1. q-tip | Rated | 23 Oct 2011 | Add A Review

Time for a 2011 update and not sure how it rates as a 5-star "golf at its absolute best" or even a 4-star rating on this website, but Blue Lake measures 5480m Par 70 with four par 3s ranging from 132-193m, twelve par 4s ranging from 274-390m and two par 5s ranging from 436-487m.

Course has fairly lush winter rye/kikuyu grass fairways with thick (or just overgrown!) clover grass in the rye rough. The SR10-20 bent grass greens are mostly medium-sized with a few smaller greens like the 170m uphill 16th. There are 22 bunkers on the course with only 4 bunkers on the entire back nine and there are no water hazards.

The par 3s are varied in length with 2 uphill and 2 downhill teeshots with bunkers which add to its challenge. Lots of short par 4s here with only the 390m 4th and the 362m 6th being greater than 350m in length.

Some other highlights apart from the par 3s include: the 487m dogleg left 3rd (index 9) to a green with 3 bunkers; the 342m 8th (index 4) with a blind teeshot over a crest with trees on the right with a hidden fairway bunker left on the crest 150m from the green guarded by 2 bunkers; the 274m 9th (index 12) which doglegs right 90 degrees from 160m off the tee with the practice fairway OOB along the right with a fairway bunker right at the dogleg corner and a green guarded by 2 bunkers; the 193m 14th (index 5) with an elevated teeshot to a green with a bunker short right; and the short 436m straight Par 5 17th (index 10) with OOB Grant Avenue far left of the trees to a fairway that plays slightly uphill from 150m out of to a 2-tier front-sloping 30m long green which is guarded by a bunker leftside.

Aside from Murray Bridge, Blue Lake is the shortest 18-hole layout in the South-East region. Despite being only 25km from the coastline, Blue Lake is neither a links or links-style course.

The back nine is most disappointing with holes 10-13 straight with a boring and an up-and-back style along the same side of the Valley Lake hill with no bunkers with only a sloping-fairway to think about. Although the back nine may be a nice hilly walk with the taller tree-lined gently sloping fairways but just simply is not challenging for any decent golfer.

Overall, the front nine has sparser tree-lined fairways, with most flags not visible from the tee mounds, more bunkering and generally just more challenging and varied than the back nine which is comparatively very boring.

Mount Gambier is the 2nd largest city in the state (after Adelaide) with around 25000 people. Unlike most country towns with its tacky and cheap tourist attractions, Mount Gambier has some interesting attractions like a few sinkholes and Blue Lake itself, not the golf course!

Played here on 6th October 2011 with $12 green fees, it may be the cheapest golf option but it is certainly not the best conditioned or most challenging layout in the city. Course access is from Grant Avenue off Bay Road on the southern slopes of Valley Lake. Friendly staff and members here though.

2. SeptemberSquall | Rated | 29 Dec 2010 | Add A Review

Played this course in December 2010. Presented in very green condition due to recent rain and spring sunshine.

Some interesting shots were to be had, for example;
*first hole: a 300m dogleg right with OOB right, offering a downhill feed to anyone who successfully carries the corner. A real ’bite off as much as you can chew’ proposition which can leave anywhere from 130m to 30m for your second to a small green set against an OOB fence within 8m right.

• second hole: a majestic 140m carry over a valley to a par 3 green more wide than long, set into the opposing hill.
• third hole: a par 5 with a blind second shot over a crest, setting up a short shot to a wide green with a variety of pin position options.
• fourth hole: strong 390m par four requiring a well flighted approach to an elevated two tier green.
• thirteenth hole: requires a long straight drive to a gap between two tall mature gums to allow a flighted approach to a small green.
• fifteenth hole: requires a left to right flight to give best position for a short downhill approach.
• sixteenth hole: deceptive uphill par3 to a narrow green set behind the crest of the hill between stands of gum trees; undulations catch the deceived golfer’s short approach and deflect it left or right to leave a tricky recovery.
• seventeenth: best hole on the course. Drive long over the crest and down into the valley. The secod shot requires neat placement to the left half of the fairway to open the funnel between established gums to a two-tiered green offset to the right of the fairway and protected by a front right pot to force a full carried approach.

All in all, an average country track, worth a visit and not expensive.
Be aware, the back nine is somewhat mountainous, and in spite of the name, it’s definitely not a links!

3. Funky71 | Rated | 28 Dec 2009 | Add A Review

Blue Lake golf club underwent a transformation a few years ago and added another 9 holes across the road, on reasonably flat terrain, which has now become the front nine. The back nine is situated on the quite hilly terrain at the foot of Centennial Hill. This difference in terrain makes this a most interesting course to play. You start your round on the flatter terrain which is surrounded by farming properties and finish it on quite hilly terrain which is surrounded mostly by ferny grass and forrest like trees. In our opinion the back 9 is much more enjoyable to play.
The course contains a few reasonably short holes and large greens making low scoring highly possibly for even the mid range player, however trouble is easily found in the large mature aged tree which line many of the fairways. The par 3’s are all quite picturesque with most of them demanding an accurate tee shot from a tee block situated above the hole with little fairway inbetween.
A favourite hole would have to be the par 4 15th which is a mighty dog leg to the left which looks drivable but is not, many a ball can be found if you look on this corner as many a player has the self belief but not the sensible frame of mind to think that they can drive the corner.Other holes to note are the short par 4 ninth which requires a good club selection and the par 5 17th which is the longest hole and requires an accurate approach shot.
Greens and fairways are in good condition and are well kept all year round due to the ample supply of water.

4. Scarlett | Rated | 19 Aug 2007 | Add A Review

I played this course years ago, so forgive my lack of detail, but seeing as there hasn’t been any other rating, I’ll jot something down. If you’ve played Blue Lake more recently, please add an update to my info.

One of the courses in Mt Gambier, located near the ‘Blue’ lake funnily enough. (and it is very blue, go and have a look after your round)

Course is a 35 35 par 70 of 5565m (ACR 68), so not long. No par 5’s on the back nine, just a succession of short par 4’s and one par 3. The fairways were a little patchy but tees and greens were fine. Mainly eucalypts around the course and generally a line or two between adjacent fairways for seperation. Most of the trees were mature though so there’s no going over them if you spray drives.

A nice enough course, although not as good as the Mt Gambier GC course also in town.