McCracken Country Club

McCracken Country Club: From the elevated clubhouse and adjoining 1st and 10th tees, McCracken offers commanding views. Stretching out into the distance are the Fleurieu Peninsula's scenic, partly-forested, rolling hills. In the foreground is an expansive, open area, through which McCracken's two nine-loops set out.

Holes 1 and 10, a parallel pair of par-5s, run downhill to their respective greens that lie either side of the same small pond. On this ambitious, resort-style layout, water hazards (and occasional cascading water features) are something you'll encounter on several occasions, with many holes defended by small lakes and ponds.

Undulation change is also a constant. Quite a few holes require significant climbs, not least at the par-4 9th (colloquially a bit of a "cardiac hill !") and at the wonderfully bunkered par-5 18th. This closing hole makes its way back up to the clubhouse, running parallel to and in the same open space as the 1st and 10th holes.

Good bunkering adds to the layout's array of challenges, while some of the holes on the course perimeter are flanked on one side by housing, which you'll also need to be mindful of. Maintenance standards are good without necessarily being immaculate, on this testing, undulating layout, which exudes something of a US-style, resort course.

Stay&Play at McCracken: onsite accommodation makes this an ideal Stay&Play venue when visiting the Fleurieu Peninsula, a popular South Australia holiday destination.