Concord Golf Club

Magazine Ratings

Note – This visit is before the 2019 renovations carried out by Renaissance Golf Design. A new post will be published after my next visit to Concord Golf Club.

I first played Concord Golf Course a few years ago in a corporate Ambrose event, which is a great way to get onto some courses, but doesn’t quite leave you as satisfied as having taken on a course yourself, so when a group from my local club decided to play Concord Golf Club on its annual open day I couldn’t resist the temptation. On my previous visits (pre attempting the top 100) I had never taken photos, so I thought it a great opportunity to finally to a proper review of the club.

Regular playing partner Joe never misses an opportunity

Concord Golf Club was first opened in 1899 as a 14 hole course and could be best described as a parkland type course. It is based in the western suburbs of Sydney NSW, in the suburb of Concord and originated from Sydney Golf Club.

The clubhouse and gardens at Concord GC

I must admit I had been impressed with the clubhouse at Concord on my previous visits.  It is quite expansive, catering for large groups and having a great outdoor area to take, soaking up the atmosphere of the gardens and course with an ale or two. The locker room is quite spacious, but still has the original lockers I would say from when the club opened.

Map of the Concord GC course

Scorecard for Concord Golf Club

I was impressed during my first time playing the course, although questioned the layout, in particular the 10th and 11th holes both being par 3. In 2009 work was carried out to redesign part of the layout, it primarily based on joining holes 10 & 11 to become the new start to the back nine.  The other major change was shortening the 8th to allow a new par 3 (7th) to be built.  This I feel is a much better layout.

The place not to be making your approach to the 1st

The first hole is great way to start, with a short 305 meter par 4.  A downhill hole and a slight curve to the left, you are presented with the option of taking driver to carry trouble, a grass mound on the left as well as some trees.  Taking the safer line on the right also presents danger with a fairway trap, but this opens up the green, which is protected by two traps.

Hole 3 – great visual with its dogleg right

The third hole is great test and this can be seen from the tee.  This is a 352 meter par four which doglegs to the right.  A creek cuts across the fairway then runs along the right side.  Hitting too long from the tee could see trouble with trees along the left.

Guy chipping to the 3rd green

The 3rd green is slightly raised, but protected by 4 bunkers, 1 left and three right.  There is also a step slope to the right and behind, which will make getting up and down tricky, especially with any pin positions positioned towards the back.

4th hole, longish par 3 with trouble in front

The par 3 fourth hole, is the second longest on the course at 167 meters. This green runs at at 45 degree angle from the tee and protected by 3 traps along the front, reducing in size from the further you go, whilst one trap is located left.  It is best to miss short right or play long straight. Short of the bunkers will make this a difficult chip.  This hole looks intimidating from the tee and follows the aga old principles for a good par 3 hole.

The 6th is a long par 4 which doglegs left

From the tee of the 6th hole, you cannot see the green.  This 385 meter par 4 plays to a fairway with trees running along each side but also to a crest, which then doglegs to the left. A solitary fairway trap is on the left to stop any attempts at cutting the corner, however it takes a big drive to reach it from the back plates.

A raised green on the 6th presents a small target, surrounded by trouble

The approach to the 6th green is all down hill, with slopes running away all around the green.  It presents a small target with anything right or long potentially finding water. The creek running beside the 6th basically seperates the front 9 from the back, running through the middle of the course.

The 7th, longest par 3 on the course

Hole 7 was new after the latest redesign.  This is a 205 meter par 3.  Bunkers protect the front (but quite short of the green) and right sides. There is trouble however with a grass bunker located left.  the green is fairly long, but playing into the wind on this hole makes it a monster.  Although long I really like the design of this hole.  It caters for all level of golfers having enough bail out areas or options to get at the green.  It is also a lot more visually appealing from the tee than a lot of the holes.

Regular Saturday partner Bob, teeing off on the 8th, a short par 4

During the redesign this hole was shortened to be a 321 meter par 4.  It reduced the index a bit to become the easiest hole on the course.  From the tee you play down hill with the fairway sloping right to left.  The biggest danger comes from playing the wrong club off the tee, as a creek runs along the front of the green.  Trees running down either side of the fairway will also stop any errant shot and make the approach quite hard.

A small creek protects the short 8th hole

The 8th green shows quite a bit of character of Concord golf club and its settings. The creek in front of the green, a variety of trees surrounding the green and the old sandstone bridge leading to the hole.

Hitting back up to the clubhouse on the 9th

Heading back to the clubhouse to finish the front is all up hill.  This 374 meter par 4 is quite open yet has plenty of fairway traps to catch any tee shot slightly off line, making the second shot quite difficult.  A solitary tree will block a lot of shots for anyone being too far left, especially for th short hitters who may even be on the fairway.  Ideal line is taking on the left hand traps, allowing the green to be a bit more open.

The raised 9th green is also protected by large bunkers

If you didn’t have enough of the sand in the fairway traps, there are plenty more surrounding this raised green, you almost feel like your at the beach in some.  A false front will ensure anything not quite long enough is repelled down the slope.  All I can say is sink the ball in the hole and enjoy a beverage at the half way bar.

The tee markers and pin flags of Concord Golf Club

The 10th hole was a major change for the course, previously having two par 3 holes following each other (9 & 10), one of my biggest dislikes on course routing.  To overcome this the two holes were combined to make a new par 4.  Great in concept, I have to say this is one of my least favourite holes on the course.  It is now a hole which doglegs right with a row of bunkers running the left hand side to catch any ball long from the tee.  These are built into a mound, which I guess serves to ensure you can actually see the traps. the land would normally be sloping away from your view of the tee.  A large collection of trees then protect the right hand side, separating the hole from the 9th.

The redesigned 10th hole

Maybe I just need to play the hole a few more times. In concept it is a great hole. It only requires a long iron or low wood from the tee, unless you try to carry the dogleg, leaving a down hill shot to the green.  This is protected by three traps right and one left. The green also slopes away towards the back, so play to the middle for any back pin positions.

A narrow shoot is presented for your teeshot on the 11th

This 476 meter short par 5 has trouble written all over it.  Quite narrow from the tee hitting up a hill, you need to avoid trees on both sides of the fairway.  This also slopes from left to right also, with bunkers located left.  These are very reachable from the tee, avoid at all costs if you want to try and reach the green in two.

The 11th green is protected on most sides

So if you are lucky enough to be on the fairway and looking down the hill towards the green, the first thing that stands out is sand, sand and more sand. Four traps appear to block the green, however one is quite short leaving plenty of room to make your approach to the green, this is the best side as it opens up the green.  There is plenty of room to layup right, but this will bring most of the bunkers into play. This isn’t the only danger however, right and long of the green is the creek.  Should be an easy par here, but don’t be surprised if you walk off with your tail between the legs.

A grass bunker protects the approach to the 12th

The one thing I do like about Concord Golf Club is the varied use of sand bunkers and grass bunkers.  Hole 12, a 391 meter par 4, has no sand what so ever.  Two grass bunkers protect the green, with one blocking the front almost totally (reminds me almost of the moon crater 2nd hole at Joondalup Resort). This form of protection should be employed more often at clubs.  It can look visually appealing as well as reducing maintenance.

The short 13th is undergoing a redesign

At 296 meters, the 13th is one of the shortest par 4 holes on the course. The hole doglegs to the left and was previously free of any fairway bunkers, leaving a decision off the tee to either go at the hole or layup. With current renovations occurring, there are numerous bunkers being placed in the middle of the fairway and also right.  I take it this is too prevent driver from the tee and increase safety with the surrounding houses.

The shortest par 3 on the course – Hole 14

This short to medium length par 3 measures 141 meters and is certainly dwarfed by all of the other holes on the course.  It is a good hole though, well visually anyway. The green is raised and is quite wide, but not too deep.  Bunkers protect the left and right approach catching anything short.  Long will run down a slope leaving a difficult chip back.  The green has a few slopes and rolls and is predominantly left to right.

The wide fairway of the 15th hole

From the 15th tee there is quite a wide area to hit the ball on the 495 meter par 5.  However this changes as you start to get closer to the green.  Trees narrow in at around 150 meters, then numerous bunkers, from the fairway it almost looks like 8, but these are all quite large and there is actually only 4.  The right hand side is best for an approach to the green, taking most of these traps out of play.

Tee shot on the18th – hardest hole on the course

Coming to the 18th, you can almost smell the beer from the clubhouse.  This 387 meter par 4 is a good finishing hole. Playing down hill from the tee, the widish fairway slopes to the left.  Bunkers are reachable from the tee on the right (don’t hit any further right of those, my playing partner went that way and I thought we lost him in the enchanted forest).

This will leave an uphill shot to a two tiered green.  Numerous traps protect the right of the hole, but do ensure you get the correct section of the green with your shot as putting will be a lot more difficult, especially if you need to putt back down the hill.

The undulating 18th green

In summarising my experience with Concord, I think the clubhouse is great.  Lots of areas to sit, great outdoor area surrounded by garden.  From the golfing part, I definitely favour the front 9 holes over the back.  There just seems to be a bit more strategy required with some of the holes, bar the par 3 and short 13th.  I enjoy playing Concord, but don’t really connect with it like some of the other top 100 courses I have played.  I can’t really put my finger on why, as the course is always in great condition, but I just feel something is missing.

To play Concord Golf Club you need one of the following:

1. Be invited by a member
2. Interstate or overseas visitor (must be a member of a golf club outside NSW)