The second course at 13th Beach Golf Links, the Creek Course, was designed by Tony Cashmore in conjunction with 6 time major championship winner Sir Nick Faldo, and is a worthy and wonderful compliment to the Beach Course. It was opened for play in 2004.
The Creek Course has gently undulating couch fairways, and deep bunkers filled with yellow sand. It has firm greens surrounded by interesting bumps, swales and hollows, all closely mown to stimulate your creativity with short game. There are plenty of examples of greenside bunkering that cuts into, and helps mould, the slopes of the putting surfaces. This mirrors the best traditions of Melbourne’s Sandbelt – much admired by Faldo and a cornerstone of his design philosophy.
The native couch fairways are over sewn with fescue grass. This provides both an excellent, green playing surface year-round, and a quick transition back to couch dominance once the warmth of spring is apparent. Beyond the fairways there is generally a wide zone of maintained short rough prior to either long pasture grasses or the residential areas which thankfully do not encroach adversely. There are some quirky elements too, like the ‘square cut’ tees, the creek itself and the creative use of a few remaining pines in hole strategy.
Despite this course lacking the natural drama of its sibling’s stunning coastal dunes, a series of creeks, more formal lakes and small ponds gives it a point of difference and the bunkering, greens contouring and general ebb and flow of the routing here is very sound. The par 5s and mid-length par 4s are probably the strength of the course. Always destined to live in the shadow of its glamorous big brother, the Creek Course is nonetheless an excellent track and a pleasant addition for those contemplating playing all 36-holes at 13th Beach.