Peregian Golf Course came into existence in 2003 as a member only Club and course, beautifully presented and was the impressive first full design of Phil Scott, father to Masters Champion, Adam. Conceived to be the centrepiece of the Peregian Springs residential development, the course immediately gained a reputation as one of the most challenging on the Sunshine Coast. As is often the case sadly with residential golf developments, revenues did not match necessary expenditure and it disappointingly closed in 2015. Fortunately, under new ownership and management it re-opened in 2016.
Peregian has some quality short par 4s and its 312-metre par 4 5th is one such example. At the tee, all that is apparent is a gradually rising fairway, looking innocent enough except for a protruding bunker lip at the top of the hill to the left side. Concealed near this bunker, however, is another to its right which isn’t visible but is devilishly located closer to the fairway centre. In terms of risk and reward values, this is a terrific hole. Those with a long tee ball can smash away beyond the bunkering and nearly access the green, but an out-of-bounds boundary is menacingly close to the left of this line, so it is a gambling tee shot that has considerable risk.
Each nine on a course should contain a quality short par 4 and Peregian does not disappoint at the 297 metre 15th – a hole that continues to improve with age like a fine wine. Trees along the perimeter of fairway on both sides have grown in stature now gloriously framing this cheeky short hole. Best not to be too aggressive from the tee as a cluster of fairway bunkers loom to the left.
Stretching 6,169 metres from the back tees, Peregian can’t be considered particularly long but it is actually a blessing in the case of Phil Scott’s design as his focus has been on the strategic values of holes as opposed to just relying on length. That said, the par 5s, No’s 7 and 9 are all but unreachable in two shots unless you have firepower to burn.
Two of Peregians par 3s are fine examples and neither is particularly long. On the front nine the 145-metre 8th with some reasonable vegetation growth now filling the edges of the hole gives a feeling of isolation from the outside world as you ponder the tee shot. Similarly, at the 140 metre 14th, seclusion is the theme, encapsulated by ever narrowing tree growth as you get closer to the green, a slightly raised target that is somewhat small. With four bunkers providing ample protection, these traps might be the best miss, as anything long or left is projected down a steep slope into unplayable scrub.
A highlight of the enhanced course condition can be found in the immaculately kept Bermuda grass greens. A course lives and dies as a result of green quality and these at Peregian are close to perfect (no mean feat in this climate). This coupled with fabulous couch fairways make Peregian a quality golf experience and ensure the course should be well considered in any Sunshine Coast golfing itinerary.