Bonville Golf Resort

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I’ve thought about making the trip to Bonville Golf Resort for a few years now. Known as the Augusta National of Australia, why wouldn’t you be keen to play there. Finally I committed myself in making the journey. Originally I had my good friend Joe coming along, but he had to pull out at the last moment, so it was a trip I would be making alone. Lucky I like my own company.

Entrance to  Bonville Golf Resort

With time being tight, I decided staying at the resort was the best option (only travelling up for the weekend). I found that there was no Friday accommodation available, so the resort was good enough to waive their usual policy of minimum two night stay for weekends. They package golf, accommodation and breakfast into the fee. The staff were very friendly when booking, which I must commend extended to my whole stay. Great to see that good customer service exists somewhere.

Clubhouse at Bonville Golf Resort

As I was now flying in the Saturday morning and room not available, I was glad to find use of the members locker area, so I could change before the game. Reception were also helpful in minding my luggage until the room became available. Pity I didn’t get a chance to utilise the spa.

Great facilities in the Locker room – the spa looks so tempting

I was a bit apprehensive and not knowing what to expect of the course, as I have heard numerous times the greens can be hit or miss, depending upon the weather. Luckily there had been no rain for a few weeks leading up and it was perfect the weekend I went, sunny and 25 degrees. My biggest issue was dealing with the grain of the greens, most courses I play don’t have Bermuda grass so takes a little adjustment reading and allowing for the grain.

Map of Bonville Golf Course

Usually I like to walk a course as you get to appreciate the architecture and design, but Bonville is a compulsory cart course, due to the distance required for travel between some tees. I had no real appreciation of this until I played the course. Some holes it maybe on a hundred meters or so, but some stretch to what feels like a kilometer. If you had the option to walk I dread to think how long some rounds would take.

Scorecard for Bonville Golf Resort

Bonville Golf Resort as mentioned earlier, is known as the Augusta of Australia. The owner requested that their was some resemblance to the course. I can see some resemblance, but the main similarity is the tall trees located on the property as well as some of the elevation changes. Trying to replicate one of Mackenzie’s greatest works would be hard pressed. Have a look at my Augusta National Golf Club review and make up your own mind.

Hole 1 – 358 meter par 4

Looking down the first I was blown away by the scenery. You start to get perspective of how big the trees are lining the fairway. This mid length par 4 has a dogleg to the right. Playing down hill a creek runs along the right side of the fairway, which then crosses in front of the green. The fairway is large enough to hopefully keep yourself out of trouble for the first shot.

Approach to the 1st green

Playing to the first green is slightly up-hill with a carry across the creek. The green slopes away at the front so don’t be short. There is also a deep trap to the left of the putting surface.

Looking back from the first green

The first has some gentle contours, sloping predominantly from the rear back to the front. This is a tough hole to start on being the second hardest on the course so if you made par, feel good about yourself.

Hole 2 – 331 meter par 4

Probably one of the most re-known tee shots on the course, the second is played from an elevated tee to an area enclosed by large trees. It is only when you see someone in front that you get a full perspective of how tall they actually are. This hole is a mid length par 4 which doglegs to the right.

Looking back from the 2nd green

The approach to the green is up a steep hill. One solitary bunker is located to the front-left of the green. It was here that I noticed that there was something wrong with the green surface and part of the surrounds. Either it was diseased or had been expanded and still not grown in properly. I was hoping this would not be a regular thing throughout the course.

Hole 3 – 174 meter par 3

The first of the long par 3 holes, the third is a downhill shot to a green where the ground all slopes from the right, down to the trees located left. A slightly intimidating tee shot due to the encroaching trees, the ideal miss would be to the right, but a large bunker blocks the way to the green.

Looking down at the 3rd green

The green has some gentle slopes to deal with, but the main issue is reading the grain correctly. Being from down south I am not used to playing Bermuda grass so took a little bit putting into and across the grain.

Hole 4 – 470 meter par 5

Playing over a gully to a saddle in the fairway, this par 5 doglegs to the left. The ball will roll towards the middle due to the fairway slopes, but right is the best side to be.

The fourth fairway

Once on the fairway the next shot is down hill to the green. A large valley is found between the two segments of the fairway, which is not a place to end up. Pick you place on the fairway to layup if not confident.

Approach to the fourth green

This part of the fairway reminded me of the 10th fairway at Augusta. Having a fairway bunker raised short of the green. In Augusta Nationals case, this was due to moving the green back further from the original position. The green complex has two bunkers to the right and slopes generally to the left.

Hole 5 – 140 meter par 3

My least favourite hole on the course, which is also the easiest. The small mounds located in front of this mid length par 3 look very artificial and out of place. Those near the green look fine, but the extra short of the green not so much. This would be better suited to having a gentle slope running from the right of the fairway.

Looking back from the 5th green

The green has a false front rising to the middle of the green, where it plateaus to the rear. Left and rear of the surrounds slope away dramatically leaving a difficult chip.

Hole 6 – 329 meter par 4

A narrow part 4 playing straight all the way to the green. From the tee we play over a small gully to a fairway rising up a hill. Long hitters will be able to carry the hill and run over the other side. This is a very narrow fairway, with anything slightly off line finding trouble in dense trees.

Looking back from the 6th green

A large collection area is found short of the green for any shot coming up short. This leaves a step shot up the hill to the green surface. One bunker is located left whilst another two are found on the right.

Hole 7 – 460 meter par 5

Another hole playing straight to the green. This medium length par 5 plays between trees most of the way to the green. There is a wide fairway to hit, which slopes to the right. Two fairway bunkers are located on the right, which are in play for long hitters.

The fairway bunkers on the 7th

Decision time on whether you play at the green or lay up. Caution with the layup as a waterway runs across the fairway, located in a gully before the green.

A view up to the 7th green

The green is protected by two bunkers to the right, with another sitting above the green to the right. The putting surface is quite long but not very wide. The green rises towards the rear with a slight tier found.

Hole 8 – 176 meter par 3

The longest and hardest par 3 on the course, the eighth brings us back to the clubhouse. From the tee you can order from the bar to help speed up play. Playing over a small water body in a gully, the opposite side rises up a large hill towards the green.

Looking at the 8th green from the 9th hole

From the green the ground slopes away at the front and from the right. Left of the green finds trouble in trees and the cart path. The putting surface is not overly large for such a long hole.

Hole 9 – 320 meter par 4

Starting to play away from the clubhouse again, this shortish par 4 plays down hill for the tee shot. Three bunkers cross the fairway and are reachable. The fairway slopes to the right on this hole.

Looking back from the 9th green

To reach the green we have an up-hill shot. One large bunker is located to the right and another at the rear. A gentle slope can be found on the putting surface.

Hole 10 – 444 meters par 5

Playing the shortest par 5 on the course, this is by far the easiest. The hole plays straight but has three islands to traverse before reaching the green. From the tee we must carry a small creek near the tee, but layup before the next water body, which is 254 meters from the tee.

Approach to the 10th green

The big decision, take on the risk of reaching the green or play it safe to the next island. From the edge of the first island is a 182 meter carry to the green, so use that with your decision making. More water is found if you are short of the green, with the slope feeding back towards the water.

Looking back from the 10th green

The green is not overly big, making the risk even greater when trying to make it in two. A large trap is located to the right, which is mainly in play trying to reach in two shots. Having such varied strategies available makes this an interesting hole to me.

Hole 11 – 150 meter par 3

A medium length par 3 which must carry a valley from the tee. Trees line either side of the fairway, but there is some brilliant colour to be seen with the purple leaves of the shrub on the left. There is a large trap to the right to avoid.

Looking back from the 11th green

Playing to the left allows the hill beside the green to assist in feeding the ball to the putting surface, if you miss slightly, but this also brings the trees into play.

Hole 12 – 387 meter par 4

The hardest hole on the course. Playing from an elevated tee this long par 4 has a dogleg to the right. Two bunkers are located at the end of the fairway, which will make the approach very difficult. A hole which I considered good yet bad at the same time. There is the risk in trying to cut the corner over the trees. Problem is you don’t know if you make it or not, leading to lost time in looking for the ball. You also don’t know if it went in a hazard.

Lead in to the 12th green

Making the approach to the 12th green via the narrow fairway, you need to avoid the water running down the right side.

Looking back from the 12th green

The green is not overly large and would be even smaller if you had played to the left of the fairway from the tee. The green has water to the right and a bunker to the left.

Hole 13 – 364 meter par 4

Backing up to another long par 4, this hole has a tight fairway and landing zone. Two bunkers sit either side of the fairway.

Look back down the hill from the 13th green

The approach will be up a steep hill to the green. The right side has a large bunker after which there is a long slope away from the green.

Hole 14 – 475 meter par 5

The longest hole on the course, this par 5 plays straight all the way to the green. Landing area from the tee is larger than it appears. Avoid the left side as the fairway falls away into the trees.

Approach to the 14th green

Caution, beware of the distance marker as the 200 meter is incorrect. This only has two bushes which signifies 150 meters so you could end up short.

Looking back from the 14th green

The green has some gentle slopes and is quite long. A bunker either side is the main defense.

Hole 15 – 341 meter par 4

This medium length par 4 doglegs to the right and is almost another island hopping exercise. From the tee a bunker can be reached at the turn. It is also possible to drive through the fairway, so choose you club from the tee wisely. Water runs along this hole at various stages, with the final part being in front of the wide green.

Hole 16 – 366 meter par 4

A mid length par 4 which plays over a gully. From the elevated tee, the target is a narrow fairway. Water is to the left, with the fairway sloping in this direction.

The raised 16th green

Playing up a hill to the slightly raised green, two traps are located at the front. The left side and rear both slope away steeply from the green.

Hole 17 – 137 meter par 3

The penultimate hole has great scenery, just don’t look up at the power lines. This mid length par 3 plays slightly down hill to a green built behind a water hazard and mean’t to resemble the 12th at Augusta National.

The 17th green

Distance is key with rocks and a wooden wall ready to repel anything short. The area to the right of the green is quite wide, allowing for any shots not quite on target to land safely. Two bunkers to the right of the green, one in front and another rear are best avoided.

Hole 18 – 454 meter par 5

A great finishing hole, this par 5 doglegs to the left. From the tee play is over a water hazard to a saddle in the hill. Trees narrow in at this point, but if you hit accurately and long, you can pick up the downslope gaining valuable distance.

Top of the 18th fairway

From the top of the 18th fairway we get a great view of the green and clubhouse behind. You now have the big decision on whether to take on the green or lay up short of the water hazard. Don’t hit too strong as it is all downhill to the water.

One last look back from the 18th Green and the journey is over

This large green is protected by two bunkers at the front. The rear surrounds slope back toward the green helping to funnel the ball back in. Enjoyable way to finish the round.

The fairways on most of the back nine holes seems to be much more tight, than that of the front, which would be my biggest criticism of Bonville, along with the fact I could see that during wet weather the greens would suffer, they were a bit soft on my visit even though there had been no rain during the week. There are definitely more positives to the course, with big varieties in undulations, directional changes, some holes are of similar lengths but other aspects such as down or up slopes help to differentiate. This was definitely a course to treasure in my quest to complete the top 100.

I must not forget to mention the Flooded Gums restaurant.  Awarded one hat by SMH, it is very unique in finding such a good restaurant on a golf course.  Their is a great view out over the 18th hole, only applicable during summer months, whilst the food is of high standard.  A great selection to choose from with an outstanding wine list.  Well worth splashing out for one night.

How to play the course:

Bonville is a resort course open to the public.  Best to contact the Bonville Golf Resort pro shop before attending, but there should be no problem getting a game.