A great variety of holes overall and each memorable in its own right.
It is not an overly demanding course especially from the tee but I am not sure that a good golfing resort necessarily needs a tough golf course. Bonville is however one that provides interest all the way. If the golf is not going too well then there is always the opportunity to relax and enjoy the surrounds as that is what gives B.I.G.R its appeal.
The course is a pleasure to play, more especially as it is not the sort of golf course that when you walk off you feel battered and with the management and commitment now in place, things can only further improve.
The beauty of the Resort is that it is a hideaway, if that is what you are after, but it is also close to Coffs Harbour (11 kilometres) and the increasingly trendy seaside holiday village of Sawtell. There are some great restaurants there if you are looking for variety but having dined at the Resort on the Saturday evening of my stay I can recommend the food, the service and the outlook (you look over the 18th with floodlights making almost ghost like figures of the flooded gums).
All in all a fine golfing resort.
Played here for the first time & was completely blown away with the amazing views & spectacular course in a true forest setting. It was everything that I expected & had been told about. A very hard test of golf in an awesome environment! Spectacular! Despite being a dry season & greens were slow, it still held up as a 5 star experience.
Having played Bonville regularly throughout the past few years, I've been delighted with most aspects of the course. The bunkering, fairways and shaping are amongst the top courses in Australia. The layout and conditioning is fantastic-there's no better place to enjoy a round when the course is at its best. HOWEVER, the greens are of some concern. I will accept the difficulties in maintaining these greens given the conditions and the surrounding trees etc. what I find difficult to accept is the fact that you will pay full price for a round, then only discover the greens have been cored and are in a slow, rough state, and certainly not worth forking out the $130 for the privilege of playing. July 2014 and Januar 2015 this has happened, with no heads up upon booking or arriving at the course. In future I'll stick to Coffs Harbour GC, where the greens are fantastic, and a quarter of the price.
The course staff were excellent, the setup of the clubhouse was excellent and overall the course was good. You cannot get away with hitting one shape all day, you need to be able to hit different ball shapes to get around the course well. Off of the white tees the longer hitter will hit driver probably 4 times in 18 which can be a bit annoying if you want to bomb one off the tee. The worst thing by a country mile apart from the $125 midweek price was the greens. They were awful you only have to go 5km down the road to Coffs and see how to manage greens properly. Overall the course was ok, if you want to play a course that has a better layout with much better green quality look at Brookwater.
what a great day out. Course was in beautiful condition. Very impressed with the value of the day the green fees included cart, range balls, course guide, laser rage finder. loved the strategy involved in the tee shot and approach to greens. Ive heard some comments about the condition of greens but they were in great nick for us nice speed and rolled beautifully. only knock was that teeing of at 10:30 some of the early holes fairways, and tee boxes were very wet and muddy under foot as they don't get much sun. would love to come back.
Fantastic!! A great challenge, in a scenic location. Cannot wait to get back here and play again.
J'adore Bonville! You are not going to get a course in perfect condition all year round and Bonville has been criticised in the past for the standard of greens. Despite this, I found the conditioning of the course to be excellent, matching Royal Pines standard during the PGA in 2013. The fairways were outstanding, particularly the run of hole 16-really adding an exciting dynamic off the tee. For the fans of Amen corner a look at hole 17 will Give you a look at what Augusta 12th might feel like. Tip: go for the green and back yourself on this hole-long and left can run you into the thick of the timber. Just back yourself and swing smoothly! In Australian golf there are very few sights like over the saddle of 18 looking toward the club house. Before I get too carried away, I must say that the routing through the hills is amazing for the cart ride alone. Moving between lush fairways and rainforest, the loops take you through unbelievable elevation changes as well as subtle shaping of the surrounds. There are opportunities on each hole to push your risk/reward threshold, none better on the approach to the par 5 18th. If you clear the saddle and get a run toward the creek, there is an opportunity to hit a long iron at the long edge of a tiered green. A small error might see you deep in the sand, or worse still running thought the lower landing area and into the creek. Throughout spring and summer you will see plenty of colour and the course comes into its own. I will be back again in December, you will be hard pressed to get me away for Christmas Day!
Played the course today and was impressed. Even after 100mm of rain we could drive carts on fairways which made the day a lot easier. Everything was in good order, great lies on the fairways, and the greens whilst not overly fast were surprisingly true. The yardage book I received with my fee is also first class, apparently a new addition in recent months. Well worth the $115 I paid today.
i have played this cpourse several times. the best time of year is in summer when there is little rain about. the course has a nice layout and friendly staff. the tee areas are quiet nice and the fairways are great. unfortunately this is where it ends. these greens are the worst greens i have ever played on. i play off 3 and the greens get soaked with rainfall and too many trees prevent the sun getting onto the green. there is always bare patches and different grains. i dont know how they can justify the international status and certainly shouldnt be charging $130 to play. when you putt the ball can go in different directions off the putter because of how bad the greens are. dont waste your money playing here. coffs harbour golf club is in much better condition and for $35.00 you can play in the comp on a good 27 hole course with consistent greens and chalenging holes.
hi ISGolfers, I am heading up to Bonville very shorty and wondering if any body can advise on the condition of the course? Also noted on some reviews about the carts, are carts not allowed on the fairways or is this only if it has been raining? any info would be of use as I really am pumped to be heading to this great course after hearing so much about it and at $130.00 a round would be let down if it did not live upto expectations and hype. Thanks.
Played this course yesterday, and I was impressed. I had heard a lot of things about this place, but there is only one word that describes it "Beautiful". The conditioning of the course was great but I if I was to give you a tip, keep the ball under the hole on the greens if you can. This was millionaires golf, as it felt I was the only person on the course. Staff were very friendly, I've never been to a golf course where the greens staff actually ask you how your day is, normally they think you are in their way. The only negative is I can't play again today.
Played Bonville yesterday after speaking with friends who love the course. I now love this course. After reading a review on this website from August i was nervous to play so i called the Proshop who assured me the course is experiencing great Spring growth and its getting better on a daily basis (after the cooler Winter months) - they weren't wrong. The greens rolled great, the fairways and tees are covered in grass (previous review is way too harsh) and it was a pleasure to play. Each hole is separate from one another so you have to have a golf cart (included in price) which is great as its way too long to walk alone. I hear their new teaching pro works wonders so i will arrange a lesson next time I'm in the area. If you have time, stay on course like i did & eat in their restaurant, it would have to be the best golf course restaurant in Australia - the food is amazing plus good staff! Bonville is a great course and a great experience - you must make the trip here.
Played Bonville last week. To say it was a disappointment was an understatement. The course was in terrible condition. There was hardly any grass anywhere on the fairways or greens. To charge $110 to play a course in that condition is a rip off. On the same trip I played Hope Island, Lakelands & the Glades all similar prices but the quality of course presentation and standards were a world apart. The layout is magnificent it's a shame that the conditions aren't up to it.
Played Bonville yesterday and believe this is one of the best courses to play, as the course is challenging, but not the most challenging. It has brilliant conditioning and each hole feels like a haven with no adjoining fairways, and large trees everywhere. There is great diversity as each hole does not feel the same as any others. The bunkers are well maintained and the greens are very true, although tricky. The course is not overly long, but the greens are protected by many fairway obstacles including streams, fairway bunkers and doglegs. There are many highlights on this course. The price is expensive and the pace of pay was slow, my round took over 5 hours as we were behind a comp and it was backed up. The Marshalls did nothing about the pace. This was the only downside to a great experience.
Played Bonville on Easter Sunday. Allegedly it was a "busy day", but we were not rushed by the marshall once and hardly saw anybody else on the course. AND WHAT A COURSE. Conditioning was absolutely magnificent. There were a few damp patches, but hey, you get that when it rains. I didn't find the course overly difficult, the fairways were wide and forgiving and the greens were fast and receptive. I loved the little touch of ordering your lunch on the 8th tee and having it ready for you when you putt out. This course is worth every bit of the green fee.
played 12 months ago and made sure i played again on this trip. as stated by many it is a very pictures course but has enough challenges to test any able golfer. a must play for any golfer but DO NOT stay onsite. you save $10 off green fees but both stays we have had inconsiderate @#$%S surrounding us making noise until all hours.
I have wanted to play this course for ages and finally got the opportunity on Australia Dat weekend. The course and the setting is spectacular. The course is carved out of tall forest and features heaps of elevation change and tranquil water hazards and streams cutting the fairways. The course is not overly long but with each hole bordered by the forest and, with the added element of elevation changes, it doesn't have to be long. Course was in fabulous condition and the service was brilliant. On the negative side, the course has some bizarre routing with some lengthy drives between holes meaning it is basically a cart only course (also due to some of the massive climbs and descents). Additionally, some of the bunkering looks like it has only been added for asethic appeal and lacks strategic merit with most of them positioned too far from the putting surfaces to influence the better players. However these minor shortcomings can be easily overlooked due to the beauty of the place and the interesting risk-reward design of many of the holes. Bonville is a must play, you won't be disappointed - I certainly wasn't.
friends of mine had played Bonville for years, So when i finally got the chance to go the expectation where high, not only did it live up to expectation but it exceeded them, its like you are in other world , a golfers dream even thou i played terrible it was still a pleasure, rooms right on the first tee, service from the staff on and off course was 100% , cant wait to go back in march.
Bonville is a world of its own. Every part of the experience is enjoyable even the journey between holes which can be quite the journey!!
In terms of golf, main aim is to stay on fairways here because the massive flooded gums will steal all stray balls.
Id have to say that the cpurse is in great condition in recent weeks. Its great going back to a course after 12 months and seeing the differences to the bunkers, greens and fairways + the small things like new flags, bunker rakes. Bonville even has laser guns in each cart (and the pro informed be that they only work at Bonville, as they have a reflector in the flagstick) which you can detach and get distances from anywhere on a hole to the flag stick best mesaurement system if seen in Australia as is detatchable and extremely acuarte unlike GPS systems and only give mesaurements from the cart. We played our 1st day in the wet and it was carts on paths then the 2nd day it was carts on fairways the drainage must be second to none on the east coast as we encountered other courses in the area that had no carts on course. The accommodation is undergong was great as was the restaurant (simpky the best lobster pasta dish ive tasted). Service at Bonville from the pro to the green staff is amazing (instead of me wainting for the greensmower to finsh to play a shot they stopped and let me play through the only place where the player has right of way not the greenstaff).
Im still considering a treechange just got to convince the husband. If you have played Bonville Play it & if you havent played it for a while get back as the improvements are constant.
This course was very disappointing. A number of friends had raved about it and, although the scenery is quite spectacular, when we played it the course was in poor condition. The greens were very patchy, slow and bumpy and the fairways were thin and uneven. It is definitely a cart course as there are massive hills to negotiate and the distance between a lot of the holes is hundreds of metres. With green fees of $105 each (including compulsory cart) we expected a lot better. In addition there is no drinking water on the course, so make sure you take some with you. Maybe we caught them at a bad time, but we won't be back.
Played it early this month, great course. We played off the back markers. Little confusing directions around the 1B hole (2nd had oil damage) but apart from that brilliant. Not cheap at $105 but a great course. Read the cheat sheet if you ahvent' played their before, very helpful on a couple of blind tee holes.
The course, the location, the food! A complete golfing experience! Every hole is a perfect postcard picture and I still think about it four weeks later. Even my non-golfing partner enjoyed being my caddie/driver and anticipated the views around each corner. Not overly long, I used the 3 wood off the tee regularly for position. A great range of shots into the greens is required. The accommodation was okay, but the restaurant and food were excellent. Can't wait to go again!
arhhh there should be a golf course like this in hevan. not one hole that is not picturess,if you havnt played it …make the trip trust me as i have played all over the world and you cant do much better in the non links catagory.how many golf courses can you sit and enjoy a dring and view the 18th with such splender and at night its makes you want to play as the flood lights invite you and the way the sun filters through the trees in the lateness of the day brings out the camera for the memories of the best course in Australia.
One of these most beautifully presented and picturesque courses one could ever hope to play. The manicured gardens around the tees and the layout of the holes were stunning. A challenging course even without any great length, lots of dog-legs and hazards designed into most holes. A real visual treat you won't forget.
We played on Boxing Day and the greens were still recovering from being cored a week or so prior, so must admit the experience on the greens was very disappointing. Shame, as this would certainly have ranked in my top 5 golf days ever! Feel like I have to return now to get the whole experience.
Do yourself a favour and drop in if in the area.
Played Bonville in late November for the first time in 10 years and can't believe the difference. The condition of the course is now 1st class. I should have taken the Pro's tip and kept the ball under the hole as the greens were suprisingly quick and very true. Glad this place is finally realising it's potential. Service from staff was very friendly and helpful. You must also try the restaraunt when finished. The food and wine is as good as any around.
Now you've made, "golfing heaven". If you've always dreamt of playing one of the world's most famous courses, "Augusta". Dream no longer. This course has been modelled on the famous Georgian layout and it doesn't dissappoint. I think Jack and Tiger would feel at home in this beautiful layout carved into the North coast rainforest.
This course is a must play for any golfing enthusiast.
It offers an excellent array of very challenging holes cut through a plantation forest of River gums, some reaching 40m+ in height.
Towards the end of winter the course starts to show a few signs of wear, particularly in shaded areas on some tee's and greens but due to the surrounding trees this can't be helped.
Also bring a few balls if your likely to lose a fairway, not only are they hard to find but there may also be a few Brown or Black snakes in there as well.
The fairways are always A1 and the greens are good too.
My favourite hole is the par 5 10th, 2 water carries to the green and a rolling fairway leading a stray ball to a watery grave. The mountain ranges in the background just look amazing of the tee.
Afterwards, relax in the Rivergums restaurant, having a bite to eat or a cool ale and watch the following golfers hit into the Par 5, 18th green.
The 3rd Friday of each month is Tiger tee day. $60 p.p inc cart off the black markers, otherwise expect to pay around $110.
Very scenic, and a decent course, but not all that's its cracked up to be. Very hilly, which makes for some awkward lies. Plus the first cut of rough is often a forest! Miss the fairway and your ball is gone. I don't like losing $7 or so every time I miss the fairway!
Played this course recently and thought the course and facilities were looking a little tired since I played it a few years ago. However nice layout, probably will play it again if traveling through again.
This is an absolutely magnificent course. It is the type of course you can keep coming back to. The feel of the course is surreal as it feels very isolated amongst the trees, and the course is designed to take advantage of the ravines, gullies, and elevation changes. The condition is very good with the fairways being very well conditioned, the bunkers having the white fluffy sand we all prefer, and the greens being quick, but true. There is some water, and a note of caution, read the course guide if playing for the first time and take notice of the advice.
The course is challenging, without being a overly difficult, but when you play you seem to play with a variety of holes, doglegs left, right, long par 4's, shorter par 4's shorter par 5's, and challenging par 3's. It does not seem that any two consecutive holes are the same. A word of advice, get a cart, the distance between green to tee is the longest I have seen on any course.
The staff are friendly, and professional. I believe the price, although steep is indicative of the standard. I believe it is value for money.
This is a gourse that you will want to keep comming back to year after year. The tree lined fairways give you a sense of total isolation & thats exactly waht you want if you are off 28 like i am. A great golfing experience and im even thinking of doing a true tree change and moving to the Coffs Coast & becoming a member of Bonville as its that good. My family is into the beach and Sawtell (a great beachside town) is only 5min from Bonville with the perfect setup with the surf club (patrolled beach) & cafes again only a short stroll away. The airport is only 10 mins from Bonville as well, so you fell like your miles away but in reality you are only minutes.
A must for anyone who playes golf more than once a year. The resorts Restaurant is top notch as well.
WOW indeed. A great golf course and up there with the best of them. I played on a Monday and it felt like i had the place to my self, it was like i was Kerry Packer at Ellerston! The pro told me there were 60 others out there but i didnt notice. The greens were in great condition but the beauty of the place was what convinced my wife to come back next year. She loathes golf but loved her Bonville experience. Staying on course and dining in the restaurant for lunch & Dinner each day for the 2 days was awesome. Bonville is our new home for our (my) annual golfing holiday, we used to go to the hunter but this beats any of the hunter properies 3 fold in all departments (food, service, course condition & most importantly beauty). The cart shed guy even cleaned my clubs overnight and they looked brand new for round 2.
One word can be used to describe Bonville at Coffs Harbour – WOW! This place is amazing, from the moment you drive in the front gates you know this place is special, the trees streach for miles, they make you fell like a dwarf. The course is cart only as there is basicly a hole between each hole of gardens, waterways & patches of rainforest. At less than $100 midweek you would have to be crazy not to play here instead of the $150 Gold Coast & metro courses that are no where near as good. The members of Bonville would have to be the luckiest members in the country (im thinkingh of joining them and coming up from Sydney 6-8 times a year). The entire property is just magic from the accommodation overlooking the 1st hole to the 5 star restaurant overlooking the 18th green (i love my food and wine and this place has an amazing mix of both), not a bad swimming pool as well after a hard day on the course. If your next golfing holiday in NSW/the East Coast of Australia doesnt include a round at Bonville then you arent having a golfing holiday at all.
I travel to Coffs 2 or 3 times a year and usually play at Bonville while I'm there. I have played a lot of courses and this one is always a pleasure. It's almost spiritual in the rainforest surroundings. Other players on the course are so remote ( because of the distances between tees ) that you feel far less hurried than a resort style course. The greens can be a little inconsistent but the variety of holes more than makes up for it. If you spray the ball though you are in for a frustrating day as the forest is dense along the fairways. Highly recommend it to 18 or better markers.
I played at Bonville in January of this year for the first time. All I can say is WOW, from the perfectly manicures Tee gardens to the tough sloping greens. I must admit it was a pleasure to shoot 10 over my handicap at this course and you can't say that about many courses. Ha Ha The thing I liked most about bonville was the staff, so polite and willing to help you out. Great course, I'm already planning my trip back there, going to stay a few extra days this time.
This is a great course. There is nothing you won't like about the course. The staff are friendly and the course is great. It isn't particulary hard. The fairways aren't that tight. Although if you go extremely left or right don't bother looking for your ball. The greens run true and each hole is different. When teeing up you'll always have something to think about. There is no signature hole, each and every one is great in its own right. Overall a great course that must be played. The only downside is the price. But it is worth playing all the same. The best in the area.
Far from the madding crowd is probably the best way to sum up Bonville International Golf Resort (BIGR). In actual fact you are not all that far from anywhere but it seems that way from the moment you drive in the gate until the moment you leave. That is the attraction of the place, it is another world.
Opened in January 1992, the course was originally developed by the Japanese backed Coffs Harbour Development Corporation. Their choice of venue was considered a little unusual given the fact that Coffs Harbour was not exactly on the beaten Japanese tourist map at that stage. It was certainly ahead of its time in that regard but the rapid development in the Coffs Harbour area and the growing appetite of Australian golfers for escapism, in terms of golfing experiences, has seen the resort establish a niche in the market.
The company engaged the services of Terry Watson and Ted Stirling to design the course and whilst not exactly recognised names in the design industry, they succeeded to a very large extent in meeting the brief of the developer. That brief in part was to create a course with the feel of Augusta, the home of the US Masters.
The pressures that came on many Japanese companies who had invested so heavily in Australia during the eighties and early nineties befell the owners and in 1999, Ironhill Management Pty Ltd a company with both American and Australian interests took over the course and injected a new lease of life. The positive impact of the new ownership is becoming increasingly evident.
Brad Daymond, who was originally from Coffs Harbour, returned from a stint overseas to take up the position as Golf Director on the course's opening in 1992 and has recently been appointed to the General Manager's role.
The course is marketed in many areas as the Augusta of Australia. It is probably a good marketing ploy but I'm not sure that it does justice to either Augusta or Bonville Golf Resort as it probably serves to create undue expectations. I am of the opinion that in time it will not need the tag of Australia's Augusta as it will develop its own reputation. I think the course at Bonville is special and unique in its own right.
Weaving its way through an existing flooded gums plantation, the course is interspersed with outcrops of rainforest. The flooded gums were originally planted for milling by Australian Paper Mills (the original owners of the land) and as a consequence they are tall and majestic in their presence. Although originally planted in a structured way to accommodate milling and growing requirements, they certainly do not give that impression when you are on the course. They divide most fairways providing the great feeling of isolation and privacy as you play each hole. Several of the holes run side by side but there is seldom contact with other golfers as you play.
As a further introduction of character to the course there are several areas of orchard with kiwi fruit, mangoes, lychees and other native and exotic fruits on display. All serving to enhance the ambience.
The course was opened in 1992 and has undergone a number of changes in recent times including the change of ownership in 1999. The new owners made a commitment to introduce 328 Tifgreen to all greens and although three are yet to be converted from the 1020 bent it is clear that once done there will be a greater consistency of surface on all greens. The difficulty in using bent in this region has been proven time and time again due to heat and humidity concerns. Although only three or four kilometres from the ocean the course is nestled amongst the forest mentioned earlier and this, along with the hills behind, prevents air movement of any significance and thus the need for warm season grasses.
The fairway grass is "Greenlees Park" an Australian variety of bermuda grass used on many resort courses here, more especially those constructed in this era. It is a quick recovery grass and offers a good playing surface virtually year round. The management has resisted the temptation of using other grasses in off-fairway areas for contrast which, from a maintenance and playability point of view, is a wise decision.
The opening hole is an interesting one and gets away from the typical trend in resort golf that almost dictates a generous opening tee shot. In fact it would be fair to say that it is the most demanding on the course, making sure that you are on your toes from the start. It is not all over once your tee shot is safely negotiated either, with an uphill second to a green angled from front right to back left.
Of the other holes on the front nine those that stood out included the downhill par three fourth which required a mid to long iron to a green and surrounds which sloped very much from right to left. An element of luck required here with the bounce but no doubt after playing the hole a few times the secret code can be broken. It was certainly a great looking hole from the tee especially with the backdrop of rainforest.
The par five eighth was another one of those holes that are enjoyable to play over and over again. Very generous from the tee, as are most here, the decision making process begins with the second as it can require two good shots to get across a rocky creek some seventy metres short of the green. A warning here is that the rocky creek is not always evident from where the teeshot lands. Having safely negotiated the rocky creek, it is uphill to a long green with three levels including a very small one at the back.
A long cart drive to the ninth concludes with the longish, 183 metre par three 9th which plays slightly uphill to the clubhouse. Out of bounds left threatens those attempting to avoid the bunker guarding the front right of the green and with such a long iron you need to be on your guard.
The par five 11th is my favourite on the course. Plenty of options once the tee shot is safely negotiated with waterway running diagonally across the fairway twice determining the strategy for both the tee shot and the second. Longer hitters can take it on with the second shot but for those less fortunate, they can plot their way up close to the water and leave a short iron to a shallow green.
I also liked the par four 16th. Planning is required from the tee as it is possible for the longer hitters to knock it in the water. A precise second is also required to a green guarded in the front by a small lake and through the green by a creek. Club selection is all important here.
There are two options for the 17th a par four and a par three which provides flexibility and variety for the course and the management. Both are good holes and that concept allows the opportunity for maintenance on a particular hole without the need for temporary greens. If you like, a spare.
The par five 18th is not long but it provides plenty of intrigue from the tee shot to the green. It is the sort of hole that can produce birdies or triple bogeys in the blink of an eye.
There were several small aspects of the service that to me meant a lot as they are easy to implement and offered that special touch. The first was the cheat sheet that was included on all carts, a sheet of A4 paper with a brief but precise description of each hole and how to play it. No need therefore to spend more money on a course guide as this described all you needed to know.
At the 9th tee an intercom system allowed you to order your food and drinks, which would then be waiting for you after you had completed the hole. Simple but just another means of adding to an enjoyable day. The drinks cart was a regular visitor during the round.
A roomy and well stocked pro shop with welcoming staff greeted you, although I would prefer to have seen the shop on ground level rather than having to walk up stairs to gain access.
A great variety of holes overall and each memorable in its own right. When I sat down to commence this article the night after my first round I found the recollection of the holes very easy which is always a good sign. That quality is likely enhanced by the fact that the surrounding forest provides such uniqueness in character and isolation, which in turn enhances the memorability.
If I had one criticism of the course, and it is only a minor one, is that I would like to see the lake edges planted out with water flora that would break down the sharp edges of the lakes. Reeds or such that allowed the lake edges to tie in with the surrounds would further enhance the beautifully natural environment. I know they do not do that at Augusta but I feel it would just help to soften the sharpness of the lakes.
It is not an overly demanding course especially from the tee but I am not sure that a good golfing resort necessarily needs a tough golf course. Bonville is, however, one that provides interest all the way. If the golf is not going too well then there is always the opportunity to relax and enjoy the surrounds.
The beauty of the Resort as I mentioned at the beginning is that it is a hideaway, if that is what you are after, but it is also close to Coffs Harbour (11 kilometres) and the increasingly trendy seaside holiday village of Sawtell. There are some great restaurants there if you are looking for variety but having dined at the Resort on the Saturday evening of my stay I can recommend the food, the service and the outlook (you look over the 18th with floodlights making almost ghost like figures of the flooded gums).
The clubhouse is a fine example of an old world Queenslander-style building with verandahs and balconies further enhancing the natural surrounds. The "Flooded Gums" restaurant offers not only fine food and service but great views over the 18th and beyond. The Clubhouse also offers an outstanding venue for functions and conferences.
Accommodation is taken care of with 30 suites, several having spa baths and balconies. Adjacent to the first fairway and only three minutes walk from the clubhouse they will be joined in the not too distant future by even more accommodation.
This is a course with a great atmosphere. The flooded gums give a real sense of seclution. The course is not overly long, but it is extremely interesting. There are a lot of choices to be mabe, especially on the par 5's with creeks & ravines cutting the fairways. The 10th, a short par 4, has bunkers running diagonally through the middle of the fairway.
Bonville has a very good reputation, but the price is a bit steep for the average golfer just looking for a bit of fun while on holiday. However, any serious golfer should visit this course at least once to see how the other half lives.
This is the most visually spectacular golf course I have ever played, and the imagination of the course designers in using the natural contours is truly impressive.
Every hole is surrounded by jungle, but the fairways are wide enough for the most part to use the driver. The par 5's are a bit odd, with two of them featuring a hazard at the 240 metre mark that encourages a lay-up off the tee. If you do that successfully, the holes are still almost reachable in two. I can see why the pro's had low scores in the tournament last year.
One thing I really liked was the 1 page course guide clipped to the steering wheel of the cart (essential and compulsory).
Bonville was an ammazing place to play. The whole area at the moment is so green after a lot of rain. Unfortunately the greens ahd just been renovated so they were a firm but no finish. That aside the course was in great shape, the use of the terrain was well thought out and the fact that you rarely saw other players on other holes was different. Well worth it.
This was the second time I played the wonderful Bonville, the first been 10 years ago. It was just as I remembered, a beautiful 5 hours in the bush. On some of back holes you would think you were only player on the course.
I played in the Tuesday Comp and had 36 points off a handicap of 9, I was driving well and found the course pretty easy. I lost 2 balls from drives, which I wouldn't have if I had known what was ahead. (The how to play the course guide is a must). The greens were slow after been coured a few weeks earlier. My only regret was that I couldn't play more than one game.
Just needed to comment that I played this great layout again back in April 05 after 9 years since the previous time (how time passes quickly). What I noticed this time was the maturity of the gardens either surrounding the greens or lining the fairways. What was once considered to be scrub or rough is now either gardens or grassy clearings. Overall the course was in great condition - I recall in the earlier years when I played, they had problems with their greens however not on this visit.
Just wish they upgrade their Carts otherwise recomend all to take another look at it next time you pass by. The outlook from the Club-house is still one of the best in Aus.
after an absence of about 8 years I got back this weekend for the annual Tiger tees final. The Tiger tees days are run each month with the final being 36 holes in January.
The Pins and Tees set up for the 2 days certainly made up for any shortfalls that the course might hold in difficulty at other times and really added to a great couple of days.
The greens have been changed to a different grass since last i played , which has improved what was probably the biggest problem back then.