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

Time for an unbiased review without sounding like a tourism pitch for the local wineries. Established in 1940 Penola measures 5887m Par 72 with four par 3s ranging from 140-198m, ten par 4s ranging from 284-379m and four par 5s ranging from 434-465m.

Course has winter rye grass fairways with patches of kikuyu grass with medium sized 20-30m tall pine tree-lined fairways. There are mostly small bent grass greens with a few tiny-sized greens that play a little slow. There are only 7 bunkers on the course.

Some highlights here include: the 457m 3rd (index 11) which doglegs left 75 degrees on your 2nd shot with thick vegetation and trees along the entire left side to a green with a bunker left; the 349m slight dogleg right 4th (index 1) with a tall gum tree-lined fairway to a bunkerless green; the 465m gentle double dogleg left then right 8th (index 9) with a greenside bunker short left; the short 284m straight 12th (index 10) with an OOB fence along the left to a small 2-tier front-sloping bunkerless green; the 458m gentle double dogleg left then right 14th (index 14) with OOB Krongart Road on the far left and tall pine trees on the right near the bunkerless green; and the 379m straight 13th (index 2) with another tall pine tree-lined fairway to a bunkerless green.

Despite an easy flat walking layout the course’s best attributes are its 2 gentle double dogleg Par 5s. There are no definitive stand-out holes here as every hole seems to either have a slight dogleg with rather tall tree-lined but fairly wide fairways with more often than not a small unbunkered green.

The front nine poses a slightly longer layout with some bunkers on its par 3 and par 5 holes with generally taller trees and a few tighter fairways than the back nine. But compared to nearby Millicent and Mount Gambier, I feel Penola lacks the bunkering and challenges which makes it somewhat of a little boring layout.

Penola is a town of around 1500 people about 50km to Mount Gambier (south), Naracoorte (north) or Millicent (south-west).

Played here 6th October 2011 with $20 green fees. Course access is from Krongart Road which is 10km south along the Riddoch Highway.

Probably not one of the best layouts or conditioned courses in the far South East, but I would a recommend a round if in the area.

2. lagerlover | Rated | 24 Jun 2010 | Add A Review

As a former penola legacy cup CHAMPION, 1995 – big write up in The Pennant at the time, I too can vouch for the course, I heard once that Sir Garfield Sobers once played there, and did complement the club for its layout. Beautiful setting, well priced and although things may have changed now, any problems with swooping magpies on the eve of golf days were sorted out by the local constabulary, the name Starke rings a bell.

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3. Funky71 | Rated | 29 Dec 2009 | Add A Review

Penola golf course is highly reagrd by one of my colleagues Todd Mcshane who heralds from this small country town. He learned to play at Penola and it holds a special place in his heart. It is situated just out of the town on the way to Mount Gambier. As you get out of the car the smell of many cow paddocks located around the course hits your right in the nose.
The course provides a variety of different holes with different challenges. Most fairways are line with huge red gums, punishing the stray drive. The rough is also quite long in some areas and if you play in the winter after a big rain you will need your wellies on a few holes.
The greens and fairways are well kept making approach shots easy to play and low scores will result with accurcay on the approach. Holes to note are the 15th which is lined on either side by huge pines, severly punishing the wayward drive and the 4th which requires a tee shot through a small opening between the gums.
The 18th is a testing hole if you are 1 down in match play and try to belt the daylights out of it and end up in the groundskeepers shed, narrowly missing the grounskeeper himself, not a recommened plan of attack on this hole which should be played with a leisurely drive up the middle, folowed by a lazy 6 iron.

4. stiffshaft | Rated | 06 Feb 2008 | Add A Review

Penola G.C. situated (7km) out of town, it’s an extremely enjoyable course with a combination of tight fairways, lovely greens, lightly bunkered and wildlife (excluding Trevor on Mower). The volunteer workforce needs to be commended for presenting a course to such a standard. Join in on a Comp day (Sat & Thurs @ noon) and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time! You’ll definitely leave with a smile on your face. Accomodation in Penola/Coonawarra ranges from Motels,B&B’s and Self Contained Vineyard Apartments and you’ll find some great Restaurants. Oh did I mention the Winery’s!!

5. Pharmer | Rated | 08 Oct 2007 | Add A Review

Nice country course. Challenging tree lined fairways with well looked after greens and fairways. A few bare patches on the fairways, otherwise a great country course with abundant wildlife! Worth the cheap fees.

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