1. q-tip | Rated | 20 Aug 2011 | Add A Review

The course conditioning at Dubbo is the benchmark for the Orana region of NSW with its wide and lush kikuyu fairways and teebeds mostly green with a few yellow tinge patches, but overall mostly lush. The large bent grass greens are smooth with good consistent speed and are mostly 20-30m long. The medium-tall tree-lined 27-hole layout has a total 59 bunkers with water coming into play on several holes.

Holes 1-9 measures 3061m Par 36 with two par 3s ranging from 137-182m, five par 4s ranging from 326-406m and two par 5s ranging from 458-472m. There are 18 bunkers, but no water coming into general play on this outward nine and the finishing holes are affected by highway traffic noise.

Highlights include: the opening 472m straight 1st (index 12) with a left-sloping fairway with OOB fence right and 2 bunkers left and right of green; the 406m slight dogleg right 4th (index 1) with 2 bunkers shortside; the 182m gentle downhill teeshot 8th (index 8) with 2 bunkers left and right and the 342m 9th (index 10) which doglegs 45-degrees left from 180m off the tee with the OOB Newell Highway right and a green guarded by 3 bunkers.

Holes 10-18 measures 2892m Par 35 with three par 3s ranging from 148-184m, four par 4s ranging from 332-401m and two par 5s ranging from 446-469m. There are 23 bunkers with water coming into play on 12, 14 & 15, with the 12th & 13th more open resort/links-style holes than the rest of the parkland-style layout of the outward nine holes.

Highlights include: the 469m 12th (index 11) with its crescent-moon shaped fairway with 3 storage dams on the left from the tee to the 2-tier front-sloping green which is guarded by 2 bunkers 10-20m short left and right; the 385m straight 13th (index 3) with OOB homes on the left and a left-sloping green guarded by a bunker short right; the 179m 15th (index 7) with its 30m wide green guarded by 2 bunkers left and right; the 401m Par 4 straight 17th (index 2) with its 40m long front-sloping bunkerless green and the challenging 184m slightly uphill 18th (index 5) with 4 bunkers to avoid. This most bunkered and varied of the nine-holers is probably my pick at Dubbo.

Holes 19-27 measures 2762m Par 35 with two par 3s ranging from 135-159m, six par 4s ranging from 293-373m and the 470m Par 5 slight dogleg left 22nd with a fairway bunker 220m off the tee on the right with red dirt in rough on right with 2 bunkers shortside of the green. Holes 21-26 are reminiscent of Tamworth’s Longyard resort/links-style layout with shorter sparser trees and homes lining the fairway edges.

Other than the Par 5, highlights include: the 135m 26th with a teeshot over the dam with a pond over the back of the green guarded by a hidden bunker back right and the 325m straight 27th with a 20m wide narrow driving hole which has a pond 15-50m short left of the green guarded by 4 bunkers – which finishes beside the 10th teebed. This 9-holer has 18 bunkers with water coming into play on 21, 26 & 27 which has a few of the shorter par 4s on the course. Plans are underway for more homes along the Par 5 hole which would make the walk less lonely for some!

Located on the south-western side of town this is the best course in the area. Dubbo is a major regional city with over 31000 people approximately 275m above sea level. The course is on the Newell Highway near the Western Plains Zoo on the western side of the Macquarie River which splits the city’s suburbs.

Played here 2nd August 2011 with $28 visitor green fees to play all 27 holes with very good course conditioning and challenges and clubhouse facilities. Definitely worth a game here.

2. languid | Rated | 09 Sep 2010 | Add A Review

Played 29.08.2010
We had time for 9 holes only. We played holes 1 to 9. Recent heavy rain have been good for the course. No doubt there were some issues for the maintenance staff.
Impressions of our group were positive with the holes generally interesting and conditions of the course good but a bit short on detail.
We enjoyed it well enough to look forward to visiting again and playing at least 18 of the available 27 holes.
I guess the current star rating of three and one half is about right.

3. astanley | Rated | 15 Dec 2005 | Add A Review

This 27 hole golf course next door to the famous Western Plains Zoo is a wonderful challenge for golfers of all skill levels. All 3 "nines" are long with plenty of par 4's over 350m and par 5's 450m+. The course is relatively flat except for the third nine and is generally dry given the drought problems in the western plain region so tee shots will get extra roll. Because of the dryness, there is little rough to speak of but plenty of sandy or hard lies which are difficult for most golfers to hit off. The greens are well kept and are generally quite quick.

Dubbo GC requires your A game in driving due to the course length (about 6000 m for all 3 18 hole combo's) and the length off the tees to get around doglegs on long par 4's.

Warning: This course gets extremely hot in summer, particularly from mid November when hot westerly winds can blow and is best played early in the morning. Otherwise it is a nicely set up course with the odd kangaroo to divert your attention.

4. tommo2 | Rated | 04 Nov 2005 | Add A Review

Played 28/09/05

Looked forward to this well recommended course so much that we booked two nights accomodation in Dubbo. Bad luck for me that some inconsiderste business was having a corporate day and I could only play 9 holes. Disappointed, I trudged around and played two balls, averaged 44 in a big wind and can't remember much to rave about(The leader of the opposition was crook back in the motel room).

At one stage I passed the entrance to the zoo and I was worried I might get lost. Not the club's fault but those holes out the back of nowhere for a visitor bloke were a bit lonely.

The Relic

5. cantputt | Rated | 11 Aug 2004 | Add A Review

For those of you that don't know, Dubbo is in a drought stricken area, but struggling farmers who have a love for golf see more green than in any crop when sailing balls down a well maintained leafy tree lined fairway on this 27 hole championship course.

Although alot of the hazard placements aren't really in play for the good golfers. They are definately challenging for the Handicap 12+ players. Which is me.

Definate highlight hole for me is 21: Approx 300m that needs an accurate tee shot. But those big hitters thinking you'll make the green. You will have to fly it there, past an intimidating red crater of a bunker. But you put it over the back and you'll find a pond to welcome your lil overshot missile. But I'll let you decide whether you lay up or go the whole distance when you come and try it out for yourself.