Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Keep it surreal folks.

2nd is basically completely out….I have no idea why but they ripped up a perfect fairway to seed couch (this done whilst the other three holes-6,7 and 8) are still not 100%

They’re on the right track but you’re basically playing 14 complete holes with compromised conditions on the others.

Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Keep it surreal folks.

2nd is basically completely out….I have no idea why but they ripped up a perfect fairway to seed couch (this done whilst the other three holes-6,7 and 8) are still not 100%

They’re on the right track but you’re basically playing 14 complete holes with compromised conditions on the others.

Thanks mate. Hmmm, wonder if it’s worth playing then. Will see who else has open comps on Thursdays as a back-up – just trying to play courses I’ve not played yet…

Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Keep it surreal folks.

2nd is basically completely out….I have no idea why but they ripped up a perfect fairway to seed couch (this done whilst the other three holes-6,7 and 8) are still not 100%

They’re on the right track but you’re basically playing 14 complete holes with compromised conditions on the others.

Thanks mate. Hmmm, wonder if it’s worth playing then. Will see who else has open comps on Thursdays as a back-up – just trying to play courses I’ve not played yet…

Keep it surreal folks.

Not sure of others on a Thursday-sorry. Look its not terrible but its not playing anywhere near how it has (should). Its better then when you’re boss played it in OCT thats for sure.

The couch is growing in on holes 6,7 & 8 but they havent finished the bunkers and defining the fairways etc so in places it does look like you’re hitting into a massive paddock. 2 as I said is a write off atm.

Thanks mate. So you’ve been out there recently? Are the other 14 holes quality?

If you haven’t played it yet, give Stonecutters a run. I think you will enjoy it, Quick greens, well maintained fairways and some nice long par 4’s with a bit of water (not as much as Liverpool lol) and deep rough thrown in.

If you haven’t played it yet, give Stonecutters a run. I think you will enjoy it, Quick greens, well maintained fairways and some nice long par 4’s with a bit of water (not as much as Liverpool lol) and deep rough thrown in.

The key to success is to learn to do something right, then do it right every time. Oh I wish…..

Now a two time winner of the treasured WBT.

Thanks mate. I’ve played Stonecutters once, but am definitely considering going there again this Thursday. Tried to get on at Cumberland last Sunday cos all the early slots at Liverpool were taken by Major Pennants, but I didn’t get off the waiting list.

Thanks mate. So you’ve been out there recently? Are the other 14 holes quality?

Keep it surreal folks.

I really rate St Micks….v good layout….especially off the plates…they used to do a Thursday open comp there once a month off the back….changes the course and its a good test.

Look once they sort out their issues it’ll be back to its best. It usually rates around the Top 50 in the GD bi-annual rankings so there’s something there.

Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Keep it surreal folks.

2nd is basically completely out….I have no idea why but they ripped up a perfect fairway to seed couch (this done whilst the other three holes-6,7 and 8) are still not 100%

They’re on the right track but you’re basically playing 14 complete holes with compromised conditions on the others.

Is it because they are trying to make it a “genuine” Links course. You can’t have Kike and try to be a links course – you can’t really run the ball along the ground on kike… just a thought

Hey Folks,

Has anyone played St Michaels in Sydney of late? If so, can you please advise of its current condition? I’m playing there for the first time this coming Thursday and just want to know if it’s worth it, or if I should use my day off to play elsewhere? The pro shop there says greens are good but fairways on 2,6,7 are out of play, so you have to tee it up through to green. My boss played there in October and said it was pretty ordinary. Has it gotten better since? Informed feedback would be most appreciated. Cheers.

Keep it surreal folks.

2nd is basically completely out….I have no idea why but they ripped up a perfect fairway to seed couch (this done whilst the other three holes-6,7 and 8) are still not 100%

They’re on the right track but you’re basically playing 14 complete holes with compromised conditions on the others.

Is it because they are trying to make it a “genuine” Links course. You can’t have Kike and try to be a links course – you can’t really run the ball along the ground on kike… just a thought

Billy Dunk is my hero…

They do have a couch program in place yes-correct. The problem is/was that they decided to take the plunge and do 3 fairways at once last growing season (approx 1 year ago). Instead of laying pre-grown couch (which costs more) but takes much less time to “bed in” they decided to seed the three fairways-6-8. Then we had a deluge of rain and it was all basically washed away. They have got it back on track now, well and truly but its like a year late.

WShilst this was happening, instead of sorting it out before any other work, tjhey went and poisoned the 2nd to do the same. In the process word is they lost a lot of p*ed members as it wasnt clear whether things were actually working in the best interest of the members.

the course is deffinitely worth playing. whether its in top nick or not you could easily just allow yourself to be distracted by the coastline scenery and the good golf holes. let your imagination have a run free plus you might get it at a reduced rate if they are doing work. I last played there in jan 2012 and they were busy at work then but i still loved the day out

the course is deffinitely worth playing. whether its in top nick or not you could easily just allow yourself to be distracted by the coastline scenery and the good golf holes. let your imagination have a run free plus you might get it at a reduced rate if they are doing work. I last played there in jan 2012 and they were busy at work then but i still loved the day out

http://www.golflink.com.au/...

Off the plates St Micks is a monster… not surprising they have such a great pennants record in recent times. Of course the coaching staff there are pretty awesome too.

St Micks membership quite low, not sure how it can improve with current cash flow unless it reduces entry fee and possibly annuals to get more members in (IMO).
Work being done just taking far too long and some decisions (as mentioned such as bunkering on 11) just silly. Concord GC have done well with “in house” decisions but St Micks don’t have a Mark Parker. Sliding down a slippery slope to being a tad above The Coast at this rate.

St Micks membership quite low, not sure how it can improve with current cash flow unless it reduces entry fee and possibly annuals to get more members in (IMO).
Work being done just taking far too long and some decisions (as mentioned such as bunkering on 11) just silly. Concord GC have done well with “in house” decisions but St Micks don’t have a Mark Parker. Sliding down a slippery slope to being a tad above The Coast at this rate.

Agreed to some extent but they have the Lakes’ old Greenkeeper there now so its not like they don’t have quality.

Whats wrong with the bunkers down 11? The only thing “unfair” about that hole is off the plates they need to shave the trees back “a tad” on the right so you get a small glimpse of the bunkers / fairway off the tee.

The most stupidist thing they’ve done there was getting rid of the native fauna and trees on holes 6-9. Makes it look like a differrent golf course all together compared with the other holes.

St Micks membership quite low, not sure how it can improve with current cash flow unless it reduces entry fee and possibly annuals to get more members in (IMO).
Work being done just taking far too long and some decisions (as mentioned such as bunkering on 11) just silly. Concord GC have done well with “in house” decisions but St Micks don’t have a Mark Parker. Sliding down a slippery slope to being a tad above The Coast at this rate.

Hey guys,

Just a quick wrap for those who have helped with their posts here – I absolutely loved St Michaels yesterday morning. Granted, I’d never played it before so have no clue what it has been like previously, but I thought it was in immaculate condition. Obviously the fairway on 2 still looks shit (but I’m sure it’ll be fine once the couch has grown in), and they were still doing a bit of work on 6 & 7 (including that “St. Andrews” bridge near 7th tee), but I thought the course was gorgeous overall. I played with an old bloke who’d been a member there for the last few years and he said the course is in the best condition he’s seen it since he’s been around.
I thought there were some excellent holes there – the 3rd, 12th and 15th are super 3s; a handful of nice 4s (10, 4, 11, 16); 13 and 17 are lovely 5s. I thought 11 was a great strategy hole – I took 2-iron off tee, laid up in front of those fairway bunkers (they’re great, in look and in location, and in no way silly, I reckon), then had 6-iron in, but I’m sure more accurate drivers of the ball would take driver down the right so they have a shorter approach shot.
The greens at St Micks were superb – firm and fast. I’d say they weren’t that much different the greens at NSW (I played NSW yesterday arvo, straight after playing St Micks. I’m sure their new greenkeeper from The Lakes is doing a killer job at St Micks.
I played The Coast for the first time back in late October and St Micks, even with those holes that are still being worked on, is absolutely WELL ABOVE The Coast in conditioning and layout, and everything else one could think of. No comparison in my opinion – The Coast obviously has the better real estate in terms of being on/along the coastline, but the layout seriously needs a rethink in my opinion, and the conditioning (other than the greens) is quite ordinary.
I’d definitely consider joining St Micks; but no way I’d join The Coast. At only $2,400 in annual dues, I think St Michaels membership is GREAT value (that’s cheaper than Bankstown membership!). If it wasn’t for the $8,800 joining fee I’d very seriously consider joining St Michaels, even though it’s a 45-minute drive from home. In all honesty, taking into account its conditioning, layout and the views, I’d say St Michaels is right up there with Royal Sydney, a ways behind NSW, The Lakes and The Australian (of course). When I played RS back in early September last year, the greens had just been cored a few weeks before, so they weren’t the best, but even so I didn’t find the layout overly memorable. I’ve not played Concord or the nicer courses on the north side (Long Reef, Monash, Terrey Hills, Avondale etc), but surely St Michaels is right up there in that bunch as the next best
Sydney courses after NSW, The Lakes, The Australian and Royal Sydney…

Forgot to mention, Matthew Steiger was in the group behind us:).

Juzzy, did you play in the open comp out there?

What did they charge you?

Juzzy, did you play in the open comp out there?

What did they charge you?

Sure did mate – $40 they charge. A bargain I reckon. I booked in Monday morning of this week and got a nice early slot. If I could, I’d take every Thursday off and play there…love it.

Compared to Cumberland and Liverpool, yes St Micks is a lot better.
Compared to Royal Syd, The Lakes and The Aust, surely you jest.
Anyway, each to their own, if you love it, that’s great.
Worth a visit. Bottom line is, membership is declining.

Compared to Cumberland and Liverpool, yes St Micks is a lot better.
Compared to Royal Syd, The Lakes and The Aust, surely you jest.
Anyway, each to their own, if you love it, that’s great.
Worth a visit. Bottom line is, membership is declining.

Pretty full field there yesterday by all reports for their FEB medal that was put back due to the recent weather.

Hangingout,

It may be an idea to actually read the posts before replying with faux incredulity.

He said St Micks is “a ways behind NSW, the Lakes and the Australian”.

I often play Royal Sydney with my boss and I agree the layout is fairly uninteresting.

Ambiguous in parts.
Depends where you play regularly and your ability I guess to consider RS fairly uninteresting.

Wasn’t ambiguous at all.

Ambiguous in parts.
Depends where you play regularly and your ability I guess to consider RS fairly uninteresting.

I just reckon there’s a lot more memorable moments that stick in my mind from playing both The Lakes and NSW GC than there is from playing Royal Sydney. Of course Royal Sydney is still a great course, not denying that, but I enjoyed the layout at The Lakes and NSW much more. Royal Sydney has the best clubhouse of the three in my opinion, for what it’s worth, and The Lakes has the best range and practice facilities.

Yep, agree with all of that