Masterstroke: Maleny completes iconic first hole rebuild
By Richard Owen
Members and visitors alike have been rejoicing since Maleny Golf Club finished rebuilding the treacherous green on its picturesque opening hole which had a fearsome reputation for ruining otherwise good rounds.
Arguably one of the most iconic holes on the Coast, the remodelled 1st, will be a signature hole at Maleny and a spectacular introduction to a unique golfing experience.
Prior to reconstruction, the 117m Par 3 hole was the second toughest at Maleny due to a fierce back-to-front slope of around four per cent - causing well placed tee shots to roll off the green and down over a one-metre-high, dry-rock wall.
Even former US Masters Champion and PGA tour pro Adam Scott carded a double bogie when he first attacked the hole with a wedge after it opened for play in February 2020.
General Manager Stephen Porter said golf should be about rewarding good shots, but there was rarely any reward on this hole.
So last year the Board decided to literally “level the playing field” by creating a back-up 19th hole and rebuilding the green on the 1st Hole to reduce the fall to about one per cent.
The final combined cost of the two new holes was around $60,000. Mr Porter said course Superintendent Mick McCombe and his team deserved high praise as the work.
• Visit the Maleny Golf Club website: www.golfmaleny.com.
