Golf!!!2!

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by spetch

Gimmicky like say the back 9 at Drum? Or gimmicky like say Silver Tip? Also I thought about the OGC courses for and early 18 before my meetings, why Bear over Quail?

Bear is a better course. But both are way over priced.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by spetch

Headed to Kelowna for work at the beginning of June. Have some time to probably get a couple rounds in as a single. What two courses should I hit?

Tower Ranch needs to be one of them.

[Manhattanboy]

Problem with Tower is you don’t get rewarded for a good shot. As noted above goofy green designs. Just short and you roll back downhill. A good drive and you still have a blind shot in. The back 9 is weird. 17 and 18 are terrible finishing holes.

[Gord_Wappel]

This...i would do Black Mountain, Harvest, and Gallagher if your sticking to right in Kelowna. Lots of good options within an hour or so (Predator, Salmon Arm, Shuswap National)

Personally not a fan of Tower Ranch or The Rise in Vernon. As others have mentioned, both are gimmicky with a lot of blind shots etc that you need to play several times to not get penalized for good shots that end up being punitive.

Originally Posted by chedder

Black Mountain is a good track just up highway 33.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

What a weird game.

I've played Valley Ridge twice this year - first time about 10 days ago, second time today. Last time it was a bit windy, today it was quite hot in the sun but the greens were slightly softer.

The last time I played, I felt like I couldn't get anything to go right. I was either short or long on approaches, I missed a couple of drives badly (though no penalty strokes), I didn't make basically any putts and had a couple of dumb 3 putts. The punishing holes on the front inflicted their punishment in just the way that the sadist who designed them intended. I left feeling like I'd played pretty poorly and was a little frustrated that the course got the better of me and I didn't make good strategic decisions.

Today, I felt like I was striking everything quite well. I hit a few fat and a few thin but nothing too bad other than my first tee shot, and I recovered from that immediately. I did have some bad luck - a couple of "5% from being amazing" shots kicking into the water for my only two penalty strokes of the day, and a bunch of really good approaches that just didn't get the rolls on the green. But I left pretty happy and satisfied with my play, because I stuck with it and was proud of myself for battling through, generally solid course management, and grinding out a score... the exact same score as the first round.

Weird game.

[Weitz]

Played a fantastic Links course just outside Carnoustie today called Panmure in Scotland. I’ll have to sleep on it but it might just be my favorite course I have ever played. Pure blue sky and shot 81 too so it was a good day all around!

[8sPOT]

This weather has absolutely SUCKED for golf. By this time last year I had around 15-20 rounds already. This year I'm at like 6 or 7 and half of those were miserable (wind, rain, single digit temps). Hope this means less fires and smoke when summer does eventually arrive.

Having said that, I just ordered an electric pushcart so pretty pumped for things being a little easier walking around the course.

I've been a 12 handicap now forever so was hoping to get lots of rounds in early and try to get that sucker down.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

This weather has absolutely SUCKED for golf. By this time last year I had around 15-20 rounds already. This year I'm at like 6 or 7 and half of those were miserable (wind, rain, single digit temps). Hope this means less fires and smoke when summer does eventually arrive.

Having said that, I just ordered an electric pushcart so pretty pumped for things being a little easier walking around the course.

I've been a 12 handicap now forever so was hoping to get lots of rounds in early and try to get that sucker down.

I have also had some miserable rounds! I've barely played, and the few times I have I was freezing. It adds a number of strokes to your round, I think. The ball doesn't go as far, I don't swing as easy and of course it's been windy as well.

[GioforPM]

Yeah, the weather has been bad for my score. I don't swing as well in a jacket, grip as well with cold hands and I generally rush.

Plus I suck.

[Rutuu]

Played Barnbougle - Dunes and Lost Farm two weeks ago. Despite it being the start of fall down here in the Southern Hemisphere, we had perfect (non-links) type weather, 17C highs with lots of sun.

The courses are $165 AUD to play each, with all day options at $210, which is pretty reasonable given their ranks. Like Bandon Dunes, you have to walk, unless you have a medical certificate, then you can get a golf cart / caddy combo to take you out.

Restaurant's are pretty good, as are the accommodation at the course. To get there you fly into Launceston and drive to New Brighton. We rented an Airbnb in New Brighton that covered the 8 in our group comfortably.

Courses themselves: Dunes - this is the original course and a Tom Doak design, so there are a few blind shots. The first run at the course I struggled and was 20 over my handicap. On the second go, you know where to miss and I was able to shoot 2 over my handicap. It was a fun day, but you have to manage your misses constantly, and the wind wasn't blowing. Greens are a fescue and beautiful / true. Fairways are the same, and peel away nicely with your shot. You can putt from a mile off the green and play the rolls, which is a lot of fun. The walk between hole 4 and 5 is spectacular, as is the par 3 hole 7.

Lost Farm: The slightly less visually stunning of the two, the course itself is amazing. A Ben Crenshaw design, and you will notice he edges out Tom Doak numerous times in rankings lists for good reason. The "surprise" of a hazard out of no where doesn't happen at this course, and you can plan your shots from the tee box. The fairways are generous where they need to be, but you have to be in the right place to score well. It was an absolute pleasure to play this course, the kind of feeling that you only get playing the great designs. Fairways are tight, just as at the Dunes, and the greens are fantastic the same as the Dunes. The difference at Lost Farm as they are more sweeping features than rolling, so more playable, while still being challenging.

Hit me with any questions if folks are ever thinking of doing a sandbelt, pennisula, tasmania golf trip as there are so many great courses.

[spetch]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Played Barnbougle - Dunes and Lost Farm two weeks ago. Despite it being the start of fall down here in the Southern Hemisphere, we had perfect (non-links) type weather, 17C highs with lots of sun.

The courses are $165 AUD to play each, with all day options at $210, which is pretty reasonable given their ranks. Like Bandon Dunes, you have to walk, unless you have a medical certificate, then you can get a golf cart / caddy combo to take you out.

Restaurant's are pretty good, as are the accommodation at the course. To get there you fly into Launceston and drive to New Brighton. We rented an Airbnb in New Brighton that covered the 8 in our group comfortably.

Courses themselves: Dunes - this is the original course and a Tom Doak design, so there are a few blind shots. The first run at the course I struggled and was 20 over my handicap. On the second go, you know where to miss and I was able to shoot 2 over my handicap. It was a fun day, but you have to manage your misses constantly, and the wind wasn't blowing. Greens are a fescue and beautiful / true. Fairways are the same, and peel away nicely with your shot. You can putt from a mile off the green and play the rolls, which is a lot of fun. The walk between hole 4 and 5 is spectacular, as is the par 3 hole 7.

Lost Farm: The slightly less visually stunning of the two, the course itself is amazing. A Ben Crenshaw design, and you will notice he edges out Tom Doak numerous times in rankings lists for good reason. The "surprise" of a hazard out of no where doesn't happen at this course, and you can plan your shots from the tee box. The fairways are generous where they need to be, but you have to be in the right place to score well. It was an absolute pleasure to play this course, the kind of feeling that you only get playing the great designs. Fairways are tight, just as at the Dunes, and the greens are fantastic the same as the Dunes. The difference at Lost Farm as they are more sweeping features than rolling, so more playable, while still being challenging.

Hit me with any questions if folks are ever thinking of doing a sandbelt, pennisula, tasmania golf trip as there are so many great courses.

I am headed down that way for a September wedding, playing Moonah (both courses), Dunes and probably St Andrews beach (got to wait to book my teetime for this one).

As this is my first time in Australia, is there anything local wildlife I should be aware of? i know when I do my Myrtle trip, we are usually careful when it comes to the waters edge and looking for balls.