I played my home course of Newcastle GC today in the monthly tiger tee competition and shot 84 off a 3 handicap. This got me thinking what the hardest course in Australia is? I would nominate Barnbougle Dunes, Mt Broughton or Newcastle as the toughest i’ve played, let me know of your thoughts.

I think saying what is the hardest becuase weather is such a factor in difficulty.

I suspect Barnbougle might get the strongest winds so I imagine it could play the hardest.

I agree with Slappa. Newcastle GC on Friday 25 June 2008 in the crap rain and wind is the hardest I have played….it is just relentless. My mate and I played with Slappa and Chris today and we averaged 100 (99 and 101, both off 9)....it actualy ended up just being too much but that had a lot to do with the weather, love to play Newcastle again in the dry.

Slappa,

As a member there myself, I would think playing Newy with its 4th & 13th as par 4’s would be close to as tough as it gets to par in Australia. Royal Adelaide & The Australian of the back tees would be up there as well.

In the wind, Barbougle Dunes would be up there, & I would also nominate National (Moonah). I have also played NSW in winds so strong my 4 foot putt on the 14th lipped out, rolled 30 foot down to the front of the green, continuing to roll off the green, leaving me 30m in front of the green. That was a tough day.

In saying all that, at least Newcastle gives you a chance. I’ve played quite a few of the better courses in America & a few of them on a still day are as tough as it gets anywhere in the world.

Glenelg is a shot harder than RA IMHO.
Looking forward to assessing Barbougle in October.

Glenelg is a shot harder than RA IMHO.
Looking forward to assessing Barbougle in October.

Home on The Range

I haven’t played Glenelg since Neil did the re-design. I’ll have to get over there again to check it out.

It’s textbookn now…..might go for a lash there tomorrow.

Off the plates – I’d nominate NSW / Sanctuary Cove (Pines) and take your pick from the courses at the National.

They all have varying combinations of winds, rough, water and length.

No nominations for Mt Broughton off the blacks? i lost like 5 balls that day in reasonable conditions.

moonah links open course

No nominations for Mt Broughton off the blacks? i lost like 5 balls that day in reasonable conditions.

It’s tough off the back markers, but it’s such an average / boring layout. I was there for a look on one of the days they were shaping it. It was an overly long, plain Jane then & it’s no different with grass on it. If ever I see Philips & Dunk lined up to design a greenfield site again, I’m going to spin the car around & speed off in the other direction.

It’s certainly a very uninspiring course. When i played there the first cut of rough was so firm even the slightest of offline drives were rolling into the thick rough and disapearing! not to mention the last 4 times i’ve played there the bunkers have been concrete and out of play.

I played the Pines at Sanctuary Cove today for the first time, as St Andrew stated it’s a pretty tough course, one of the Par 4’s was 456m of the tee and had water in the way also.

The magic weather question is the key to this one. I have played the moonah course at the National in pristine conditions and didn’t find it that hard, yet you might plya an easier course in tough conditions and find it treacherous.

There is a little 9 hole course at Harrington in NSW that has water or OB on both sides of every hole. The wind also blows as it is about 500m fromt he coast.The LEAST number of balls I have lost their in 5 visits is 6 ( i play off 10).

From my experiences I would nominate (no specific order) :-
1.NSW golf club
2.Great Lakes country club at Tuncurry
3.Tallwoods if they roll the greens and hide the pins. Its 90% about putting there.
4. Hope island if the wind is up
5. Newcastle

I haven’t played Barnbougle or Magenta shores but both would be tough from what i have seen and heard

Royal MELB. No question. When greens are running 13 and rock hard.

I played Tuncurry on tge NSW Mid North coast. Right on the beach with a 40 kilometres cross wind. No rough – fairway or Tea tree. Miss the fairway and reload. Very tight.

NSW in a hurricane is tough.

and Twin Creeks the first time you play it. LOL. Get a map. 200 bunks I would say. Much easier the 2nd time

I have played NSW in some of the worst conditions imaginable and I still wouldn’t say it is the toughest.

Royal Adelaide and The Australian are very very tough of the plates. Megenta is also very tough with some wind.

Yet to play Newcastle, but hear it is a great track.

Royal MELB. No question. When greens are running 13 and rock hard.

I played Tuncurry on tge NSW Mid North coast. Right on the beach with a 40 kilometres cross wind. No rough – fairway or Tea tree. Miss the fairway and reload. Very tight.

NSW in a hurricane is tough.

I guess it depends on what perspective you are taking. If you hit the ball straight or day then courses like tuncurry aren’t that hard. There are few bunkers, no water hazards and the greens are flat. If however you hit it off the fairway at any time you DO NOT get a clear shot anywhere on the course.

If you do hit it straight all day then the length of the course and structure of the greens would become the key to your “degree of difficulty”.

NSW is the course that i have played in the most difficult conditions so it sticks in my mind as a difficult course. I have played it in milder conditions and agree that it is not as tough as some courses. however being stuck out like a pimple on a pumpkin as it is , the conditions are rarely benign.

I didn’t find royal adelaide extraordinarily difficult. Enjoyable yes, but difficult no.

I’m playing Magenta in 3 weeks, I will let you know how I find it…I am guessing it will give my last choice of Newcastle a run for its money…hopefully the weather will be a little better.

I’m playing Magenta in 3 weeks, I will let you know how I find it…I am guessing it will give my last choice of Newcastle a run for its money…hopefully the weather will be a little better.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

How’d you get on magenta?

I’m playing Magenta in 3 weeks, I will let you know how I find it…I am guessing it will give my last choice of Newcastle a run for its money…hopefully the weather will be a little better.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

How’d you get on magenta?

Another 3 weeks yet….ask me again on the 18th August…. :)

Hopefully better than Newcastle last Friday.

I played Magenta a few weeks after it opened.
It was tough, long & narrow with thick rough. I think they have thinned out the rough recently.
Was -2 thru 4 thinking this is a snack…....... bad move!
I dont remember what I had but it was plenty.
I think I payed $75 back them but have heard its now about $110.
Live4golf take at least a sleeve of balls & hope the southerly has the day off.

Hardest courses in no order:
Tuncurry (Tryin to hit straight balls in 50km/h cross winds!)
Port Fairy
Newcastle
Nyngan (tough putting on dirt!)
Moonah Open (Black Tee challenge when the southerly had its period!)
Princeville – Prince course.North shore of Kauai, blowing a gale, made the mistake of drinking a 6 pack on the front 9 & is seemed every hole had at least 1 cliff or ravine carry from the tee.

Have not played Port Fairy but just looking at it < It would be a real bitch in a strong wind.

I’m playing Magenta in 3 weeks, I will let you know how I find it…I am guessing it will give my last choice of Newcastle a run for its money…hopefully the weather will be a little better.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

How’d you get on magenta?

Another 3 weeks yet….ask me again on the 18th August…. :)

Hopefully better than Newcastle last Friday.

A bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.

No, i mean how did you get a game at magenta, seeing as it’s private?