Matthew Mollica | Rated | 18 Sep 2005

In a long line of new courses built on the outer edge of suburban Melbourne, the Sandhurst Club, located approximately 35 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD, is another creation by famed golf course designer Peter Thomson. On completion, Sandhurst will feature 36 holes, and an extensive residential development component. It will also be home to the PGA of Australia, and may even host tournaments. Hundreds of homes have already been constructed within the development. The North course at Sandhurst has been playing for more than a year. Construction is due to start on the Champions course shortly. This layout will hope to see play as soon as January 2007.

For many like myself who have been disappointed by the work of Thomson's design firm in recent times, the thought of visiting one of their latest creations, on a flat, clay based property, within a real estate development, in a windy and barren region was not accompanied by rapturous enthusiasm. I am pleased to report that I was pleasantly surprised by Sandhurst.

The course opens gently enough with a short, wide par 4 boasting a green of ample size, to help ease golfers into their round. Those who find the first tee in the early hours of the morning may enjoy a wonderful view of the sun rising over the Dandenong Ranges in the distance. The sight of the rising sun is off to the side, and so can't be used as an excuse for a poor opening drive.

A Move Away From Tradition

The first hole gives golfers an indication that Thomson has made a move away from his traditional pot-style bunker shapes. Albeit small, the departure in style is significant. The spherical shapes, grassed or revetted faces, and appreciable depth found on bunkers at Moonah Links Open, Hope Island, The National (Ocean) and others, have softened for the Sandhurst layout. The bunkering is a little more free form in appearance, and of less penal depth. It is largely in keeping with the site and the skill level of those most likely to play the course most often. Mind you, there is the occasional deep green-side trap which provides a nasty punishment for missing the green. Such traps usually reside in close proximity to championship pin positions, guarding small tiers and hard-to-find segments of greens.

If the first hole lulls one into a false sense of security, the second provides a rude awakening, with two full shots needed to reach the green almost 390 metres away. The par 4 second (index 5) is one of several tough two-shotters sprinkled throughout the round. Left and right side fairway bunkering is provided at the 220-255 metre zone from the tee, with ample room short of the traps. Clearing the left-side hazards with a big straight drive not only provides a shorter approach, but greater visibility of the putting surface.

Sandhurst's par 3 third hole boasts one of the more unique features in Australian golf. Those familiar with courses in the UK will know of the par 4 13th hole at North Berwick, named The Pit. This hole, on a course designed in the 1870's, features a flat expansive green complex separated from its fairway by an ancient drystone fence, which was no doubt erected centuries before the golf course was laid out. An eccentric hole, which Tom Doak describes in The Confidential Guide as "one of a kind". If only it stayed that way.

The designers of Sandhurst have seen fit to nestle the wide flat green of the par 3 third, hard against a new and purpose built, three foot tall stone fence. It guards the left and rear of a large rectangular green. Its effect on play is not as marked as one might expect, as there is plenty of bail-out short and right, and the green is very large. The wall is a penalty somewhere between sand and water in severity, with those missing long or left still able to secure a par or bogey. Yet, this hole provides as great a lesson as any, that the individual, quirky features found on the game's oldest courses, can only be mimicked with peril.

The first par 5 of the day is the fourth hole, and at 517 metres from the championship tees, its name "long" is apt if somewhat unimaginative. This genuine three shot hole runs north to south. It punishes the long yet errant hitter with bunkering at the left and right sides of the landing zone, with minimal offset. A central fairway bunker is thoughtfully placed in the second shot landing zone, demanding more than a modicum of thought. Those aiming well left of the trap with their second will find the green slopes away from them, albeit gently. Two facing traps found at the left side of the green must also be cleared from this side. Take the central fairway bunker on and win, with a long, accurate second shot, and the approach is far less complicated.

Central fairway bunkering is again thoughtfully executed on the 5th hole. With the aid of a prevailing breeze, one may aim a drive down the left side of this south to north par 4, to a narrow slither of fairway left of the central hazard. The green complex is far more receptive to an approach from the left side. Drive to the right and a green in regulation is far less likely. The 5th green complex is thoughtfully bunkered, and boasts good levels of internal movement.

The easterly running 418 metre par 4 sixth is the toughest hole on the course. By now, the tranquillity of the opening hole has long passed, with three of the five toughest holes encountered in the first hour of play. Small and sparingly used left side traps adorn the sixth fairway, suggesting that this is the optimum position from which to approach the green. From there, a long fade can be played around a broad yet shallow pair of facing bunker to the expansive two-tiered green beyond. I suspect a front pin is best approached with a low running approach, accurately threaded between two green front bunkers. With an easterly wind somewhat uncommon in these parts, the sixth hole will usually play long. Prevailing northerly and southerly winds will act as appreciable crosswinds, and the parallel fairways of holes 2 & 7 provide some respite for errant tee shots.

The seventh hole is somewhat lacklustre, and one of several holes between 330 and 380 metres, demanding little more than two straight shots. Play here is somewhat uninspiring. Inexplicably, fairway bunkering belligerently guards the unappealing left side of the fairway. The desirable spot from which to approach the green is the right, and yet, it is wide and easily accessible. Admittedly the front left quadrant of the 7th green is well bunkered, placing a premium on accurate iron play to those tacking a left-side (medal) hole location.

The second opportunity for a hole in one arrives in the form of 170 metre par 3 eighth hole. A centrally positioned bunker 20 or so metres short of the green complex could deceive those on the tee into underclubbing. Play is directed towards a curvy green, which is deep yet narrow and bunkered on both sides. Into a strong prevailing southerly, many members will need to pull a club of considerable length to reach the putting surface.

Artfully Routed

The par 5 ninth is artfully routed with water running down the entire left side of the hole. It asks golfers to bite off as much as they dare with their tee shot. Those playing Sandhurst can either thread a long drive down the left side of the hole, or fade a ball to the expansive right side of the fairway. The more aggressive play down the left appreciably shortens the second shot. It can be aimed at a bunker complex on the left edge of the fairway, unreachable for most club golfers. More water is to be found approaching the green, with a small canal hard against the front edge of the putting surface. Although only several metres wide, it will no doubt claim its fair share of balls, much as similar bodies of water do, on the home hole at [url=www.iseekgolf.com/coursereviews/review.php?cr_id=18]Sanctuary Lakes[/url], and the third at Carnoustie.

The 10th hole was one which appeared to have changed considerably when thinking back to my site visit prior to course opening. At 375 metres, this slight dog-leg left boasts fairway bunkering on the inside of the hole. An expansive and unbunkered right half of the fairway reduces the chance of balls meeting windows of houses built near the inside of the dogleg. Unfortunately, it also sees the hole almost devoid of strategy. The right side provides the easiest approach to this green complex, which is bunkered at its left. If only the traps were on the right of the putting surface and the premium was placed on nearing the bunkers on the left side of the fairway, this hole would be so much more.

The 11th is another par 5, a whisker short of the 500 metre mark. In a theme that is replicated several times throughout the course, parallel fairways appear undivided, with broad expanses of fairway grasses melding together quite neatly. In the case of the 11th, the player on the tee is literally begged to smash a drive as far as he can down the left, along the parallel 12th fairway, free from the encumbrance of any rough or sand traps for 300-odd metres. The hole provides a number of different routes to the green. Nearing the 11th green, one must negotiate a series of thoughtfully placed hazards, and safely hit on to the double green. This surface is used for the 11th and 17th holes, and is a safe if somewhat uninspiring example of this design feature.

In much the same mould as the 7th & 10th, the 12th is another long hole boasting a high index (No. 2) where the golfer is asked to play two long straight shots to a relatively flat green, with little inspiration to be found between tee and cup.

The par 3 13th is the shortest hole on the course and measures 137 metres from the plates. It is at this time where the accompanying housing development is at its most visible. It has to be said that construction rarely encroaches upon the course, yet the owners of the house immediately behind the green have something to answer for, with their cream rendered home appearing markedly out of character with others around it, and seemingly in conflict with the building code prevalent at the site. Back to play, the 13th hole is simple enough, and the kidney shaped green provides a little interest with a small degree of internal movement at the posterior half of the putting surface. The most pertinent factor on this hole will doubt be wind strength, especially when playing lofted clubs from the tee.

Favourite Hole

The 14th hole was my pick of the bunch. At 321 metres from the championship tee, and 277 metres from the members' tee, this hole provides a deal of risk and reward rarely encountered on Thomson's designs. A diagonally positioned triumvirate of bunkers, on a direct line between tee and green runs away from the putting surface, and towards a large landing zone to the golfer's left. One may conservatively play towards this expanse of fairway, short and well left of the traps, and off the direct line to the flag. This play will yield a wedge or nine iron approach to a putting surface which is slightly off camber. One may alternatively blaze away on the direct line to the green, negotiating the triple pack of bunkers. Clearing these obstacles sees a small flick with a lob wedge and a definite birdie chance.

The final par 3 of the day is the 15th, and at 178 metres, was a little too similar in yardage to the 3rd & 8th for my liking. Perhaps this fact was compounded by the routing of the 15th hole, which is parallel to the 3rd, and of almost identical length.

The chance to pick up a shot lies in wait at the 16th hole, which is 300 metres from the medal tees and 320 from the championship plates. The driver landing zone is quite narrow with a solitary right fairway trap pinching the fairway in at 240 metres. Another two-tiered green awaits, with the only real difficulty being that of locating pin position, on a putting surface almost 40 metres deep. The penultimate hole is a par 5 of 528 metres, where yet another central bunker awaits for those straight tee shots, between 225 metres and 240metres from the tee. Apart from this hazard the path from fairway to the left side of the shared green is relatively straightforward.

The final hole is a slight dogleg left, where the golfer is again asked to bite off as much as they feel comfortable. Threading a long drive over the water's edge, and left side fairway traps yields a more desirable angle of attack to the green. Bailing to the right half of the fairway sees little risk, but a more demanding approach. Another rectangular green is used to finish the hole, with two tiers again employed, the higher half at the putting surface's rear.

Pleasantly Surprised

It is difficult to believe that a barren, flat, clay-based site, which is a component of a property development, could yield a course which is superior to those built by the same company on well-financed, undulating, sandy, coastal sites. Yet I suspect those who play Sandhurst will enjoy it more than they enjoy [url=www.iseekgolf.com/coursereviews/review.php?cr_id=19]Moonah Links Open[/url] or The National (Ocean). Sure, the central bunker theme is repeatedly employed. One could also grow tired of approaching two-tiered greens, higher at the back, with tiers separated by a uniform ridge, and each tier boasting relatively little internal movement. Having said that, green structures were neither overstated nor horrendously tilted. The change in bunker shapes and aesthetics was a welcome sign at Sandhurst. I was also most pleased to see the designers employ fairway traps of modest depth, allowing the golfer to chance their arm and attempt reaching the green with an heroic sand save when in hazards 120 -160m from the putting surface.

Sandhurst proved more interesting that I suspected it would. The course itself was uninspiring in parts, but it offered some fun in others. Those who visit the course will no doubt enjoy having a crack at the first green if they warm up properly beforehand. The 5th, 9th & 14th holes will also prove fun. The routing is a little strange, with the two shortest par fours found deep in the round (holes 14 and 16) and with one shot holes found prior to each. With a plethora of longer holes on the front, most of which are far more difficult, the nines are somewhat unbalanced.

The course had seen a reasonable amount of rain in the days leading up to my visit, and is only just over one year old. The pro shop staff reported that the course was a little soggy in parts, yet I didn't encounter so much as a hint of a puddle on my way around. Whilst certainly well cared for, the course will likely face drainage issues in times ahead, given it's subsoil type. The new turf, covering recently installed fingers of supplementary drainage pipe, seems to confirm this.

When Jack Nicklaus used the term 'a good members course' years ago, we reeled in horror when he applied it to Royal Melbourne. The term does however aptly describe Sandhurst. While it never reaches dizzying heights, the course will no doubt provide hours of fun for its members and residents. It may also provide Peter Thomson with five minutes of respite from those who have criticised his designs in the last few years.