The Grand Golf Course is situated 18 kilometres west of Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast Hinterland with frontage to the Nerang River.

Course History

In 1990 the Greg Norman designed Gilston Golf Club was nearing completion. The fairways were grassed, the bunkers shaped and the clubhouse fully operational. After an investment of over $30 million by Japanese owners the Club was open for one day and then incredibly, with insufficient funds available to fund the day to day operations, the gates were closed. Those gates were closed for five years. The course became overgrown, the huge black entrance gates left to swing in the wind. From perfectly manicured lawns the course was almost unrecognisable. The course underwent enormous reconstruction Enter a consortium of Australian businessmen, avid golfers all, fed up with time sheets, trade and corporate days on Gold Coast Golf Courses, who shared a vision to establish a golf course and club second to none. A course owned by members, where only members and their guests could play. In February 1996 the consortium, The Grand Investments Australia Limited, negotiated the purchase of the site for significantly less than its 1992 price tag of $58 million. The new owners re-commissioned Greg Norman to upgrade the design. Project Managers, Construction Superintendents and Reconstruction firms were contracted to start the long haul back. By October 1996 reconstruction work had begun. The overgrowth was quickly cut away and work on the fairways began. Greens were reshaped, bunkers reworked and made more abrupt. A total of eight bunkers were added to bring the total to 92 on the course. In keeping with the history of the land over 1,000 vines were planted - the Club hoping to harvest its own grapes and produce its own wine label. Incredibly the refurbishment of The Grand Golf Club took just 18 months. An amazing achievement considering the initial state of the course and the extent of works required. In July 1997 the first 150 shares in The Grand Investments Australia Limited were offered for sale. Officially opened in October 1997 by Number 1 ticket holder and designer Greg Norman, The Grand has quickly developed into one of Australia's leading courses. A prospectus was subsequently issued on 3rd December 1998 offering 120 initial shares. A recent nomination for consideration amongst the 100 greatest courses in the world by Golf Magazine USA, along with the number 3 ranking of modern Australian golf courses, confirms The Grand's development as one of Australia's finest courses.

Scorecard

Course Layout

Hole 1

Par 4 - 340 Metres

Played from an elevated tee slightly uphill. The fairway is heavily bunkered right so the tee shot needs to be left side of centre to give more green to play to. A hole not to be underestimated.

Hole 2

Par 4 - 332 Metres

Played from an elevated tee slightly downhill. The green is heavily bunkered both left and right so the tee shot needs to be right side of centre to give more green to play to. A hole not to be underestimated.

Hole 3

Par 4 - 399 Metres

A long hole. A fairway bunker left side and bushland on the right are the main hazards. From the tee the second shot is over a lake to a large undulating green. One of the features of this hole is the room to the right of the green to help the player who chooses not to play over the water.

Hole 4

Par 4 - 367 Metres

A dog leg hole turning right to left. Bunkers left and right await a wayward tee shot. The green has a wide approach area with bunkers both left and right, but a narrow area when the flag is at the back of the green.

Hole 5

Par 5 - 493 Metres

The tee shot is played from a bushland area. The hole doglegs slightly left to right. Large trees and bushland guard the right side while the left side is rather forgiving. The second shot is played to a narrow fairway with trees both sides. The green is well bunkered is large but very undulating.

Hole 6 & 6a

Par 3 - 160 Metres

Slightly downhill, and is played over the Nerang River. The green has been built with a rainforest backdrop, beautiful beyond description. Club selection on this hole is critical.

Hole 6a

Par 3 - 140 Metres

Hole 7

Par 4 - 385 Metres

Dog leg, left to right. This tee has been built in a rain forest area and the flowing waters of the Nerang River are in the foreground. The tee shot is over a hill and length control is important to give the player a flat stance for the second shot. Bunkers guard the front right and right side of this green. The green has been made difficult with well designed slopes. Four is a good score on this hole.

Hole 8

Par 3 - 151 Metres

Played from an elevated tee to a green, which is heavily bunkered at the front, on both sides, and at the back. It is a small target and a par on this hole is very acceptable.

Hole 9

Par 4 - 411 Metres

The number one rated hole on the course and is very demanding. Played from an elevated tee to a narrow fairway. There is a fairway bunker on the left side with a very large tree on the right side. A water hazard guards the front of the green with 2 large bunkers at the back of the green making distance control on the second shot very important. A bailout area left side of the green allows this hole to be very playable for players who cannot reach the green in two shots.

Hole 10

Par 4 - 306 Metres

The hole plays downhill then uphill. The tee shot must be driven through a small gap between very imposing trees and needs to be left of centre to make the approach shot to a small green more accessible. The sand traps around this green are true hazards, a must to stay out of.

Hole 11

Par 5 - 429 Metres

One of the 3 very fine risk-reward holes on the back nine. Sand traps and large trees 100m on both sides of the fairway making an accurate tee shot a must. A well hit positioned drive finds the player needing to lay up with 5 or 6 iron, or take a full shot to a very small green with a water hazard front and right side. One bunker short on the left side and another at the back makes any shot to the green very demanding.

Hole 12

Par 5 - 472 Metres

This hole is a possible 2 shot hole if the player is willing to play their 2nd shot through a narrow gap of trees, and carry their ball over a lake to a small green. The other alternative is play down the right side of the fairway and then approach the green without going over water. This hole will entertain the galleries.

Hole 13

Par 4 - 376 Metres

This hole is one of a kind. A large bunker divides the fairway in two. Four large trees in the middle of the fairway, makes the player decide wether to play right or left on the bunker. The second shot is played to large green with many difficult pin positions. This green in regulation and 2 putts will result in a well deserved par.

Hole 14

Par 3 - 160 Metres

A downhill tee shot to a well-bunkered green. Club selection is a key factor. As with the other par 3' s on this course, not to be underrated.

Hole 15

Par 4 - 295 Metres

They say beware of the short par 4. The tee shot is from an elevated tee, with water on the left and a series of bunkers and clumps of native grasses to the right any they await any misdirected tee shot. The second shot is played to a long narrow green with bunkers on both sides and at the back of the green.

Hole 16

Par 3 - 178 Metres

A long hole uphill to a large green with bunkers guarding the front and left sides of the green. The contouring of this green makes for some very tough pin placements.

Hole 17

Par 5 - 493 Metres

Played from an elevated tee to a downhill fairway. Bunkers across the fairway means the tee shot must be carefully placed. Once again the risk-reward factor exists. Lay up with a short iron or attempt a long approach short over water to a small sloping green surrounded by bunkers. Two putts are well accepted.

Hole 18

Par 4 - 367 Metres

A wonderful finishing hole! A dogleg left, three sand traps guard the left side of the fairway wasteland and a large gum tree is on the right side. The 2nd shot is played uphill to a well-bunkered green. The slope on this green makes it necessary to get the approach shot close to the hole.