21 par-threes. Despite not trying to stick to a nine-hole layout, the dimensions of the Madden Land made it hard to create anything but nine. At 600 metres in length, it would be long enough for roughly four holes out and four holes in, and the widest section to the south would also allow for a hole to play across the property, to make nine holes in total. We did, however, want to avoid the feeling of just playing four holes down the same corridor out and back. Therefore, with the routing we were conscious to move the holes around as much as possible. We also wanted to maximise the more attractive backdrops and limit those against the eastern boundary where a few houses were visible. And, just like the Old course at St Andrews, which is also built on a thin strip of ground, bringing holes together with shared fairways and even a couple of double greens helped maximise the limited space. Did you draw inspiration from elsewhere? The main course, in particular the approach to the par-four third and the par-three tenth, provided inspiration. There were other great short holes we were keen to use as inspiration, certainly locally around the sandbelt, such as the third and fourth at the nearby Woodlands, the third on the West course at Royal Melbourne. And at St Andrews, we took ideas from the second, twelfth and eighteenth. These holes are some of the most enjoyable and thought provoking in the game, so we figured with nine of them, why couldn’t a short course like this hold the same interest as something a little longer? What does this short course mean to Kingston Heath as a club? We wanted to create a unique facility for members – outside of the formal practice facility or the main course – a layout that could be played in an hour or two, and allow golfers to hone their skills from under 120 metres. It also helps create a pathway for new golfers to learn and get interested in the game, and short courses such as this help prolong the golfing life for older golfers, who may find the main course a little too long or too difficult. Photo: Gary Lisbon The fourth hole at The Furrows takes players to the far end of the strip of land
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