I live in "God's" country. The Northern Beaches of Sydney. A Peninsular about one hours drive from the Sydney CBD, flanked by the Pittwater on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. The Peninsular is only 10 miles long and 2 miles wide at its widest point, but it has some of the most spectacular beaches in Australia. Palm Beach, Avalon, Newport, Bilgola, Mona Vale and Collaroy to name a few but the beaches are not the only attraction, we have within a 25 minute drive 10 Golf Courses, 2 Driving Ranges and a "Day and Night" Pitched and Putt Course and the majority of them will cost you less than $A50.00 ($US44.00) to play them. "Golf Heaven."
Starting at the top of the Peninsular is Palm Beach Golf Course and a little 9 Hole Golf Course with its boundary running along the Pittwater. It is a testing course with tight sandy fairways and small tricky greens. $A25.00 ($US22.00) for 18 Holes or $A15.00 ($US13.00) for unlimited holes during daylight saving months.
A short 5 minute trip south is Avalon Golf Course, another 9 Hole course near the holiday village of Avalon. $A22.00 ($US19.50) for 18 holes it is a Par 30. Watch out for the hill on the Par five 8th, it's a heart breaker.
Traveling another 5 minutes south is my home course Bayview. A Par 71 course with tree lined tight fairways and small greens. It is a course you have to manage and it has brought a lot of good golfers unstuck. The feature of the course is two 230 yard plus par 3's that on a windy day can be impossible to reach and the 7th hole, which was voted one of the most picturesque holes in the world. At $A40.00 ($US35.00) it is great value for money and will give you a good run for your money.
Head 2 minutes drive due east and you'll reach Mona Vale Golf Course located on the Pacific Ocean with its boundary being Mona Vale Beach. A beautiful seaside course with a Par 72 rating it is tree lined with large dams and again at $A40.00 ($US35.00) it is great value for money.
Another 5 minutes southwest you have the three private courses of Elanora, Monash and Terrey Hills. Set up on the hills with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean Elanora is a pretty course with long sweeping fairways and tricky greens. This course will set you back $A75.00 ($US66.00) but you must play with a member. Monash Golf Course is right next-door and has the fastest greens on the Peninsular. It's like putting down the bonnet of a VW. Like Elanora, Monash is a Par 72 course and a true test of golf.
The best course (in my opinion) is Terrey Hill Country Club; set amongst the Terrey Hills bush land it is a world-class golf course. A Par 72 Championship Golf Course it has held the Cannon Challenge Golf Championship a number of times plus the Ladies Australian Open.
Heading back down the hill you come across Long Reef Golf Course. Set upon the Long Reef Headland overlooking Long Reef Beach is a spectacular golf course. Long Reef is unique on the Northern Beaches because it is a Links Course and a fine one at that. Par 72 with wide green flowing fairways and undulating greens, it is a must play if you ever visit.
Warringah and Balgowlah Golf courses finish off the Peninsular golf experience. These are two Public Golf Courses that offer a pleasant walk in the fresh air without too many challenges.
Of course, if you come and play any of these great golf courses you must play the 19th Hole with the locals. The only reason Aussies play golf is to build up a thirst to play the 19th long and hard.
So if you ever get to the Northern Beaches, look me up. I would love to show you our beautiful Golf Courses and I will "shout" you a beer at the 19th.
