Newcastle Golf Club

Magazine Ratings

This was the second game from my weekend away to the Central Coast with my son. Having played Pacific Dunes Golf Club the day before in pouring rain, I was glad to see it was a bright sun shiny day.  Newcastle is one of the courses I had been looking forward to playing, with a few people I have great respect for discussing its design aspects.

Entrance to Newcastle Golf Club in Fern Bay NSW

Newcastle Golf course was developed in two stages.  The original nine holes being designed by Fred Papplewell Snr in 1915, with the original players travelling by chartered ferry from Newcastle.

Clubhouse at Newcastle Golf Club

In 1937 Eric Apperly (designer of NSW GC) designed the new course with seven of the original holes.  Apperly’s design is quite distinct from the original holes and is reminiscent to some found at NSW GC. The original holes which were incorporated into the new design are 1, 2, 10, 13, 14, 17 & 18.

Course map of Newcastle Golf Club

The course is built close to the sea and is quite open to the conditions (I have been told).  It certainly has the feel of such a course with its vegetation and sand being found exposed in quite a few places.

Newcastle Golf Club Scorecard

Very unique to Newcastle though is the fact that it is based on undulating sand dunes, yet it has been carved out of a forest of eucalypts and angophoras, instead of tea tree, which is what is usually found on such courses.

Hole 1 – 376 meter par 4

We start with two of the original holes. This longer par 4 takes us over some rolling hills eventually reaching the green, which sits on top of a hill. The hole plays fairly straight from tee to green.

Hole 2 – 361 meter par 4

Playing back towards the clubhouse, the second is a medium length par 4 with a slight dogleg to the right. Playing over a hazard and to a hill from the tee, the ball will gain some distance if you can carry the hill.

Clubhouse overlooks the 2nd green

Approaching the second green with possibly be carrying a small gully or up a slope, if long enough. The green is heavily bunkered on all sides.

Hole 3 – 217 meter par 3

Next is the hardest and longest par 3 on the course. In all honesty, I am not usually a big fan of such long par 3 holes, but the third is a slight exception.  At 217 meters in length, the one great aspect is that this hole is quite open, which it really needs to be at this length.  It also is a down hill shot, which makes it play slightly shorter.

Looking back from the 3rd green

Anything right from the tee will find trouble. The green is surrounded by bunkers, with the exception of the front right. There is plenty of fairway for anything short, to make an approach. This had been the start of the six holes which I really enjoyed playing at the course.

Hole 4 – 414 meter par 5

Extremely short for a par 5 at 414 meters, this is ranked as the easiest hole on the course. Dubious about the distance, this hole can cause issues making par difficult. Tree lined on either side, the tee is actually slightly off set from the fairway, bringing the right hand trees into play.

Numerous traps can catch the drive down the 4th fairway

Six bunkers in the middle of the fairway are in play from the tee. It is best to play to the narrow left side of the fairway or lay up short, enabling you to make a play at the green, which sits on top of a hill. So my dubiousness disappeared when I saw how strategic this hole can be. No guarantee of birdie or even par, considering how short the hole is.

Hole 5 – 368 meter par 4

A blind tee shot on this medium length par 4, play is to/over a saddle in the fairway. With thick trees lining either side, you need to keep on the shorter stuff to complete the hole. There is a slight dogleg to the left.

Large drop away from 5th fairway to the green

If you can carry the hill from the tee, a lot of distance can be gained. Playing to the right of the fairway will allow for the most run down the hill. If not you could be playing from a down slope for the second shot.

Looking back from the 5th green

The green is slightly raised with bunkers on either side, with the surrounds repelling any ball not quite accurate. Looking back you can appreciate the design, with small mounds and the slopes becoming evident. Favourite hole on the course and one of the best in NSW.

Hole 6 – 367 meter par 4

This was my second pick of the holes for the day. Playing around a steeply sloping hill, there was great risk and reward from the tee. Playing close to the tree line gives the best angle to be gained for the second. It also allows for the most run leaving a shorter shot. Safety is found to the right, but extends the length of the second shot. Not carrying the hill will see the ball shoot right also.

Large uphill shot to the 6th green with two traps

Almost guaranteed of having an awkward stance on this hole, the approach is up a steep hill, making club selection critical. Anything short will be repelled back down the hill or into the deep bunkers.

Looking back at the undulations from the 6th green

I quite enjoyed looking back over this hole and the great design. If time had allowed I could have sat here for hours watching the following groups on how they played the hole.

Hole 7 – 148 meter par 3

A stark contrast to the third hole, the seventh is the shortest and easiest par 3 on the course. From the tee this hole looks good. Play is down hill to a raised green with a lot of sandy waste in between.

The 7th green is protected by a couple of traps

The target is quite small, with most shots not hitting the flat surface potentially running away.  Two traps protect most of the front of this angled green, leaving a portion to the left for any mishits. Good mid length par 3 which is appealing to the eye and a good test for the golfer.

Hole 8 – 325 meter par 4

A risk reward hole, the shortest par 4 by mere 1 meter, is a dogleg to the right. Taking on too much will lead to tree trouble but shorten the second shot. Playing to the left will make the hole longer but can open up the green a little.

Anything short will repel down the hill of the 8th green

Playing the right side of the fairway is shorter, but funnels away into the rough. This brings the bunker into play in front of the green.

Hole 9 – 473 meter par 5

Finishing off the front nine, from the tee you play up a large hill.  Having a dogleg to the right, only long hitters will carry the bunker on the right, trying to shorten the hole, but also leaving a good angle into the green.

Carry the gully to reach the 9th green

The second shot will be over, or more than likely into, one of two gullies leading up to this green. A fairway trap is located right, with another much closer to the green on the left. There is a small false front to navigate when reaching the green.

Hole markers and wildlife found at Newcastle Golf Club

There is plenty of native fauna to be found throughout the course, including bearded dragons, wallabies and kookaburras.

Hole 10 – 485 meter par 5

To start the back nine, we are faced with the hardest of the par 5 holes, which is also the longest. Carry some sandy areas to reach the fairway, which is a blind shot from the tee. Most people will carry the first hill, with the safest line along the left.

A small opening allows a shot to be run into the 10th green

There are a few smaller hills to meander over on the way to the green, the fairway is generally sloping left to right, potentially bringing a large tree into play with the approach to the green. Bunkers surround the putting surface, although it does cater for a ball to be run in through the front via a small avenue.

Hole 11 – 326 meter par 4

Hitting off on one of the shortest and easiest par 4 at Newcastle, it almost feels like playing into an amphitheater. From the tee the hole looks enclosed, with trees quite narrow at the tee, then opening up slightly as the run toward the green on either side. As deceiving as it looks from the tee, the landing area is quite generous.

Approach shot to the 11th green

Play is all down hill from the tee, with gentle slopes found along the way. One trap is located short of the green, leaving a long approach shot, with a further three on either side of the putting surface. The green is slightly elevated, ensuring the right distance must be hit to land the ball and remain on the green.

Hole 12 – 173 meter par 3

A medium length par 3 is next, well protected by numerous bunkers around the 12th green. Everything slopes from the right on this hole. With a small putting area to hit, the back portion slopes away from the player.

Hole 13 – 445 meter par 5

Playing from an elevated tee, you must carry trees to reach the 13th fairway. This is a mid length par 5 with the main trouble being trees for very errant tee shots.

Looking back from the 13th green

Playing fairly flat on the way to the putting green, this was probably one of the least memorable holes on the course.

Hole 14 – 391 meter par 4

Getting to the longest par 4 at Newcastle, the hole plays with a slight bend to the right. There is a small carry to reach the fairway, which has numerous undulations as we make our way to the green.

Approach to the fairly flat 14th green

The green is almost level with the fairway with some shallow bunkers either side. This is one in which there are many ways to play depending on the conditions.

Hole 15 – 382 meter par 4

With a blind tee shot up a step incline, it is a bit of a guess on where to hit. Once at the top of the hill the rest of the hole seems fairly flat, although it really isn’t with some rolling undulations found heading towards the green. Danger exists to the right from the tee with a large group of trees, making it difficult to reach the green if found.

Playing left is required if the pin is close to the bunker on the 15th green

With the fairway sloping to the right, it is possible to run the ball on to the green if the ball is slightly left. Traps are found either side of this slightly raised green.

Hole 16 – 212 meter par 3

Starting the run back home was another long par 3. This probably plays longer than the 3rd, at the tee is not elevated. Hitting over some wild grass, the hole slightly slopes away from the tee.

View into the 16th green

A bunker is located short left, helping to deceive the distance, although we know the hole is damn long. A large green awaits, although it is critical to try and be in the right portion, otherwise you may have one of the longest putts for the day.

Hole 17 – 385 meter par 4

The penultimate hole is hardest on the course as well as the longest par 4. Playing from an elevated tee, there is a carry to reach the fairway. A small water hazard runs across the width of the fairway around fifty meters out. With a wide fairway there is plenty of room to land the ball. On my day of play the fairway was water logged, which made the hole play a lot longer.

Distance is critical to reach the 17th green

From the flat fairway, you play to an elevated green with quite a big false front. Traps located at the front guard the entrance to a green with gentle slopes.

Looking over a bunker to the 17th green

I liked the bunkers and green structure, as well as the view from the tee, just seemed to be missing something in the middle. Not sure if the fairway is a flood plane or requirement to be dead flat, but some small slopes would make it much more appealing, but probably a lot harder also at its current distance.

Hole 18 – 352 meter par 4

Finighing the round, a forced carry is required over scrub to reach the fairway. With a slight bend to the right off the tee, the fairway hides some small gullies along the way.

Carry a gully to the 18th green

Reaching the last plateau of the 18th fairway, leaves one last carry over a small channel to overcome to find the putting surface. This green is built into a hill, allowing the ball to run back in for rear pin positions. Nice finishing hole for a course which was a big surprise, well not fully as I had been told about some of its beauty.

In summary, this was a fantastic course to play. I cannot believe this course is not discussed a lot more than it is and can be truly classed as a hidden gem. There is a good amount of distance change for hole types, although they almost appear to be clustered together at times. A good change in both direction of hole and shaping, ensure that the elements can play a part. I must confess though that holes 3 to 10 were the best run on the course. The routing from 4 to 9 seem very natural with the surrounds and could quite easily compete with any other top club in the country, including the Sandbelt clubs.

Condition of the course was predominantly good, although a few holes on the back nine did encounter some water logged areas. This was not helped by the fact quite a lot of rain had fallen the previous day.

Overall it was a great experience playing Newcastle Golf Club.  It is a course which potentially could figure slightly higher in the top 100 rankings. I look forward to returning one day, not only is it a well designed course, but is a great price to play for visitors.

How to play Newcastle Golf Club:

1. Be a members guest
2. Be a member of a golf club with official handicap

This is a private course, which allows golfers who are members of other clubs to play. There are limited tee times available which you should contact the golf club to get availability.