academy driving range at Moorabbin for a practice ahead of a game the following day.

The range has excellent facilities with 34 undercover driving bays, a short game area and huge practice putting green.

Mainly wanted to work on my driver which has not been cooperative of late and worked out a few things and ready to give it a go tomorrow.

Huntingdale Golf Club (38)

A new year and the first game with the SGA Tour Victoria for the year at the magnificent Huntingdale Golf Club in Melbourne's sandbelt.

The first game, great course and most people still on holidays had a large field for the early morning shotgun start.

They are getting serious

Started on the par 3 12th hole which is always a challenge for the first of the day, particularly when the green is surrounded by bunkers, which I managed to find.

Par 3 12th hole

Bunker play was better today (and it needed to be) and managed to get out of all the greenside and fairway bunkers I found although just one sand save.

Par 5 14th tee

Played reasonably for 16 points each nine, so 32 in total, no wipes and no lost balls. 

Par 3 15th hole

The tees were forward on a number of the holes for example the par 3 15th where we were playing from around 120m, whereas the hole can go back to about 141m plus.

Par 4 16th hole from fairway

Par 4 18th hole

 

Probably most consistent round since back from injury although put the driver away and still struggling with the over the top swing and resulting slice.