Brookwater Golf Club By Rob Ferris Rob Nicholls pulled his ball from the cup at the 18th hole and laughed. Among the lengthening shadows of the new clubhouse, Brookwater Golf Club’s head teaching professional had just tapped in for a regulation par four at the 396-metre closing hole. And the irony had not escaped him. Four hours earlier, as I had stepped up to the “tips” at the 1st hole ready to unleash my driver, Nicholls had suggested: “If you haven’t played here before we should go easy on you and play from the gold tees (6,089 metres). “A lot of people make the mistake of playing from the black tees (6,505 metres) first time, hit driver on every hole, lose a dozen balls, and leave saying ‘this course is too difficult’. It’s not if you play it properly.” Upon reflection, I can only fathom that the golfing Gods were dining on humble pie as they looked down on the acclaimed Greg Norman/Bob Harrison-designed layout, 30 minutes’ drive south-west of Brisbane, that day. Eighteen holes later, Nicholls, who has shot 69 at Brookwater, had carded another personal milestone – his worst score, that is. “And that was going easy,” Nicholls said, with more than a hint of sarcasm as he tallied up our scores. TRAVEL SPECIAL: Goin’ Troppo The Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest millions of years in the making combine to make Tropical North Queensland one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations. But what are its golf courses like? BRENDAN JAMES investigates. Courses featured: Paradise Palms Cairns Golf Club Novotel Palm Cove The Links Port Douglas Mirage Country Club Archived Reviews: The New Royal Sydney Rich River Sanctuary Lakes Horizons Laguna Whitsundays Moonah Links - Legends Course Noosa Springs Riverside Oaks Shellharbour