Leura Golf Course
Review of Leura Golf Course in the Blue Mountains, NSW Australia
Continuing on our NSW road trip, we made the two hour trip from Sydney west to the Blue Mountains, where we checked into a small boutique hotel in Katoomba, right on the edge of the escarpment. Going to bed early, we rose at 6am to watch the sunrise. We came to the lookout point, with mist just clearing in the valley, and the three sisters there to greet us good morning. What a perfect location for our morning yoga, with the trees, the mountains and the birds.
The Course
We had booked in to play Leura Golf Course at 10:04am, so we had a quick breakfast in Leura village and headed out to the course. Weather was partly cloudy, temperature in high 20s and not much wind. Par 70.
We were greeted by the course pro who gave us some tips, and informed us the course was established in 1902 with the current design in the 1980s. He also said the course is the best shape course in the Blue Mountains. It had been raining solidly the day before, so it was quite wet underfoot, but not too bad given its high elevation and good drainage.
Course Review
The Stats
Condition 10.5/20
The condition of the greens was excellent - green and spongy, and dead straight. The rest of the course resembled a country course in good condition, the rough and fairways had quite a few weeds, but overall, well maintained.
Biodiversity 10.5/20
The yellow tailed black cockatoos have become our favourite spectators in NSW and followed us all the way along the first nine, screeching in the trees above. A couple of kookas and magpies also made their appearance as did kurrawongs and butcherbirds.
What caught our attention was the diversity of European trees along the inside of the fairways, and Indigenous eucalypts on the outside of the course - quintessential of a town established in the 1880s. A few native shrubs and some beautiful pink roses around the putting green gives the course character.
Vistas 14/20
There were a couple of holes on the first and second nine where you're walking along, either looking for a stray ball in the rough or walking up to a green. Suddenly you catch a glimpse of the blue mountains, the dramatic crevices and valleys of green trees and white mist. You then remember where you are, and how lucky you are to be here.
Organisation 13/20
The pro-shop staff really made the experience memorable, from the moment we booked (a few weeks ago on the phone) to checking in and purchasing some souvenirs, they were super helpful, welcoming and generous with advice. The clubhouse has great views from the restaurant where we grabbed a bite to eat after our round.
Design 10/20
I found the second nine far more difficult and more interesting. A lot more hills, hazards and blindspots (it was also hotter so was fatiguing a bit too). That being said the challenge was on - and getting onto the green especially on the 16th was one of the hardest things I have done on a golf course after hitting a slightly too close right drive into the rough. Was beautiful scenery though and the ducks didn’t seem to mind me spending time around their little lake trying to get back on track. The first nine was a little less exciting but most holes were different nonetheless. The rough was definitely then main challenge, there wasn’t a lot of water or bunkers.
Suggestions and Strategy
Something the course taught you: An openness to playing each hole anew, leave the last one behind. Also, after a lot of rain, there is not a lot of run, so fairways were slow and greens were straight.
Some advice: speak to the club pro and ask about blind spots and where to hit. Hole 8: women who hit driver >200m, aim for the Christmas tree right of the middle of the fairway! Be careful of going right on the 15th, long par 5 dogleg.
Psyc strategy you worked on? Maintaining focus when emotions are high. Keep coming back to the things you can control.
Hazards and Highlights
One surprise: the Blue Mountain views from 6th and 14th holes. And the St Andrews-looking bridge on the fourth pictured below.
One birdie: yellow tailed black cockatoos
Biggest challenge: the rough on the second nine, falling to the right
Favourite hole: 6th par 3 on the first nine - gorgeous views from the tee.
Review Scorecard
Overall review
Our review of the course on this specific day.
Overall score for Leura Golf Course:
