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WOLLONGONG STANDING THE TEST OF Combining traditional charm with up-to-the-minute TIMEfacilities, is a southern links that Wollongong Golf Club never gets old. And a full 117 years since it opened, there may be no better time to play Wollongong than now. By Paul Prendergast 44 GOLF MAGAZINE | golfmag.com.au WOLLONGONG ROUD OF THEIR A brief look back to their past reveals tradition and history the first nine-hole course opened for but looking forward play in 1897 on land that stretched up to a rich and exciting to Burelli Street to the north, where future’ may just be WIN Stadium and towering apartments the mantra that best now stand. ‘Pdescribes the seaside Wollongong Golf Machinery to help clear the land for Club, one of the oldest golf courses and the course was actually transported the 90 clubs in Australia. kilometres or so by bicycle courtesy of a Wollongong’s standing in Australian hardy bunch from the Royal Sydney Golf golf is largely underestimated, perhaps Club, establishing a tradition of ‘mateship’ even by the vast majority of club that thrives at the club to this day. members themselves. In December, the Today, Wollongong Golf Club fully club passed a milestone of 117 years of embraces these traditions and has the continuous existence on largely the same welcome mat out to all. Despite its age tract of land, adjacent to the sand dunes and status, the club is as far from ‘stuffy’ and coast near the city’s centre. and ‘old school’ as you can find. golfmag.com.au | GOLF MAGAZINE 45 WOLLONGONG Many great players in the game’s history have graced the fairways at Wollongong, including Gene Sarazen, Kel Nagle, Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Peter Thomson. Wollongong Golf Club 151-161 Corrimal Street Wollongong NSW 2500 (02) 4222 3111 www.wollongonggolfclub.com.au The links course is partially separated A redesign of four existing holes, “The course has changed a lot in into two ‘paddocks’—a north and including two of the most iconic holes those years but they’re doing a pretty south—at a point where golfers for from the oldest remaining section of the good job with the club,” Newton generations have shared a narrow course along the dunal areas, opened for said. “What they’ve done with the thoroughfare with surfers heading to the play in April 2014. clubhouse with the members’ lounge beach in search of a wave. Many great players in the game’s downstairs, the bars, convention rooms Many golf courses have had to history have graced the fairways at and Foreshore Brasserie upstairs, plus adjust to advances of time and modern Wollongong, including Gene Sarazen, accommodation on the top floor, is considerations that their founders Kel Nagle, Bobby Locke, Gary Player commendable.” could never have anticipated. Royal and Peter Thomson. To boot, 1995 Jack Newton Junior Golf CEO Melbourne East and Royal Queensland PGA champion and Champions Peter Van Wegen said “We’ve had are examples of two high-profile Tour member Steve Elkington joined the Junior Masters at Wollongong courses where changes were required Wollongong as a member in 1980 for a number of years, which is to minimise risks associated with when his family moved to the region always very well subscribed. boundary roads or because of the from Wagga, and current Texas Open “We approached Wollongong and acquisition of lands, in RQ’s case, to winner Steve Bowditch won the 2010 Links Shell Cove with the opportunity to construct a second Gateway Bridge over NSW PGA at Wollongong prior to host our 2014 State Championships and the Brisbane River. establishing himself on the PGA Tour. they were only too keen to help us out. Wollongong Golf Club has been Former Australian Open champion We probably had one of the best weeks no exception to this phenomena with and runner-up in two major of golf we’ve had in a long time there. today’s course an interesting hybrid of championships, Jack Newton, won the “The course was great and being a the old and new, with the most recent Wollongong Open Amateur as an 18-year- coastal course, the weather was great for alterations focused on a substantial old and has been returning for decades us in July.” portion of the course’s ‘North paddock’ when tournaments are staged at the The links at Wollongong itself is easy and clubhouse over the past decade. course as part of his junior foundation. walking with a balance of short, medium 46 GOLF MAGAZINE | golfmag.com.au WOLLONGONG Thankfully, ample room short and left also enthuse about the array of facilities of the putting surface provides options they have at their doorstep as a house for players of all levels to tackle the hole guest,” Hingston said. with an opportunity of a pitch and putt to “These extend beyond the dining and save par, which is a great score on this hole bar experiences in either the clubhouse or every day of the week. on the deck overlooking the golf course South Africa’s former British Open and ocean.” champion Bobby Locke once rated this Each of the one- or two-bedroom one the best par-3s he had encountered; apartments in the 4-star Best Western City and one can only imagine how tough the Sands overlook the golf course and ocean hole must have been with the equipment to the east and the Illawarra Escarpment of his era. and cityscape to the north and west. The construction of Wollongong’s Private balconies, spacious living areas current clubhouse in 2005, complete with and en-suite bathrooms provide very restaurants, bars, conference and function comfortable accommodations and the spaces and 20 well-appointed apartments, club have a range of packages on offer year has been a boon for the club, the tourism round that incorporate golf and other local and corporate sector and local community attractions and activities. in general. The Wollongong Golf Club of today “There aren’t too many clubs that is a far cry from its origins in the late can boast one of Australia’s oldest golf 19th century, years before electricity was courses still in its original location in introduced to the city. The early founders close proximity to the ocean, along would scarcely believe how much the club with ready access to the amenities and surrounding city have matured over of the city, the boat harbour and the the years. stunning beaches we enjoy here in In the face of progress, remaining Wollongong,” said Leigh Hingston. unchanged from a century ago are some Ninety minutes from the centre of of golf’s, and life in general, simple Sydney, the club provides a perfect pleasures that the early pioneers of the destination for a golf or weekend escape, club would have enjoyed as much as corporate function or wedding—all within we do now—the clean air and pristine a few minutes’ stroll of South Beach and conditions that greet you with an early- the heart of the city’s shopping, café, morning tee time at Wollongong, with the dining, sporting and nightlife precincts. comforting sound of waves crashing on “Our house guests have appreciated the shore nearby. The coastline is an attractive feature at Wollongong. not only the quality of the golf course There’s a lot about playing golf by but the value for money and hospitality the sea that never gets old despite the we’ve been able to afford them. They passage of time. n and long holes that take full advantage of the glorious views of the ocean or the Wollongong has undergone escarpment to the west. some significant development. As you would expect of any classic links, the coastal location almost guarantees a salty sea breeze to contribute to the challenge and significantly alter the course’s character depending on the wind’s strength and direction. The holes along the dunes are examples of an older architectural style, with small greens guarded by deep bunkering and in the case of the short 2nd (formerly the 16th), a rare blind second shot over a ridge to a small, sloping and well-bunkered green. The 3rd hole (formerly the 17th) remains one of the most demanding par-3s in NSW, if not the country. At 209 metres from the tips into a prevailing north-east wind, reaching the green is one matter, avoiding the pot bunker and the bush and sandy lies to the right are another. golfmag.com.au | GOLF MAGAZINE 47.

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