Coral Cove’s second voted on of the best in Australia

IF YOU asked any golfer from around the world if they would like to tee their ball up just metres from the Pacific Ocean the answer would certainly be yes.

BEAUTIFUL SIGHT: Coral Cove's second hole is as beautiful as it is difficult and it was voted to be one of the favoured holes in Australian golf. Photo Dave Rosenthal - PGA. Picture: Contributed

IF YOU asked any golfer from around the world if they would like to tee their ball up just metres from the Pacific Ocean with the gentle sound of waves crashing on rocks the answer would certainly be a resounding yes.

At Coral Cove on the 203m par three second is exactly what they get to do. And the picturesque hole has been acknowledged on the Australian stage.

The tricky hole was named as one of the best par threes in the country on golf website Golf In Queensland.

On the list with clubs that have $5000 per year memberships and a few years' wait to join like Kingston Heath, Yarra Yarra and Royal Melbourne, the accolade is a massive honour for Coral Cove.

The green is a large target from front to back but not very wide with the hazard left and bunkers right to catch you out. A bail out area exists with a large slope right of the green which can propel your ball back toward the hole.

Course professional Michael Murnane said it plays a shot harder off the blue tees thanks to the trees that line the approach and strong wind that plays havoc on most days.

To get an appreciation of the hole the NewsMail sent me to play the second at Coral Cove on a day in which the conditions were forgiving.

After always letting fly from the red markers I didn't know about the blue, but after getting clear directions from Murnane I found them down near the Barolin Rocks dive site and considered my options.

The first was to drive back to the pro shop, hand the keys to the buggy in and come back to the office. The second was to tee the ball up and have a crack at the beautiful hole, so that's what I did.

With a four wood in hand I sent three balls into the volcanic rocks the area is famous for, but the next two shots were not too bad.

Shot four, the best of five, sailed over the trees and thanks to the soft ground stopped 35m short of the pin.

Then the trouble started.

With a short game that needs plenty of work I chipped passed the hole, and had to make my way back only to two-putt my way to a double-bogey five.

Touring professionals and trainees know of the hole and speak about it in hushed whispers but until you have a go from the blue markers you'd never understand what they were talking about.

It's as beautiful as it is hard and to make the list was a reflection of its standing in the game.

People who have tanken on the second hole at Coral Cove were asked to give their thoughts on Facebook, and this is what they said.

Melissa Hart: This is one of the best holes. Depending on which way the sea breeze is blowing you can walk off with a par or in some cases scores in the high teens.

When playing this hole and the south easterly is blowing make sure you have plenty of golf balls, you may need then.

Jamie Hook: Having played this hole under Tournament conditions I can say it is one of the best and most challenging holes I have played.

Playing just over 200m from the plates, across the edge of the Pacific Ocean, with wind gusts coming from every which direction out of bounds along the right.

Most players to see their ball landing in play.

All of this said, the views and the experience to play this hole is an opportunity not to be missed.

Tim Wilde: Have played this great golf hole many times and I rate it as one of the best Par 3's around.

Such a challenging hole and one that really tests the nerve of any golfer particularly with a good south easterly blowing in your face.

Start the ball left of the green and let the breeze bring it back over the green.