The Illawarra region of New South Wales is renowned for its iron and steel. But it also possesses great natural beauty from the beaches to the hills, which form the scenic backdrop to some quality golf courses.
Strategy is also a key factor when playing the most scenic of Illawarra’s courses – Gerringong Golf Club.
Located between the seaside towns of Gerringong and Gerroa, the course lies on undulating terrain between two headlands and overlooks the beautiful Walkers Beach.
Since the club purchased this land from Kiama Council in 1985 (after leasing the land for a few years) the course has evolved into one of the most enjoyable places to play anywhere on the NSW south coast. Much of that can be attributed to the spectacular views you experience from the opening tee shot to the last putt.
In recent years the quality of the holes and the playing surfaces has improved markedly, which makes a round of golf at Gerringong even more enjoyable. Much of the improvement has come from the conversion of all the greens from Bermuda Tifdwarf to A4 Bentgrass, the rebuilding of many tees and a program of bunker refurbishment.
In my opinion the best trio of holes at Gerringong starts at the 360-metre par-4 3rd hole – a left-to-right dogleg that demands a tee shot to be carried over the edge of a dam before climbing uphill to a green cut into the side of the hill.
The 562-metre par-5 4th hole can be best described as a beautiful beast. The tee is perched high above Walkers Beach and the hole doglegs left-to-right following the arc created by the back of the beach. Thick coastal scrub is all that separates the fairway from the sand. The aforementioned dam on the 3rd hole cuts right across the 4th fairway and, depending on your length from the tee, it is worth considering a lay-up from the tee particularly into a southerly wind. Two more dams lie short of the bunkerless green and only the longest hitters in the game would even contemplate going for this target in two shots, and even then it would have to be with a strong tailwind. I’ve played at Gerringong many times in the past two decades and I have parred this hole once and never birdied it … what a beautiful beast.
The 5th hole – a sharp dogleg right par-4 of 334 metres – leads you away from the beach and up a hill to one of the highest points on the course. Again, the green is terraced into the side of the hill and the view from the back of this green over the course and the ocean is worth the green fee alone.
My last stop on this Illawarra road trip took me away from the sea views and 45 minutes’ drive into the hills and the picturesque Kangaroo Valley Golf and Country Resort, which lies halfway between the coast and the beautiful Southern Highlands.
Originally designed by Jack Newton in the last 1980s, Kangaroo Valley changed owners several times during the ‘90s and with each change, major works were completed on the course until it was extended to 18 holes. Long-time member of the club Philip Mudie was responsible for some significant changes including the relocation of greens and the conversion of the putting surfaces from couch to the fine bentgrass greens to be found there today.
The current owner purchased the site in 1997 after the course had been left vacant for 18 months and 10 years on the layout has never looked or played better.
The 8th – a 352-metre par-4 – is one of Kangaroo Valley’s most challenging and scenic holes. Your tee shot must be played from an elevated tee across a valley to reach the fairway, which sits at a slight right-to-left diagonal. From the fairway, your approach must be played over another valley to reach the smallish, hillside green. Miss the green left here and you will have a long pitch to get back to the putting surface.
WHERE TO PLAY
WOLLONGONG GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $42 (18 holes). www.wollongonggolfclub.com.au
PORT KEMBLA GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $15 (Monday, 18 holes); $25 (Tuesday to Friday); $35 (weekends and public holidays). www.portkemblagolfclub.com.au
THE GRANGE GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $35 (18 holes). www.thegrangegolfclub.com.au
CALDERWOOD VALLEY
Green fees: $22 (weekdays, 18 holes); $28 (weekends and public holidays).
THE LINKS SHELL COVE
Green fees: $1 (Monday, 18 holes walking); $29 (Monday with cart); From $29 to $45 (Tuesday to Friday with cart); From $35 to $75 (Saturday with cart); From $35 to $59 (Sunday with cart). www.linkshellcove.com.au
KIAMA GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $34 (18 holes). www.kiamagolfclub.com.au
JAMBEROO GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $25 (Monday to Wednesday 18 holes); $17 (Thursday and Friday); $27 (weekends and public holidays). jamberoogolf.com.au
GERRINGONG GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $32 (18 holes). www.gerringonggolf.com.au
KANGAROO VALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT
Green fees: $35 (Monday to Thursday 18 holes); $30 (Friday to Sunday). kangaroovalleygolf.com.au
WHERE TO STAY
KANGAROO VALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT
The resort features a variety of cabin and villa style accommodation, overlooking the picturesque golf course.
There is a range of play and stay packages including the Weekend Wonder package that offers four people, two nights’ twin share accommodation, unlimited golf and cart usage, dinner and breakfast from just $445 per person. kangaroovalleygolf.com.au
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