Designed by well-known golf course architect, Graham Papworth, Noosa Springs (opened in 1999) is a challenging and inspiring test of golf, a few short kilometres from the popular Queensland beach town of Noosa. The course is crafted out of native rainforest and woodlands and rests partially next to tranquil Lake Weyba. Each hole exudes its own style, is immaculately maintained and surrounded by abundant wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas and swans.
The 6,180-metre par 72 course has 4 sets of tees per hole and 69 bunkers and, would you believe, 10 freshwater lakes, with water in play on 12 of the 18 holes. The course also features a full-length driving range, and an excellent putting green and chipping area to ensure you are fully tuned up before hitting the shots that count!
The course has a championship parkland type feel to it, but is still playable for the higher handicapper. The fairway and green-side bunkering is excellent both in design and playability with adequate space off the tee to open the shoulders up. The generous green complexes are undulating with enough roll out occurring to make for low and high scoring prospects.
Both 9s are similar, but with more water on the front 9 to test your game early. The standout hole on this side is the strong Par 4 7th. At 415 metres, doglegging gently from right to left, you best have your tee ball working in this shape as water looms menacingly down the entire right side. On the back-side, hole No 17 – a 340 metre par 4 – features water, water, everywhere! Initially a well struck tee shot with a fairway wood is ideal as you potentially can run out of fairway. In reality though, the landing areas are generous in size at both the fairway and green complex. It’s just the intimidation factor of the bodies of water nearby that play mind games. That said – you should be used to that theme at this late stage of proceedings!