Growing up in Adelaide and being a member of neighboring Kooyonga Golf Club, I was fortunate to play this inland links dozens of times. Unlike many of the other top Australian courses, Royal Adelaide Golf Club is not landlocked. The course was significantly lengthened in the lead up to the 1998 Australian Open.
The course features firm, fast, undulating greens accompanied by false fronts and runoffs on all sides. Not to mention it’s heavily guarded with deep bunkers. All this to say, navigating this course a never-ending challenge.
The course is a sensational mix of short and long holes. In fact, the 3rd hole pictured is arguably one of the greatest short par 4’s anywhere in the world measuring just 291 yards. To illustrate, there are three options which face the golfer standing on the tee: 1. Lay back with a 6 or 7 iron for a full yardage with a sand wedge, 2. Hit a 3 or 4 iron over the crest of the hill leaving a delicate 30-40-yard pitch or 3. Go for the green. The penalty for missing the green is so severe many will opt to lay up from the tee. The ultimate risk/reward hole!
A trip home to visit friends and family is always coupled with a tee time at Royal Adelaide Golf Club!
Photo Credit: © Gary Lisbon | https://www.golfphotos.com.au/ | IG: @garylisbongolf