Macquarie Links International Golf Club

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Taking the opportunity to catch up with some golf buddies, Aaron and Joe, before my adventure to the US Masters, we decided to play at Macquarie Links, home club to one of the group. This helped another motive to have pictures of the course on the website. I have previously played the course a few times, but well before deciding to conduct my quest to play Australia’s top 100 golf courses.

The first time I was invited to play the course was for a corporate day. When I heard where the course was located, I was dumbfounded. The only thing I knew the area for was rioting, I guess that is why this is a gate community, totally secluded from the socio economic problems in the area. If you’re not a resident, visitor of a resident or there to play golf, your chances of getting past the security guard is minimal (well I’m assuming as I’ve never been there for any other reason).

Entrance to the Macquarie Links Golf Estate

Macquarie Links Golf Course was completed in 2002 by designer Robin Nelson. It was designed along the lines of a Scottish links. Starting out as an exclusive club for members and corporate functions, this has gradually changed to allow the general public access. Sitting atop a hill within the estate is former Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s house. Fifth Governor of the country, he was referred to as the “Father of Australia”.

For this game we had entered the local competition, so play was from the black tees, which gave quite a bit of distance to the course.

Scorecard for Macquarie Links International Golf Club

Approach to the 1st – 492 meter par 5

Hole 1 is a par 5 measuring 492 meters. From the tee you are presented with a fairly wide fairway, with bunkers right and left. As you get closer to the hole this target area narrows significantly. The second shot will need to carry further traps laid across the middle of the fairway, with any shot too far left or right finding trees. Landing to the left is preferred to allow a clear shot into the green.

My ball plugged into the face of the green side bunker.  I didn’t give it much hope of coming out

Protecting the front right of the green are a further three bunkers. The first being extremely large, whilst the others are almost pot bunkers. The putting surface is quite undulating, predominantly from back to front.

The second green – 405 meter par 4

4th hole – a great short par 4

The fourth hole is a great short par 4. At 307 meters this hole is all uphill with a generous fairway to land on. A large bunker protects the left side of the fairway whilst a creek runs up the right. From the fairway bunker the slope is all to the right, so best to start the shot to the left.

View of 4th green from the 5th tee

The approach shot is to a raised green, protected by three pot bunkers from the middle to the right side, so anything short will be in the sand. Anything long will run down the other side of hill, so left of the green is a good bail out area. The green slopes from left to right with two distinct tiers. A hole where a birdie is a good chance.

6th green – Easiest hole on the course – 325 meter par 4

Tee shot from the 7th – 474 meter par 5

Hole 7 is another birdie chance. This par 5 measures 474 meters and is the easiest of the long holes. The tee shot is all uphill, played next to the clubhouse. Along the left is OOB, as well as a few fairway bunkers. The right has some small trees separating the 7th from the 9th fairway. If you keep the tee shot on the fairway the hole can play fairly easy. Another fairway trap is located around 100 meters out from the green, with the slope of the ground running left to right.

Approach to the 7th green

The green is fairly wide and open on the left side. A large trap protects the right. Putting is more right to left on the green, with some slope also back to front. Pin positions are when a birdie is a real possibility as the ball can be run up to the green. For the long hitters an eagle is also possible.

Aaron playing approach to the 9th – 393 meter par 4

Finishing the front nine is a 393 meter par 4, starting with a relatively flat area to hit the tee shot, but then running down towards the green. There is ample room to hit the tee shot with some traps in play on the right. Long hitters will get their first shot to run down the hill towards the green. A creek runs in front of the putting area which opens up into the dam on the left. Another trap protects the right, of this long narrow green, which has a few mounds at the front and rear.

Well guarded 10th hole

The 11th is a great par 3 hole – 140 meter carry at least

The par 3 eleventh, is the hole I always remember from Macquarie Links. Playing 168 meters, the green is located on the other side of a canal. This has been well disguised with rocks lining the green side and vegetation allowed to grow through the middle. Having a minimum of 140 meters to carry from the tee, it is quite an intimidating shot.

A small target – the 11th green

Three bunkers surround the hole, but there is the ability to shoot right of the green and still be safe. Slope of the green is back to front and both sides run towards the middle. This is the type of hole where hitting the green is an achievement. Walking off with par is just a bonus.

Another great short par 4 – Tee shot on the 278 meter 13th

Approach to the 13th green

Tee shot on the 14th – 355 meter par 4

The fourteenth is a 355 meter par 4, with a dogleg left. From the tee water is in play all down the left side. Some will try to carry the water hitting towards the 150 marker. Hit too close and the ball may make its way into the drink. For the safe hitters they will aim for the middle of the fairway, but increase the distance of the hole. Playing the approach from the middle to right ensures a multitude of bunkers have to be carried to make the green. Pushing the ball to far right will result in an unplayable lie if found, whilst down the left is the danger of scuba gear being required to chip on the green. There is not too much undulation on the putting surface, but still making par here is well deserved.

The 15th – 205 meter par 3

It is not too often that you see a par 3 rated number one on the index. Hole 15, a monster at 205 meters enforces a carry over the edge of a dam to hit the green, whilst also having a bunker between the water and the front of the green to stop any attempt to run the ball onto the green and thick shrubs to capture anything not quite making the left side of the hole. Short hitters have an out by playing the right hand side to a narrow fairway, but this allows the length of the green to be utilised in the pitch or chip shot to the pin.

Reverse view of 15th

The green has significant undulations, with a ridge almost running the middle of the green. Any pin position to the left slopes towards the water. Walk off with par here and you can be very happy.

Downhill approach to the 18th green – 392 meter par 4

Hole 18 is a great finishing hole. This 392 meter par 4 has a tee shot playing to a narrowing fairway, which is marginally uphill and OUB all down the left. Small trees line either side but the main issues will be the multiple traps located on either side of the fairway. Choose to either layup short, or go for broke and try to hit the middle line to try and carry to the downhill slope leading to the green.

Reverse view of the 18th green

If you manage to carry to the slope the approach will be much easier. The green is well protected by many obstacles. Right is a dam, as well as three bunkers. Two of these protect the front portion of the green and are quite steep. The putting surface has some undulations and distinct quadrants. Most times I have played here the pin as been at the front, so if you are smart you can take advantage of a slight slope to spin the ball back towards the hole. Finish with a view of the clubhouse in the background.

Macquarie Links has tumbled down the rankings since 2008, now placed in the 80 percentile. I personally quite enjoy the course. The staff are very friendly and accommodating, which is always a good way to start a golf day.

As for the course conditions they are in good shape. Couch is the predominant grass on the course, I’m informed that this is the only grass residents are allowed to plant. Tee boxes are well maintained and were flat on all holes. Fairways were firm giving a bit of run and generous most of the time. The rough was a consistent height throughout the course and best avoided were possible. Greens were in superb shape and gave true run when putting. They seemed a bit softer than my last visit, making the ball more receptive to backspin.

Price seemed to have risen a bit also since the last time I played, but overall this is a course I would not hesitate to visit again and again.

The course originally started out as an exclusive private club, where the general public could not play. Over time this has changed, to ensure cash flow. To play Macquarie Links:
a. Play with a member
b. Check www.golflink.com.au for public tee times
c. Ring the club to see what other times are available for the public