Playing every golf course in Melbourne Australia Rd 3: Northcote Public Golf

For round 3 of my playing every golf course in Melbourne Australia series I played at Northcote 9 hole Public Golf course. Similar to the last few courses I played, this is a tree lined and relatively straight course. I was hoping to take what I’ve learned so far and put it into practise here. There’s a snake warning here so I had extra motivation to stay out of the trees this time.

On the first hole there’s a sign asking you to tee-off using the mat for road safety purposes. I obliged by hitting a 5-iron towards the fairway. I didn’t hit a car or a tree so I was very pleased with myself. It’s a short 287m Par 4, and I was able to hit the green in two shots with my 5-iron. I had a long putt for birdie. I managed to read it well and it came very close. I was happy to have started the day with a par.

The course was very backed up and I joined the Aussie gentleman ahead of me at Hole 2. I always feel a bit of extra pressure hitting my first shot in front of a new playing partner, because it dictates their opinion of you; and first impressions last. Thankfully, I pinged my drive 250m straight down the fairway. My second shot was with a 6-iron from 170ish meters. It held up in a strong wind and didn’t make the green. I pitched my third shot close to the hole and thought I could save a par. I didn’t judge it well enough, it wobbled along the way, missed left and I taped in a bogey.

Hole 3 is a Par 3 167m hole. I hit a 6-iron and pushed it slightly right of the raised green. My chip was a bit too over exuberant and it bounced off to the other side of the green. My chip back was chunky and left a lot to be desired. I two putted from the just inside the fringe and end up with a double bogey.

Hole 4 is a dog leg right 378m Par 4. I hit a 5-iron to the bend, and hit another 5-iron towards the green. Two good strikes in a row, but the second bounced into the sand. My bunker play is improving every day I play and I scoop this shot close to the hole for a tap in par.

Hole 5 is a 135m Par 3. If you watch the video you’ll see my camera shot was about as good as my 9-iron shot here. Askew and not finding what I was was aiming for. From the tree line I was chipping from a difficult surface. But it made the green and left a long loopy par putt. It went as well could be expected, labding close and leaving me with a bogey.

Hole 6 is another Par 3 at 128m. It’s downhill with a 30m drop, so I decided to club down and hit a pitching wedge. It bounced right and rolled into the sand. I escape the trap once more and leave myself a decent shot at par. It rims out and I take another bogey on a Par 3.

Hole 7 is a short 226m Par 4. I thought driver might be a bit too much and I hit a 3-hybrid instead. It was the right call, as it landed just short of the bunkers. My chip didn’t quiet run as far as I wanted, but it still left me with a putt for birdie. I misjudged the speed of the slope and end up taking a par.

Hole 8 is a 414m Par 5. It has a unique feature, where you have to wait until the person ahead of you rings the bell and lets you know it’s safe to drive. My drive flies over the ridge and leave me with about leave about 170m to the green. I hit a 4-iron but it doesn’t draw as much I had planned, and I have to knock it back into play from the 9th fairway. Chipping from the front of the green I nearly hole out for a birdie. It’s so close, and one of these days my shots are going to start dropping and I am going to start scoring.

Hole 9 is a 303m Par 4. I hit another decent drive, around 265m, slightly to the left of the fairway. I’m pitching blind, aiming for the high side safety. Thankfully it works out okay, and I’m still in a decent position to score. I pitch back towards the hole and leave myself with a tricky par shot. It drops and I finish with a par.

Overall, I played reasonably well today shooting 5-over which is a 39 on Par 34 course. I had 1 double-bogey, 3 bogeys and 5 pars. All while missing out on a few birdies along the way. Interestingly, the double-bogey and 2 of the 3 bogeys were on the Par 3 holes where I missed the green from tee-off. So that suggests I need to tighten up my short iron play. Otherwise, my drives went a lot better this week and thankfully I didn’t encounter any snakes.