Spring Valley Golf Club
Melbourne, VIC | User Rating:
(3.5) | Add A Review
The term “Hidden Jewel” was first used by renowned golf course critic, Tom Ramsay to describe the Spring Valley Golf Course.
Located in the heart of the Melbourne sandbelt, Spring Valley is a fine example of the work of Vern Morcom the son of Mick, the famous constructor who put all of Alister Mackenzie’s work on the ground in Melbourne.
For those who relish the topography at Royal Melbourne they will find Spring Valley to be a flatter course much like Kingston Heath which is just down the road. Morcom crafted some of his finest bunkers and greens here. Ben Crenshaw, himself, is an admirer of Morcom’s work at Spring Valley and made a special trip to see the course and to study his work. The holes demand well shaped shots from the tees and the irons to the flags must be played with precision.
Spring Valley is what would be referred to as a traditional course. That is something very much back in fashion and a characteristic to be admired.
1. Casablanca18 | Rated
|
22 Sep 2010
|
Add A Review
Spring Valley Golf Club is THE most underrated course in Australia and a true, quality sandbelt course.
I played at Spring Valley in the death of winter (for $35) with a couple of members that I met on the first tee and I have never been more impressed with a course. Heavy overnight rainfall showed no sign on the course besides one fairway bunker on the 9th which was surrounded by groundstaff tending to it prior to my 7:56am tee time.
The couch fairways were obviously dormant as it was August but were firm, short and pristine.
The condition of the course cannot be faulted and from previous reviews it is no such complaint. It is a standout compared to any course on the sandbelt.
The other standouts, would be the bunkering and greens. Shapely and inventive bunkering to the highest standard and greens that were fast and true.
The par 71 layout gives players opportunities to score on short par 5’s but that is quickly matched with long par 4’s some requiring mid-long irons for big hitters.
I think the only general improvements would be to shape fairways a little more. From what I gather the course has been member-proofed to make it more accommodating for the older players. I can imagine this course playing 3-4 shots harder from back tee’s and when the wind is up.
But there really is little to fault – including "the smell". I was apparently there on a bad day and I never even noticed it.
A really great experience and makes me review my membership to a surrounding sandbelt course.
PROS
Cons