Chinderah Golf Club, NSW
Updated March 2024
Chinderah Golf Club. It’s 18, not nine like the others that I normally cover in my blog. Technically not in the Gold Coast either but just 40 minutes from Ashmore, not bad considering the roadwork delays on the M1. I checked their website before leaving. It was very informative and with up to date pricing where it is only $13 for Seniors or Juniors and for 9 or 18 (updated August 2023) . My intention was to only play the first 9 to keep our comparisons relative, but my plan was that if I got around reasonably quickly and was enjoying the course then I would play on. And so I did.
The 3rd hole, 158m from the back tee. A large bunker guards the front left and grass mounds to the right
The first hole is a short par 4 with a small pond on the left and a large tree guarding the left hand side. A drive to the right side of the fairway is ideal, avoiding the two fairway bunkers.
The second hole is an open 142m Par 3 Followed by the third hole, a much more demanding Par 3.
The 5th hole is 120 metres with a bunker on the left.
The 4th and 5th holes are relatively short Par 3’s followed by the 6th which is a short Par 4. This one is tight off the tee with trees both sides and another tree to clear on the right side of the fairway. Driving the safer line to the left brings a large green side bunker into play to either catch a good drive or present a tricky approach to a two-tiered green.
The 6th Hole, a 265m Par 4
The 7th is also a short Par 4 at 190m with a bunker guarding the right side. The 8th is seen below, the top tier is a small target.
The 9th is a short Par 3 with a long narrow two-tiered green with the hole playing anywhere from 85 metres up to 110 metres depending on tee and pin positions.
The 8th hole is 130 metres and features a false front and bunker on the right. Plenty of trees to bother the wayward shot.
The 118m 10th hole is a two-tiered green surround by very tall gum trees. The overhanging branches make this a very narrow entrance.
The back 9 starts with a very tricky hole which can lead to a double bogey if you are not careful and is followed by a testing 11th hole, a Par 4 of 335m. There are trees along the right side of the fairway on a creek’s edge and two tall gums which cut off the approach from the left side.
12 and 13 are short Par 3’s followed by a open par 4 14th and then a much tighter 15th Par 4 coming back in the reverse direction.
The 15th Par 4 315m demands a straight drive and an accurate approach to a narrow green guarded by a bunker along the whole of the right hand side.
16 is a short Par 3 followed by the hardest hole on the card, the 363 m Par 14 17th.
The 18th, a 135m Par 3 is reminiscent of the 10th hole. Tall gums again encroach on the flight path (not for the airport though many jets do flyover on their final approach to Coolangatta ) making this a rewarding hole for the straight hitters.
I think this course is great value for money and will give you the opportunity to make a pleasing score if you can keep it out of the trees. Your score might flatter your current handicap until you realise that a 20 handicapper would play off 10 here, a 9 handicapper would be off 2 etc. You will have opportunities to sink some putts if you can get a feel for the speed of the greens. I thought they were as fast as you might expect to find at any of the local championship courses. They were firm to chip onto and I found myself overhitting them for a few holes until I could get my range dialled in.
“I’ll be back” as Arnold would say (and that’s not Palmer BTW.)