Wind and fast greens to protect Australian PGA’s new host course
Royal Queensland has been unveiled as host of the Australian PGA in a fitting nod to the famous golf club’s Centenary year. How will the course stand up to the pros? JIM TUCKER reports.
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Rod Pampling recently shot an eye-popping 60 off the front tees yet is certain that Royal Queensland will have the teeth to test the best at this year’s Australian PGA.
Thursday’s official unveiling of the tournament’s switch from RACV Royal Pines on the Gold Coast to a new riverside home in Brisbane triggered all the normal chatter.
How will a course so wide open off many tees defend itself against the long bombers of modern golf who routinely pump the ball 300m?
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Pampling visited the layout on Wednesday with RQ course superintendent Adam Mills and PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman to give his input as a pro of 26 years.
“There are short and long holes to offer nice variety and firm greens will make it tricky to get the ball close,” said Pampling, the 2008 Australian Masters champion.
“There’s the possibility of adding a couple of new tees to change the tee shot angles on a couple of the shorter holes and there’s always the wind at RQ.
“The course is in great condition and will be fine.”
Pampling actually missed a short putt on his second hole when his playing partners calculated he had 60 from the white tees in a members’ competition last month.
Any course is a different beast in championship mode from the back tees, with tough pins tucked behind bunkers and green speeds cranked up.
“Rod was very excited about the potential course set up for a world-class tournament that is unique to the other 51 weeks of the year when it is designed for members to play,” Kirkman said.
“The PGA is incredibly excited to bring the tournament to Brisbane and to a beautiful golf course where the club’s Centenary will be fittingly acknowledged.”
The host city agreement is for a three-year switch to Brisbane with all the value that the upbeat Portside precinct can offer close to Royal Queensland.
Top Brisbane pro Jake McLeod, a long-time Royal Queensland member, backed Pampling’s view that RQ would be a major handful in the wind.
“I love the course … it’s quite easy off the tee but the variety and difficulty around the greens always makes scoring a challenge,” McLeod said.
“Take the par three 17th. It’s super difficult even if the yardage (at 125m) doesn’t say so because the green is super complex with ridges going everywhere, wasteland, bunkers and steep drop-offs.
“Generally, just knowing where to hit it and not having to think as much out there is a home course advantage I’m looking forward to.”
An RACV spokesman said support had been put forward for the 2020 tournament to continue on the Gold Coast and “this is a disappointing outcome.”
Kirkman said the PGA of Australia would continue to talk to Royal Pines and the Gold Coast City Council about future events now the positive seven-year tournament run had ended.
“The decision was taken to continue to evolve the PGA’s flagship tournament and we look forward to Brisbane turning out with big crowds for an exciting, vibrant and fan-friendly tournament,” Kirkman said.
The Australian Amateur Championship, starting at RQ on Tuesday, will give a good insight into scoring trends at the course.
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