Tuncurry Golf Course - The best course on the Mid North Coast
The championship layout is sure to test golfers of all skill levels. Demanding from the tee, the rolling couch fairways and relatively flat putting surfaces reward the player that drives the ball well from the tee.
The Banksia and Tea Tree rough have been thinned out over the years thanks to the great work from volunteers to make playing this great layout more user friendly.
The course has the great ability to handle rain in extended wet periods; the sand base keeps the course in perfect playing conditions when surrounding clubs are closed for days and weeks. It’s well worth a game and not to be missed if you’re passing through the area.
Need a quick tip? Watch our guides below
Hole 1 Par 4
Men 331m
Women 273m
A dogleg right to start, 350m Par 4, this hole is a friendly reminder of what the course has to offer. Play your tee shot to the 150m marker and you have an easy approach and a good chance of scoring well; for the longer hitters you need to weigh up your options, as an all-out attack at Tuncurry could mean you need to take some extra balls! The green is relatively flat with a raised tier in the back left.
Hole 2 Par 4
Men 315m
Women 285m
Par 4, 320m, dogleg left back around the first hole. The rolling fairway can bounce the ball either way, so be sure of your line from the tee. A tee shot 190-210m will be best positioned for the second to the green; longer hitters have driven this green but many attempts have failed approximately 300m direct line over the corner. A large tier runs across the middle of the green; a good approach needs to be on the same levels as the hole and the green slopes towards the front.
Hole 3 Par 4
Men 324m
Women 264m
This hole can be deceiving to the eye and for first time players. The green looks like it’s over 400m away, but the hole measures only 339m Par 4. The tee shot catches out a lot of players as they try to play the dogleg. Don’t be drawn in. Play your tee shot straight down the middle 160-140m from the green. Position is the key on this hole; the further you hit your tee shot the more the pine trees on the right come into play. An accurate approach is required to a small green that slopes left to right and back to front.
Hole 4 Par 3
Men 112m
Women 111m
Heads straight towards the ocean, 162m, this par 3 is a great challenge with the rolling fairway blocking a lot of the putting surface from the tee. Check your distance as the right club choice is vital; over the green is a tough up and down. The green has both the left and right edges raised with a dip running through the middle of the green. If the pin is placed on either of the back tiers, left or right, a 3 can be a good score.
Hole 5 Par 5
Men 469m
Women 422m
Slight dogleg left along the beach, 491m, Par 5 rewards for the long hitter as the green can be reached in two if you avoid the left hand fairway bunker, O.O.B. down the right side from the tee. For players taking the 3 shot options, play your second to the left just short of the fairway bunkers near the green about 150-110m from the green. The green slopes towards the bunker on the front right.
Hole 6 Par 4
Men 337m
Women 332m
Par 4, 376m, one of the widest fairways on Tuncurry, a good tee shot will make your approach to a very narrow green much easier. A saddle runs down the second half of the fairway making it difficult to run a shot onto the green. Left or right of the green requires a good up and down. The green slopes towards the front and middle.
Hole 7 Par 4
Men 358m
Women 304m
Par 4, 378m, fairway bunkers left and right, play your tee shot towards the right to avoid the left trap. The right hand trap is hidden but towards the trees about 235m from the tee. A bunker guards the front right of the green and the green slopes towards the trap. The back of the green is fairly flat and needs more attention when reading your putt.
Hole 8 Par 5
Men 426m
Women 385m
Par 5, 452m, play your drive left of the fairway trap, O.O.B. right of the fairway and a water hazard runs along the right further up. This is a great birdie or eagle opportunity for the longer hitters who take the tiger line over the trap. The green is surrounded by bunkers, two short right and one long left. If you layup, play to the left of the fairway for a better angle into the green. A large tier runs across the middle of the green. The back of the green slopes to the right, and the front of the green slopes back to the fairway.
Hole 9 Par 3
Men 120m
Women 120m
A tough Par 3, 218m. Driver is the most used club from the tee; longer hitters can play a long iron to run up to the green. O.O.B. right and a pine tree not far from the tee blocks the left to right shot. The green slopes towards the left front. Par here is well earned.
Hole 10 Par 4
Men 344m
Women 299m
A strong par 4, 430m, some would suggest almost a Par 5! The number 1 rated hole on the course. The rolling fairway can dramatically change your score on this hole; hit it into an upslope and you could add 50m to your next. Longer hitters will land on the flat and can get some god roll forward. A long green awaits you with plenty of slope in the back half towards the front. Take 4 any day and treat it like a birdie.
Hole 11 Par 5
Men 427m
Women 418m
Par 5, 440m, a slope runs across this fairway towards the right hand side, drive the ball left of centre up onto the flat to get some forward roll. The longer hitters need to avoid the right side fairway bunker to leave an opportunity to hit the green in two. The green is positioned to the left behind some Banksia trees, another fairway bunker positioned short left and a greenside bunker to the right guard the green. Layup position is short right for the best angle to the green. The green has a tier running front to back along the left of the green, making a left pin harder to access. A great birdie or eagle opportunity for the longer hitters.
Hole 12 Par 4
Men 309m
Women 309m
Par 4, 334m, a rolling fairway, be sure to land it on the right slope for your distance. The longer hitters will fly the slopes onto the flat. The green slopes slightly towards the front, a long green. Make sure you know where the pin is located.
Hole 13 Par 4
Men 344m
Women 299m
Par 4, 363m, dogleg right. Play your drive to the right of the three gum trees straight ahead. Longer hitters can play the aggressive line over the trees down the right to leave a shorter iron in. A big dip short right of the green catches any short approach shots. The green is relatively flat.
Hole 14 Par 3
Men 174m
Women 162m
Par 3, 208m, a tough green to hit. Balls hit left generally stay left, anything right of centre will bounce down to the right. Afternoon players generally play this hole into the north easterly wind. The green slopes towards the left anything on the green is good. Take 3 and go to the next.
Hole 15 Par 5
Men 439m
Women 380m
Dogleg left par 5, 479m, one of the most memorable holes on the Tuncurry course. This hole typifies Tuncurry, rolling couch fairway, thick Banksia rough and a chance to make a good score if you can drive it right. The fairway bunker on the left catches anyone trying to run one around the corner, and two fairway bunkers are located through the corner on the right. Play towards the right traps to open up the corner for a straight second toward the green. The longer hitters can take on the corner; a draw around the corner is ideal. The rolling fairway challenges your shots into the green. A bunker guards the left of the green and a slope drops off on the right. The green slopes from back to front left. 4 or 5 is a good result.
Hole 16 Par 3
Men 139m
Women 120m
Short par 3,151m, a hole you should be able to par no trouble rated 18 on the index. This hole can creep up on you, however, if you miss the green. The green slopes back to front; an uphill putt is ideal.
Hole 17 Par 4
Men 380m
Women 309m
Par 4, 384m. A tough dogleg right, it takes a good hit to get to the corner on the dogleg. The really long hitters need to be careful with the line. Generally to the right of the pine tree straight ahead will be safe. Two pine trees are located on the left side of the fairway towards the green and need to be avoided. The green slopes back to front and drops off the front left. 4 here is well earned.
Hole 18 Par 4
Men 326m
Women 311m
Par 4, 328m. Dogleg left, this tee shot suits a draw around the corner. If you can shape the ball, the fairway slopes downhill about 200m from the tee and will roll on shortening up your second. Driver can stay in the bag for this one, a long iron or 3 wood will do most golfers. The green slopes from back to front right and drops off the front. For a relatively short Par 4, this hole gives up very few birdies.
About Tuncurry Golf Course
The Tuncurry course is the hidden gem on the Mid North Coast, and very few players leave this course untouched by its natural beauty. It was designed by Kel Nagle and Mike Cooper and carved out of the seaside bush land in Northern Tuncurry by the members. The championship layout is sure to test golfers of all skill levels. Demanding from the tee, the rolling couch fairways and relatively flat putting surfaces reward the player that drives the ball well from the tee. The Banksia and Tea Tree rough have been thinned out over the years thanks to the great work from volunteers to make playing this great layout more user friendly. The course has the great ability to handle rain in extended wet periods; the sand base keeps the course in perfect playing conditions when surrounding clubs are closed for days and weeks. It’s well worth a game and not to be missed if you’re passing through the area.
