1. sinclairhp | Rated | 28 Nov 2011 | Add A Review

I played the front 9 at Gungahlin yesterday and I have to say it was a whole lot of fun! I was very impressed with the layout – one of the most enjoyable to play that I have experienced in some time. As pretty much all of the reviews highlight – it really is a risk and reward golf course. You need to think about your next shot constantly which is an enjoyable way to play the game. The course was extremely well presented with tees, fairways, greens and bunkers all well conditioned. If you put the ball in the right places you should score really well around well. Following a lot of recent rain the fairways had drained exceptionally well and the greens were very receptive to approach shots which probably took some of the sting out of it. All in all a fantastic course and despite being a different style of course (it is very “resorty” like a lot of the Gold Coast courses), for mine it is a much more enjoyable course than Yowani. Definitely a course that you could play over and over and still enjoy. Can’t wait to get back for the full 18 this weekend.

PROS

• Lay out
• Conditioning

2. Turf_n_Surf | Rated | 18 Sep 2011 | Add A Review

I’ve been playing pennants in the region for 3 years now. This course rates as my favourite in the ACT, nudging out Royal Canberra and Federal which are the other best (albeit pricey) picks. It will get better as it matures. A champagne course on a (relative) beer budget.

3. padre | Rated | 08 Sep 2011 | Add A Review

I gave this course 4 stars a few years ago, but after playing it last weekend I have to say its gone backwards in many ways that were meant to be improvements.

Too many fairway bunkers where they weren’t required and the 10th hole is an abomination. I liked the old 10th hole, a drivable par 4 with a good dose of risk, now its just risk, risk, stupid and crap. It’s just a joke, and could be the worst hole in Australia if they didn’t build the 15th at Moonah Legends.

There are nearly as many improvements as impediments, and I am sure on repeat plays the course is more challenging and would require a different strategy, but I play golf for enjoyment and I did not enjoy the round as much as past rounds.

4. KristianJ | Rated | 16 Apr 2011 | Add A Review

Quite surprised with the layout and quality of the course when I played there yesterday. Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the fact that most tee shots required some thought as to club selection and placement for attacking second shots. Most of the pins yesterday were close-ish to the fringe of what were reasonably large greens, and I found myself often facing long birdie putts when I hit a green in regulation.

Even though the greens were cored about 3 weeks ago, they were in good condition…not too slow and with an even roll. Fairways were quite lush and green too. Bunker placement and design is interesting – most of the "grass bunkers" that appear on the site’s course layout have been redone and are now sand filled.

An enjoyable visit, and will certainly visit again when I’m down in Canberra next, not just because my club has reciprocal rights.

5. Crewy203 | Rated | 07 Jan 2011 | Add A Review

A very enjoyable course that has its challenges testing most apsects of your game. Each hole plays seperate from the others so you wont get the feeling of just going up and down as some other courses do. Plenty of bunkers and water which makes club selection and accuracy important. Ball placement off the tee is critical on some holes ie 2nd, 10th, 13th so you need to think your way around the course. Great value for money and the pro shop staff were very accomodating. If you dont play this course when in ACT you are missing out

6. growlingferret | Rated | 24 Dec 2010 | Add A Review

Course is always in great condition tee to green. Greens are on their way back after a 12 month rehab program and are now rolling true and fast again.
Course improvements in the last two years and the growth of the trees has added strategy and planning into getting around.
The variety of short and long holes sees options off the tee – after your first round you will realise that an iron or hybrid off the tee removes the danger, but leads to a far more difficult approach, a great risk/reward strategy.
If you miss a green, your short game will be tested as there is hardly a flat chip on the course.
In my humble opinion, the course is probably equal number 3 in Canberra behind Royal and Federal, the equal of Yowani, and better than Gold Creek.
16/17/18 are a great finishing three holes, where three pars are possible, as are three triples to wreck a round…

7. 4golf | Rated | 17 May 2010 | Add A Review

I come back here a few times a year. I always visit the Lakes. It has a full array of all you want. A huge clubhouse and all prices on beer food, snacks and golf are so good. It is a while since I have been here. The course has improved yet again. They have put bunkers on every hole. The 9th which was fairly dull is now and exciting hole with fairway bunkers. The approach to the 9th green has bunkers in play left and right. Many holes have been redesigned. Each hole on this course now plays differently due to the bunker placements. Club selection and strategic play makes this course a must play. Do yourself a favour and play the Lakes. This course must be someone’s secret since I have not seen anything that is better value. This course is so lucky having so much dam water; everything was lush green. This continues to be a 5 star course with the best price around. The Pro shop staff were so good and with every game you get a free beer or soft drink. This is a premium golf course with a management style that is so friendly.I will be back again in the spring and I will give everyone a further update.

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8. Mixy | Rated | 14 Feb 2010 | Add A Review

Absolutely beautiful. Pro shop staff couldn’t be better. Course in great condition.

9. 4golf | Rated | 24 May 2009 | Add A Review

I played there again recently. The amount of development work this course has undertaken is remarkable. It must be costing them millions. Go and have a look for yourself. It is still one of the least expensive course in Canberra. Best of all everyone is friendly. It is fantastic to see absolutely level tee blocks, the trees have grown, well thought out bunker placements and the water makes it Canberra’s most interesting. It now must rate as the best golf course in Canberra. This is a 5 star golf course at a 1 star price.

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10. werriwa | Rated | 02 Jun 2008 | Add A Review

I now play there often. Although I am a beginner golfer I have played on a number of the courses around Canberra to find out the nicest one to join. At the moment this course has won hands down. The amount of money that is being spent on improving the pathways, building rock walls and gardens and on the course itself means to me that this course is ‘full steam ahead’ (this does mean that there is construction wotk going on on the course, so I’d give it a few months if you want to see it at i’ts best). It is one of the best kept courses in Canberra and when all the trees that have been planted have grown, will be the prettiest. The amount of water makes for a challenging course, but for me the nice wide fairways are what I need at this time as I am learning. I think that as I get better (I hope)over the years the course will develop as the trees grow to provide more challenges.

PROS

• just a lovely course!

Cons

• needs many more years for the trees to grow and provide punishment for wayward shots
• Could do with more signage and directions for the first time user

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11. 4golf | Rated | 31 Oct 2007 | Add A Review

This has got to be one of the best golf course in Canberra. Amazing value, no two holes are the same, club selection on every hole is important, it is an easy walk, the green fees are so low compared to other comparable course and the staff were fantastic. Looks like they have an abunance of water and all the fairways and greens were lush and in top shape given the severity of the drought. This Club has spent heaps on development and it is now approaching resort golf course class. At $22 a game on Monday to Friday and $30 on the weekend it is amazing value especially as you get a free drink. The club house facilities are second to none and everything is a local club prices. The restaurant if first class with most meals priced at less than $20. The real find after a game was the Coffee Shop with the BEST sandwiches imaginable. How’s a “whopping” salad sandwich with ham by the handful all for $3!!!!! and huge muggaccino for $3.50. If you play on Saturday try the Hamburger with the lot downstairs in the Spike bar for $6 with chips. Even stuff in the Pro Shop was cheap – now that was another surprise. Don’t miss this golf course it is the best of the best and will make it into the top 100 course in Australia.

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12. 365days | Rated | 03 Jan 2007 | Add A Review

This course has to be a little gem in Canberra. I had a number of surprises when coming to this course. Firstly the cost of playing here was very cheap. It was $10 for juniors and it was only $21 for vistors. Secondly the amount of water on a course that is in the middle of a drought.

The course itself is very much about getting it on the fairway off the tee. Playing here next time around I will not be using my driver near as much. The 2nd hole is a good example of where a 5 iron down the fairway is much smarter then aiming for the tempting green with a driver.

Gungahlin also places alot of emphasis on chipping. You must be able to play both the high soft lob and the good old chip and run. The reason this is, is because their greens are very long and narrow with heaps of swails and undulations. They also are very hard so unless you hit alot of GIRs then bring a sharp short game.

This is one of those courses that you need to play a few times to figure out where are the 'safe' places to miss but also what club to hit off what tees.

The only problem I had was that there were no blue tees to play from so we had to play from the white social tees which were nearly infront of the woman's!

But overall it is a very nice course to walk and an even better one to play. I will definitely be returning for another game.

13. ajd100542 | Rated | 02 Jan 2007 | Add A Review

Given the age of this course and the fact we are in a major drought, this is one of the best courses I have played. Technically challenging, making you use every club in the bag, being a big hitter wonâÄôt help you here. Plenty of water, and very challenging greens, true and fast. The staff where great and the members very sociable. As a visitor to Canberra I would defiantly suggest that you play at this course.

The only negative is that you cannot book, it is walk up only, which means it is the luck of the draw.

Congratulations to the staff at Gungahlin Lakes, you have presented an exceptional course. One I will be playing again.

14. Jenno95 | Rated | 06 Nov 2006 | Add A Review

I simply can not believe that this course was not designed by a big name such as Trent Jones, Nickalaus or even Norman... This has to be the most exciting course that I have played in Canberra, It is absolutely stunning in it's set up and tempts you... no make that teases you to go for the green via water carries rather than lay ups!

Im probably very biased as I had an albatross on the 6th so this course will for ever hold nothing but fond memories. The green fee's are sensational and the only fault that I can find is that it is in Canberra and not closer to Sydney.

I would highly recommend that if you are in Canberra make the effort to play this course you wont be dissapointed.

15. jamie | Rated | 07 Feb 2005 | Add A Review

As the designer of the original course 1993 Masterplan and co-designer of the detailed shaping with Ted Parslow, I read with interest Padre's June 2004 review of Gungahlin Lakes Country Club. I generally agree with his comments although I would like to clarify on two points.

* He mentioned "very little bunkering ( I was told a lot of bunkers were removed because of drainage problems)". This is incorrect as the course as opened was only required to have 60m2 of bunkers each on the 9th and 18th. This was a government requirement on an estate developer who had to build the course and hand over to government without having any further interest in the course. They therefore did little more than necessary. As the designer we created a lot of hollows with grates and exit drainage to allow the future Club to fairly readily turn these into bunkers without damage to the course. The Design Plans nominated around 60 bunkers. The club has 15 bunkers constructed. No bunkers have been removed. Some of the hollows will be retained as strategic grassy hollows.

* The rough is significantly improving as the Club is oversowing , providing QCV irrigation and so on to rectify the very harsh ground conditions. Padre's game mid last year was near the end of a 3 year drought and certainly there has been good improvement with a period of more favourable conditions.

Fortunately government imposed comprehensive quality requirements on most of the key golf play aspects of the course so as designers we were able to gain the required expenditure by the estate developer to achieve a quality outcome. Indeed a leading turf consultant remarked that the greens construction profile and method was only equalled by one other of the new courses of the then past decade. Good depth of fairway topsoil, 100 megalitres of water storage (therefore all the lakes), ample tees, 6000 trees and other key government requirements have ensured a good framework.

As designers we also feel proud of the layout with its mix of golf holes, course balance and strategic challenges. The Gungahlin Lakes Country Club has hosted rounds of the Australian Junior Interstate series, PGA Trainee Championship and NSW Medal events and been well received. The three closing holes (a par 5, par 3 and par 4) are a superb finish where the fortunes of a game can easily change.

16. padre | Rated | 02 Jun 2004 | Add A Review

The course is an intersting one, it provides plenty of challenge, has no two holes the same, is long enough, and seems to play longer as the wind never seems to be behind you, and it is a fairly wind-swept course.

The layout is very flat with water on almost every hole, but probably only in play in some form on half of them. There is very little bunkering (I was told a lot of bunkers were removed because of drainage problems) and has fairly large greens.

The course condition does seem to leave a little to be desired. The greens seem to be in good nick now, and the fairways are fairly reasonable, but the rough is awful. Hard bare ground is not nice to hit off and the patch rough is just a nightmare to play from.

Overall the course is a good one. The final layout seems to have been decided on and the facilities are very good. Public access is somewhat limited due to high member numbers, but if you get the chance it's well worth it. Just remember to bring lots of balls.

17. aiyah | Rated | 19 Apr 2004 | Add A Review

Visited this course again, and was very impressed by the improvements that have been made - the construction to the clubhouse and several holes is now finished, and the fairways and greens are superb. A very enjoyable and challenging layout.

18. aiyah | Rated | 20 May 2003 | Add A Review

This course has an interesting layout, with creeks and lakes adding a strategic element to many holes. However, the fairways were a bit patchy, and the presentation of the course was very ordinary. There seemed to be a lot of work done at this course, which should see it improve.