Elanora Country Club

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Elanora Country Club, located high in the hills along the northern beaches of Sydney, is a club I was having difficulty in gaining a tee time. There had been hope through a contact I came across at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, but nothing ever eventuated. Until I moved interstate, which opened up the gates to this gem. A friend of mine had stated this was one of his dream clubs to play at. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but after this visit, it is certainly held in high esteem.

Entrance to Elanora Country Club

Elanora is an aboriginal word which means “Home by the sea”. The club was established in 1928 with the first nine holes of the course being built in 1929 and the second nine in 1930. The club caters for more than just golf, with tennis courts and bowling green also found on the grounds.

Clubhouse at Elanora Country Club

The magnificent clubhouse, built in 1938, is probably one of the grandest I have come across in my travels in Australia. Lodging is also possible at the course for visitors, ensuring you can get on the course quite quickly.

Map of Elanora Country Club

In 2000 members approved a master plan, which saw works carried out until 2004, with many changes made over the course.

Scorecard at Elanora Country Club

This was my first game after a recent lesson, so I thought it wise to hit the driving range, to ensure I could actually still hit the ball. It was a little tricky to find, hidden away behind the bowling green, but the warm-up was well worth it.

Hole 1 – 326 meter Par 4

Starting the round is a short to mid length par 4, one of four found at Elanora. The tee shot is from a raise area, with sandstone one side and a drop down the hill on the other. There is a wide open fairway to hit with bunkers down the right. Playing to the left may block out the approach to the green.

View from the 9th tee – looking back along the 1st Hole

One of the first things I noticed on the fairway, was the irrigation works which had been carried out.  I would learn that there is a bit of work being down at various points of the course to ensure better drainage.

The second shot will be up a hill to reach the green, protected by two bunkers at the front. A good testing hole to start with.

Hole 2 – 502 meter Par 5

The second longest hole on the course starts with a tee shot from an elevated position. With views of water, both a dam beside the teeing area and the sea in the distance, the landing area is still generous, with a few bunkers in play to the right.  Once down at the fairway, trees line either side, narrowing towards the green.

Approach to the 2nd green

Making the approach to the green can be hazardous, in more ways than one as water is located to the right of the putting surface. This multi tiered green sits right up against the waters edge. The fairway bunkers short left, help to deceive the distance to the green, but are a better option to hit than losing the ball on the right.

Hole 3 – 273 meter Par 4

Feeling claustrophobic on the tee of this short par 4, you are left with accuracy being critical. Down the right the trees are part of the water hazard, whilst left they are more dense. Again deception comes into play. Even though the first 100 meters of the hole is quite narrow, there is plenty of room to land the tee shot beyond the trees.

Play uphill from the fairway on the 3rd Hole

A fairway bunker is in play on the right, leaving a very difficult approach, so avoid at all costs. The putting surface is blind from the fairway, so take notice of flag colours to determine where the pin lies. This green also slopes from the front away, making it a bit more difficult to leave the ball on the green. With all that knowledge you are actually playing the easiest hole on the course.

Hole 4 – 368 meter Par 4

A longer par 4 hole which dog legs to the right. Fairway traps are located left which only longer hitters will carry, so play it safe towards the middle.

View from the 4th Fairway

From the fairway to the green, there are no further troubles. The putting surface is quite open, sloping away on the left and rear. The approach can be slightly to the right which will see the ball potentially run onto the green.

Hole 5 – 130 meter Par 3

Coming to the first par 3 for the day, this short hole plays down hill from the tee. Protected by various hazards, sand and water, short, right or to the rear, with trees on either side well short of the green to again give a feel of everything encroaching.

Well gaurded 5th Green

The green is not very deep but quite wide. One of the things I love about this hole is that there is an area to bail out, short left, which also makes it more playable for beginners or those getting on in life who can’t hit the ball as long anymore.

Hole 6 – 503 meter Par 5

The longest hole on the course, by a mere one meter, this actually plays a lot longer than the yardage suggests. Playing up a gradual slope all the way to the green, this hole doglegs to the right. Trees line either side of this fairway, with a trap reachable for longer hitters. The second shot will need to stay towards the centre as there is a small water hazard on the right, below a lone group of trees.

Multiple traps protect the approach to the 6th Green

There is ample room to land the second shot, as long as you stay clear of the bunkers, of which there are three short of the green. A clear run exists up the middle to the green, which is not clearly visible from the fairway.

Hole 7 – 165 meter Par 3

A hole which doesn’t look overly difficult from the elevated tee, but distance, a deep bunker and steep run off on the right and rear can cut those thoughts short very quickly.

Looking back from the 7th Green

The 7th green is quite large, which it should be for a mid length par 3, but has some gentle slopes around the green to make putting a little more tricky than it looks.

Hole 8 – 277 meter Par 4

Another short par 4, playing longer than the yardage suggests, due to the steep hill this is played on. A wide landing area is found on this fairway which also slopes quite a bit from the right, but two traps are awaiting your ball on either side.

Another uphill shot to the 8th green

If you managed to stay out of trouble, the next shot is to a green where you cannot see the putting surface. The ideal line into the green, depending on your position on the fairway, is slightly right of the front bunker. I found that when I played the pin was on the extreme right of the green (1.5 meters in), the green is not overly big actually.

Looking out over the course and surrounds at the 9th tee

One thing to do once you have completed the eighth hole is to enjoy the view. The large catchment area and also sea beyond the second hole is quite enjoyable, there is even a chair to sit and relax on briefly.

Hole 9 – 368 meter par 4

Finishing the front nine is this longer par 4, playing from an elevated tee.  There is ample room to land the tee shot, but right of the bunker is the best line, to shorten the hole and give a clear shot at the green.

Fairway on the 9th

The fairway along the ninth is lined with bunkers down the left and trees to the right, narrowing towards the hole.

Long 9th Green

With the clubhouse located slightly to the right, this is a good finishing hole for the front. The green slopes from the rear, with a small tier located at the rear.

Tee Marker and Pin Flag at Elanora Country Club

Most things around the course are emblazoned with the clubs logo, a tree, which I have no idea on what type it is.

Hole 10 – 366 meter Par 4

On my day of play the tenth was out of play, due to work on the tee area and its surrounds, again for drainage I think. From the tee it plays down hill to a gully, leaving an uphill shot to the green. I admit I did drop one down and hit up, didn’t help the group in front had decided to have a putt on the 10th, so I wasn’t going anywhere in a hurry.

Hole 11 – 481 meter Par 5

Playing slightly down hill from the tee to the green, this mid length par 5, plays slightly shorter than the yardage suggests. A large trap is located on the left, which only extremely long hitters will carry. Landing slightly right of the trap may see some extra distance gained as a slight ridge slopes away.

Playing to the 11th Green

Big decision with the second, on whether to lay up or go at the green. The traps are actually short of the putting surface by around 30 meters, with a gully separating them. This green is quite wide but not overly deep and has a small false front to the left.

Hole 12 – 149 meter Par 3

The second easiest hole on the course is this medium length par 3. Playing slightly up hill, from the tee the trees encroach on either side.

Looking back along the 12th Hole

The green is surrounded by traps, but a clearing at the front allows the ball to be run on, although this is up a slight incline.

Hole 13 – 271 meter Par 4

The last of the short par fours for the day, playing up hill from the tee. There is plenty of landing area for those playing short of the bunkers, but this narrows as you get closer to the green, so risk reward appears from the tee.

The elevated 13th Green is tricky

The green has a large slope, making it elevated from the fairway. There is also two significant tiers to the green, so any back pin positions feels like you have been hitting up,up and away.

Hole 14 – 388 meter Par 4

A long sweeping dogleg left, this hole plays over a ridge, meaning you cannot see the dangers or where the ideal line is, so inside knowledge helps here. I found playing at the main body of water you could see, meant staying out of trouble.

Scenic approach to the 14th Green

As long as you haven’t hit to far right or long, you will avoid the water. Quite a scenic shot hitting into this green, with water far right and bunkers between this and the green.

Slightly undulating 14th Green

This green is quite large and generally slopes from the rear to front.  There are quite a few small undulations found, which may leave a tricky putt if not finding the correct portion of the fairway.

Hole 19 – 110 meter Par 3

Due to the 10th being out of play, the spare hole, number 19, was the substitute. A walk up the hill is required for this small par 3 measuring only 110 meters. The tee was a little tricky to find, then I had the surprise of what you actually see to the green. A small chute which to play through.

Narrow 19th Green

The green is quite narrow, with a large slope leading away down the right and rear of the putting surface. Not the best hole on the course, but ideal to ensure you can still play 18 during a round.

Hole 15 – 362 meter Par 4

It was at this point I caught up to the group in front, a couple of members of Elanora, so we joined together to complete the round. Looking from the tee this is quite intimidating, with me not having the right club, even more so. Play is to a fairway sloping significantly to the left. At around the 220 meter mark is a water hazard running the width of the fairway. I was told to bring a 180 meter club, which is more than ample to be short, although if I had my bag with me back on the tee I might have played differently.

The long 15th Green

Playing across the creek to this green, protected by bunkers on either side. The putting surface is quite long, with run off on most sides. This was the hardest hole on the course, which was semi enjoyable, not a big fan of holes with forced carries though.

Hole 16 – 478 meter Par 5

On the home stretch, this medium length par 5, has a couple of twists and turns along the way. Playing over a hill in the distance, trees come into play on either side, with them narrowing at the landing area for a driver.

George playing on the 16th

The second shot will be over a large gully leading up to the hole. Chances are the second shot will be played off a downhill lie.

Uphill to the raised 16th Green

The approach narrows towards the green, with the actual putting surface unseen from down below. A large undulation is found on the right, which hides a bunker.

Hole 17 – 116 meter Par 3

Officially the shortest length on the course in regular play, the penultimate hole looks easier than it plays. Faced with stiff winds playing slightly across but into our face, you hit from a raised tee to a raised green.

Looking down at the 17th Green

Two traps are located on either side of the green, with heavy scrub beyond those. An accurate tee shot is required to ensure chance at par.

Hole 18 – 365 meter Par 4

A great scene from the 18th tee, again raised as are quite a few tees on the course, with the fairway bending slightly to the clubhouse in the background. Quite a bit of room to land the tee shot, but avoid the trap on the right, or it will be impossible to reach the green.

The 18th Green with Clubhouse in the back ground

Playing into a strong headwind, this hole played extremely long. Approaching the green is best done from the right, taking the trap out of play. The large green has some gentle slopes to contend with, but for me it was a case of not getting distracted by clubhouse in the back ground. A strong finishing hole.

Playing partners George and Bill for the last 4 holes

Before arriving at the course, my expectations where not exactly high. It was up there with one of the most expensive games in the country and a quick review of the scorecard gave the impression of lots of small holes.

In summary I would have to say I was extremely surprised by the course as a whole and would rate it up there with one of my favourite parkland style in Australia. There was a good mix of length in hole lengths, as well as direction of the holes, allowing the elements to come into play. Quite a bit of strategy off the tee, in fact I played very conservatively due to it being my first time. Potentially I would play some of the holes differently if I played again, especially a couple of the shorter par fours. You were made to think on a majority of the shots, where was the best place to play the next, where could you miss.

The condition was slightly down, but mainly due to being the end of winter. Considering this it was in pretty good condition. The other factor was some of the course work for drainage, but this is unavoidable as it has to be done at some time. There was a clear distinction of where the rough verse fairway, with the rough not being out of hand, allowing the ball to be found fairly easily.

This is well deserved of its ranking in the top 50 and I can’t see this changing in a hurry. There were quite a few memorable holes on the course leaving me with a need to go back at some time in the future. Except next time I hope to be a guest so the wallet doesn’t feel so empty.

How to play at Elanora Country Club:

1. Be invited by a member
2. Be an interstate or overseas visitor who is a member of a golf club