Variance in the type of sand or the lie or the shot (spinner, runner) changes where you want to enter the sand and maybe how steep you want to get in some cases, but it’s not rocket science.
The biggest issue people seem to have in sandbelt bunkers, from my observation, is that 1. they’re usually accustomed to more sand under the ball and so they hit too far behind it and the club skids into the ball, and 2. they decel cos they’re fearful they’re gonna catch it clean and hit it too far.
Compared to Sydney where we have beachier bunkers, on the sandbelt I open the face less to reduce the bounce, come in a bit steeper and hit closer to the ball.
That said, they still scare the living shit out of me.
I am at Royal Canberra and most (especially the older guys) prefer Metro of all our options in Melbourne. Our guys liked it so much they had to start charging us that many were turning up
RM is in the middle of a fairway grass transition from legend to wintergreen.
With the wintergreen still taking, they’ve been unable to go as hard with chemicals this winter/spring as they usually can. Coupled with a wet winter/spring, that has meant more poa than usual and they can’t smash it with chemicals the way they usually can.
These things are temporary and the end result will be worth it with wintergreen fairways instead of legend.
I am hoping so - I haven’t played it since Covid but played a few times through 2015-2019. It isn’t bad just marking it on a very high scale the top Melbourne clubs are at
Okay, going to attempt to get some semi-coherent thoughts out here, but they’re going to be bullet points for now.
This trip was bloody brilliant. All of it, apart from maybe my seat on the delayed flight home last night. How the pitch and legroom on these things hasn’t been sorted by now is a mystery to me. Criminal!
Had a WONDERFUL time playing all four courses; Yarra Yarra, RM East & West, and Metropolitan. Not trying to be hipster/alternative/whatever, but ranking for me goes Metro, RMW=YY, RME. That’s a cumulative thing across the whole experience btw. I don’t know enough about golf course design or architecture to properly rate courses, so will go on some hybrid of how I enjoyed it, how playable I found it, the welcome, the conditions, etc. Kingston Heath also looked SICK for the Aus Open, defo want to give that place a go sometime.
Met some great folks, and if anyone makes it out West, I’d hope to be able to show you as good a time as I just had. Shoutout the following refugees
@seskis - YY host, a genuinely lovely bloke with a sick logo game. Thanks again for pulling strings!
@mighteagle08 - something of a renaissance man, a pleasure to play and hang with. Hope the caddying, travelling to & from Korea and everything else works out.
@bradjacko - didn’t get to play with you, but would happily share a beer again after Barnbougle someday.
@tjosu - you seriously golfed your ball round Metro y’day and was great to meetup & hang out with your lovely wife afterwards, too. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Chris & Brendan, the two Canadian gents we played RME with, and Martin, English ex-pat in San Jose who made up our 4-ball at Metro, were also fine company.
This was my first proper golf trip, so whilst I don’t have anything to compare it to, I can’t imagine getting to tour around the Sandbelt for a few days will be easily beaten. But i’d sure as hell like to find out. Tassie late summer 2024 when 7 Mile Beach is up & running sound any good everyone? Maybe we can even make it an NLU themed meet up. Pretty wild all this has stemmed from a bloody Twitter account/Podcast.
Playing 4 days in a row with not much golf leading in will make you realise that at 40 yrs old, you need to take better care of your body. Time to get in the gym properly, lose some of the beer belly, steadily increase golf reps, and move more in general life. Also, i’m going to put sunscreen on ALL FOUR DAYS next time
Golf is SO much more than how you play/what you score. This trip made me realise the doors that can open through this game. I need to re-double my efforts with joining a club, as the networking, hosting, reciprocals and other ancillary stuff I witnessed truly elevates this from just a hobby to something that can genuinely change your life. It’s also nice to be able to do things for people.
Which brings me to the last part. None, and I mean none, of this would have happened without old mate @sliceroulette. Sure, his reciprocals get him on RM & Metro. But he didn’t have to extend that courtesy to me, some bloke off this golf blog. We started conversing on here a while back and, whilst we’d never met in person before Saturday, we’d already deduced we had plenty in common and we considered each other mates. As such, I knew this would be a good time, even if a few folks in my “real life” couldn’t seem to fathom why i’d fly across the Nullarbor to play golf with someone i’d never met in person before. I will be forever grateful for the golf, but I will always think back on this trip as the first of what I hope will be many meetings for us, wherever they may be.
Michael - without piling on, you had probably a couple of your worst days of golf in some of the toughest spots to have them. However, not once did I think to myself “fuck, this bloke is a drag” or “Jesus, get it together man”. I know for a fact that I would have spit the chewy had what you went through happened to me. You didn’t mope, or shy away, or pull anyone else down. You kept on swinging, smiling (when I probably would have cried!), and fronting up the next day, too. Walking the back 9 at RMW with you in nearly the mega-light was the good stuff my man. But I would (and hope to) play anywhere with you, mate. It ain’t the course, it’s the people. And you’re one of the best.
Thanks dude, took me long enough! Figure there’s no point going in to the actual golf as everyone’s experience could be WILDLY different to mine, especially given @ScottW 's point about the turf at RM for example. Also your handicap, the weather, the playing partners, expectations, etc will play a part. At my level, the score really isn’t the point, though I was relatively happy with how I played for the most part, and would love another crack at all of them. Someday
Absolutely love what has come out of a golf blog/podcast community half a world away!
We should potentially start up another thread on the planning for Tassie 2024 journey… I will be here regardless, so if there is anyone else keen to play some of the best public golf in the world, it would be selfish not to help coordinate!
Was very enjoyable to grab a beer with you lads. I really could have settled in on that patio in the sun. Certainly is pretty cool where golf (and the refuge) can take you,
Very keen on a Tassie trip/event, particularly once 7MB is up and going, the most recent teaser looks particularly amazing. Or Barnbougle, any excuse to drive up there is good with me.
Great topic and thread on @mg82 golf trip. I’m about to book flights for a work trip to Melbourne first week or 2 in February, coming in from California. Will also post this in the Melbourne thread but looking for ideas on courses. I’m a club member here and can try to come on as a guest but am concerned about finding rental clubs. Work will be Feb. 5-7 plus one or two other days before/after that but hoping to get in at least 2 rounds while there. Downloaded the Australian Golf Passport podcasts and will dig into those this week. Would love to meet up for a pint or two with this group also. Thanks for any ideas/thoughts/prayers. JD
feel free to hit me up for a round a YY. Also apologies to @Macrainordyekidd for not seeing his DM re YY. I’ve set up alerts now so I won’t miss another message.
No apologies necessary. The Sandbelt of Melbourne Australia pound for pound all around is my favorite golf in the world. The genuine kindness of all the wonderful hosts I met on my travels was above and beyond expectations.
Fast greens with the most unique cut beautiful bunkers provide a true test and if you are having a tuff day you will get to see too many of em up close.
The golf is comparable to the draconian speeding laws. If you are too agressive you will be forced to pay the price. Zero tolerance speeding infringements is next level in my book. (Shocked the rental car companies gave zero insight)
Barnbougle is worth the trip on its own. PK and The National are both next level clubs. Not many clubs in the World pack such a good combo punch. Im sure RMGC would like to have a word. Next time I need to see NSW and Cape Wickham. Cheers
