1. Ghost_of_ISG_past | Rated | 20 Oct 2011 | Add A Review

Located in the fine suburb of Holt, this is a pissweak excuse for a golf course. Would perhaps be rated the 15th best course in the ACT. Condition is rubbish. Clubhouse has the aura of a bogan bar. Teeth optional.

Spent the entire round wondering if the car would be stolen.

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2. q-tip | Rated | 09 Apr 2011 | Add A Review

Measures 6031m Par 72 with four par 3s ranging from 118-181m, ten par 4s ranging from 305-413m and four par 5s ranging from 448-480m.

Rather than join in on the emotional reviews of 2008, I would stick to what this forum is about: course review.

Course is in reasonable condition with patchy, bare kikuyu/couch mix fairways which is thinly covered, smooth + quick greens which was a pleasure to putt on, flat lush teebeds and well-trimmed rough which I found in better condition than the fairways. A sparsely tree-lined parkland style layout with resort-like feel where you cross Britten-Jones Drive to play the uninspiring holes 10-17.

The course has 22 bunkers with 15 of its bunkers on the front nine. Strange how the 3 longest par 4s are bunkerless holes given they are index 1, 4 & 6 and overall there are 7 bunkerless greens on the course.

Not sure what others are on about but you only really have the 165m 2nd (index 13) where you hit through the power lines…

Highlights include the opening 465m downhill slight dogleg right 1st (index 12) with a mature-sized tree about 100m from the tee in the middle of the fairway to avoid with a green guarded by 3 bunkers. The 181m 5th (index 2) guarded by 3 bunkers and water 50m short right to a quick sloping green. The 478m 8th (index 15) with 2 fairways to avoid off the tee and water 80m from the green on the left guarded by 2 bunkers back left and short right. The 448m 9th (index 10) is a shortish par 5 which plays uphill with 2 fairway bunkers to avoid off the tee to an undulating bunkerless green and the only back nine highlight for me is the 381m dogleg right 11th (index 3) with 2 bunkers short left and right of the green, where if you miss the fairway right you find yourself in some thick trees.

Not sure what idiot decided to water fairways in the middle of the day, where evaporation is highest, which dries the fairways out – should do what all other clubs do and limit watering to early morning and late afternoon. A little advise to the numbskull…

Played here 7th April 2011 with $10 April green fee special rates. Looks to be on the improve, but apart from the smooth, sharp subtle undulating quick greens, not overly challenging for me.

3. VanWilder | Rated | 19 Feb 2010 | Add A Review

Played at this joint in mid-January and have to say that myballsareswollen was right. Belconnen is a dead-set farm and is a long way from being inspiring. One area of the course was set amongst powerlines which had us enjoying the serenity.

Greens were shaggy and slow. Bunkers unkept.

Leave this course to the great unwashed. No stars isn’t an option. A begrudging 1 star.

4. GolfConnoisseur | Rated | 12 Nov 2009 | Add A Review

After a long absence and more than a few positive comments from friends, I decided today to give the Magpies Club a second look.

And I was pleasantly surprised to discover the course in a completely different condition to my first visit, the fairways were well kept and a lovely shade of green. The pock-marks of my previous visit gone, various renovations done to the course, a much more organised staff.

The back nine appears to have taken on an Australiana theme that suited it well, and while the greens were still a touch slow, someone must have shot all the birds in the area as they were free from the ball halting droppings that had made my first round unplayable.

All-in-all a welcome contrast from previous years and a pleasant round at a much more reasonable price. Hopefully they keep up the good work.

5. GPN | Rated | 28 Jul 2009 | Add A Review

Just Played 5 courses around Canberra(Queanbeyan, Gungarlin Lakes, Murrumbidgee, Vikings and Belconnen Magpies) with a group of 24 and we rated this as the best. It was not the most difficult course we played though it was very well presented and offered us a challenge in all aspects of our Golf and was forgiving enough to allow us an enjoyable round. Our group comprises of golfers from 5 handicap to 45 handicap (just for our little club).
The scrub was a bit rough with a lot of dead trees and branches laying around and some of the Tees looked as though the needed a break. The general overall condition was good, fairways were great, greens were not too fast and held good shots hit to them and the other great aspect is variety of holes to challenge everyones golf and shot making.

6. GolfConnoisseur | Rated | 01 Dec 2008 | Add A Review

Two stars.

To elaborate, I must say that I feel the other reviews posted on this board represent the black and the white of the spectrum. However, this course, like most things, lies in that grey area notably missed by the grumpy ‘soreball’ed gentleman and the club members blindly defending their home.

Belconnen Golf Club is indeed a public course of below average quality, though I think a ‘dog track’ is perhaps an overly harsh description. The bunkers are very poorly kept and resemble clay moreso then sand. The greens are slow and the course is generally marked with holes and is thoroughly patchy. The presence of marshals is non-existant which lead rise to my round being somewhat spoiled by a group of 5 juniors playing at a crawling pace in front of me, in direct opposition to the 4 person maximum group size.

That said, the course is not without merits, it is fortunate to possess a picturesque backdrop in the form of the brindabellas which are a welcome distraction from the quality and frustration of the course. The fairways are also well kept.

The simple fact of the mater is that this golf course is nothing special. If it was located in a distant country town I probably would offer it a measure of praise. However, it lies near the heart of the capital of Australia, surrounded by courses that put it to shame. Moreoever, the real cruncher is that the green fees associated with the course truely do not reflect the comparative standard of its place in relation to nearby offerings. Gungahlin Lakes for example, is a tidy, well kept course that presents great opportunity for both value, challenge and a pleasant experience. Given this, I can not recommend Belconnen Golf Club. This is one to leave to the locals.

7. Poisson | Rated | 18 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

I think I pity ‘myballsareswolln’ {review of 29 Jan 2008} as his condition has obviously affected other parts of his person. As a Belconnen Magpies member who plays the course at least twice each week and participates in the ACT Monaro Vets comp which plays all courses in the district, I doubt ‘myballsareswollen’ would have any support for his assessment of Belconnen Magpies. Perhaps he had a bad day. Participants in the recent Belconnen Open were highly complimentary of the courses and they came from all over NSW and the ACT. They were particularly complimentary of the overall condition of the course and especially the greens. I have played course all over NSW and the ACT and I would confidently rate Belconnen Magpies as the equal or better of most I have played. Certainly it is not The Vintage but then again few are. Less pubs and more golf might be the answer for ‘myballsareswollen’.

8. ianwact | Rated | 17 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

I too must take issue with the review below. As a member of Belconnen of 20 years standing I can’t ever recall the course remotely resembling the condition of which the reviewer complains. Our dedicated crew of professional greenkeepers have worked wonders to keep the fairways and greens in top condition despite the lack of rain over the last six years. Our use of recycled water has enabled the course to withstand the drought, which has affected other courses in Canberra quite seriously, and we’re therefore green in all senses. The fact that a European Tour professional plays the course regularly when he is in the country, along with two other pros (as well as the resident), is testimony to the good playing conditions. Take a look at the greenery and the challenge that the course has to offer at http://www.belconnenmagpies.com.au/golfclub/

9. wilsonphild | Rated | 12 Nov 2008 | Add A Review

As Captain of Belconnen Magpies I take offence at posts by individuals. The following is the assessment of the monaro and Didtrict Golf Association: On behalf of the ACT Monaro District Golf Association I would like to thank you for making your course available for the first round of the ACT Seniors Championship today. Please compliment the Course Superintendant and his staff on the presentation and standard of the course today. All of the players commented on how good the course was and what great condition it was in especially the greens.

Tony Gover Captain, ACT Monaro DGA

I am confident that any visitor to our club will be pleasntly surprised at the condition of our public course, one of the best in the distict.

Phil Drever Captain Belconnen Magpies

10. myballsareswollen | Rated | 29 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

A dog track. A very poor level public course. The bunkers don’t have sand – they have some kind of cheap gravel, which makes bunker play a lottery, as well as not doing your clubs any favours.

Extremely poor service in the Pro Shop.

Would only recommend playing it if no other options are available, and all of the pubs are closed.

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11. Malrider | Rated | 16 Jul 2005 | Add A Review

Belconnen Magpies club is situated in the Northwest area of Canberra, approx 20 mins from the city centre.

A mix of pine and eucalypt trees ensures that stray drives result in an interesting second (or 3rd!)

Course reasonably maintained, with fast greens. For most golfers, the back 9 would produce a bit more of a challenge.

Can be very crowded of weekends / schoold holidays, with the usual inclusion of punters that do not adhere to usual golf etiquette.