The Australian Golf Club

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An opportunity arose where I was invited to play The Australian Golf Club for one of their twilight events, golf and dinner, by one of its members (also helped I had previously asked and didn’t hesitate to remind occasionally). Luckily for one of my regular playing group, he managed to be in the right place at the right time and was also invited.

Entrance to The Australian Golf Club in Rosebery NSW

The Australian Golf Club was formed in 1882. There is debate which is the oldest club, between Royal Melbourne Golf Club and The Australian Golf Club. The Australian claims it never ceased to exist since its inception, even though it did not have a golf course for the first seven years. I won’t enter the debate.

Golf courses existed in various suburbs before eventually building on the current site in 1904.

The clubhouse at The Australian Golf Club

Inside the clubhouse the men’s locker room has to be one of the biggest I have ever come across. Three floors in total, the upper being an annexure which lets you look below to the next level, makes this very spacious. There is a story that one of the clubs most prominent members, the late Kerry Packer, asked how much it would cost to put a bar in the locker room. After being told the amount he a cheque was given to the club to start the building process. If a bridge or poker game is going beyond normal club hours, the players involved pay the bar staffs wage to remain and serve drinks.

The Australian Golf Club Course Map

Jack Nicklaus renovated his original design in 2013 to a standard which is now acceptable to his design concepts. I never had the privilege of playing the before the changes, but I was impressed with the course in its current standing. The Australian Golf Club is currently the host of The Australian Open golf tournament.

Scorecard for The Australian Golf Club

Hole 1 – 430 meter par 5

The first hole is a par 5 which turns first to the right, then to the left. This is the shortest and easiest par 5 on the course, but doesn’t guarantee a good result. Playing from an elevated tee the main danger is the bunkers located to the right, however too far to the left will leave a longer shot which may be blocked by the trees on your second shot to the green.

Plenty of bunkers along the 1st fairway

If you managed to put the ball on the short stuff, the next trick is determining whether you can reach the green. If not I think the best option is to be further right to allow a clear shot to the green.

Approach to the 1st green

Playing to a slightly elevated green with many bunkers surround either side. The putting surface itself has some gentle slopes.

Hole 2 – 144 meter par 3

Playing downhill from a raised tee, this mid length par 3 has a large trap on the left side of the hole protecting the left portion of the green, whilst another is located on the right. A large opening exists at the front to bring the ball in.

The 2nd green has large undulations

Green number 2 is long and narrow. A large mound is rear of the middle portion, where as the front middle has a swale.  The green has some undulations and slopes leaving any putt in the wrong portion to the pin difficult.

Hole 3 – 319 meter par 4

The shortest par 4 on the course, but far from the easiest.  The tee shot has plenty of room to land, but picking the right area is critical.  Bunkers are in play on both sides, as is the water at the end of the fairway (especially down wind). Being too far left will ensure the next shot is difficult, with trees blocking the view to the green.

A ducks and its ducklings on the 3rd fairway

The locals came for a look at the action.

Looking back from the 3rd green

Approaching the green which is angled to the fairway, water comes into play on the right, if short, with a large trap at the rear for any long shots.  The green is long and slightly narrow, with some small undulations at the rear.

Hole 4 – 151 meter par 3

The hardest par 3 on the course plays over water mostly, although it is possible to skirt this if your confidence is low. Traps protect nearly the whole front of the green.

The 4th is a par 3 with water carry

A swale is located to the left rear of the green with trees in play for anything to long. The general surrounds all slope away from the green, with the putting surface having a significant ridge at the front. A good par 3 which caters for all levels of golf.

Hole 5 – 492 meter par 5

The 5th hole is the longest on the course as well as being the most difficult of the par 5’s. This hole turns to the right with bunkers ensuring shortcuts could end up being punished.  Taking on too much on this side could also find tree trouble. From the raised tee the landing area generally slopes to the left.

Greg Norman plaque on the 5th fairway

During the 1990 Australian Open Greg Norman holed out on this hole for an Albatross. This plaque commemorates this, with the shot he faced showing in the next photo.

Approach near Greg Norman plaque on the 5th fairway

This hole will leave a long approach and does play as a true three shot hole. If laying up there is safety to the right, as a trap on the left is in play.

The raised 5th green is narrow and requires an approach from the front

Playing to a raised green, the 5th is well protected on the right by two traps. This putting surface has two small undulations in the middle funnelling the ball away from the green. On the left a significant slope is found leaving a difficult shot back.

Hole 6 – 369 meter par 4 – Joanne watching her beautiful tee shot

A longer par 4 which turns to the right.  From the raised tee, play is over a gully. Caution for long hitters carrying the hill as the fairway will run out very fast. Trees encroach on any shot slightly left.

After angling to the right the approach to the 6th green

Playing from a down slope for the approach, water on the left is in play for any errant shot. A large trap is short and right of the green, more in play for those coming in from that side, especially if from the rough.

Looking back from the 6th green

A large ridge through the center left of the green gives some difficulty to putting. The left of the hole all slopes towards the water.

Hole 7 – 354 meter par 4

To finish out the front nine we come across some of the hardest par 4 holes on the course. The 7th is a mid length par 4 which turns slightly to the right nearer the hole. Playing down a narrow fairway, gently sloping away, with mounds either side, the ball will tend to roll to the right with the angle of the fairway. A trap awaits for any shot long and left. Avoid the right as the next shot will be blind to the green.

Anything long on the 7th green will find water

For the approach trees are in play for any shot going slightly to the left. A bunker also is found short and left, to stop people running the ball onto the putting area. A difficult green which has water to the right and rear, the putting surface slopes predominantly away from the front to the rear, maximising the potential for a badly hit shot being easily found after a swim.

Hole 8 – 389 meter par 4

If you went unpunished on the last hole, you may face some on this, the hardest hole on the course.  The tee is located in the middle of the water on the longest par 4 hole on the course. The fairway snakes right then left on the way to the green.  Two traps are located on either side of the fairway to catch any errant tee shot.

The 8th green

Approaching this green will be with a long iron for most people or even fairway metal. A trap protects the front left of the hole, beyond which is a large swale. If you are a monster and hit long there is another trap, but I do wonder how many people ever get in there. The putting surface slopes to the left, with some small undulations found towards the center of the green. One long tough hole.

Hole 9 – 351 meter par 4

Returning back to the clubhouse, we face a tee shot which has a fair bit of area if laying up. Trees, then water are in play on the left, whilst a large fairway bunker is found on the right. To far in this direction will find out of bounds. long hitters have to aim middle to right of the fairway.

Approach to the 9th green

A scenic shot playing to the 9th green, has water in play to the left. The fairway has a few mounds leading to the green, which itself has two tiers and slopes towards the water. Two bunkers are at the front on either side, with another back left side.

Tee marker and pin flag at The Australian Golf Club

Hole 10 – 363 meter par 4

Starting the back nine, we have a mid length par 4 which turns to the left.  From the elevated tee a long bunker is located left, ensuring anyone trying to take too much off the corner will face trouble. The fairway slopes to the left for the first portion.

Jo and Sheriff reach the 10th green

Playing the approach to the green , the front surrounds have two bunkers as well as sloping away from the putting surface.  Playing long on this hole will see you in sand and trees.

Hole 11 – 148 meter par 3

The easiest hole on the course plays with the clubhouse in the back ground. This medium length par 3 plays over a gully with the green being slightly lower than the tee. The surrounds to the left and rear of the green slope can feed the ball back towards the putting surface.

The large 11th green

A large green with contours through the middle ensures putting from the wrong portion of the green will not be easy. Any pin positions on the right are protected by a large bunker.

Hole 12 – 356 meter par 4

The twelfth hole is similar to the tenth. Playing from an elevated tee with a hole which angles to the left, similar distance and again bunkers to the left, to catch anyone trying to make the hole much shorter.

Approach to the 12th green

The green is not as elevated as the tenth and is a bit bigger in area. Larger bunkers are found on each side of the hole.

Hole 13 – 331 meter par 4 – Playing partner Michael about to hit

The thirteenth is a short-mid length hole which turns to the right. From the tee trees line the right side, discouraging short cuts being taken.  A large bunker is in play on the far side of the fairway which dips down.

Uphill approach to the 13th green 

Playing to the 13th green is all uphill. A deep bunker is located left, with step slopes away from the green on either side. A more shallow bunker is on the right. Parts of the right and rear slope toward the green.

Hole 14 – 461 meter par 5 – Playing partner Rob on the tee

The mid length par 5 has a large landing area for the tee shot. This hole plays predominantly straight, with out of bounds down the right side, but only for very wayward shots. The fairway rolls up and down gently as we travel along. Bunkers right are in play off the tee.

Scenic approach to the 14th green 

Making the approach to the green, there is plenty of areas to miss the green. Two large bunkers protect either side, whilst the green is almost in a dome shape, sloping away in all directions.

Hole 15 – 165 meter par 3 

The last par 3 for the day, this hole plays slightly down hill to a slightly raised green.

The undulating 15th green 

Three bunkers surround the green which has a gently contoured putting surface.

Hole 16 – 378 meter par 4 

The longish sixteenth plays fairly straight, looks straight forward but is the second hardest hole on the course. From the tee waster is to the left, but not in play, that is for the return journey. The right hand rough slopes towards the fairway, which is tree lined on either side.

Approach to the 16th green 

The green slopes from the right with two bunkers protecting the center and right also.

Hole 17 – 370 meter par 4 

The penultimate hole also has a tree lined fairway for half the distance. This hole turns to the left beyond the trees as well as the fairway sloping down hill from that point.

Looking back from the 17th green 

Water comes into play making the approach to the green on the left. The green sits at the end of the pond, however you can play around if you are not confident. The green surrounds slope away in all directions, whilst the putting surface has some gentle contours and slopes to contend with.

Hole 18 – 447 meter par 5 

A mid length par 5 takes us back to the clubhouse to conclude the round.  Playing straight most of the way with a slight turn occurring closer to the green. A long bunker is reachable on the left from the tee. Further bunkers also run the rest of the length down this side.

18th green protected by water

Approaching the green, the 18th is hidden behind a pond. The player will need to decide if they risk bringing this into play with the second or play out to the left to make a third shot onto the putting surface. The rear of the green is slightly raised compared to the front section.

All I can say is that the course was fantastic. I never played the course before its last renovations, which were carried out a year prior, but what was presented was stunning. Great variety on hole lengths, angles of play and conditions were really good. I can’t wait for my return visit in a couple of weeks so I can truly just concentrate on golf. Good design principles are in place with no forced carry being required, but still plenty of risks for those preparing to take them on. A course which suits all levels of golf.

The Australian Golf Club is fully private course open to members only. To play 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)