Recently had the chance to play Jack's course -what a pleasure, even in the depths of a Gold Coast winter (well it was only 22 degrees). The 2 signature holes are awesome - can't wait to play again.

I have to agree with Paul's sentiments re- Lakelands. A first class layout, always in tip top condition and where the staff treat you like the great man himself. It really should host a major championship.

Paul we will have a review of the Lakelands course on the site in the next week or so. You are right it is a pleasure to play

Bruce Young

The review of the Lakelands Golf Course is now up on the site and you can check it out at http://www.iseekgolf.com/la...

Played Lakelands this morning, which was my 3rd trip to the course. generally on this forum it cops a hiding as being overpriced, and overated. Play the 'black' tees this morning, and i don't know what more you couldask for in a golf course. Style like no other on the coast, and i haven't played any other of jack courses so i'm not sure what else to compare it to. However i have played all the big names on the gold coast/brisbane/sunshine coast, and for me it is as good as any (dare i say it) if not the best.
For me the things that set it apart.
1/
Conditioning: obviously... Better than anywhere i've ever seen in australia. fairway's i'dbe happy to eat dinner off, and greens were perfect (not bent) But there other courses well conditioned around the coast, but non with the first cut/rough/bunker surrounds and deep rough as good as i've seen at Lakelands.
2/
Course design: There are a couple of people on here that have said the design is boring, yet i disagree. The ability to challenge without putting water in the way everywhere, stands out as smart design. Water is a

real

danger only on 3 holes, yet <u>every</u> hole is challenging. Water seems so overused to challenge on 'resort style courses' The 'black' tees make it long. Yet a big hitter can reach all the par 5's. To score well you really have to think your way through it. Many bunkers, but not many pointless ones (ie, you're always looking at them and try to be left/right/short/over etc, not many where you can just ignor them.)
3/
Has no 'ordinary' holes every hole is tough, the 9th was the only hole i'd rate as an 'easy' layout, but because the prevailing wind is into your face, means you have got to bring your 'a' game to keep accurate.
4/
Feels like a

real

golfers course. Tough greens, undulating and well shaped fairways, harsh bunkers, deep swails. As much criticism as Jack cops for his course design i think he is very good at making a good course for golfers. The weekend hacker would hate it, spend every shot in bunkers/rough.

The greens were cut VERY short today made it real tough putting, and the wind was out which made it interesting, particularly off the tee. To be honest the 14th is a bit of a gimmick hole, but as far a 'niche' holes go, i don't think you could make it prettier..

I'd like to hear the doubters ideas of the course. Are there other fans out there? The reason i felt it needed to be posted is <u>i</u> think it cops its criticism simply because of the high price tag. Ive got no arguement that it is indeed over priced, but if we were to pretend that all aussie courses were free, then Lakelands would be one that i'd make sure i visited.

K

It can get a little expensive, and suffers in comparison to nearby courses but I've always found it to be ok. Presented well whenever I've played it. Perhaps people get to the Gold Coast with limited golfing time. If they try to squeee in 3 or 4 courses they may miss out on Lakelands, or feel it is weaker than it's neighbours. Can't argue with that.

Matthew

QUOTE: MatthewM @ Feb 4 2007, 11:52 AM

It can get a little expensive,

I agree completely, however i think that this is the reason thay the course cops the criticism, the price.
PS: they have dropped the price since it's been taken over by the new owner. was $175 or $150 or something, currently $100 which is comparable to Robina wood and palm meadows and cheaper than glades, Hope island.

if you're into waterfalls, dull design and a fancy clubhouse Lakelands is great.

Personally I find it dullsville and my last game there set me back a grand total of $39.

Price isn't the issue, its just that Robina, Hope, Cove, Glades and Palm Meadows are all better courses.

I'd rate Lakelands marginally better than the Palms at best.

i was expecting you'd pick up on this one thommo, and glad you have. I know you're harsh on the course and after hearing you bag it previously i thought maybe i had over rated it myself. However after playing it again, i disagree. Many challenging holes out there, couldit maybe be the style of the course that doesn't do it for you? Eg. where robina, brooky, grand are all set in hills and valleys, Lakelands is flat land. I just think it makes a very good crack at the land it has on offer. clever shaped greens and the offering of tough pin positions on the greens provide plenty of difficulty, overall design i think it has all that those courses you mention offer, and without the need for hills. I could well be wrong but i think it is well design. Courses that i think are poorly designed would be the colonial, surfers paradise, and the like.

you are right in that colonial is a dump, you are also right in that its not my type of course. However, neither are the other resort courses. If I was honest I would say that I don't particularly 'like' any of them.

The flatness doesn't help, but I think Hope Island and The Pines are just as flat and 10 times as good (and don't particularly think either of them are that good either...)

It's a challenging course in relation to par, but it lacks anything of significant interest.

I guess the the real test in what sort of taste you have is the short Par 3 14th. I find it to be one of the mosst offensive golf holes in QLD (no mean feat) while I have stood on that tee with others who have declared to me that its the finest hole they have seen.

Each to their own I guess.

QUOTE: Moe @ Feb 4 2007, 06:27 PM

I guess the the real test in what sort of taste you have is the short Par 3 14th. I find it to be one of the mosst offensive golf holes in QLD (no mean feat) while I have stood on that tee with others who have declared to me that its the finest hole they have seen.

Touche. The group i played with on the weekend kept telling me about the 'signature' 14th. I cant stand it either! So far as golf is concerned it is disgraceful. If you want that as your signature then there is something wrong. It is not my style, by the same token, if you were into that florida/vegas style then it has it's niche. I appreciate it is very well done for what it is, in regard to the quality of golf of the hole, the only golf architecture in that hole is the slope ot the green left to right.
Whereas the 15th is a cracker! especially for the black tees. It makes you stretch your tee shot to carry the bunker, and if you opt to lay up you have to be deadly accurate to stay up on the fairway. If you drive the bunker you can be left around 100-120 to the green, which is reward, however a big green with protected front and back pins, make you need to dial in your short game, if you layed up off the tee (successfully) then you have 170 -180 to the centre, which isnt that hard to hit, but not neccessarily easy to get near the cup. Much much better golf hole than the all show 14th. I'm hoping to get back there soon, so i'll try take a camera and do a tithers style write up for everyone to get an idea of the course.

the 15th i don't have great recollection of as I'm usually recovering from the 'signature'

My last game at Lakelands was in December though, and I do recall smashing driver down 15 and only having about 85m in. You sure its that long? Water down the right, with long par 3 following?

85 in would be a pretty big hit off the black tees, i dont know if you were but if you were hitting off the blues then 85 would be a gettable landing for approach, the black tess are a fair way back... and yes long bar 3 16th, 195 odd, pin on the front left makes that one hard, decent bunker right infront and subtle tiered green, makes any putt down towards the front tough.
what about the 4th thommo? no love? See i like these sort of holes where it forces you to play to certain areas to avoid trouble. Good tee shot down the right, gives you an open entrance to the green. whereas for the shorter hitters (ie me) if you tee shot is straight, no matter if the pin is right over the left, you'd be mad not to play safe and land on the right side of the green, with reward/trouble for that mad/eager player that goes at the flag.

and for that matter the par 3 3rd is a nice par 3, trade mark scrub all down the right.

The third is ok, nothing outstanding, but unlike a majority of the course nothing offensive either.

See i like these sort of holes where it forces you to play to certain areas to avoid trouble

This is exactly what I don't like. I prefer options and strategy. I prfer to stand on a tee and think that if I fly that bunker on the right I'll have the perfect line in, or stand on another tee and think if I hit it down the left and go as close to the water as possible the green will really open up.

At Lakelands, most fairways are bunkered both sides or have trouble both sides. Greens are particularly dull and formulaic throughout and most holes are uninteresting and lack options. It would be like groundhog day paying that course every weekend and even the variance of wind doesn't manage to make it interesting. If I'm playing social golf there, I actually skip the 14th or try t land it on the island in the pond - its far more fun than actually playing the hole.

I would say that the 8th is the only hole at lakelands I would consider to be good or even very good.

Has anyone played Lakelands recently? I am heading up there in September and would like to give it a go :)