Pambula-Merimbula Golf Club is one of the best and most enjoyable golf courses on the NSW South Coast. It is always been popular with our clients who have remarked at it’s first class level of conditioning and playability. It is always had a gradual development with some bumps along the road.
A history intertwined with the town
The Pambula area has been settled since the 1830’s with cattle, agriculture and timber being the major drivers of growth. However in the post World War 2 area and the growth of tourism, the nearby town of Merimbula took over as the larger town.
The Pambula Merimbula Golf Club was formed in 1965 and nine holes came into operation 12 months later from a lease of 52 acres from the Department of Crown Lands. It was not until 1979 that the course was extended to 18 holes. A decade later due to the growing popularity of golf and people settling in the area, a further nine was added.
Grass greens were added in 1974 with Poa being the first grass laid. The first 18 holes were designed by John Watson and Associates. Green Superintendent at the time, Greg Smith designed and built the third nine. Gradually Poa is being weeded out of the greens now and a beautiful Bent surface is now being left in its place.
In 2012 there was a significant rain event on the Sapphire Coast and the bunkers on the course were so affected that they lost sand after every subsequent rain event. A Murray River company Bunker Drain was contracted in 2013 to put in a permeable, polymer gravel layer in the bunkers and redesign them. The bunkers look great now and despite several significant rain events since, the bunkers are never GUR the next day.
A layout to test you and enjoy
The 27 holes at Pambula-Merimbula is an undulating and thought provoking layout. The fairways are kikuyu which can spongy at other courses and get between clubface and the ball at impact. But here it is kept thinner providing some of the best fairway conditions on the NSW South Coast. The Bent greens are firm and true.
The first hole seems to an innocent 260m dogleg par 4 to a tiered green. However fly the green and your work for up and down is cut out for you. The 2nd a downhill par 4 of 419m is probably the hardest hole on the property. A narrow fairway wedged between trees and the road and a slight turn left to a bunkered green below you.
As you make your way around the first nine you will notice how sensibly the fairway bunkers are placed. Take them on if your driving is straight but then particularly on the par 5’s you may choose a layup as the greens are well bunkered and present as small targets.
A standout hole on the front nine is the par 4 5th hole. A sharp dogleg of 351m again with bush and two well placed bunkers guarding the corner, you have to be long and confident try it over the corner to turn this hole into a “bomb and gouge”. A more safer line back in the fairway will leave you shot to a perched and bunkered green.
The front nine goes up and down the hills but the two following circuts go out in a narrow loop each from the clubhouse. The par 4 and 5’s are relatively flat but curiously are linked by an uphill par 3. This is a feature of the course, the amount of uphill and downhill par 3’s.
Two feature holes of the back nine are the pretty par 5 15th which features a tree lined shute to a fairway with a lake down the left side. The green is over the other side of the lake and at only 460m, for some they may want to take it on. Others may just follow the fairway and layup to the right of the lake.The other is the par 3 17th of 137m is a delectable slightly uphill par 3 with a well placed front bunker ready to trap the mistimed or miss clubbed shot.
Challenges of running a golf club
In 2021 the golf club closed it’s expansive clubhouse. Competition from nearby hospitality venues in Merimbula had seen declining revenues and made keeping such a large property open uneconomic. The proshop was moved to a demountable building and a small bar open was kept open for golfers to enjoy a 19th hole drink. A commercial reuse of the site seemed to be affected by that it was on crown land.
However that seems to have been sorted with expressions of interest being sort for a commercial reuse of the building and leveraging the popularity of the golf course.
We can incorporate a trip that involves golf at Pambula Merimbula in a few different ways. It can be part of golf tour to Merimbula which is one of the best locations on the NSW South Coast for a golf touring party. There a variety of golfers’ accommodation and hospitality options available. Also with the airport nearby you could fly into the nearby Merimbula airport for a day trip and play golf and then journey across the road to Wheelers Restaurant for lunch, one of the best seafood restaurants on the NSW South Coast.
Contact us through the button below to discuss how you would like to incorporate this great golf course into a South Coast golf tour with us.
