North Lakes Resort Golf Club

IN: COURSE REVIEWS | BY: Bruce Young | | REGION: Brisbane, QLD DATE: 06 Sep 2004 | Rated

Looking back now, it is hard to believe that it took some convincing for the original developers of the North Lakes project, north of Brisbane, that a golf course would add "sex appeal" and flavour to, and provide a focal point for, what may well have otherwise been just another housing development.

Lensworth, the development arm of the Fosters group, were keen to maximise as much of their land as possible at Mango Hill, in the growth corridor of Pine Rivers some thirty minutes north of Brisbane, for housing. After all the company had not previously been involved in golf course development, but as planning evolved it became obvious that the benefits of a golf course, which would add green belt to the large number of houses planned for the community, was the way to go. In any case the area set aside for the golf course was not suitable for housing and contained significant planning constraints and so the marriage between the two was clearly defined and compatible.

The course would offer a golfing facility in the north of Brisbane and be one of the first high end courses to be built in the region in the last thirty or so years. With no other such courses in the near vicinity it offered an opportunity to capture the rapidly developing northern corridor market in addition to the not too distant Brisbane golfing market.

The first task in the design of the golf course's layout was to contain the golf course precint within the area defined as 'public open space' which entailed restricting the course within proximity of a creek which ran virtually the length of the site.

"It was one of the more constrained golf course sites we have had to work with," said Graham Marsh's head designer, David Ireland. Adding further to those issues was that we had to include access for public walkways across the golf course without compromising safety issues."

Enticing the partnership even further was the prospect of the American Club Management Company, Clubcorp, looking to secure the ownership of the course a few years after the completion of construction. Clubcorp was already operating in Australia at Lakelands on the Gold Coast, their flagship course, with the Links at Port Douglas and the Macquarie Links course in Sydney not yet part of their portfolio.

Clubcorp, with their headquarters in Dallas, are the largest private club ownership/management company in the world, their US flagship being Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. The security that their guarantee of purchase offered the developers, was another level of confidence in the decision making process and ensured potential purchasers of golf adjoining blocks, that the golf course would be well run and managed.

Clubcorp eventually took the ownership reigns almost immediately upon the course's completion, a change from the original arrangements, but one that had the course very much under control of ClubCorp from the beginning.

In 2000 construction began and by the beginning of 2002 the course was opened for play.

The par four first hole is not long but places demands on accuracy immediately from the tee. Players long enough to carry the left hand carry trap (200 metres) have a distinct advantage in more than just length, as the fairway opens out beyond. Those having to take a line right of that fairway trap need to be aware of the right hand trap which is some 230 metres from the back tee.

A feature of this hole is that the green tends to fall away from front to back at about the half way point and like many holes at North Lakes the general lay of the land is towards the creekline along, in this case, the left hand side on the hole.

A nice balance in terms of an opening hole as it tests but entices.

The second is a straightaway par four but it is important to keep the tee shot along the left half of the fairway to avoid the left to right camber. There is a lot more room left than there appears from the tee. The green is divided in half by a prominent ridge crossing the green.

The third is an interesting par four but it was a compromise from the original plan and appears that way from the fairway. It was originally intended that the hole would play forty or so metres longer but issues to do with the realignment of a road behind the green precluded such. It has options from the tee but you need to be a very long hitter to consider taking the direct line. In fact the risk far outweighs the reward. The hole measures some 330 metres going the safe route but a direct line is around 290 metres and the water carry around 265 metres. Suffice to say most people find themselves playing for the middle of the fairway from where only a short iron is required but you get the feeling that the angle of the green was not necessarily designed to accommodate a shot from that direction. The green is characterised by heavy mounding in its front, but less so to the back.

The fourth is a 510 metre par five that often plays with a left to right wind further accentuated by a camber that feeds down from the emerging real estate on the left to the watery hazard to the right. Just inside the right hand bunkers is a good line from the tee but be wary with the second, to start the ball left as the camber will feed it down towards the hazard.

The fifth is a mid iron par three with water that creeps a little closer to the front right than it appears from the tee.

The sixth is the first of what could be described as a tough finish to the front nine. At 390 metres, the par fourís first hurdle is the tee shot, but there is a lot more room left than there appears from the tee. The bush surrounding the creek left makes it appear that there is not much room to work with to the left but that side of the fairway gives a nice angle to the green. Once on the green the movement is again very much towards the creek left.

The seventh at 537 metres is the longest hole on the course but some of that may be saved with a tight line to the left from the tee. The hole angles right to left, hugging the creek line all the way and an attempt to save yardage may indeed work but if not, can prove very costly as the creek will eat you up. Bunkers guard the right half of the fairway from the tee but once negotiated the only real concern is a bunker some 70 metres short of the green. The buggy path in the distance is a good line from the tee. The smallish green here is guarded by bunkers left and right and overall a nice par five.

The eighth is one of my favourite holes on the course. At 164 metres from the back, the green is protected by a very large and deceiving bunker some ten metres short. I say deceiving as the hole appears closer than it actually because of that. A longish green that is guarded by a two bunkers right also but feeds right to left towards the creek left. Any attempt to bail out right will leave a difficult downhill bunker shot.

The ninth completes the strong finish to the front nine with a 387 metre tough driving hole. Longer hitters could consider carrying the right hand bunker to avoid the possibility of the creek left but there is another bunker some forty metres on which significantly narrows the landing area for the brave. A beautiful balance to the second shot with a huge bunker right, one in the front left and the ever present creekline beyond. Another very good hole.

The tenth hole has a lot of similarity to the sixth. A bunker guards the right hand side of the landing area for the tee shot but again there is more room left than appears the case from the tee. A little bit of dead ground in front of the green and around ten metres of false front to the green accentuate the difficulty of the approach.

The eleventh is a par five full of options, both from the tee and with shots further along the fairway. A creek crosses the fairway at the 280 metre mark so for some a decision needs to be made from the tee. The ideal tee shot favours the left half of the fairway and works back with a slight left to right camber. The choice for the second is influenced by a large centrally located bunker some sixty metres short of the green. Flag position may also influence which is the preferred line in order to set up the third and a false front to the green also affects the approach. Several defined areas to this green.

The twelfth a long par three but that is really it's only strength. 198 metres from the back and a carry over water and wetland but that carry is only a concern for the lesser player.

The strength of the 13th hole is in the second shot. A comparatively wide landing area for the tee shot although it does run out at the 280 metre mark so some consideration is needed dependant on tee placement and wind conditions as to a lay up but once safely negotiated then the thoughts turn to the approach. It is a wide green with water short and to the right. Into the breeze this hole is a bit of a sleeper.

The 14th hardly rates a mention for mine. Plays down wind often and as such requires only a reasonable tee shot to set up a short approach. Tee shot down left feeding off left to right camber is the way to go.

From the par five 15th tee, the line is over the left hand fairway bunker for those who can fly it more than 210 metres, and that then opens up a wide expanse beyond. That line is further rewarded with a forward kick off the downhill gradient gaining yardage. A hole that perhaps unfairly favours the longer hitter as it just gets wider the further you hit it. The second is a little confusing the first time you play it as there is a sea of bunkers near the green making the definition of the landing area for the second a little hard to see. For those not all that long from the tee, the creek crossing the fairway around 130 metres out becomes a consideration with the second. The widest green on the course with three defined putting areas separated by ridges. Once you get to know the hole an interesting and fun hole to play.

The 16th a short 148 metre par 3 but often playing into the wind can prove dangerous. Water creeps closer to the back left of the green than appears the case from the tee. Back flag positions can be rewarded by an almost basin like effect in that half of the green.

The seventeenth offers a blind tee shot at least to the landing area and from there an slightly downhill approach to a green guarded in the front right by a large bunker and in the left by a grassy swale.

The eighteenth, if North Lakes ever becomes a tournament course, may well become known as one of the best finishing holes in Australian golf. It may be that anyway. Measuring 420 metres the tee shot is dominated by bunkers right and bush left. From there a mid to long iron will be required to a green heavily guarded in the front right by bunkers and to the left and close to the left at that, by a small saving bunker and heavy penalising bush. Longish green to further stretch the hole out if necessary.

The greens are the hybrid Bermuda, Tifeagle, North Lakes being the first to introduce this increasingly popular warm season grass to Australia on a full course scale. The benefits are an upright blade promoting a good putting surface and year round colour not always typical of other Bermuda grasses.

The fairways are wintergreen as are the roughs allowing flexibility in course set up and cost efficiencies in maintenance.

The Verdict

My initial impressions of North Lakes are that it is a golf course with plenty of variety and degrees of difficulty. The constant easterly breezes quartering from the north through the south provide further contrast in character from day to day. There are several standout holes such as the 6th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 18th but there is hardly a weak hole either. Even the par four third, which has its peculiarities, is fun to play and something different.

I don't doubt, given the lack of other quality courses in Brisbane, that in time North Lakes will stage a tournament of some repute and when it does it will gain the profile that it deserves. In the meantime however there will be many who will enjoy the still relatively hidden gem that North Lakes is. I say hidden as it is still somewhat tucked away inside the rapidly developing residential estate at North Lakes.

Once you have found it however and begun experiencing its subtleties then you will join the many who are singing its praises.

The Graham Marsh team have created a very good golf course from a site that had significant natural and statutory limitations. The creek that so dominates the site has provided both opportunities and limitations but the end result is a golf course that very much provides a valuable and welcome addition to Brisbane golf.

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