Blackhorse

Sun 3rd

Today was probably the worst weather for golf, for my trip so far. I guess this shows how lucky I've been. It was noticeably windy, especially towards the end and there was just enough drizzle at one stage to dampen the cart seat but not enough to get out the umbrella.

It was the better part of an hour to get there from the hotel, made slightly longer since I went via a road that passed a camera repair shop, which was not open anyway.

I had a 1:10 tee off which got me the middle green fee rate of $75. Before 1 it is $95 and after 3 it dropped to $55 but I didn't want such a late finish again. I had 40 minutes or so for practice chipping and putting but didn't use the driving range.

Blackhorse has 2 18 hole courses and unlike many of the courses here does not wind between houses. Both courses are contained in one large paddock. I played the South course, which I was told was tighter and prettier than the North, but not quite as long. There were a lot of water holes on the course.

My partners were 2 locals, who worked at the same IT company. One of them was the owner and also a member at the club. It cost him $300 a month, which considering he got to play for free including cart hire was a good deal. We played off the blue tees again.


I had another good day and was 1 over after 3 with 2 putts missing by inches.

On the par 5 no 5, I hit into the water hazard twice, taking one drop and playing the other and still only had a bogey. In fact it was only the 7th when I hooked in the woods that I had worse than a bogey on that 9.

The 9th is a par 5 and my partners said it was reachable in 2 (420m from blues). My drive left me only 150m out and a 7 iron finished 4ft from the pin. I dropped the putt for an EAGLE, my first for a year and a 41 on the front.

There were a lot of water carries on the back 9 but again I really only mucked up one hole, the 14th. After a good drive cutting the corner and a second shot just off the green, I managed a 7 with some terrible chipping and putting.

The next 2 holes were into the wind and I came up short with my pitch on the 15th despite dropping back a club. I guess it was a 2 club breeze. Still got my par. The long carry on the 16th nearly came off. Just short of the fairway plateau and it rolled down the slope towards the water but stayed out. Anotehr bogey.

The 17th is the signature island green. They had told me about the alligators that lived there and you can just see one in the panorama. I didn't notice it till a bit later and zoomed it for a close up. Lost balls anybody?

I finished with 45 on the back for an 86. Again this was about my handicap from these tees. It will seem strange going back to the reds when I get home.

The panoramas show the lake alongside the second, The view of the 16th and 17th from the 16th tee and looking back at the 17th (and the alligator) from the 18th tee.