A Gold Coast Favourite
This week, we bring a course review of the beautiful Links Hope Island Golf Club located on the Gold Coast. With our annual Gold Coast Golf Week starting in just over a week, and Hope Island being a player favourite, let’s see take a closer look.
Links Hope Island Golf Club has long been renowned as one of Queensland’s premier golf establishments, known for its exceptional course design and comprehensive facilities. Since its inception in 1993, the club has consistently been ranked among Australia’s top ten resort courses, a testament to its quality and appeal.
Designed by the celebrated duo of Michael Wolveridge and 5 time Open Champion Peter Thomson, the course spans 18 holes with a par of 72, and is distinguished by its Bermuda Grass greens and Couch Grass fairways, offering a blend of challenge and playability that caters to golfers of all skill levels. The course’s design and maintenance have been pivotal in securing its high rankings and positive reception from the golfing community. Links Hope Island continue to invest in their course with upgrades and improvements of their course, with the recent redesigns of the 3rd and 9th holes, and also a major upgrade of their driving range.
The Golf Course
A careful and thoughtful approach is required while you navigate the course, avoiding the natural and man-made hazards including the 117 strategically positioned pot style bunkers.
The new Third Hole measures 330 meters from the Championship tee, the risk and reward short par 4 retains its original green complex and is fast becoming one a fan favourite. Players need to beware of the deceptive bunkers on the right half of the fairway when taking an aggressive line from the tee. Deep and imposing green side bunkers then need to be negotiated with a precise approach to leave yourself a short putt and any chance of making a birdie. A more conservative approach from the tee can also yield results although it will mean a longer approach, making par a very good score. Beware of the false front.
Not a long hole, the vistas from the tee at the relatively new 9th hole are both captivating and distracting, with the beautiful clubhouse as a backdrop. Par 3’s seldom come more adventurous than this one. There is a challenge from the tee to carry the water hazard with little margin for error. Being situated in an exposed part of the golf course, wind strength and direction must be taken into account in club decision-making. No apologies for its difficulty. A par is a fine way to finish the front nine.
Late in the round, the Hope Island’s signature hole, the Par 3 17th, is a challenge for any golfer and is an experience in courage or folly. At 224m off the black tees and 180m off the whites and a lengthy carry across water, many players will struggle to reach the green due to the prevailing headwind. One may therefore consider playing this as a par 4 rather than a par 3, but then again, golf is all about decisions.
The finishing hole, the par 5 18th, provides visitors with a magnificent view back along the lake to the left and towards the clubhouse in the distance. With over 500 metres remaining to your round, there is plenty yet to see and negotiate. A delightful end to an enjoyable day.
Links Hope Island is open to public golfers seven days a week, subject to availability, and is a must play when you are next in the area. Book yourself in for a round and see what all the fuss is about!
Images courtesy of Candice High Photography.
