1. q-tip | Rated | 29 Jan 2012 | Add A Review

After reading the out-of-date 2005 and 2007 reviews…time for an update.

Springwood Country Club was established in 1905 and the clubhouse and full 18 holes has since been at its current site from 1958 and now measures 5202m Par 69 with five par 3s ranging from 116-185m, eleven par 4s ranging from 264-390m and two par 5s ranging from 445-474m.

Course has fairly undulating kikuyu grass fairways in a mostly short tree-lined layout. The bent grass greens are mostly small and play quite slow with subtle break. The mix of kikuyu/winter rye grass teebeds are flat but either are excessively overgrown or have bare patches. The layout is not excessively hilly and there are 22 bunkers on the course with 7 bunkerless holes with a few water hazards and internal OOB on the first few front nine holes.

Highlights include: the opening 390m straight downhill 1st (index 4) with tall trees and Hawkesbury Road far right to a green with a bunker rightside; the 474m 2nd (index 12) with a red-staked creek along the rightside and OOB further right with tall trees on the left to a gently right-sloping fairway which doglegs 90 degrees right from 375m off the tee with an elevated bunkerless green over the yellow-staked creek; the 116m 6th (index 14) requires a teeshot through tall trees to a narrow and small green with a bunker short right; the 293m slight bend right and slightly uphill 12th (index 13) requiring another teeshot through tall trees with tall trees and OOB Linksview Road further right to a green with 2 bunkers; the 185m slightly uphill 13th (index 1) with 2 bunkers; the 351m slight bend right 14th (index 3) with tall trees far right and a right-sloping fairway with the Springwood cemetery over the back of the bunkerless green; and the most heavily bunkered hole on the course the 320m straight 16th (index 10) with the only fairway bunkers on the course to avoid 220m off the tee and another 2 greenside bunkers short.

Overall, there are many short par 4s more suited for the mid-high handicap golfers with not nearly enough water or sand hazards to challenge the more frequent golfers. The course’s best attribute are its gentle topographical changes and small greens.

The front nine is less bunkered and starts with a few varied and interesting holes but the finishing holes are fairly weak and unchallenging. The back nine is more bunkered and has a few more signature holes worthy of attention.

Springwood is on the eastern edge of the sandstone country of the Blue Mountains with about 8500 people and the course has an elevation of around 350-380m above sea level.

Springwood is at a lower elevation than any other course in the Blue Mountains so it does not get very cold during the winter and has milder summer temperatures than Penrith.

Played here 28/01/2012 with $15 weekday green fees, $30 weekend green fees and $15 twilight green fees after 4pm (AEDT).

Springwood is the largest town on the lower Blue Mountains and is 1 hour west of Sydney’s CBD. There are better conditioned more challenging courses in Wentworth Falls and Blackheath less than 30 minutes away.

Older-styled clubhouse with good course views, and remembering on this website that 1 star indicates “basic golf facilities” and 5 stars denotes “golf at its absolute best”, SCC is not amongst the top Blue Mountains courses, but better than Lithgow.

2. mountainman | Rated | 27 Nov 2010 | Add A Review

I grew up playing on this course and returned after many many years recently. It has changed very little over the years, but is in great condition. The Second is my favourite with a very sharp right handed dog leg. This used to be a par four which ended where the dog leg is now. It’s the best priced of the courses in the Mountains, fifteen dollars a round and is worth visiting.

3. ParMaster | Rated | 17 May 2008 | Add A Review

very nice

4. johng | Rated | 29 Mar 2008 | Add A Review

Quite interesting course – although quite short it is very hilly and is a good walk.

Fairly average sort of course, almost every hole is either going up a hill, down a hill, on the side of a hill. Relatively small greens which are in OK condition but not very challenging, fairways are ok.

Friendly pro shop staff and wasn’t very busy – despite being a public holiday when we played. Worth a hit if your out that way.

5. joshgately | Rated | 30 Aug 2007 | Add A Review

Terrible. Greens are in very poor nick, used a pitching wedge from 70 mts, put the ball pin high and the ball rolled of the green with back spin to about 40 mts in front of me, they can blame the dry weather but there are other courses in the area in better shape. Very Pricey for current conditions

6. scottt | Rated | 15 Feb 2007 | Add A Review

Regardless of your ability, you’ll find a challenge at Springwood.

It’s short, but the par of 69 means the holes are still long for their par.

The 4th hole is a 208m par 3. The 10th is a par 4 of about 400m and the 12th and 17th are par threes in excess of 170m.

Sure, there’s some par 4s that barely measure past 300m, but well-positioned slopes in the fairways ensure it isn’t just a case of teeing it up and smashing a big dog at the green.

You’ll need to think your way around if you want to score well.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 13th and 18th are protected from becoming obselete by well-placed greenside bunkers, and the small greens are generally raised, meaning a missed green is a major issue.

The two par fives are both on the short side of 500m, but both will leave you with a challenge. The 6th climbs along the side of a hill, with thick rough left and the green tucked behind a grove of gums, and protected by a bunker short/right and another left. The rear of the green has a steep drop of about 5m, so missing the green in any direction other than short will cause you a few headaches.

The 11th is a unique hole.

It’s an L-shaped hole that most players tackle by hitting a three-Iron and then a six/seven-iron to the corner, before attacking the green, partially hidden behind a spindly gum up a steep hill, with a wedge.

You can hit driver then tempt fate by cutting the heavily-wooded corner with a long iron, but that brings thick bush, a hazard and internal out of bounds into play. Oh, and it’s a blind shot to the green too!

The course doesn’t close particularly strongly, but it’s a solid challenge from go to whoa.

The condition is improving continually, but the greens are still a bit of a lottery. Some days they’s they’ll be magnificent, but they’re generally somewhere around the middle of the road.

Fairways are now beginning to get really well-knitted, but a 30cm preffered lie is in place for the times you find a bare patch.

The hilly terrain means its a real workout to walk around, too.

Recommended for a visit.

7. Canopener | Rated | 02 Jun 2005 | Add A Review

This course is one of the toughest walks around considering it only measures 5500 odd meters, very hilly indeed. An average track that does have some interesting and unique holes (Hole 2 is a funny U shaped par 5 for example) The greens are normally in acceptable shape and the fairways on the high side near the clubhouse are normally pretty green but things can sometimes get a little patchy down towards the lower darker corners of the course. Well worth a hit if you're around that way and the prices are low but if you're after a championship course then look elswhere.

Also remember It can get bloody cold up there in winter

8. bencam | Rated | 07 Mar 2005 | Add A Review

Springwood is a shortish course by modern standards that plays up and down a hilly site - great view of the city from the clubhouse balcony on a clear day.

A resonably tough walk the course is sure to test your physically and mentally.

Overall conditioning is on the improve each year but still trails other notable Blue Mountains courses for playability and consistency.

With most greens raised you get limited shot options for a missed green. Combine this with the sloping fairways and you often find yourself facing a tough recovery after what looked and felt like a great shot off the club - the bounces can be that brutal ?!

Worth a round to see for yourself but I'd recommend Blackheath, Wenty Falls or Leura as courses you'll enjoy more.