Royal Adelaide Golf Club

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Royal Adelaide is proper golf. Subtle, thoughtful, fun and quietly demanding. The routing is clever, the bunkering asks questions, several blind shots need negotiating, angles really matter, misses are punished just enough, and the greens are beautifully nuanced. Classic architecture, excellent conditioning and a sense the course always has one more trick up its sleeve. The changes since we last played here 16 years ago have made the course feel more interesting, and the conditioning has improved enormously throughout. Striking good iron shots off the springy turf produced a lot of happy faces in our fourball. The 3rd, 4th and 11th are obvious highlights of this Dr Mackenzie gem, but there are no weak holes at Royal Adelaide. A very very enjoyable day on a fabulous golf course.

Royal Adelaide Golf Club is a very special place and deserves full appreciation. The club dates back to the 19th century, and its course was remoulded by the legendary designer Alister MacKenzie. Its clubhouse has some super memorabilia of its impressive past. It overlooks the 18th, first tee, practice ground and the iconic railway line that famously runs through the course. The second is the most trumpeted of Royal Adelaide's holes because the drive from the tips is over the railway line. The trains emerge regularly; special rules are associated with looking for balls near the tracks. Fortunately, we played well away from them on this strategic par five, attacking down the right of a hole punctuated by traps. The two-tier green is typical of Royal Adelaide - pacy and slippery. It was followed by a lovely blind, short par-four with trees on the left and a cavernous waste area and more trees on the right. The tricky sixth is a par-four which runs parallel to extensive work being done by Renaissance Golf to upgrade the eighth and ninth holes. It is a par-five for women and Mrs W was in pole position to see our Aussie opponent chip in from a greenside bunker for a birdie. The 11th is one of Royal Adelaide's classics. A short, curving par-four with a blind fade needed off the tee before an approach over savage wasteland to a green framed by bunkers and bushes. Twice, I had been well-placed, and twice, I had licked my lips in anticipation of glory only to find sand with my approach. The 14th has been hailed as one of the finest holes in Australian golf, and it is easy to see why. From the tee, the eye is drawn to the substantial bunkers directly in front and tall trees to the right. Thus, the shot is to what seems a mere slither of land to the left. If mission one is accomplished, the player faces a narrow approach down over devilish sandy scrub, then up a sharp incline to a perched green. We observed the 18th from the clubhouse and drove through it to the car park. and I was looking forward to emulating some of the fine finishes we had witnessed. Consequently, I was thrilled when I drilled the ball onto the green from an unpromising position in the rough beside a bunker. However, the intoxicating thought of finishing with a double birdie was soon doused when I slammed the ball six feet past the cup and missed the return. Nevertheless, the memory of our day was not soured in the slightest. This had been a special day at a fantastic club and course.

Royal Adelaide is one of the best courses in South Australia.

The layout is challenging with the bunkers perfectly placed on each hole. The greens really are a test for any golfer and just absolutely pure.

There is a railway track that runs across one of the holes and you have to wait for it to pass before you hit!

Adelaide is also well known for its good food, seafood and wine so it really is worth travelling to Adelaide and enjoy the whole city with the beautiful golf clubs.

One of the best challenges I've seen and played occurred today at Royal Adelaide GC.

No wonder the ISPS HANDA Australian Women's Open is being played here in Feb '17.

Melbourne may have the renowned sandbelt, but Adelaide's "Redbelt" has stood the true test of time also, due to Dr. Alastair McKenzies early design / philosophy on his trip to Australia in the 1920/30's.

Ranked in the Top 10 at many times throughout the rankings history, and more recently the Top 15, Royal Adelaide GC is an excellent course that holds all the UK & IRELAND links course design & beliefs true to this day.

If you require a more detailed description of R. A than above, you will find my words echoed no doubt.