Golfing Heavenly!

(By Paul Chong)

One-Putt Shot

Every now & again, we simply love to get that wonderful great feeling of being alive & living. It’s a feeling difficult to paint in words or utter in poems or sing in songs. It’s like nothing on earth – a sensation akin to playing golf on the fresh light of day amidst the rolling green of Joondalup Country Club Golf Resort.

The scene that greets our eyes is simply stunning and spectacular, as my son David & I step into the first tee of “The Lakes” course. The spectacular beauty as provided by the Lakes course speaks volume of joy & excitement, as like being greeted by Peter at the Pearly Gates (not that I really know what that will be really like). Fresh rolling green . . . the alluring blue of the Lakes . . . featured captivatingly at the first fairway against the background of the clubhouse as the ball soars through the air along its narrow passage way. It is the first telling sign of what’s ahead and the concluding end of this nine-hole course. Beauty to begin with and end with at the clubhouse. Nothing compares with such a captivating scene set against the backdrop of the alluring lakes, the clubhouse & the resort hotel, befitting an ace as the superb tournament-finishing hole.

Of the three courses, The Quarry, The Lakes and The Dunes, making up the 27-Hole golf course, we were told by regulars and members, that The Lakes is the least difficult and challenging. Nonetheless, this first hole can be quite intimidating as the nine winds its way to the highest point of the Joondalup course with views across to the Rottnest Island, south to Perth City and inland to Perth Hills.

The last hole is most dramatic & challenging, cascading downhill to the green guarded by one of the lakes. Most parts of the course are fairly open without any obstruction, except for the tricky numerous bunkers and isolated grasstrees or clumps of them. The course is largely undulating with unseen grassy deeps or hollows and quarry. Its natural environment attracts kangaroos which appear to be more than friendly in close proximity. The paved paths from hole to hole clearly show the way for golfers who walk or those on golf carts.

Many posh residential homes back unto the edge of the golf course. Players are pleasantly reminded of their responsibilities towards any damage to the private properties that may arise. Signs are clearly displayed.

As with most play, it is imperative to have straight tee shots, keeping to the fairway to avoid losing balls to the trees or to the waters or to the pits. Accuracy rather than distance rules play here on the whole. Holes may be set up close to the water edge or to the edge of high elevation such as the eighth hole.

We golfers tend to concentrate solely on the balls and in the process fail to see the surrounding beauty which God has provided and enhanced further by the architect of the golf course. This is exactly what happened to us both when we overlooked the great span of scenery to the Indian Ocean, Rottnest Island, Perth City and Perth Hills at the 4^th hole.

To thoroughly enjoy such a spectacular course, an early tee-off is recommended. You will then not be plagued by crowds in front of you nor pushed by players behind you. We certainly took our time, taking pictures and video for memories sake. At $50 per player (for non-members) on a week day for a nine-hole play is a bit pricey for a pensioner like me. But the services and friendliness of the staff do make all the difference to give its image and prestige as one of the top golfing retreats in Western Australia.

Paul Chong

An Avid Golfer

A Chinese by Descent

An Australian by Consent

Friday, 5 September 2008