1. brisbanedr | Rated | 28 Oct 2008 | Add A Review

I played Rowes Bay last week and like it as a course. It is quite a long course, and is a great atmosphere to play. I played Townsville and The Willows and prefer the the Willows, but see Rowes Bay as the next best. It is quite unique from other courses and I like playing par 5’s and this course has many forms of Par 5’s.

The course is quite cheap to play, and it was easy to get a tee time. The staff were friendly. The only downdide is the course condition is not quite up the the standard of the Willows or Townsville with the fairways having many bare patches and the greens also having some bare patches.

PROS

• Unique Layout
• Many different types of Par 5
• Easy to get tee time
• Relatively Cheap

Cons

• Conditioning not great

2. tlpethug | Rated | 29 Jan 2008 | Add A Review

This is the best overall package in Townsville when it comes to golf. The course is in great condition and is always on the improve with a good team on the grounds. The experienced staff in the pro shop make you feel like one of the family. During the round the staff are always around selling you a beverage or two and are one of the assets Rowes Bay has. The atmosphere after the game is comfortable at this club unlike any other course in Townsville. I will recommend this course to anyone wishing to play.

3. scarlett | Rated | 08 Jul 2007 | Add A Review

I played this course last week (Sun 1 Jul 07) and got on after the comp just after lunch. No problems with getting the tee time after calling the pro shop beforehand. $21 for the round and a couple of dollars for a pull-buggy. The course is located out of Townsville proper, but not very far when you drive there (less than 10 mins from The Strand, toward Pallarenda), which makes it convenient for visitors. It’s an 18 hole, par 73 course of 6145m, that really is a classic example of a standard members course found in most towns in Australia. It’s not a resort and it’s not links style, which probably makes it ‘parkland’ but I’m not convinced of that either. Very flat, and on some holes very open fairways, but these contrast with a number of holes bordered by water hazards that put a premium on driving accuracy. In all honesty, it’s nothing flash, just good basic golf, with mostly well grassed fairways and consistent, true greens. There’s no extraneous flower beds, multiple cuts of rough or concrete cart paths running everywhere. The front nine is the weaker of the two with nothing much interesting until consecutive par 5’s at 6 and 7. Six is not long at 467m and a decent birdie chance. Interestingly, the front nine has three par 3’s and three par 5’s. The back nine has only a single par 3 hence it’s par of 37. On the front, just pull out driver on the tee and have a go as it’s generally wide open and there’s not much trouble to be found. The 9th is a par 3 over a lake but unless you seriously underclub it’s only there for decoration. The back nine is much more interesting as it requires thought both off the tee and when approaching the greens. The 10th shows the change right from the start with water left and right off the tee. The 11th is a short par 5 (440m) but, rather strangely, has as one of it’s defences some large eucalypts in the middle of the fairway. OK, now the 12th… If I was a member or had played this course a couple of times I’d probably know what to do here, but as a visitor it is just bizarre! The hole is only just over 300m long (par 4) but you can’t see it properly from the tee. The tree line on the right of the fairway sort of indicates a dog-leg right, but because the fairway gently slopes up from the tee for the first 100m you can’t actually see a landing area. Adding further confusion is the fact that straight ahead from the tee, at a distance where you would expect drivers to land appears to be the rough with some small sparse trees. There is also a matter of a creek running through the fairway somewhere up ahead. I hit 4-iron as a speculator, as the group in front of me looked like they were 150 to 200 metres away when they were on the right of the fairway. It turned out to be a wise chioce as I ended up in the rough about five metres short of the water and that was hitting pretty straight off the tee. To cut this chapter of ‘War and Peace’ short, off the tee the creek is about 170m ahead and it’s a 200m carry to get over it. Plus there is a slight bend to the right so if intending to carry the creek off the tee aim down the right hand tree line (and accept the risk you might hit a branch!). 15 is another interesting short par 4 with lay-up required before hitting over a lake in front of the green. The last interesting hole is indeed the last, a 466m par 5. It is short enough to encourage going for the green in two (for most average golfers, providing you get away from the tee with a decent drive) but there’s plenty of water around the green to penalise foolish bravado. Driver, long iron and wedge seemed the smart route and that was how I made par anyway. Rowes Bay is really no better or worse than the other two courses in Townsville (TVL GC and Willows) so go play all of them and enjoy the game and the tropical north’s weather!

Scarlett No Mulligans, no gimmes; play golf.

PROS

• 1. Fairly easy to get a tee time (even on a Sunday afternoon) and the pace of play behind the comp wasn't too slow.
• 2. $21 for the round seemed fair for a standard members course. (even better, get the Golf Course Guide and it's only $15)
• 3. Greens were in excellent condition.

Cons

• 1. Even after the recent rain in Townsville there were still bare patches in the fairways and surrounds. The overall condition of the course is fair.

4. 1looby | Rated | 12 Jan 2005 | Add A Review

Easy to Find, behind the airport, next to the nature reserve, oppersite the ocean. Nice little low set club house with good facilities and a very helpful pro shop. Staff were somewhat stereo type Nth queenslanders, be were nice and friendly. A round of 18 cost $14 and a cart for 18 holes is $20. Great prices. Most the holes have easy to moderate fairways, mostly flat, but very lush. Some fairways have a few doglegs which have a few water and sand traps for those who stray. Most the greens are not that difficult to read, are of a good speed and are well presented. I recall some of the greens a slightly raised and others have a quantity of water near them them, ready to trap the golfer who may accidently go a club short on there approach, such as the par 5 18th. There are plenty of trees, some of which come into play during a few tee shots. Overall, a very enjoyable course to play but one or two poor holes will affect your round. Most suitable to average to good players. The most stricking thing about this course if the flora and fauna. Numerous beautiful wallibies, birds and trees species. It really creates a tranquil playing atmosphere. In rating a course, I consider 4 things. Price, playability, amenities and aesthetics. From this, I would rate this as one of the best overall courses and golfing experience I have had in Queensland.

5. dave64 | Rated | 19 Jan 2004 | Add A Review

The sign indicates that this is the friendly club and it certainly lives up to that expectation. The staff in the pro shop are particularly accommodating. The club house is a low set building that has a lovely sail covered area at one end that is ideal for that post round drink whilst watching the other players attack the green at the par 5 18th. The club caters for many corporate and charity golf days and has a well designed BBQ area that can cater for groups of all sizes.

The course is well maintained for a regional course with well watered fairways of couch and buffalo. Greens are well maintained and are medium for speed.

The front 9 is relatively flat but has a number of holes to challenge the good golfer. The par 4 3rd requires an accurate drive with a slight draw to find the fairway. The tee is set back and the placement of trees give a funnel like feeling to the shot. Trees are left and right to catch wayward tee shots and if not long enough can block the green or require a left to right shaped shot. The green is small with 2 tiers and the use of mounds make it a difficult target.

The par 3 5th hole is about 170 metres in length but the prevailing winds and elevated tee mean that many are deceived and find themselves short of the smallish green.

The back nine brings the water into play and the 10th is one of 3 par 4's that allow the player to choose what club they wish to hit off the tee in risk-reward situations. The finishing hole is a par 5 that requires a water carry to the green. Long hitters can try to reach in 2 but the risks are evident. The green is narrow and runs accross the fairway so proves difficult to hit with a wood or long iron.

Aside from the golf a round will showcase much wildlife such as wallabies, goannas, water birds, black and white cockatoos, corellas, laurakeets and many others. For the less serious golfer Rowes Bay has a 9 hole Par 3 course that is very user friendly. I would recommend Rowes Bay to anyone who enjoys a golfing challenge and you will no doubt be welcomed by staff and members alike.

6. chipnputt | Rated | 14 Jan 2004 | Add A Review

With "the wet" seasons rains with us the course is in magnificent condition. The course has now been extended to par 73, with the 11th hole extended to a par 5. The course is situated next to the town common nature reserve and many sorts of native wildlife can be seen during your game

A 9 hole par 3 course is also available to cater for all levels of golfer.

Come and enjoy a day at the Bay!

7. wilsonfats | Rated | 10 Aug 2003 | Add A Review

For townsville standards a lush green course with well maintained and true greens the change from a fue years ago is unbelievable.