Early days and golfing success “Apperly’s game looked undistinguished Eric’s father Henry Wellstead Apperly, but he hit most of his shots straight, if was born in and his mother not in copybook fashion, and he was a was Alice Langton Apperly. Henry relentless fighter. He was chosen to became the Secretary of the AMP play for Australia against Great Britain Society - one of the largest insurance in 1934 at the age of 45, but it will be companies in the country. Born on for his work as a golf course architect 16th September 1889 in Sydney, that he will be remembered…” 1889-1951 Son of the AMP Society’s Eric Langton Apperly was known as Secretary, Eric Apperly the ‘boy champion’ in his early golfing Eric married Marjorie Audet in 1923 grew up in what could only years. He reportedly took up the and they had one child, a son Richard be considered affluent game to improve his delicate health, Eric Apperly, who was born in Sydney and at the age of 16, the young fellow in 1925. He too became an architect. circumstances in Sydney described as “a sickly boy”, made Richard married Myrna Hirsch in 1957 society. Educated at the the final of the 1907 NSW Amateur and they had three sons - all born University of Sydney, Championship, only to lose on the in Sydney. obtaining an Architecture 37th. A tall and gangly individual, he went on to win five NSW Amateur Writings and opinions degree, he not only Championships whilst a member of In October 1933, Apperly designed buildings, but also Killara Golf Club and later Manly wrote extensively on golf course golf courses. As such, he Golf Club, the first in 1912 and architecture in Golf Australia magazine: the last in 1930. “My Conception of a Good Golf Hole. was likely the first trained In my opinion, a hole is a good one if design professional in Apperly’s most famous victory it calls for nicety of judgement, careful Australia to engage in golf came in 1920 as the first New South thought as to the direction and placing course design. Others, Welshman to win the Australian of the strokes or particular skill and Amateur Championship, defeating variety of their execution, no matter such as civil engineer Alex Tommy Howard 4 and 3 at The what the length or the par may be.” Russell, soon followed Australian. Apperly also won the 1921 in his footsteps. Australian Foursomes Championship. He went on to say: He was selected in the NSW state “In this short article on Golf Architecture team in 1906 - and was still there I had intended to pick out one or two over 20 years later - a remarkable of my favourite holes on our Sydney feat of longevity. courses and to say why I considered them good. It struck me however, The Sydney Mail described Apperly’s that before being so it might be as technique as “unorthodox, looking well to try and get a clear view of what at times almost clumsy”, but added constitutes a good hole. It is certainly a “He gets results and as a fighter subject on which there is much room he knows no equal.” Jack Pollard for difference of opinion, as one will wrote in his book Australian Golf - not infrequently hear the favourite of the Game and the Players that: one good player roundly condemned by another, and each will advance A young and gangly Eric Apperly arguments in favour of his view. at front left in this photo of the NSW Amateur team of 1906 A good deal depends on the player’s attitude of mind to the game itself; some would have it a game of strict justice, where punishment is meted out to the erring strictly according to the extent of their sin, whilst the good are never troubled.

To such I would say, why not decide your competitions by competitive examination, awarding marks for length and accuracy over a series of tests with the various clubs? Such a method should undoubtedly be more successful in unearthing the best stroke maker, but golf would assuredly cease to be a game. Courtesy of Royal Sydney Golf Club In order to retain its fascination, golf Three of Australia’s early Below centre: Wright and A hole should never be lengthened must ask for something more than golf course architects in a Apperly Architects original or shortened with the sole object mere mechanical accuracy in stroke rare photograph together - elevations of the clubhouse of altering the par; the testing qualities production, the spirit of adventure must Eric Apperly plays at Concord at Avondale Golf Club in or interest of the hole should alone be fostered; the player’s character Golf Course in 1919, watched Sydney. Eric Apperly also be considered. and judgement should be tested; by Tom Howard (centre) and designed the Avondale he should be required to know himself Dan Soutar (left). course in 1926. Many of the most exacting holes and play accordingly. for class players nowadays are from 450 to 480 yards in length. Easy par In these days, too, when many players figures they may be, but they are the are so mechanically accurate in the holes where long and accurate players ordinary straight-ahead shots, it seems look to gain a stroke on less skilful or to me quite fair that some special stroke powerful opponents by getting fours. should occasionally be called for, and that the player capable of producing it Holes of less length rarely require an should have some advantage. approach with the brassie or spoon (amongst the prettiest strokes of For instance, a fairway sloping sideways, the game) from such long hitters as where only a slice or draw can expect Hattersley, Williams or Ferrier, who are to hold it, is quite a legitimate test for surely entitled to some advantage players who aspire to championships, for their long hitting.” and in addition it adds variety and makes for greater interest. Apperly also eagerly described in September 1933 the new course of The best holes, however, whilst the Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the providing plenty of thrills and interest New South Wales readers of Golf in for the expert, should not be made Australia. Some extracts from this impossible of accomplishment in article are enlightening as to Apperly’s reasonable figures by the shorter hitter own design philosophy: who can command reasonable accuracy.

A way round, or a shorter carry, should vondale Golf Club “The design of this course was the work be provided for him, provided of course of Dr. Mackenzie and Mr Alec Russell, that he must be reconciled to taking and I may say at once that I consider it one stroke more to reach the green. Courtesy of A easily the best piece of golf architecture yet achieved in Australia. Finally, I would ask players, when estimating the quality of a hole, to A few words about its difficulties, and banish par from their minds. In my the methods of bunkering, compared opinion, a hole is a good one if it calls with our own courses, may perhaps for nicety of judgement, careful thought be of general interest to golfers. as to the direction and placing of the strokes, or particular skill and variety The country on which it is laid out in their execution, no matter what is excellent for golf, nicely undulating the length or the par may be. and with sandy soil of a rather heavier quality than ours. It was originally To say that a hole of 248 yards in covered with ti-tree, so that a bad pull length is bad because it is too easy for or slice (or even a slight one in some a par 4, is surely absurd, if the tee is places) will not infrequently land in put forward five yards does it therefore the scrub, whilst the rough is tougher become a good hole because it is and more difficult to recover from now a difficult par 3? The addition or than ours. subtraction of a yard or two cannot have much effect on the merits of the To my mind, some of our own golfing hole as a test of golf, surely! country, such as is seen at La Perouse, Kensington, or The Lakes, is really Players who argue on the par basis superior: it is more like the windswept forget that it is only an arbitrary method sand dunes over which the best British of estimating the playing value of the championship courses are laid out, course as a whole, and that every Plan of Royal Melbourne’s 2nd and which have always been looked round of eighteen holes is bound to West that accompanied Eric on, rightly, I think, as the true contain some easy and some difficult Apperly’s article in ‘Golf in home of golf.” pars. And it is not always the difficult Australia’ of 1933 - most likely pars that are the best golfing holes! sketched by Apperly himself.

GOLF ARCHITECTURE 59 He goes on to discuss the I do not mean by this that super-human Architecture and golf architecture He redesigned New South Wales Golf greens and the bunkering: feats should be demanded of all A qualified architect, Eric Apperly Club’s course at La Perouse in 1936-7 players. The short hitter should always was a partner in the architectural and he redesigned the course of the “The formation of the greens, their be provided with a way around the practice of Wright and Apperly, Bond Pennant Hills Golf Club in 1946, after contours and the surrounding difficulties (as is done at Cheltenham Street, Sydney. They designed the it had been occupied by the military depressions and low hills - nearly all [Royal Melbourne]) and should be able Manly Golf Club’s clubhouse in 1924, during the Second World War. artificially created - are very skillfully to get round in a fair figure if he is Eric having been a member of that club conceived, and have been carried out accurate. Reasonable accuracy should since 1911. They later designed the The 1926 course of the Pymble in a thoroughgoing manner by moving be demanded of all players short or clubhouses for Pymble, Avondale and Golf Cub in Sydney, was originally large masses of sand without too long, but something more than this Cromer and undertook alterations to designed by Dan Soutar and Carnegie much thought for expense. In this (viz. judgement and a variety of strokes) the clubhouse at New South Wales. Clark. After the Second World War respect I think they had an advantage should be asked of the champion who Due to his outstanding golfing prowess, the Club purchased 20 acres of land over us in NSW, in that there appears wants to get round in the low seventies. Apperly was also commissioned by a known as "Britton's Orchard" for the to be a great depth of sand and no number of clubs to design, redesign sum of £7000. It was then possible tendency for water to accumulate; At Cheltenham they have not been or advise on their layouts. to redesign the course to eliminate it was therefore possible to dig deep afraid to put bunkers in positions which the three holes in the 10 acre depressions and use material so create really difficult shots for first class Eric Apperly’s first course design "Paddock" on the southern side of excavated for mounds, etc, in the players. Probably this is due to the fact project was the Avondale Golf Club’s Pentecost Avenue. In 1949 Eric vicinity. As nature always creates that the design was left to an expert, layout in 1926, and this was followed Apperly's plan for the new layout valleys and hollows where there are and was not watered down by a green in the same year by the design of was adopted and the work was hills, it was therefore much easier to committee too fearful of its popularity. nine holes at the Studley Park estate completed in 1953. give a natural appearance than on Many of the bunkers demand attention in Camden, which later became some of our flatter courses, where all even by the expert who is playing the Camden Golf Club.

artificial work has had to be above perfect golf. ales the level of the natural flat surface.

ales Courtesy the Hood Collection, State Libarary of New South W South New of Libarary State Collection, Hood the Courtesy Courtesy the Hood Collection, State Libarary of New South W

Eric Apperly (right) photographed with Representing NSW against Eric Apperly playing from one of his own a young Jim Ferrier at Manly, c. 1929. New Zealand in 1934. bunkers at The Lakes Golf Club, c.1934

The bunkering is more up-to-date With us if the drive has been placed The Lakes Golf Club was designed Cromer Golf Club was also remodeled than ours and much more difficult anywhere on the fairway jointly by Apperly and Tommy Howard by Apperly in 1949 and he then than ours; yet the local longer markers it is usually a question of taking the in 1928 - sadly this course is no longer designed Castle Hill Country Club’s seem proud of the course. Perhaps right club for strength and playing a in existence. Eastlakes Golf Club was first 9 holes in 1951. There are also a they have never been spoiled by reasonably accurate shot with it. designed by the pair in 1929-31 and number of other clubs that Apperly having courses left too easy, as Bunkers can be neglected in the sure Kiama Golf Club’s first 9 holes was also advised over the course of his career. ours have been. knowledge that they will not interfere designed by Apperly and Howard in unless the stroke is faulty. 1932. Orange Golf Club (Duntryleague) As a trained and practicing architect, saw Apperly combine with professional it could be expected that Apperly Over there the player has often to golfer JA Irving to design this course would have translated his profession’s decide whether to try to get close to in 1935, while Newcastle Golf Club’s passion for thorough documentation the pin is worth the risk, and if he second 9 holes were added in into his new endeavour as a golf decides to do so has frequently to play 1936 to a design by Apperly. course architect. Al Howard, son something more than the ordinary of Tommy Howard, recalls that: straight ahead stroke.”

60 GOLF ARCHITECTURE “One time NSW Amateur Champion My part in their golf course The Lakes was ready for play in 1930 Sadly, the course had to be closed in Eric Apperly was our first golf course programme was restricted to ‘boiling and developed into one of the premier 1968 as the new Mascot Expressway architect in that he practiced the the billy’, hiking miles to the nearest tests of golf in New South Wales, and was planned to run through the course. profession of architect in both the shop for sandwiches and smokes indeed the country, holding many Sydney’s Bruce Devlin, in partnership office and on the golf course. His plan and as a reward for such services was championships, including the 1964 with American architect Robert von drawings of green reconstructions permitted to drag the wire chain into won by Jack Nicklaus Hagge remodeled the course so were works of art…” reptile infested ravines or crawl through and the 1950 Australian PGA secured significantly that barely a trace remains overgrown lantana and blackberry by Norman von Nida. Al Howard of the original Apperly and Howard The Lakes Golf Club scrub. Ah - the youth of my day knew suggests that the Lakes course of layout. The revamped Lakes course Eric Apperly and his friend (and long their place in the scheme of things! that period was “without doubt the opened again in 1970. time adversary on the links) Tommy toughest course in Australia…” Howard, at this time a professional, However, there were some New South Wales Golf Club had formed an association as golf compensations - at the Lakes the The 16th was one of the most Perhaps Eric Apperly’s greatest course planners and constructors. third of the major dams, now the water famous holes in Australia - a double enduring legacy was his redesign of According to Tommy’s son Al hazard left of the existing first hole was water carry unless you were brave the New South Wales Golf Club’s Howard: “Eric Apperly contributed his in 1930 ringed by small sandy shores (or silly) enough to try for the green in course at La Perouse, located on the architectural ability and his experience shelving down to cool clear water. one on this 320 metre par 4. Nicklaus headlands overlooking Botany Bay. as a championship golfer while Tommy Under favourable conditions today managed to carry the water twice, The common perception today is Howard was becoming increasingly the first is sometimes a drive and a once in the 1963 Wills Masters and that the course is a purebred Alister involved in planning, plus the chip - to me in 1930 it meant an again in the 1965 Open. Al Howard Mackenzie design - although that may development of putting green turf occasional dip! describes it: “It was a crash or carry have been true at one time, the reality and insect and weed control.” hole and the scene of contemplated is that today’s course owes its stature suicides. Most favoured predominantly to Eric Apperly. method was to heave yourself and sticks into A company was formed to develop the nearby Styx. Into a nor- this new course at La Perouse and easter it was a nightmare initially commissioned Dan Soutar to and nines were not provide a report and a design. unknown. The over water In 1925 the site location moved slightly carry to the championship and they required another design, and green was about 300 yds. as Soutar was unavailable, his old and seldom attempted partner Carnegie Clark, assisted by except in wind assisting James Herd Scott, prepared the layout conditions and only a that was included in the prospectus. handful of gorillas made Whilst clearing was being undertaken, the distant shore.” the Club learned from Royal Melbourne that Alister Mackenzie was available for consultation and in 1926 Dr Mackenzie was engaged by the Club to review their plans for the new course. A publication prepared by the Club for their golden anniversary in 1978 quoted the recollections of Brigadier-General Sydney Herring who was involved in The water carry short par 4 16th at Howard & Apperly’s The Lakes, as seen in this the Club’s formative years and acted newspaper photograph from 1964. This hole now forms part of the current 17th at as its Secretary for some time. The Lakes, but is played in the opposite direction.

A group of enthusiasts were Worthy of mention is the fact that Eric Apperly’s trophy for These recollections are of interest: determined to turn barren sandhills the present Lakes was the first golf the 1920 “ …Dr. Mackenzie, a world-famed golf in the Sydney suburb of Kingsford course in Sydney to be landscaped is still in his family today - architect, was being brought out from into a golf course. The fledgling outfit by massive earthworks. The 1930 grandson Richard Apperly is Scotland to alter the layouts of several of Apperly and Howard were entrusted golf course of the Lakes was also the current custodian, The Melbourne golf clubs. As well he was with this task and prepared their plans landscaped into massive earthforms inscription on the base says to report on the Royal Sydney Golf in 1928. We are fortunate that Al by The Almighty no less, and apart “Amateur Golf Championship Course. Mr. Magney suggested we Howard was there and recorded his from the leveling of the tees and the of Australia. July 21 1920. get hold of him to give us a report on observations of the construction of building of greens from the nearby Won by EL Apperly”. whether our suggested Course was The Lakes course. Al observed: excavated bunkers, followed the Photograph by Richard Apperly as good as we thought it was. His natural ground contours - which to favourable report would be a wonderful “And so it happened that as Apperly state quite mildly led to some boost for the Company. We got in and Howard Snr. inspected future unnatural bloody stances on and touch with the doctor in Melbourne and golf course sites such as the Lakes, off the fairways.” he agreed to make the report for the along would tag Howard Jnr. in his sum of £250; his offer was accepted.” role of observant but silent go-pher.

GOLF ARCHITECTURE 61 Apperly’s masterwork is undoubtedly his remodelling at La Perouse - here is the downhill approach to the par five 5th with the mighty Pacific as a backdrop.

Colonel Bertram, the secretary of “When Dr. Mackenzie came to Sydney It was resolved that his bunkering plans In April 1933 the Sydney Morning Royal Sydney Golf Club, was entrusted he stayed at the Royal Sydney Golf be tabled at a meeting in May 1931, Herald advised its readers that “the by Dr. Mackenzie to implement his Club, and he got the then Secretary, however, as finances could not be crown of the hill has been cut down, remodelling plans at Royal Sydney Colonel Bertram, interested in the new allocated for their construction, and a plateau formed”, explaining that and his new course scheme at course. The Colonel used to drive the they were not built. “the new tee is 40 yards further back. New South Wales Golf Club. Doctor out to La Perouse and very Previously, with a following wind, an often spent most of the day helping It is understood that Alex Russell, average drive finished within 100 yards him decide on the best layout for one Mackenzie’s Australian partner, was of the green, owing to the steepness or two difficult holes. Dr. Mackenzie called in by the Club in 1931 to inspect of the hill. This made the par five gave a wonderful report and a splendid the course, still unbunkered and ridiculously easy. The new tee and layout. He also recommended that critique the bunkering plan and primarily plateau have had the effect of making Colonel Bertram be retained at a dispense with the Short Course. He did it more difficult as two exceptionally nominal fee to keep an eye on the this when he came to Sydney later that long woods are now required to

formation of the course; this with the year to play the Australian Open and reach the green.” Courtesy of Royal Sydney Golf Club Golf Sydney Royal of Courtesy consent of his committee he undertook Australian Amateur Championships. to do. He had discussed every hole Russell presented a detailed report that Eric Apperly was listed in the Club’s with the Doctor and his advice to the highlighted the fact that the golf course Annual report as its “Hon. Architect” Club in its early days was most was too short - he also made some every year from 1933 until his death valuable. Work then started in earnest suggestions about remodeling some in 1951. It is interesting to speculate and contracts let for the clearing of the greens, but these were never whether the ‘Honorary’ title meant that of the scrub.” taken up by the Club. Apperly did not charge the Club for his services. In 1933 the Club awarded Mackenzie’s plans, although conceptual, In November 1932 the Club felt in a him Honorary Membership as a mark showed an 18 hole championship position to undertake some remodeling of appreciation of his service to the length course, together with a nine and Eric Apperly was engaged by the Club and to golf in general. hole Short Course. In 1928 the course Club to finally implement Mackenzie’s was finally completed, although bunkering scheme - how much of this By 1935 the Club’s newly modified unbunkered, and ready for play. was to Mackenzie’s design and how layout was settling in well, but the Army In the following few years the Club much was Apperly’s own ideas will had its sights set on some of the land struggled to ride out the effects of the most likely never be known. Alex that the Club leased from the Depression and during the years 1929 Russell’s suggestions from his 1931 Government for its fortifications. and 1930 the committee sought any report were also in the mix. At this time, Herring recalls: plans and sketches that Mackenzie Apperly was also asked to suggest might have left. means of toughening the layout, which he achieved by extending some holes and converting the 3rd from a par 5 back to a par 4. One of Apperly’s most significant changes came at the 5th. 62 GOLF ARCHITECTURE Photograph by David Scaletti

Perhaps Apperly’s greatest creation at La Perouse is his par three 6th hole - the tee on the island can be seen immediately to the right of the crashing wave, however, this was not part of the original hole and was added in 1972. Photograph by Gary Lisbon Golf Photography

“…I heard a rumour that the Army In fact all of the par 3’s are Apperly’s intended to put some guns on the and these play to all points of the hill (Cape Banks) and as well, were compass, as do all the par fives - going to run a road through a couple an important consideration given the of the fairways. I made some enquiries windswept nature of La Perouse. but found it was a very hush hush affair; officially I was told there was Passing nothing to it. However, I had a friend Eric Apperly sadly passed away on at court who told me that plans had It is recorded that Apperly implemented These holes are: 26 May 1951, aged 61, after collapsing actually been drawn up and that we some of the suggestions made in Hole 3 - tee position similar and in the Clubhouse of the Manly Golf had better get in early before they were Alex Russell’s 1931 report, but mostly green moved to increase dogleg Club, having just completed his final finally approved….... after a good deal the ideas were his own. Apperly’s Hole 4 - tee position altered, round. An apt end for a man who of negotiation a new agreement was revised layout then opened for play in otherwise hole is the same gave his heart to the game he loved. drawn up in which the Army moderated May 1937. From 1942 to 1946 the Hole 7 - virtually unchanged its demands as far as the roadway was course was surrendered to the Army Hole 9 - tee position altered by John Scarth and Neil Crafter concerned. We were given some more and when handed back it was Hole 10 - tee position altered land and a rebate of rent to offset the completely overgrown and bore little Hole 12 - similar to original cost of altering the layout. The Greens resemblance to a golf course. Apperly Hole 13 - virtually unchanged Committee was then given the job of advised the Club on the restoration Hole 14 - new tee, new green altering the course, under the advice required to bring the course back to moved 60 metres back of the Golf Architect, Mr EL Apperly…. its former condition and in the summer Hole 18 - tee position altered. After a lot of hard work and of 1948-49 he proposed some further considerable delay the new layout modifications to lengthen some holes The remainder of the holes were References and sources: Killara Golf Club Inc: Information to the authors 2002. was finally put into play and the Club and reposition some of the greens new or substantially modified holes Golf Australia: October 1933. continued to increase in popularity.” and tees on the outward nine. to Apperley’s design. As the course Royal Sydney Golf Club: Information supplied to stands at present, there is not one the authors by Archivist, 2001. The Royal Sydney Golf Club – The First Hundred The land changes forced substantial So what remains of Mackenzie’s green or tee that has not been Years, Colin Tatz and Brian Stoddart, 1993. modifications to the north-east corner routing at La Perouse, and what did changed. Australian Golf Union Handbook: for records and details on Eric Apperly. of the course. The short fourth, a ‘drop Apperly remodel? Given that some Al Howard: unpublished articles provided down’ one shot hole playing towards land was lost and new land acquired, It is interesting to note that two to the authors. the cliffs, was lost, along with the tee at Apperly had to design a number of of the most renowned holes on the In Celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the New South Wales Golf Club: pamphlet, the fifth. Apperly moved the tee back new holes as well as modify some course, the tumbling par 5 fifth that September 1978. up and across into its current position existing ones to fit into the new layout. runs towards the Pacific Ocean and Golf at La Perouse, Geoff Armstrong, 2003. and most inspirationally, replaced the According to Gary Dempsey, the golf the heroic par 3 sixth across an Gary Dempsey Golf Course Superintendent NSWGC. The Complete Book of Australian Golf, lost par three with a new hole, the sixth, course superintendent at La Perouse, inlet are both Eric Apperly holes. Terry Smith, 1975. playing along the clifftops. Later in only nine holes of the current New One Hundred Years of Golf at Manly, Jeannie Walker, Manly Golf Club, 2003. 1972 the famous island tee was South Wales course bear any The Story of Golf in New South Wales, added to this hole. similarity to Mackenzie’s layout. by David Innes, 1988.