1. q-tip | Rated | 24 Mar 2012 | Add A Review

Wentworth (Orange) measures 5865m Par 70 with four par 3s ranging from 136-199m, twelve par 4s ranging from 254-420m and two par 5s ranging from 480-485m (which includes the new back tee which will be moved back 25m to length the Par 4 15th to 420m).

The course has many different cool climate tree species along its wide fairways including Cedrus deodara. Course has South African couch fairways with patches of rye and kikuyu grass. The teebeds are a mixture of kikuyu and couch grass.

There are still some dead patches taking over half of the 3rd and 13th greens, but apart from this, the small-medium sized bent greens are smooth and reasonably paced. The greens aren’t as quick and smooth as Duntryleague, but are in better condition than Orange Ex-Services. The course has 25 bunkers with 5 bunkerless greens and 2 large storage dams on the front nine.

FRONT NINE highlights include: the 344m slight bend right 2nd (index 6) with a left-sloping fairway with trees on the dogleg corner to a green guarded by a bunker short left; the 402m slight bend right 4th (index 2) with an elevated tee above the fairway as your long iron into the small-to-medium sized bunkerless green cannot be short right as there are many trees short right – a challenging par 4 hole; the 362m 5th (index 3) doglegs 45 degrees to the right from 200m off the tee with the OOB fence along the rightside of the treeline to a green with 2 shortside bunkers; and the signature 480m dogleg right 8th (index 14) with an elevated tee requiring a set-up on the leftside to avoid the large dam on the right off the tee, and an approach shot threading between the dam on the right to another dam which is seen as a steep long grassed embankment dam on the left which runs its red stakes 5m short left of the medium-sized L-shaped green with 2 bunkers shortside and back right.

Apart from the weak opening 270m straight 1st (index 17) and the closing 254m straight 9th (index 18) the front nine uses more varied topography to challenge all golfers.
BACK NINE highlights include: the 380m straight 10th (index 8) which plays slightly uphill to a bunkerless 20-30m long green; the 382m slight bend left 12th (index 11) with a slightly blind downhill teeshot to a green with 2 shortside bunkers; the 485m slight bend right 14th (index 4) plays gently uphill to a medium-to-large sized green with 3 bunkers short and the OOB Ploughmans Lane on the far left to avoid; the 384m slight bend left 16th (index 1) which plays uphill to another bunkerless back nine green; and the 357m slight bend right 18th (index 9) with a small pond in front of the tee which plays slightly uphill from 100m out to a small green guarded by 2 shortside bunkers with potentially a gallery on the clubhouse deck overlooking your finish.

The back nine is less bunkered than the front nine; however, the back nine is arguably the more challenging. I would like to see more bunkers on holes 15-18 which would make the back nine much more challenging than front nine. The par 3s are a little disappointing with the back nine par 3s both playing downhill. The two par 5s are a highlight as are the long par 4s over 400m in length at 4 and 15.

All of the city’s 3 golf courses are at a slightly higher elevation than the city centre itself. Wentworth golf course ranging from approximately 880m above sea level at the 14th tee to 910m above sea level at the 3rd green and the 4th tee.

I walked the course and carried my stand-bag here on 12th March 2012 with $28 green fees and was done playing 18 holes in just under 3 hours – and also shot my single figure handicap with time to mark each hole layout for this review– so if you are relatively fit Wentworth is not as hilly as mentioned.

Less gifted golfers may find this course to their liking with wide fairways and limited hazards in general play. Like I have, I recommend you play all 3 of the city’s golf courses (Duntryleague and Orange Ex-Services are the other two) before rating the city’s best courses as all offer each golfer something different.

Having a larger city population than Bathurst (55km east) and Dubbo (150km north), Orange is the largest city in the Central Tablelands and Central West Region with over 40000 people. Can’t beat the colours all three Orange’s golf courses have on display in Autumn!

Good clubhouse facilities here with also a 150m practice range with green and bunker beside the dam adjacent to the 9th hole.

2. PenguinWoods | Rated | 27 Sep 2011 | Add A Review

An attractive course with lots of lovely trees and a nice setting. Pretty good layout and no really poor or weak holes. Actually most holes are quite strong and it is overall a reasonably firm test of golf. It is picturesque and is quite scenic with nice views of Orange and Mt Canobalas. The 8th a interesting and challenging hole. The 10th and 18th good as well.
However the course has been poorly kept and while the greens are usually quite good there are often imperfections and poor patches and one hole’s green was completely ruined. I don’t think the course takes water well.
The fairways are the real let down of the course. The couch is covered in tussocky tuffts that are hard to get good lies on and don’t reward good shots. And i mean these things are everywhere. They prevent run and make shots of the fairway a lot more challenging.
Comparison to Duntryleague: Duntryleague is a little cheaper, more attractive and better kept. However Wentworth is more Scenic and still very attractive. Duntryleague has it’s number though because of the very poor conditions of the fairways. if Wentworth fixed up its fairways and some greens and generally smartened itself up it would compete with Duntryleague and be knocked up another star rating.
Still certainly worth the effort.

3. Crewy203 | Rated | 26 Apr 2011 | Add A Review

Played Wentworth on 24/4/11 (we were playing all 3 courses in Orange over 2 days) and from reading previous reviews also took a cart given we had already played Duntryleague that morning. The course is primarily built on a hillside so many of the holes involve either going up or down, although we were in a cart there were many other players out walking the course. In fact the course uses the natural contours of the land very well with a few blind shots and use of natural gullies to compliment the hole. The par 5 8th is particularly impressive with a blind tee shot followed by an approach which needs to be threaded between the dams, at this point the fairway is only about 10 metres wide.

The overall condition of the course was good with the fairways and the rough well covered however but some greens look like they have suffered from some water damage, the 13th green was particularly patchy. Although the dams are impressive in size water should only come into play on 18th and 8th

A very enjoyable course with some picturesque holes which reward good play but can also catch you out if you don’t stay on the mowed area. Staff in both the pro-shop and the club house were friendly and helpful. The cart was well worth the extra dollars as I don’t think I would want to walk the course on a hot day.

4. Schmuck | Rated | 18 Dec 2010 | Add A Review

Played early November with Members on Medal day Sat.
Returning after 10+ years from a golf weekend
Course in good nick. Greens good – tad slowish. Partners friendly and helpful as most Orange folk are.

Like the undulating layout and variation in design.
Little shorter than I remember, but still a test

5. herbiehib | Rated | 24 Apr 2010 | Add A Review

This is a challenging course with plenty of hills. Of the 3 courses in Orange this was the toughest due to me not getting a cart even after being told you really need one on arriving at most of my shots i was out of breath LOL.
The course was in good order and the grounds staff greeted you in a friendly manner.
The downfall to this course was the rude and sarcastic pro shop staff member that made it very difficult to start off well. I was so close to shoving my putter somewhere dark and walking out. For this reason only i give the course half a mark lower than it deserves and will tryagain another time but with a cart!!

6. vt_saint | Rated | 20 Oct 2008 | Add A Review

I play here regularly with some work colleges and as a “hacker” find it a very challenging course (Im open to any ball sponsor who is willing to provide me with balls). It is now spring and the course is in very good condition, it has a pleasent mixture of long and short holes with 2 very long PAR 5’s (8th, 14th). There are also a combination of flat holes and hills with the 8th teeing off from the peak of one such hill to a fairway between two dams (when I get it right, which is not very often, this would be my favourite hole). The 19th Hole is staffed by friendly bar staff and has a very relaxing view overlooking the 18th green. There is a patio which is very nice in spring. Highly recommend playing this course at least once and maybe you could even help me find some of my misguided slices?

PROS

• Challenging
• Good variety of holes
• Friendly Staff
• Easy to get Tee times
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Not very forgiving for the novice
• Ball Thief
• Water
• Trees