It has been nearly thirty years since the Brisbane region has had
a new high-end golf course, but if what I experienced the first
time I played eighteen holes at the recently opened Brookwater
Golf Club was anything to go by, then the long wait has been well
worth it.
Opened for play on March 16th of this year, the course is yet
another Greg Norman designed facility in South East Queensland
following on from The Grand, The Glades, Pelican Waters.
The course had been an integral component in a long term plan put
to the Ipswich City Council back in the late 80's by the
Brisbane development company, the Mur Group. It was their company
behind the creation of a new town/city in the region to be known
as Springfield.
The course was seen as an essential feature of the project in
order to attract home buyers to the development and had the
additional benefit of helping to alleviate a significant lack of
quality courses in Brisbane. Certainly there had been the likes
of Indooropilly and Royal Queensland but in terms of a
world-class tournament course there was nothing within 50
kilometres of Brisbane.
Brookwater is just 28 minutes from the Brisbane GPO. Sure the
Gold Coast, an hours drive away, had several but for a city such
as Brisbane and its surrounds, which contain such a large golfing
population, they had been relatively starved in terms of quality
facilities.
The South East Queensland climate is conducive to year round golf
played in daytime temperatures that seldom fall below twenty
degrees even in the winter months. There was every reason to
believe therefore that a golf course correctly positioned in
terms of its quality would be well received. Queensland has
produced three of the last four Australian winners of the
world's major golfing events and, has a proud record in
junior golf of late, so it has done well in that regard. The
introduction of high-class golf courses such as Brookwater will,
however, take this to another level again.
Several design companies had been involved in the early stages of
the consent approval process. It was, however, the need to create
a deal that would introduce funding to the golf course, and its
associated residential development, that saw Greg Norman and his
alliance with Medallist Golf Development became involved in the
project in 1998.
Medallist Golf Development is a joint venture between the
McQuarie Bank, one of corporate Australia's makers and
shakers, and Norman's company Great White Shark Enterprises.
This group was able to seal the deal with the Springfield Land
Corporation, or perhaps it was the other way around, and the golf
course construction started in August 2000.
The first impression one gets on arrival at Brookwater is a
lasting one and tells a story, that being the predominance of
tall mature native vegetation which is one of the great features
of the course.
It is visually stunning, perhaps one of the most attractive
courses this writer has seen. As is typical of Greg Norman
designed courses the vistas are dominated by full faced bunkers
that act almost as beacons and guiding lights but at the same
time blend into the natural environment. The bunkering is
dramatic but it also sits so well there appears nothing
artificial about it.
The clubhouse in these early stages is a temporary one, but
sufficient for the initial needs of the course, although demands
from growing numbers on the golf course, corporate days,
residents and ultimately tournament logisitcs will see a new
clubhouse created there within the next eighteen months. The
actual starting date for the construction will be driven to a
large extent by the number of residents that are moving into the
development, as it is they who will provide the greatest source
of business for the additional facilities a new clubhouse will
offer.
The grasses used on the course reflect the environment and the
climate in this almost microclimate of South East Queensland. As
has been the case at Pelican Waters, Tifdwarf is the grass chosen
for the greens. While Tifgreen 328 is the preferred choice for
many of the courses in this region, Tifdwarf is even more heat
and humidity tolerant than its bermuda cousin, a factor important
in the summer months given the valley effect of so many of the
holes here.
It may be that if climatic conditions allowed Norman to use bent
grasses here, his design philosphy for some of the greens may
have been a little different. The degree of contour on several of
the overall smallish greens would have made putting very
difficult on greens running at the speed which can be achieved on
bent greens. Although good stimpmeter readings can be achieved on
Tifdwarf, they are typically not the lightning fast achievable on
bent.
The greens were a little firm when I played them but that is not
unusual in the early stages of a course's existence. Once
settled in the greens will prove more receptive, which will be
important given the small greens and that several potential pin
positions are tucked behind traps and hard to access with firm
greens.
As is the case with my previous reviews I will not go into a
detailed hole-by-hole description but rather select some of the
holes that took my eye the first time I played it in May some six
weeks after opening. As is the case with all golf courses, and
indeed golf holes, their initial intrigue often changes the more
you play them as you appreciate, even more, their respective
subtleties but these are those that stood out to me.
The first, a par 4, was a relatively straightforward tee shot
with a right to left camber from the fairway bunkers right. It
then requires a short to mid iron to a well guarded and raised
green. I say raised but the second shot actually plays slightly
downhill however the area immediately surrounding the green is
below its level leaving an escape from deep bunkers or a tricky
pitch to hopefully save par.
Before I proceed, one of the interesting features of the course
is that whilst the fairways appear narrow from the tee, and
several are, in terms of their landing area they are actually
made wider by the gathering nature the valley effect has on tee
shots.
The second, again a par 4, is a fine golf hole quite reasonable
from the tee but the strategy kicks in with the second where
trees in the middle of the fairway tend to direct traffic either
right or left of them. A long hole at 400 metres, the second has
to be taken in over a lengthy water hazard and low-level scrub
along the right hand side of the fairway.
The third is a bit of light relief after a wake up call at one
and two but only from the tee as the second shot is very
challenging and requires precision. The landing area for the tee
shot is wide but it is important to keep it on top of a ridge
around 100 metres from the tee in order to have the best view and
lie to access the green. The green is long but very narrow with a
bunker right above the green and two large bunkers left. A
difficult up and down for those missing the green. It is one of
those holes that really challenges you with a short iron in hand.
The par 5 4th is another visually exciting golf hole. Bunkers
only 150 metres or so from the tee are more a visual feature than
strategic but the key issue here is to get the tee shot down on
to the flat well beyond those in order to avoid hitting from a
downhill slope across a creek that runs across the fairway. The
elevation fall from the tee to the landing area is something like
10% or 25 metres and again climbing back up to the green a
similar amount. A word of advice or caution here is that with the
third shot, or for the longer hitters the second, if you are not
in a position to access the green, be sure to check the flag
position to allow the best set up for your next.
The 5th is the first of four outstanding par threes on the
course. Downhill and a mid iron. A great looking hole and plays
just as well.
Considering I wasn't planning on doing a hole by hole I have
managed to get a little carried away here but it is that type of
course where hardly a hole is not worthy of a mention. I will,
however, skip across to the back nine and start with the
interesting and perhaps controversial tenth.
The par 4 10th hole is very narrow from tee but once in the
landing area requires a very steep climb with a mid to short iron
to a green with a huge ridge running through the middle. This
could be considered controversial as it probably borders on the
unfair. Having said that, it is kind of fun to have such a green
on any course but perhaps not on a hole that has such a steep
gradient for the second.
The par 5 13th is a beautiful golf hole. Turning right to left
from the tee and measuring 550 metres or close to 600 yards it
feels to me like one of those holes that invites you to hit your
tee shot long and straight. From there it is important to
position your second shot, either left or short of the front
bunker just before the green. This becomes clear when you
consider that the green is one of the smallest around and is
protected by two very pronounced bunkers on the left of the
green.
The 14th is another fine par three only 143 metres and the
shortest hole on the course but again beautifully framed by
bunkers right and left and a contour in the green that feeds most
shots in from the right side.
I just loved the par 3 16th hole. It comes after a run of holes
through forest and the 15th, on which I had reservations and on
which I will expand soon, but when walking onto the tee at
sixteen it is like a breath of fresh air as all of a sudden it
seems that there is plenty of space. The hole does not actually
play that way but it appears that way. A long iron or even a wood
from the back tee to a green guarded by a huge bunker left that
runs down to and into the lake adjacent. A bunker guards the
right also and the hole, to me, felt beautifully balanced.
The 17th is the last of the par fives and the shortest but a very
good one. The tee shot was relatively straight forward but the
strategy really kicks in with the second. A large water body and
area of scrub encroaches from the right some thirty metres short
of the green and creates the narrowest of openings to the a long
and heavily contoured green. It is therefore essential to ensure
that a layup with the second is exactly that in order to leave a
full shot for the third. Also the area just short of the water is
a little downhill and you might end up closer to the water than
you had intended. Long hitters may choose to take on the green
but beware the dangers. The bunkering right and left frame the
green beautifully. This hole like so many of the others just felt
good.
I really enjoyed most holes on the course and the difficulty has
been to limit the amount of holes to discuss. There was one hole
that I did not see as a good fit on the course, the par four
15th. It felt to me like a compromise. I have no doubt that there
were issues, which have resulted in the creation of this hole,
perhaps to do with it's proximity to the adjacent Opossum
Creek. The hole measures some 400 metres but the last eighty
metres or so are all covered in low level scrub. There is no
option for those players who can not reach the green other than
to lay up short of that scrub leaving a third shot of some 100
meters or more. The area leading into the green is squeezed
between the creek left and a ridge right and it feels that way.
The only other hole that did not inspire me was the 12th an
uphill par four but not so much that it was bad hole but perhaps
more that it was not up to the high standard of the others.
Considering the clubhouse is temporary (Update March 2004 - New
$6 million clubhouse opened) and that all facilities are as yet
not in place the standard of service was as you would expect from
a Troon Golf set up. The meet and greet was prompt and
informative, the clubhouse offered you all that you needed in
terms of a place to have a bite to eat and a drink after the
round. The pro shop was reasonably well stocked for the stage the
course is at, there was an informed and informative young guy on
the first tee to get you going and the on course drinks lady was
a regular and pleasant visitor during the course of our round.
I loved this course. It is one of those courses that really
inspires you and despite the fact that I did not play great in my
first try I am keen to get back again as I am sure that it will
present a variety of challenges on every visit. That my opinion
has not been coloured by my less than impressive play on the day
suggests perhaps that the course is bigger and better than an
individuals form.
I see no reason why it will not develop into an outstanding
tournament course and very quickly move into a leading position
amongst Australian courses.
As I have always said and for those that have not heard it from
me before I'll say it again. Don't be a hero if you do
not have the game or the length to play the course from the back
tees. By doing that you are effectively eliminating many of the
challenges the designer was intending to expose you to and you
will emerge defeated not challenged. The design strategies here
are intriguing just make sure that you allow yourself to
experience and enjoy them.
As indicated earlier, the clubhouse facility, despite being
temporary, is ample for the courses requirements at this stage.
There is not a lot more to be said about it other than to accept
the fact that it is a temporary facility. You can buy Brookwater
merchandise, snacks and have a drink in a pleasant environment
overlooking the first tee.
(4.0) | Add A Review
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15 Jun 2009
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18 May 2009
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11 May 2009
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22 Apr 2009
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04 Mar 2009
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09 Oct 2008
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1. bison69 | Rated
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01 Jul 2009
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Played this course last week and i’m suprised it was open as it had taken a lot of water the 3-4 days prior.
As most of the fairways are sloping I tended to find my ball in an inch deep puddle (when it found the fairway) most holes. It is a magnificent course though, very intimidating but spectacular.
I am a 22 marker and made par on the 1st and was thinking that this course isn’t so bad after all, however I was quickly brought back to earth on the 2nd after a 10….
After just about everyone telling me to take plenty of balls I was prepared and had about 20 in my bag, however only lost 2 so was quite pleased.
All in all I would recommend this course to anybody, great scenery, about 14 signature holes, good clubhouse, GPS carts and friendly staff.