Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club

Magazine Ratings

Needing to shake of the winter blues I decided it was time to kick start my quest again to play the top 100 golf courses ranked by Golf Digest Australia. I have a target to reach 34 by the end of the year and with 10 still to play, had to start making a move.

This was to be a milestone, the 25th course played from the list, so it needed to be challenging and memorable. Magenta Shores G.C.C. certainly lived up to these expectations, in particular the challenging aspect. Three friends came along for this trip to take on the weekly held Magenta Challenge.

Map of Magenta Shores G.C.C.

Magenta Shores was completed in 2006, aimed at being residential housing, along with a hotel resort. The course was designed by renowned Australian designer, Ross Watson. The course is located 1 ½ hours north of Sydney. Located between the white capped breakers of the Pacific Ocean and the serene waters of Tuggerah Lake, the course meanders along sand dunes. Previously parts of the site had been used for sand mining, as well as a municipal rubbish tip. Parts of the course required anywhere from 2 to 8 meters of fill.

Scorecard for Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club

Clubhouse for Magenta Shores G.C.C

The first hole runs beside the driving range (well a pitching range really as an eight iron is the longest club allowed). A challenging par 4, which brings water into play on the left and multiple bunkers on the right. It is clearly shown from the first that this is a links style course. Plenty of undulations appear on the fairway, which will leave you adjusting to all sorts of shots during the day.

The 1st tee – 346 meter par 4

If you manage to stay clear of this trouble you are left with a short to medium iron approach into a raised green with two bunkers right as well as one behind the green. There is a bail out area to the left, which will leave a chip to a green sloping from back to front with some slight changes in undulation.

Approach to the first green

Brendan playing his approach shot to the second green

The second hole, a 493 meter par 5, is the only hole which runs along the ocean at Magenta, but offers spectacular views, not only of the water but also of the main town The Entrance. This fairway narrows between bunkers on both sides, so accuracy is key, otherwise reaching the green in regulation will be a struggle, especially if the wind is blowing north.

Approach to the second green

This is what happened on our visit, so it was really a struggle to reach the green. This hole has sweeps to the right, but slightly slope left towards the water. Further bunkers come into play on the second shot. There is room to the left which should not find trouble, allowing a shot which takes the right greenside bunkers out of play.

The undulating second green – Joe trying to read his putt

Anything left or long of the green will leave an uphill shot. This green slopes right to left and has some significant undulations and slopes to contend with.

View of the 4th green – a long par 3

Hole 4, is a long par 3 at 169 meters, requiring an accurate shot. The green is quite large, but a bunker on the right will ensure par is difficult, whilst anything left could leave you playing a provisional from the tee. At 42 meters in length, the green is very long, so ensure you hit to the correct portion.

The 4th green is very undulating

The back section is protected by a large slope running through the middle of the putting surface, so two putting this from the wrong section is no guarantee of par.

Short par 4 – 314 meter 6th hole

The sixth is a great risk/reward type hole. This shortish par 4, measuring 284 meters, offers the challenge of carrying numerous bunkers on the right side of the fairway. Doing so will leave a short approach shot, but leaving it short will leave a tough approach. If you don’t find the bunkers you could lose your ball in the grass surrounding the traps. One thing we learnt at Magenta, if you did not see the ball land, hit another. Too many holes were wasted at the beginning by not adhering to this observation.

View from behind the 6th green

If you’re smart you can lay up short of the fairway traps, as there is plenty of room, then play a short iron to the relatively flat green. A bunker the length of the green covers the right side.

The 8th elevated tee shows the whole length of the 474 meter par 5

From the eighth tee, you have a great view all the way to the hole. The elevation allows every aspect of the hole to be observed of this 474 meter par 5. Danger lies all down the left of this hole, with bunkers and thick scrub (although this is all over the whole course). The landing area is quite large from the tee, although long hitters may reach the fairway traps on the right.

Playing from the right is not the best angle to the 8th green

Playing the second is best down to the left of the fairway, as this leaves the best line into the green. Two large bunkers protect the right of the hole and almost look like moonscapes. The only issue playing left is bring the out of bounds into play. If you succeed, you can run the ball into this fairly undulating green. Anything long will run off into the swales behind.

Hole 9 – 407 meter par 4

The hardest hole on the course is the 9th.  Measuring 407 meters this will take two good shots to reach the green.  From the tee you are presented with a fairway which snakes its way along to the green, with various mounds or fairway traps on either side.

The 9th green

When we reach the green we are faced with various issues to make par difficult.  Traps are located all around the green, which in itself slopes from the rear to front, but also has many undulations to make putting not so simple.

The 12th is a medium length par 3, but plays extremely long into the wind

Hole 12 is a medium length par 3 at 165 meters. Bunkers protect the front and sides of this green quite extensively. Anything long will run down the swale. The putting surface has a few undulations but is not overly difficult. The day of play every meter was earned from the tee shot. A low marker in our group used his 3 hybrid. It looked like the ball was about to start coming back to us the wind was that strong, leaving him 25 meters still short of the green. Luckily he was short left, leaving room to attack the flag and recover for par.

Big hitters can carry the hill to give a short approach to the 13th green

The thirteenth was one of the most interesting holes on the course. A par 4 measuring 326 meters requires an accurate tee shot, to the narrow fairway, running up a hill. Out of bounds runs the left side, with two bunkers located on nestled against the trees, while thick scrub also covers the right as well as a large group of bunkers. The centre of the fairway is the safest place to be on this hole.

Playing from the right hand side of the fairway brings the large bunker into play on the 13th

Long hitters may manage to carry the hill, finding the slope on the other side giving another 40 meters of carry. You are then faced with a large tree on the left, or a massive bunker on the right of the green. This starts 40 meters from the green and runs all the way to the back right edge. Certainly a place to avoid, otherwise bring your spade and bucket. The green is quite tricky with a few undulations.

The 15th is a short par 3 measuring 124 meters

The signature hole on the course is the fifteenth. This medium length par 3 is camouflaged in among the dunes and natural vegetation, but quite exposed to the elements. Waste runs from the tee to around 20 meters short of the green, where bunkers then come into play on both sides.

Trouble is found all around the 15th green

The surrounds of the green run will take any ball away leaving a difficult chip, or the numerous bunkers will be willing to take the stray ball.

17 is a dogleg left par 4 hole with trouble either side of the fairway

Coming into the penultimate hole, you are faced with a 361 meter par 4, which has a dogleg left. If you are prepared to take the risk by playing over the mound and its hidden bunkers on the left, you will gain valuable meters, but you may pay the price if you play too far and find the bush.

The approach to the 17th shows every hump and bump in the fairway

Adequate room on the right will allow a long iron into a fairly flat green, protected by multiple bunkers on the left side. This hole truly shows the many humps and bumps on the fairway.

Playing my approach to the 18th green

The last hole is a long par 5 at 550 meters. Playing into the wind will make this feel like a marathon. Bunkers and narrowing sections of fairway protect this hole, although generally the later will not influence play a great deal. Multiple traps protect the large green, which slopes from back to front. A par here is a well deserved way to end the round.

The course was in great shape on our visit. There was plenty of room available for tee selection, which ensured the area you were teeing from was not worn or full of divots. Fairways were in top shape, firm allowing for a bit of run, but allowing for the ball to sit nicely.

The rough was a mixture, due to the course nature there was actually not a lot of rough. Along with this being the middle of winter, the length was not overly long for the rough that was there. If you were too far to either side then it was considered scrub and it was almost impossible to find any balls that strayed.

The course first started out as a private course, open to members or guests of the Quay West Resort. This has now changed to allow the public to play, even if not staying at Magenta Shores. We took part in the weekly Magenta Challenge, held every Sunday (current during 2011).