1. q-tip | Rated | 09 Dec 2012 | Add A Review

Midlands now measures 6170m Par 72 with three par 3s ranging from 158-165m, twelve par 4s ranging from 305-383m and three par 5s ranging from 445-497m.

Course has Santa Ana couch grass fairways and teebeds in a tree-lined layout with a scattering of some open-styled holes. The medium-sized greens consists a mixture of penncross bent grass and poa grass which is blended in but controlled on the greens.

In terms of hazards, there are only 3 unbunkered holes (at 1, 2 & 9) with a total of 28 bunkers on the course. There are 2 large storage dams and another 4 ponds/lakes natural creek which come into general play at 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13 & 14. In addition, there are OOB (homes or course boundaries) along the leftside fairways of 1, 2, 6, 9, 13, 14 & 15.

Some holes have a slight fairway bend with 7 greens not visible from the tee mound. The front nine is slightly longer and but less bunkered than the back nine.

FRONT NINE holes worthy of mention include: the 165m 3rd (index 10) which plays gently downhill over a small pond at the tee to 12m wide x 10m long green guarded by 3 bunkers-which is the most bunkered hole on the front nine; the 445m straight 6th (index 13) is a short Par 5 with a large red-staked pond along the right rough off the tee and the OOB railway line far left with a fairway bunker 70-90 short left of the green with a bunker short left; the 380m straight 7th (index 3) has a fairway bending slightly to the right between 2 ponds left and right off the tee to a green with a bunker short left; the signature 366m 8th (index 1) doglegs 60 degrees left from 220m around the same pond on the left off the tee to a 20m long x 10m wide green with a bunker short left; and the 326m slight bend left 9th (index 15) plays gently uphill with OOB Heinz Lane on the left with the storage dam embankment vegetation along the right rough to a bunkerless green.

The front nine begins across Heinz Lane with holes 1-12 on the southern side of the clubhouse and have the most challenging holes on the course, whilst the remaining 6 holes (holes 13-18) are on the clubhouse (or northern) side of Heinz Lane.

BACK NINE holes worthy of mention include: the 158m 11th (index 16) with a small red-staked pond short left and a bunker short right of the green; the 340m 14th (index 12) which doglegs to the right with OOB along the left and the red-staked storage dam on the right off the tee to a green with a bunker short right; the 496m straight 15th (index 9) which plays gently uphill with OOB homes along the left rough with 4 bunkers short and around the green; the 164m 16th (index 11) which plays gently downhill to a 20m wide green with 4 bunkers; and the 370m straight 18th (index 5) which plays gently uphill to a fairway bunker left about 180-200m off the tee and a green with a bunker right.

The par 3s (at 3, 11 & 16) are similar in length but vary in slight topographical elevation from tee to green and, like the rest of the course, are reasonably bunkered. The pick of the Par 3s is the 3rd.

The par 5s (at 6, 15 & 17) play straight with the greens visible from the tee and all have good bunkering. The pick of the Par 5s is the 15th.

There are no long Par 3s greater than 165m and no long Par 4s greater than 385m on the course, but there are no short Par 3s or short Par 4s either. Overall, Midlands is quite a challenging and well-conditioned layout.

Midlands is one of the longest layouts in the Goldfields/ Central Highlands regions and is second-longest of the 5 layouts in Greater Ballarat (others being Ballarat, Buninyong, Forest Resort Creswick & Mount Xavier).

The Club uses 2 storage dams on the course for irrigation with stormwater run-off being the main source of water. All storage dams/ponds including the small pond beside the 11th green were full during my visit…

Course elevation ranges from approximately 450m above sea level along the 6th fairway to approximately 465m above sea level at the 3rd & 17th tees.

Midlands is one of FIVE 18-hole grass green courses within the Greater Ballarat area which has around 100000 people.

Played here 22/10/2012 with $25 green fees. Course access is from Heinz Lane in the northern suburb of Invermay Park. Check out their website www.midlandsgolfclub.com.au

2. polarBear | Rated | 27 Jun 2012 | Add A Review

I thought i’d give an updated review specifically relating to the course condition. While we are having a bit of a wet winter here in Ballarat, this course really isn’t coping drainage-wise. It looks like they’re coring some of the fairways, so it should get better in the future. At the moment the fairways are very soggy, I ended up with a couple plugged balls when I played there yesterday.

The greens are OK, slightly inconsistent, but no real complaints. The tee boxes are a bit of a let down too, with patchy areas of grass.

Hopefully it gets better for the warmer months.

3. davester | Rated | 02 Mar 2006 | Add A Review

Midlands is really a very good golf course for everyday green fee players. From playing all courses in Ballarat Midlands diffently is the pick of the crop.

The fairways remain green all through summer benifiting from the water from many of the dams and lakes situated through out the course. The greens are always in top condition. The course really benifits from its huge membership pool.

Little about the course-

The front nine is really the big challenge on this course. Enjoyable until you reach the 6th Par 5. Then the next 3 holes Par 4, Par 4, will really test your skills out. Wide fairway shots could see you dropping for 3, these holes are surrounded by water down the right side. So to all you slicers, GOOD LUCK. Straight shots will see you putting together a nice score to take on the back nine.

The back nine I believe is a little easier. Still there is water around but the layout is not nearly as hard as the front nine. Some really good holes I enjoy is the 14th Par 4. A really big dogbend sees you really trying the get the most out of your drive to set up your birdie putt opportunity. Also the 18th sees you making some really tuff decisions coming into your second shot.

You will not be dissapointed playing this course. The members are always very helpful. Say hello the Cookie the Club Pro.