Playing every golf course in Melbourne Australia Rd 1 : Albert Park Public

My first day out golfing in Australia is in Albert Park Public in Melbourne. It is a nice course, but challenging for a bad drivers, and I ended up in plenty of hazards along the way.
It’s cheap to play at 43 dollars for the morning sessions and 32 for the evening sessions. But it can get a bit crowded. At one stage, there was three groups of us on one hole. There were also groups of six, seven and eight spinning around in carts. I’m not knocking it because that might suit some people, while others could hate it.
I however, will play it again, because it’s convenient for me to get a little e-scooter, as I don’t have a car yet. Tee off for me is 8.30am. There is a group of two and a group of four ahead of me, and I went around in 3 and 1/2 hours. As usual I play with the Nike vapour driver and pro iron combo.
The first hole isn’t in the best condition, but the course improves as you move along. The back nine is particularly nice.
I start the round by blasting my drive into the trees. A tough recovery shot to make from what is essentially gravel. I hit from the gravel into sand for a difficult third shot chip. I made the green in three. Hoping to save par. Alas, I miss the putt and scraped a 5.
Hole 2 is 120 meters. I hit my 9 iron, which draws right and bounces off the back of the green. I have an interesting incline chip, which gives me a chance to save par. Unfortunately my putt comes up short and leaves me with another bogey.
Hole 3 is a short Par 4; 314 meters. I pull my drive into the rough. I play it safe and tap a 5 iron back onto the fairway as the trees blocked my path. My chip lands close, and gives me another par attempt. I misjudge it badly, it tails off. I end up with another bogey.
Hole 4 is a Par 4; 368 meter dog leg left. Like the last hole, it pulls right and ends up in the rough. Trees block my progression. I play sensible again. Set myself up for another chip. It goes close. I miss the putt. It leaves me with yet another bogey.
At this point, I am raged. Four bogeys from four par putts. All because my drives didn’t giving me a chance at scoring. I determine not to pull the next drive left and into the rough. I push it right; into the trees. I lay up because trees block my path. My approach bounces off the back. I chip back from the fringes, skids back from where it came to the other side of the green. I two putt for a double bogey. Typical golf rage karma, I curse myself for missing pars, and ended up with a double bogey the next hole. Lesson learned. It can always get worse.
Hole 6 is a Par 5; 455 meters, and I want to start clawing back a few points. It starts well with a good drive straight down the centre of the fairway. Things are looking up. I snap hook my 3 wood into the trees. I could play it safe and knock it out of the trees. But I went for it, and caught it wrong. Leaving me directly behind a tree with no shot at the hole. I it around the tree. Chip it within five meters, and eventually putt for a six at 6.
Hole 7 is a Par 5 as well. But it’s short. Index 17. I should score here. But I drive it into the rough. Left as usual. I have to lay it up with a 6 iron. But catch it too clean and runs into the sand. I flush my sand wedge over the back of the green. Chip it back where it came from. Another shot at par, but my putt just tailed off, and left me with a 6.
Hole 8 is a Par 3; 141 meters. I hit an eight iron. It landed to the right of the green. That left me with a two put for a par. And now I’m scoring.
Hole 9 is another Par 5. Index 16 at 442metres. At this point all I want is a good drive. I get one. 180 meters from the green, and flush my 4 iron. It catches a branch hanging from a tree. I’m raged. I’m convinced it was heading to the flag. It lands on the fairway. My chip goes close. Pressures on. I to sink the putt for a birdie. Yup for the rapturous applause in my head.
Hole 10 is a Par 3; 171meters. Somehow I duff my 6 iron and it comes up short. I hit a decent chip, which leaves me with a long putt for par. It’s a sweeping right to left. I hit the right line. Not enough juice. I leave it short, starting the back nine with a bogey.
Hole 11 is a long Par 5. Surrounding by trees flank either side. My drive goes down the middle. 200ish from the green. I hook my 3wood into the trees. I lay up again. My chip goes close this time. It’s just a matter of tapping it in for a par.
Hole 12 is Par 3. I’m always hopeful for a score on a par 3. I hit a 6 iron. Short. I chip it well. It hits the flag. Nearly holes out. Tap it in for par.
Hole 13 is a Par 4 with a sharp left turn. Sensibly, I hit a 5 iron, instead of driving it into the trees. It works. I hit the 5 again. It just comes up short leaving me with a 15 meter chip. I catch lovely and nearly hole out again. Another par. Finally. I’m scoring.
Continued in the comments.

[@lifewithg7139]

Hole 14 is a mirror image of the last hole. The 5 iron worked so well on the previous hole I decide to whip out the driver and draw it around the corner. It works. My chip goes to within 15 meters and I two putt another par. Hole 15 is Index 2. A 191 meter Par 3. My tail is up now. My confidence is high. Obviously I decided to try and draw a 4 iron through a 10 meter gap in between two sand bunkers. I land in the sand. Then over the back of the green. Two putt for a bogey, after 4 pars in a row. Confidence will do that to you. Hole 16 is a short Par 4; 273meters. I hit a drive close to the green, but a bit left. I chip out of the roots of a tree and don’t catch it well. It leaves me a long putt for birdie. I two putt for a par. Hole 17 is a tricky dog leg left. No clear landing zone. I wasn’t exactly sure where I was aiming for in relation to the hole. I picked the tree straight ahead as my target and let rip. It ran a good bit and left me with a decent approach. Just under 80 meters to the front of the green. My sand wedge brings me within 10 meters. I leave my first put short. Sickeningly, I miss my second. Bogey. Finally, the 18th is a long Par 5; 384 meters. Once more, it’s a bit of hit and hope. But it hits the fairway. I’m about 230ish from the green, and hit a 4 iron with a decent draw. It sets up a decent chip, which give me a chance to score. It lands close. I push my putt right. It would have been nice to finish in a birdie. That’s’ me done for the day around 12pm. Par the course is 72, and I shoot 10 over with 82. I had a double bogey, 9 bogeys, 7 pars and 1 birdie. I’m going to play this course again because a) I think I can score better and 2) I don’t have a car yet and this course is close to where I’m staying so I can e-scoot up to it. See you next week.

[@aaronmax5440]

Good video! Nice quick explanation of each hole and good angles for your shots. Love the on cap camera for the chipping and putting

[@lifewithg7139]

Thanks Aaron 👍🏻 It’s handy to use the cap cam for places I can’t bring the main camera.

[@hasbulla2012]

Looking forward to playing this in a few months when I’m there

[@hasbulla2012]

Great approach game

[@lifewithg7139]

Thanks. It’s a nice course you’ll enjoy it. Very central and inexpensive.

[@kensingtonchubbs6191]

Good video! More please :)

[@lifewithg7139]

Thanks 😊 I’m planning to play a new course each week 👍🏻

[@htoomyatpaing1543]

your video looks crisp , what your camera set up , Nice video Bud keep it up

[@lifewithg7139]

Thanks I use the Fuji Xt4 and insta 360 go 2 😊

[@jesperhemmingsson6558]

Really nice video and commentary. What's you hcp? Didn't catch it from the video. Keep it up!

[@lifewithg7139]

Cheers mate. I don’t have a handicap yet. What do you think I should play off?

[@willlethekid]

That hook with the driver is wild! Have you tried a weaker grip with the driver? Regardless you play some very smart shots and im excited to see your progress in the future!

[@lifewithg7139]

It’s mad because I had a slice when I was younger and since I took golf back up last year I have a hook. At least I know I alway miss left 😂 I felt like my whole round was lay ups from the trees and two putts.

[@ryanbedwell2144]

I find I hit big hooks when I don’t use my hips and legs on take away and use all arms. If you want to try it, the swing thought is “push off” your front foot to get the swing started. Helped me anyway

[@hugeiftrue4224]

Holes 3, 4, 10 and 18 are grand to play

[@lifewithg7139]

Yeah I agree. I preferred the back 9. Better fairways.

[@ryanbedwell2144]

Such a waste of a course. They could make it world class with that real estate :(

[@lifewithg7139]

Correct, it should be the best in Melbourne. The back nine is a lot better than the front.