Tough golf courses are a hallmark of Greg Norman’s design career and few Norman courses are tougher than Brookwater. With 18 holes threaded between stands of native flora on the south-western outskirts of Brisbane, the supremely good – and equally treacherous – Brookwater fast earned a reputation for its difficulty. It probably sated the Great White Shark’s ego for many a day before alterations were made by Norman and his team last decade to lessen the severity in places.
In truth, Brookwater was far from impossible. While most fairways are narrow and flanked on both sides by dense foliage, the contours of many landing areas favoured the golfer. Often high at the edges and low in the middle, the camber helped more often than it hurt. Still, the fixes were also improvements. Greens and fairways that bordered on unfair now tip the balance more towards the player. Surviving the facelift were the inherent elements that made Brookwater instantly popular when it opened in 2002: bold features, exquisite bunkering and supreme contouring.
The Details
Brookwater Golf & Country Club
Ranking in 2022: 34th
Prior rankings: 29th (2020), 24th (2018), 25th (2016), 32nd (2014), 25th (2012), 33rd (2010), 26th (2008), 19th (2006), 19th (2004)
Where: Tournament Drive, Brookwater QLD 4300
Phone: (07) 3814 5500
Web: brookwater.com.au
