As I get to the practice ground its great to see a group of youngsters all learning the game from one of the resident professionals here and the practice facilities are superb and after a few shots to loosen up the muscles we are off to play what is known as the Short course which is basically a par 3 course.
Stepping onto the first tee I can already see this is going to be no ordinary par 3 course with a tee here and a green cut there. No this hole could be a signature hole on a lot of 18-hole courses. Played from an elevated tee to a sculptured green protected by a deep white-sanded bunker. The 2nd goes a step further with an infinity green with the lake as its backdrop, it starts to feel like playing all my dream par 3s on one course, the greens are fast and true and what you would expect from any top golf course.
The course just keeps on giving one great par 3 follows another it truly is a wonderful course and my two playing partners agree we could happily play this course every day, its everything you want great designed holes that look fantastic but most of all, that are fun to play.
We are playing the 7th hole and its another wonderful hole but all eyes are on the 8th this par 3 plays across the lake and at 185-yards it is a jaw droopingly spectacularly designed golf hole. The thought that Robert Trent Jones has put into this course just shows what can be done with the right piece of land and a great course designer.
All the tees are elevated so you can get a good look at the green which is something I have always been an advocate of, we all want to see our ball roll in the cup if we happen to hole in one.
Unfortunately we have limited time as we are due on the Lakes course but our final hole the 15th plays in the opposite direction to the 8th going back across the lake, it is another stunning hole and as we drive past the 16th which runs along the lake, its with a slightly heavy heart that we didn’t get to play the rest.
Believe me you need to play this course and the great thing is they have teeing options for all abilities and if you take your children you will all have a wonderful time. If this is your start to a week’s golf on the RTJ Golf Trail, it has to be the best warm up course you will ever play.
Top 12th Green. Above: The 2nd green, looking down the 13th and 15th back across the lake
