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my top ten – ian baker-finch
Ian Baker-Finch is among a select group of Australian golfers to have won a Major, having captured the British Open in 1991. He is now a highly respected TV commentator and course designer. Here, he selects his top ten courses in Australia and around the world.
Australia’s top 10 (in alphabetical order)
1. Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links, Bridport, Tasmania
Of the top 100 courses in Australia, this is the only one I haven’t played. But I have spoken to the designer at length and viewed hundreds of photos and plans. People whose opinion I respect regard it as one of the top-10 links courses in world golf, and that’s good enough for me. For aficionados like me, it is a must-see, and I have a trip there planned with designer Mike Clayton in the near future.
barnbougledunes.com.au
2. Kingston Heath, Cheltenham, Victoria
I would rate the composite course at Royal Melbourne as the best in the world when it’s in the kind of condition it was in for the recent Presidents Cup. But as far as stand-alone layouts go, I’m sticking with an old favourite that I believe is the best golf course in Australia. This is down to its design aesthetics, exceptional year-round conditioning and quite possibly some of the best green complexes in the world. Like Royal Melbourne, it has some of the best natural topography and best set of par-threes I have ever seen.
kingstonheath.com.au
3. Kooyonga, Brooklyn Park, SA
I love ‘Koo-ey’. It is currently the best course in South Australia because Royal Adelaide is suffering from a lack of direction. I hope they decide to go with Mike Clayton’s design team to bring the majesty of Royal Adelaide back to its former glory. That’s why I’m not including Royal Adelaide in this list, although it deserves to be there. Maybe next year? I love the routing and use of the natural topography at Kooyonga and whenever I have been there it’s been in spectacular condition. Like Kingston Heath, it also has a wonderful membership.
kooyongagolf.com.au
4. The Lakes, Eastlakes, NSW
I have always enjoyed The Lakes layout but really believe its current metamorphosis has elevated its standing into Australia’s top five. A spectacular layout, with large, links-style greens that add to its quality. One of the best championship venues available, as we saw last year at the Emirates Australian Open.
thelakesgolfclub.com.au
5. Metropolitan, Oakleigh, Victoria
Of all the sandbelt layouts, Metro is often mentioned too far down the list. It offers dramatic green complexes and bunkering equal to any in the world of golf, with a native ambiance to boot, which sets it apart from many of these highly rated courses. Another great championship venue, it provided one of the most memorable finishes ever with Jack Newton just pipping Greg Norman to win the 1979 Australian Open.
metropolitangolf.com.au
6. National-Moonah, Cape Schanck, Victoria
The best new golf course in the country in ideal links country down at Cape Schanck. There are so many wonderful courses in the top 25 in the country on the peninsula but I put this at the top. The best Greg Norman design I have played.
nationalgolf.com.au
7. New South Wales, La Perouse, NSW
Take your camera with you if you get the chance to play this dramatic, ocean-side beauty. They are currently re-doing a few of the weaker greens and when completed it may rate even higher. Certainly the most visually-spectacular course in the country, with the classic par-three sixth played from cliff to cliff the best-known hole in Australia.
nswgolfclub.com.au
8. Royal Melbourne East, Black Rock, Victoria
The East, with six holes used in the composite course, is possibly the least played of the two venues but retains much of the original Alister Mackenzie style and is a true classic.
royalmelbourne.com.au
9. Royal Melbourne West, Black Rock, Victoria
It’s the terrain of the West course that sets it apart from all the others. It has some of the best links terrain in Australia and 12 of the holes are really well known from the composite layout. Like Kingston Heath – it has some of the most classic par-three designs in the world of golf.
royalmelbourne.com.au
10. Victoria, Cheltenham, Victoria
Another classic sandbelt experience. It has been rejuvenated over the past decade, with an ample water supply allowing the club to maintain its spectacular conditioning. It has some of the best Mackenzie greens in the sandbelt region. A memorable design with both nines finishing with two par-fives and an opening short par-four that causes plenty of trouble.
victoriagolf.com.au
My favourite Australian courses to play
1. Kennedy Bay (The Links), WA
This is the most similar links-style course to those available to the public in Great Britain and Ireland. It is a tough course, due to its location right on the ocean south of Perth with daily winds of 20 knots. And if I may say so myself it has some of the best green complexes in Australian golf. With my old friend, the late Roger Mackay, and the extremely competent and artistic Michael Coate, our team built KB, my favourite links in the country. kennedybay.com.au
2. Kingston Heath
3. The Lakes
4. National-Moonah
5. Peninsula, Victoria
Definitely the best 36-hole complex in Australian golf that’s readily accessible to the public. It is a wonderful facility with enticingly beautiful, championship-quality, sandbelt-style golf. peninsulagolf.com.au
6. Royal Melbourne West
7. Royal Sydney, NSW
May be the best overall club and facility in Australia. Ross Watson was a part of the rejig and now there’s a continuous flow to the design and the course. Its appearance is now as it should be, thanks to Watson’s design expertise. It remains a fantastic championship venue and at the same time, an enjoyable walk for the average golfer, which is important in my own design philosophy. rsgc.com.au
8. Royal Queensland, Qld
This has always been my favourite in Queensland and since the recent extensive re-design, my opinion of this championship venue has only escalated. It is a must play. Put it on your list when in Queensland. rqgolf.com.au
9. St Andrews Beach, Victoria
A course I have been involved with since its inception. I think the Tom Doak/Mike Clayton routing and layout is just spectacular. With two courses, it offers a great walk and is available to the public. standrewsbeachgolf.com.au
10. Victoria GC, Victoria
my world top 10
1. Augusta, Georgia
Everyone reading this article knows Augusta National because CBS, the U.S. TV network that I work for covering the Masters at Amen Corner, has been broadcasting this event worldwide for the last 55 years. I played the Masters 10 times with three, top 10 finishes and I’m hoping that sometime soon I get to call the championship with an Australian winner. Augusta is the most difficult course in the world to get a tee time. Enjoy the telecast this year because it’s the closest you are ever likely to get.
2. Cypress Point, California
It’s almost as tough to get a tee time here as Augusta National. It’s an icon of golf architecture and one of Alister Mackenzie’s finest with the two best back-to-back par-threes in the world in 15 and 16. Spectacular views on one of the most spectacular courses in the world.
3. Merion, Pennsylvania
Short, tight and known for its treacherous greens played over some wonderful terrain. It will host the 2013 US Open with some newly constructed back tees. The greens will decide the championship.
4. National Golf Links, New York
A throwback to the classic era of course design, this is a C.B. Macdonald original that is consistently sought out by design aficionados around the world. Nothing has been changed here over the years. One of my true favourites.
5. Oakmont, Pennsylvania
The best 18 greens in the world of golf. This classic championship venue only improved with the removal of 6,000 trees in the last decade to bring it back to its former links look. It always produces a great US Open champion when the event is played here.
6. Pine Valley, New Jersey
It’s been ranked number-one course in the world for the past 25 years and rightly so, due to its design, conditioning and beauty. It’s almost as hard to get a tee time here as Augusta or Cypress Point. The sand-hill terrain is spectacular and even though it was the first course to use modern earth-moving equipment, it looks totally natural, as if it’s been here for 100 years. It has 365 bunkers – one for every day of the year – and huge, extremely fast old-style greens. Definitely a golfing mecca.
7. Royal County Down, NORTHERN Ireland
With the Mountains of Mourne shaping down to the course, Royal County Down is one of the icons of golf around the world. It has a rustic feel, while the topography and playability are outstanding. Old Tom Morris was the designer, which gives you an idea of the venue and how nothing has changed. A must play if you’re visiting Ireland.
8. Royal Melbourne Composite, Victoria
A quality championship venue, maintained to the highest standard with some of the best golf course terrain available. In the condition it was in for the recent Presidents Cup, the composite may even be ranked number one in the world.
9. Shinnecock Hills, New York
Quite possibly the best championship venue in the world, offering a variety of links and heathland terrain. Always a tough test due to the winds sweeping off the Peconic Sounds. Has always provided memorable US Open championships.
10. St Andrews, FIFE, Scotland
The mother of golf course architecture. It is hard to compare St Andrews with many of today’s beautifully maintained, quality venues but it has to be included because of its unique layout and double greens. Next to Augusta, it’s possibly the most well known course in the world. Make sure you join the lottery to play the Old Course the next time you’re in town.
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