[jonathan_becker]

New South Wales Golf Club is a sight to behold.  One can argue that the best views in golf are right here in La Perouse and it wouldn’t be incorrect statement.  It’s definitely one of the more spectacular settings I’ve ever seen for a golf course.

Over the years it’s been well documented about the changes to NSWGC, and the latest changes have been performed by Greg Norman.  The 3rd green has been lowered with the left greenside bunker removed, the fourth green has been changed and the left greenside bunker has been moved to the right side of the green, and the 6th green has been recently changed among other things.  You can compare and contrast some of the changes and follow the commentary in Kyle Henderson’s thread from a few years ago. Some of my photos look a little different than his.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48698.0.html

Also, I’m sure that Pup and some of the other NSWGC members on the board can offer some thoughts on the changes and any upcoming changes if they choose to do so.

Overall though, no one should pass up a day of golf here.  The routing is well done as it takes you up and over the ridges that create multiple ocean vistas and extended land views.   The terrain creates the atmosphere and gives the player a lot of different angles and wind directions for approach shots as well.  I also like the way the putting surfaces were kept at a reasonable speed given how exposed many of them are and how much the wind whips through the property.  On a few shots I had to take more than a few extra clubs, and even then, I was told that it was only a moderate wind!  One final note about the maintenance, and maybe others can elaborate more, but this was the only course I played in Australia that had bermuda rough that played similar to what’s in the States.  It was spongy in spots and the ball would climb the face upon impact….just like in say, FLA….and by no means is this a knock on the course, as it was presented in immaculate shape, but I didn’t come across any grass like this in Melbourne or Tasmania.  Just an observation is all.  It’s probably a climate thing.

Greg Norman was actually present the day of my visit as he was presenting to the membership some more of his proposed changes.  When I was in the shop before the round there was another visitor that asked me, “Did you fly all the way down here just to hear Norman speak?”  Haha what a ridiculous question!

Like I said, there are other threads that discuss more of the course changes, but this thread is mainly to showcase some of the shots and how the course is currently being presented.  I hope you all enjoy them.



Opening tee shot



Approach into #1



Par 3 2nd



Short of the green



3 tee – obviously with the boundary issue left



Around the bend



Norman’s 3rd green



Approach into Norman’s 4th green



Looking back



5 tee



Greeted by this view as you crest the hill….boom!



6 tee



Looking back



Looking back down 7



Over the hill on the par 5 8th



Greensite



Approach in 9



Approach to 10



Looking back towards the clubhouse



11 tee



Green



12 tee



13 tee



Approach to 13



14 tee



Approach



15 tee – toughest tee shot in the world?



Looking back down 15



Approach into 16



Green up close



Par 3 17th



17 green from the left



18 tee



The approach for the third shot

[Brad Tufts]

Nice pics Jon...maybe it's just that I haven't held a club in a while in the cold Northeast, but the fairways and greens look like linoleum to me...I feel like the thing would never stop!

Cool also how the surrounding brush makes the course appear narrow, but once you see each hole, I bet there is plenty of room to miss.

Reminds me of Fisher's in a few places...which can't be bad in any way!

[jonathan_becker]

Brad ( and Sheehy ),

The ball was running out forever.  I hit a few drives out there that I'll never forget.  Downwind on the approaches, even with a wedge, the ball had the be well struck for it to stop.

Sheehy,

I'm not sure if 15 tee is a boundary issue like it is on 3 tee.  From my understanding, the bush left of 3 tee isn't changing anytime soon because the club does not technically own the land.  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.  Having said that though, yes, you need to be confident and pipe it if you plan on hitting 15 fw.

Edit - 15 shouldn't be a boundary issue because the 16th hole is left of 15.  Other than that, I don't know

[jonathan_becker]

Pup is one lucky boy!

Yes, Pup, is extremely lucky!

[Bill McKinley]

Jon,

Excellent photos. NSW looks absolutely amazing. I've really enjoyed viewing your pics and thoughts from your trip down under. Looks like you had a great time, mate! 

[Pete Lavallee]

I was told that due to being a State Preserve the surounding bush could not be trimmed back. I was shown pictures after a bush fire several years ago and another one certainly couldn't hurt!

[David_Elvins]

15 tee shot is only scarey if you are hitting driver or 3 wood into the wind. 
If you just punch a little 160 yard rescue out there, its relatively easy. 

[Anthony Butler]

I was told that due to being a State Preserve the surounding bush could not be trimmed back. I was shown pictures after a bush fire several years ago and another one certainly couldn't hurt!

Two words: Controlled burn.

Unfortunately given the usual weather conditions, that would never and will never happen... When the course caught fire in the 90s the flames literally leapt across the fairways to the next bush site... Due the high amount of resin in some of the native fauna, it burns quickly.... A couple of foursomes were forced to take refuge on the championship tee at the 6th. When the flames died down, you can't believe how much it opened up the vistas across the course...  

Speaking of flammable material, the contents of the Chairman of the Greens' letter to the members after GWS' meeting at the club in January would certainly qualify...

[Josh Stevens]

Jonathan,

On behalf of all GCA'ers and lurkers, I want to thank you for this thread! I know I'll be going back to this one again and again.

NSW is a special place - I played it pre-GCA so didn't focus on Norman's work but more the glorious site, full of fun and interesting shots. I'd be interested to hear from those who know the course well how much those changes have diminished the experience there - it would be a real shame if it was significant.

One other point: I recall it having the same grass as Royal Melbourne - couch - but playing totally differently - maybe a different variant - or was it the lack of water due to the ongoing drought in Melbourne? Either way, I preferred the maintenance meld at Royal Melb because it seems that variant in NSW holds up the ball more whereas at Royal Melb the ground game was often the only option. One thing I will say, though - from these pics, the course looks immaculately conditioned.

Pup is one lucky boy!

Sydney has completly different climate to Melbourne. Melbourne is somewhat mediterranean with hot dry summers - closer to what we see in Perth and Adelaide.  While Sydney is sub tropical and so has much wetter summers - makes for different playing conditions

[jonathan_becker]

Depending on the wind, is there another par 5 in the world that can plays as different, distance wise, than the 468 meter 5th at NSWGC? 

The hole drops close to 100 feet once over the rise.  Playing downwind, you can hit a lob wedge for the second shot.  Yet, three shots might not be enough going back into it!  It's really amazing when you think about it.

[Thomas Dai]

Jonathan,

Simply terrific. Superb photos. Many thanks for taking the time to share this with us.

All the best.

[Andrew Brown]

Jonathan,

Looking at the old worn faces of some of the bunkers. Did you note how they were constructed. They don't appear to be stacked turf, but it is hard to tell. I found it odd how they are maintained (pics of 11 and 16 show what I mean best) in that how the edge is cut, the top of the face/wall is exposed, leaving a narrow ledge where a ball could stop. Did you notice this?

Regards
Andrew

[jonathan_becker]

Andrew,

I'm not 100% sure, but here's a photo of one of the greenside bunkers on 10 and the turf appears to be stacked in this instance.  Maybe one of the members on the board can comment.  As where the ball could stop....I see what you mean but I didn't come across a situation where anyone in my group had a ball come back into the bunker.  During my first round, I only hit it in one bunker and the ball entered with the line of play.  IIRC, all sand shots were hit after the ball entered from the line of play.  Interesting observation though, Andrew.

[Tyler Kearns]

Jonathan,

Thanks for the photos, I regret backing out of a round there when I was in Australia due to logistical problems!!  Knowing how unforgiving that brush is and the propensity for strong winds at La Perouse, I'm surprised some of it hasn't been cut back over the years.  The land itself looks excellent and clearing some of the brush would only expose more of it, and help keep the ball in play more.  Perhaps it is not a problem, but from the pictures a few of those drives look downright scary with only a moderate breeze.

TK

[jonathan_becker]

Tyler,

The golf course is definitely a challenge and I flushed the ball around the course, but still struggled a little at times.  Even with a moderate wind, I drove it very well and kept it in play all day.  1,3,13,14,15, and 16 are the holes where the bush is really in play.  With more wind though, you would really have to stripe it on those holes to keep it in the fw.  Tentative swings won't last out there and it's tough to commit with a lot of wind blowing.

[Tyler Kearns]

Brad ( and Sheehy ),

The ball was running out forever.  I hit a few drives out there that I'll never forget.  Downwind on the approaches, even with a wedge, the ball had the be well struck for it to stop.

Sheehy,

I'm not sure if 15 tee is a boundary issue like it is on 3 tee.  From my understanding, the bush left of 3 tee isn't changing anytime soon because the club does not technically own the land.  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.  Having said that though, yes, you need to be confident and pipe it if you plan on hitting 15 fw.

Edit - 15 shouldn't be a boundary issue because the 16th hole is left of 15.  Other than that, I don't know

Jonathan,

The cart path on #3 heads left after the tee and there is approx. 25 yards of bush to its right which could be removed to open up the hole somewhat (assuming the cart path is on their property). I realize the ideal line is still left of that, but visually it would improve the hole and make it a little less intimidating for the shorter hitters.

TK 

[jonathan_becker]

TK,

I just looked at the google earth image and you're right about the 25 yards of bush to the right of the path.  It would be great if it was removed but like others have said, fires, property lines, and who can say if anything will ever be done?

[Anthony Butler]

My thoughts on the Norman changes and some of the other issues raised in this thread. Hole by hole....

3rd Green... something had to be done here because putting was so severely compromised when the wind got up... (putted balls would sometimes blow off the back of the green and down a 20ft embankment...  Michael Taylor would be in a better position to say whether the reshaping of the putting surface has adequately addressed this situation. I have not played the hole in this type of weather since the green was redone.. In principle, an acceptable fix.

4th Green. Since this was nestled into spot away from the most severe wind effects, not sure what the need was to change the slope in this green. By placing a bunker to the right of the green (which is where most misses will occur since 5 yds left of the green is dead) they have taken away what used to be a recovery shot with a lot of possibilities from short grass... you could nip with a lob wedge and spin it close to the hole or play a run up shot with a 7 iron or a hybrid.. Now you most likely will have a short to medium length bunker shot depending on where the pin is located. Since the bunkers have been removed from the left side of the green it also adds a level of uncertainty about whether any approach shot missing to the left is a lost ball.. previously, you could pretty much tell whether your approach shot had caught one of the two bunkers.. this will potentially slow play up as people try to figure out where their shot finished up.

6th Green...  more sectioned with the ridge in the front third and flatter overall in the back... This minimizes the penalty for missing the green to the right. In the previous iteration, if you missed the green to the right, it was almost impossible to get your second shot within 15ft of the pin.

12th hole.. preferred the hazard on the left when it was a bunker.. it just looks like a bit of mess right now. Don't think was a Norman change..

15th... with the regrowth of the bush area this drive has becoming increasingly pinched. Judging by the photo it's really filled in over the last couple of years... for about 5 years after the fire you could often play your ball out of there. Now you couldn't even take a swing if you found it.. As previously mentioned, the club's ability to clear this or widen the corridor is incredibly limited due to environmental restrictions. Of more concern, are some comments Norman made at the club regarding relocating the green. On one level you can see how the challenge of the 15th might be increased by moving the green onto the sand dune to the right of the current location. This would afford a skyline green approach with views down the coast.. but unless something has changed that is a fantasy due to reasons mentioned above. Can't think of where else you would move the green that would make it worth the effort.

16th Rumblings of relocating this green.... this is a ridiculous idea..

17th.. Plans to reconfigure this green to lessen wind effect... and perhaps take out of some the bush in front of the green so you can see more of the putting surface from the tee.. this idea has some merit.. If they lower the level of the green by a couple of feet it will lessen the drop off on each side which has been criticized as too severe.  We'll see what the actual plans are...

18th.. I agree that something needed to be done on this hole to provide definition on the tee shot and separation from the practice area, but what Norman has done here does not work for me.. Do we really need bunkers on both sides of what is now a very narrow fairway? Give the golfer a bail-out option on their drive and make the next shot harder if they choose to take that route. Instead you have to thread the needle on both your tee ball and your second or play from the sand. Only if you're playing in a southerly or westerly wind, does the fairway open up as you can fly the bunkers on the left. At that point it becomes an interesting par 4.5 as you attempt to stop a mid/long iron on the green.  

[Anthony Butler]

Andrew,

I'm not 100% sure, but here's a photo of one of the greenside bunkers on 10 and the turf appears to be stacked in this instance.  Maybe one of the members on the board can comment.  As where the ball could stop....I see what you mean but I didn't come across a situation where anyone in my group had a ball come back into the bunker.  During my first round, I only hit it in one bunker and the ball entered with the line of play.  IIRC, all sand shots were hit after the ball entered from the line of play.  Interesting observation though, Andrew.

All greenside bunkers are revetted sod walls... Not 100% on this, but I believe this effort was started in the 90s when Jack Newton did some work on the course.

[jonathan_becker]

Thanks for your thoughts, Anthony.  Interesting stuff considering this is the most recent golf course that I've played and it's still relatively fresh in my mind.

[Neil White]

Jonathan,

I have always loved looking at photos of NSW and it is one of those courses that is high up there on my 'must-play' list.  One thing that really stands out for me is the simple beauty in the look of the bunkers - for instance these two and their immediate surroundings are a sight to behold.



Neil.

[Andrew Brown]

Andrew,

I'm not 100% sure, but here's a photo of one of the greenside bunkers on 10 and the turf appears to be stacked in this instance.  Maybe one of the members on the board can comment.  As where the ball could stop....I see what you mean but I didn't come across a situation where anyone in my group had a ball come back into the bunker.  During my first round, I only hit it in one bunker and the ball entered with the line of play.  IIRC, all sand shots were hit after the ball entered from the line of play.  Interesting observation though, Andrew.

All greenside bunkers are revetted sod walls... Not 100% on this, but I believe this effort was started in the 90s when Jack Newton did some work on the course.

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for your input. The reason the pictures of the bunkers caught my eye is from a Rules perspective. The ledges that are apparent on top of these walls. If a ball came to rest on top of one, and the player wanted to declare his ball unplayable, where would he be able to drop his ball? Jonathan's comment as to being stacked turf means the ruling would be straightforward. I just wish to know, is a revetted sod wall another term for stacked turf?

Regards
Andrew

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