In the mid-western region of the state of New South Wales, Australia you will find some of the state’s finest rural golfing gems.
First stop once leaving Sydney and crossing the Blue Mountains is the Bathurst Golf Club on the western outskirts of the city. The course is the boyhood home to European and Australasian Tour champion Peter O’Malley and is a shining rural golf nugget, and in a town close to where gold was first discovered in Australia.
(Go to: http://www.golfbytourmiss.com/2014/03/bathurst-golf-club-an-australian-rural-golfing-gold-nugget/ )
Some 50 klms west of Bathurst at Orange is the very renowned Duntryleague club, a course very rich in history and tradition, and where another Australian and European Tour champion, Lucas Parsons honed his game. In fact, Parsons captured both the Australian and New Zealand Amateur titles in 1991 and then went onto to win some 10 pro career titles, among them seven also on the Australasian Tour.
The main street of the town of Blayney, NSW, Australia.
By driving around 70 klms south you can tackle the Cowra Golf Club course and described by the club as the ‘Best Course West of the Blue Mountains’, and where golf has been played from well over 100 years.
Then in making your way back to Bathurst there is the nine-hole Blayney Golf Club situated on the Mid Western Highway and 35 klms south of Bathurst.
The town Blayney according to Wikipedia is a farming town and administrative centre with a population of 3,355 in 2011. Among Blayney’s favourite sons is Australian cricket legend, Peter Toohey who played in 15 Test matches and five One Day Internationals.#
Blayney GC – card for the course. (Thanks to Blayney GC)
The Blayney golf course is a nine-hole layout and is very much like it’s Mid Western cousins in that is quintessential rural setting with fairways like with stately gum trees and thereby like Bathurst and Orange, placing an emphasis on driving the ball straight off the tee.
The course boasts three par 3s, five par 4s and the lone par 5. The par 3s are the 121-yard second, the sixth that plays 128-yards and the 186-yard ninth, and with the second and sixth once again proving par 3s do not have to be 200-yards to be a strong test.
The first of the par 4s is the 305-yard opening hole and then the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth holes.
‘Harry’s Walk’ in honour of Blayney GC legend Harry Rosser. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
‘Harry’s Walk’ and named after Blayney GCs Harry Rosser. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com).
Blayney’s longest holes it the par 5 third hole at 454-yards.
The No. 1 stroke index hole is the 422-yard fifth hole that becomes the No. 2 hardest hole in playing the course he second time around to complete the 18.
With both nines combined the course measures 5,324-yards off the men’s tees to a par 68 while it’s a par 70 challenge for the ladies playing the course at 4,768-yards.
The honesty box that the late Harry Rosser used to ‘guard ruthlessly’. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
In visiting Blayney you will find a rare ‘honesty box’ with non-members being asked to deposit $10 in the box or $16 if you intend to play 18 holes.
Members of Blayney GC are asked to pay just $3 and double that amount for the full 18 holes, and as a member the annual subs is an amazing $260 that equates to only $1.4o a day for a year’s golf.
And if you’re a playing pensioner how’s this for a yearly fee – just $95.
Also be mindful in making your way to Blayney’s opening tee of ‘Harry’s Walk’, a wonderful tribute to one of the stalwarts of the club – Harry Rosser.
Blayney’s opening hole – a heart in your mouth start to your round at Blayney GC. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com).
After retiring from the Blayney Abattoir in 1990 Harry soon devoted much of his energies to the golf club being a very popular bar manager and director of the club.
It’s reported Harry’s most popular event was the weekly on-course ‘chicken run’ and all the time welcoming visitors from around the region, interstate or overseas to this delightful test of golf.
He and his wife, who were life members of the club, celebrated their 60th anniversary on the 1st January, 2009.
The second hole at Blayney GC and photos thanks to the club.
Sadly, Harry passed away two years later aged 86 and in memory of one of the club’s hardest workers and ambassadors, the club officially unveiled ‘Harry’s Walk’ on 17th March, 2012. The sign says Harry ‘ruthlessly’ controlled the honesty box so therein lies a great club tale.
And what better way to celebrate Harry’s life to then stage the first ‘Harry Rosser Memorial Chicken Run’.
While Bathurst, Orange and Cowra present fine full 18-hole modern day challenges in the ancient club-and-ball game, Blayney GC at only nine hole will not leave you short-changed in offering a wealth of challenge and enjoyment.
How Australian can it get – the ninth hole at Blayney? (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com).
