1. q-tip | Rated | 27 Jul 2006 | Add A Review

Measures 5575m Par 70 from the back tees with 6 Par 3s ranging from 110-180m, 8 Par 4s ranging from 275-425m and four Par 5s ranging from 440-525m. Quite irritating crossing the racetrack 4 times when playing in order of the card. Members here tend to play the inside holes then the outer holes, so if it seems that some groups have pushed in, it is merely how this strange course is laid out.

Holes are very flat with standard doglegs, but lacks any thought and imagination. The course is well maintained and has recently cored its greens. The greens here are very flat and upside down saucer-like in appearance.

Bad shots are rarely punished, with 7 bunkerless greens, and par 5s easily reachable in regulation. Par 3s are not heavily bunkered, so birdie is a given.

Played here 27/7/06 and paid $22 green fees. Members and clubhouse are friendly, but of the 4 Cairns courses, this is perhaps the easiest of the lot. Good for the social hit, but for the serious golfers, perhaps Paradise Palms or Cairns GC would better suit.

2. Scarlett | Rated | 12 Sep 2003 | Add A Review

(As always I commence with a disclaimer - these are the views of a med-handicap golfer, so course asthetics and value for social golfers are my priorities when looking at a course, not how flash the clubhouse is or whether lackeys will carry your clubs from your car or not!)

Gordonvale is a small township in the greater Cairns region of tropical Nth Qld.

The course is 18 holes but appears to have been only 9 holes until recently. The course is located on and beside the local horse racing track and also beside the local sugar mill. On a good day during the cane processing season a lovely sweet smell blows over most of the course. There are also good views of the notable local land feature Walsh's Pyramid.

There are 9 well established and well wooded holes beside the Bruce Hwy and another nine much newer holes located inside the racetrack. These holes are very flat and pretty much devoid of trees, obviously so that the punters can follow the horses throughout their lap of the track. It doesn't make for a visually exciting golf course but I guess it's a sensible use of the wide open spaces within the track.

The course does not have any permanent water traps and only a very few sand bunkers and is fairly representative of small country town golf courses.

Scarlett

4Sep03