Horizons Golf Resort Review: Comparing to North Lakes Golf Club

Golfing at Horizons Golf Resort

• 💡 Alan Staines, an Australian PGA Professional, and Steve "Richo" Richardson, an avid golfer, played the back nine at Horizons Golf Resort in Port Stephens.
• 🎯 The course is recognized as a championship course and is listed in Golf Australia’s Top 100 Courses (2024/2025).
• 📌 Players noted the course's resort-like atmosphere and a distinct "Queenslandy" feel throughout their round.

Course Design and Features

• 🔑 Horizons Golf Resort was designed by Ross Watson and Graham Marsh, sharing a designer with North Lakes Golf Club, which was a frequent point of comparison.
• ⛳ The course features a variety of hole lengths, including par fours under 400 yards and challenging par threes with bunkers and water hazards.
• 🌳 Players observed humps and bumps in the fairways and appreciated the good aiming points provided by the course's bunkering.

Green Conditions and Playability

• ✅ The greens were consistently praised for being very good, offering a nice speed and feeling firm underfoot.
• 🔬 They are bent greens, a type of putting surface that players highlighted as a key characteristic and difference from other courses.
• 💨 Despite the overall good conditions, players experienced significant wind, which affected shot distances and ball flight throughout the round.

Player Performance and Challenges

• 🏌️‍♂️ Richo's putting was notably better than previous rounds, which he attributed to the improved quality of the greens.
• ⚠️ Players discussed the impact of mis-hits and emphasized the importance of keeping the ball in play on the course's fairly tight layout.
• 💬 There was ongoing banter and commentary about shot execution, divot control, and adapting their game to the windy conditions.

Overall Impressions and Recommendations

• 👏 The course was deemed a very good golf course with excellent flow and fantastic greens.
• 👍 It was explicitly stated that if you enjoy North Lakes Golf Club, you would likely appreciate Horizons Golf Resort due to similar vibes and design elements.
• 🚀 The video concludes with a recommendation for a Newcastle golf trip to experience courses like Horizons, suggesting it's a worthwhile destination.