Yowani Country Club

Yowani Country Club: Located 4 km north of Canberra's centre, Yowani provides not just a pleasant parkland golf outing but also comfortable accommodation in an onsite motel. Laid out on relatively flat terrain, the course presents a challenging variety of well-maintained, predominantly tree-lined holes.

Small moguls flank some of the fairways, although it is the tree-line that make things feel relatively tight on several holes. Unnervingly tight might describe the tee-shots at the par-4 14th and returning par-4 15th, which has threatening cross bunkers straddling the fairway.

Both nine-hole loops start with relatively tight, straight par-5s, which head out parallel to each other, separated by a single line of trees. On many occasions, if you miss the correct fairway, there is probably an adjoining one to bail out onto. A good mix of straight and doglegging holes lead you to the often small, circular and not overly elevated greens. A bit of traffic noise can drift in from passing Barton Highway, but nothing that's too distracting.

Noise of a more natural variety may well be encountered at the very good par-3 16th and testing par-4 17th, both of which bring a small lake into play. On an island in the middle of the lake, a sometimes cacophonous bird colony resides.

Note: parts of the course being significantly redeveloped in 2023/24.