Course raters open new window on Australian golf

Click here to see a Photo Gallery of a less-seen side of Australian golf. These photos were taken by WA Course Rating Director Di Monk and SA Course Rating Director Tony Bourne as they travelled the length and breadth of their respective states over the past 2 years. Snake trails across sand greens, toilet bowls in fairways and fairway rollers you might associate with a main highway are just some of the things seen across Australia as part of the Golf Australia and Member Association National Course Rating program. A dedicated team of State and Territory Association course raters have been travelling across the country and our island territories over the past 18 months rating every golf course in Australia. As well as the capital cities, these travels have taken them to some of the most remote golfing landscapes. Golf Australia&aposs National Course Rating Coordinator Adam Power said it revealed a different side to Australian golf. “They&aposve had some great experiences on their travels,” Power said. “The raters have seen some unique courses and it&aposs great to see some of these small and often very remote communities have such a passion for the game and love of their course.” “We usually coordinate for a minimum of three raters to travel together and as part of the program the raters will train volunteers at these clubs so they have some of the skills and knowledge to use in the future,” Power said. The travels have taken raters to as far away as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and towns like Leinster, 900 kilometres North East of Perth. “It&aposs real outback golf and the quirky things the raters have seen have made the work very interesting. We&aposve had a pier at Wirulla in South Australia used as a tee, hitting off a water tank at Leinster – there&aposs a real mix of course additions and some imagination which makes it an eye opener when they rate these courses.” “The raters have covered many thousands of kilometres and have done a tremendous job for Australian golf,” Power added.