Just played Bonville - wow!

[Chanceman]

Driving back from Qld, stopped in at Bonville for an overnight stay and a hit. All I can say is that I cant wait to go back. This is a brilliant course and totally Australian in character with its epic gum trees lining every fairway. Superb greens and some Augusta-like bunkers and water hazards. I might try to arrange a golf trip up there but its hard to access being 3 or 4 hours drive from Brisbane and more from Sydney.. So does anyone have ideas re a good itinerary with other courses? I thought maybe start at Newcastle and play around there then head up to Coffs, where Bonville is, playng any good courses en route.

[Old mate]

Gday. Pacific Dunes while near Newcastle- awesome ‘Aussie’ coastal scrub front 9. More Gold Coast resort back 9.

Hawks Nest- hidden beachside gem.

Tuncurry- Cracking course. Don’t let the crap road in and dodgy clubhouse deceive you. I think it is the best course from pacific dunes to the Gold Coast. Bonville argueably better but it is a $140 per round resort course.

Port Macquarie- great course. How it’s slope rating is 126 is a mystery? Much tougher but fun. Give way to the koalas.

Hope this helps.

 

[Maton12]

Horizons at Port Stephens is a great resort course slowly returning to its former glory

[Chanceman]

Thanks Lads, so its - Newcastle, Pacific Dunes, Horizons, Hawks Nest, Port Macquarie, Bonville - a very nice week of golf. We might just wait until the bushfires are well behind us - it must be terrible up there at the moment.

[Old mate]

If I had to choose between Tuncurry and Hawks Nest I would play Tuncurry. One of the best examples of the Aussie coastal bush courses (if you know what I mean).

[benno_r]

I am glad you liked Bonville, but I found it to be a pretty average track. Of course it had some nice holes, but also a few clangers. Conditions were ordinary when we played it - bare tee boxes on at least 6 holes, and the greens were shaggy and slow.

 

I wouldn't be any any hurry to go back, I prefered Coffs Harbour GC much more.

[freowho]

I agree. Bonville is very superficial. Takes a nice photo but the golf being offered is ordinary. Having to hit in the right rough to finish in the left rough is poor design. Brookwater is on a similar terrible piece of land. Tuncurry is a much more enjoyable course.

[Chanceman]

Well there you go, I must have simple tastes. But I thoroughly enjoyed the experience out there by myself.