Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 17
Located on NSW's mid north coast, Forster Tuncurry GC boasts two golf courses and 1500 members (not including juniors)
It all started back in 1955 when The Forster Golf Club was founded with a nine hole course designed by A.W. East
The course was extended to 18 holes in 1970, but the membership continued to grow to the extent that some members decided that a new course was needed to cope with the numbers.
These members identified and acquired a piece of land ideal for a links and employed Kel Nagle and Mike Cooper to design a championship course.
Initially known as The Great Lakes Country Club, the Tuncurry course was completed in 1984, but by the time it opened the Forster GC and the new Great Lakes Country Club merged as one to become the Forster Tuncurry GC with two distinct golf courses in two locations.
Notably the majority of the course construction was undertaken by the members themselves
The Forster Course
Wedged into a tight 70 acre site surrounded by housing and roads, the original course is also divided by a road.
Around the clubhouse the front nine moves through gently rolling terrain, touching the beach at the intriguing 5th hole- undoubtably the best hole on the course
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster course, hole 4
Forster is an easy walk with tree lined fairways and low profile greens.
It's not a long course.
It has a par of 66 and measures nearly 4900 metres off the back tees
It's all very pleasant with a bit of a holiday feel.
However the course changes when it crosses the road after the tenth hole.
Holes 11 through 17 occupy a very small parcel of land and are claustrophobically tight.
I don't think I have ever seen a series of holes where the lines of play are so constrained.
Tall trees each side of these fairways demand accuracy off the tee.
It's a bit unique.
I like it!
Notable holes include:
- hole 5, a dogleg par 4 with a tee shot out of a funnel in the tea tree to a green sited near One Mile Beach and protected by water
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster course, hole 5 tee
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 5 green
- hole 7, a lovely par with the wider fairway meaning you can open the shoulders a little. A large gum tree protects the green
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 7
- hole 8, a short uphill par 3 to a green set into the slope
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 8
- hole 11 , a short flat par 3 with tall trees forming an avenue to the green. It's not much wider than a tree lined lane
- hole 15, a short par 4 requiring a very accurate tee shot
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 11
Forster Tuncurry GC- Forster Course, hole 15
- hole 17, another short par 3 through a narrow avenue of trees (see pic top of page)
The Forster course is a nice local course
The course is centrally located, easy to walk, pleasant to play- and the members love it
There are some nice holes- the 5th in particular- and those 'avenue' holes in the back nine are memorable and fun to play.
Members are blessed to also have the Tuncurry course which I think is a bit 'special'.
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