Mention South Forbes Golf City to foursome looking for a place to play and result usually isn’t too favourable. Really, that’s just not fair. One of the things that drew me to golf is the seemingly never ending diversity that you encounter and South Forbes gives you one of the most interesting experiences in local golf.
Yes, it’s not a championship golf course, but not all good restaurants are 5-star dining experiences either and I believe that most of us are just fine with that.
The 18th green
Keeping the course short has distinct advantages. First maintenance costs are kept down and that translates to less expensive green fees for golfers. Hopefully this will result in more golfers coming to play and keep the course in business longer term. The great Gary Player took this stance exactly in the recently concluded Asia Pacific Golf Summit. In the end, the game of golf wins and this is good for all of us.
South Forbes real charm stems from the shots the course asks from you; forced carries over ravines and greens that are separated from the tees by nothing but rain forest. Thankfully, it’s relatively short so the carries aren’t too much trouble. Better players might not enjoy leaving the driver in the bag for much of the round, but most will be better for the experience. Negotiating South Forbes requires discipline, good ball striking and precise shot placement. It might be fun to gamble and go for all the par 4’s in your range, but it will definitely tell on the score card.
The 6th green
The greens are the course’s ultimate challenge. They’re not too big so if you find yourself on one, your putt won’t be very far away, but as any mountain course, the key is reading the breaks correctly. That’s right, breaks; plural. Unless you’re putting straight up the slope, there’s bound to be a combination of slopes and grain working on the roll of your ball. Be conscious of whether you’re putting into, away from or at an angle to the prevailing slope of the mountain.
The 11th green
Long hitters will bemoan the fact that few holes allow ripping a driver off the tee but it’s pleasant enough to play. It will be hard on most newcomers to the game and it’s not walkable, but the entertainment value of the shot making outweighs the few balls you lose trying to hit them.
A round of golf at South Forbes Golf city is a good time. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
Image credits: Mike Besa