Laid out across 50 hectares of bushland on the shore of beautiful Lake Weyba, Noosa Springs takes you on a gently rolling journey between rainforest pockets, along the edges of lakes and through bloodwood forest, before breaking out into open plains bordered by imposing stands of melaleuca. It was designed by Graham Papworth and opened for play in 1999. A five-minute drive from Hastings St, the cosmopolitan hub of Noosa Heads, it is not hard to see why it has turned into one of Queensland’s most popular golfing destinations.
At 6189 metres from the championship markers, this par-72 Sunshine Coast layout is far from a monster. But it does demand careful attention to strategy and club selection. Papworth makes sure casual players treating themselves to a relaxing holiday round are not intimidated, offering them four sets of tees to choose from. And though water is present on a dozen holes, it is usually possible to tiptoe your way round it without too much difficulty.
Noosa Springs has some stunning holes, especially on the outward nine. The first of these is the 339-metre, par-four 2nd, which borders a national park down the left edge of the fairway. Two staggered fairway traps at 200 and 240 metres from the tee can also pose problems should you misdirect your drive. Heading towards the green, Lake Weyba comes into view, well left of the wide putting surface, which is protected by two bunkers short.
A trio of par-fours – the 5th, 6th and 7th – are played around the edge of the lake. They offer plenty of opportunities to lose a ball if you attack the course too aggressively. The 5th measures only 329 metres from the back markers, yet your drive must be good and long, carrying at least 220 metres, if it is to clear the lake’s edge and find the end of an almost Z-shaped fairway, leaving a chip shot to the green.
No such heroics are needed on the next two holes. But accuracy is. Water is never far from the right side of both the 6th and 7th fairways. This makes them particularly dangerous if you happen to be among the 90 per cent of right-handed golfers who slice the ball. Yet the flip side is that this right side of the fairway offers the best approach to each green and a good chance of making par or better, provided you avoid some well-placed greenside traps.
Papworth’s penchant for deception becomes evident on the back nine. The short, uphill par-four 14th is a prime example. At 329 metres it is not a long hole. Fairway position, between dense clumps of trees and the rough left and right, is paramount. Your approach shot to an elevated green is the deceptive bit, with a large tongue of fairway extending back down the hill and making the green appear closer than it is. This shot is semi-blind – you can see the top of the flag and little else – and to be on the safe side it is a good idea to take one club more than you suspect you might need.
A highlight of any round at Noosa Springs is the quality of the playing surfaces. The award-winning course maintenance team have an environmentally friendly attitude to keeping the layout in impeccable condition. The couch fairways are excellent to hit off and the extensive drainage system means they are playable all year round. Massive tifdwarf bermuda greens are receptive and a joy to putt on, some of the best you’ll find on the Sunshine Coast.
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MEMORABLE HOLES 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 10th, 14th and 17th WHERE TO GO Links Dr, Noosa Heads, Queensland 4567 BOOK A ROUND (07) 5440 3333, www.noosasprings.com.au OTHER 120 GREAT COURSES NEARBY Coolum (21.7 km), Twin Waters (36.4 km) WHERE TO STAY Open-plan two and three-bedroom apartments overlooking the 1st fairway are available at Noosa Springs. The resort is renowned for its spa, which offers a wide range of relaxing treatments. BEFORE/AFTER YOUR ROUND Go on a four-wheel-drive tour of nearby Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Several Noosa-based ecotourism operators offer day excursions, taking in crystal-clear Lake McKenzie and Lake Birrabeen and Fraser Island’s famous coloured sands. |