MENU

Members

We’ve Improved Our Golf. Have You?

Published on 16th November 2018 in Guest Only

 

After eight years of significant course improvements, Australia’s first true links is better than ever.

 

“Consulting architects Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford should be lauded for the restraint they have exhibited in making subtle adjustments to the Barwon Heads layout without leaving obvious fingerprints all over the superbly manicured turf.”

Tony Webeck. Australian Golf Digest, October 2018.

 

The following list of improvements made to the course over the past eight years has been put together with the assistance of Adam Lamb (Course Superintendent) and Golf Course Architect of record: Paul Mogford of Crafter + Mogford Golf Strategies.

1st hole

  • New fairway bunkers on the left side of the fairway, to protect the line of play away from houses; right side bunker removed to encourage play from the right side. This is the ideal side of the fairway to approach the green. Greenside bunkers were remodelled, and green surrounds remodelled and replaced with short mown grass and swale on the back left side of the green to create a catch/check area for balls running off the green. (2018)

1st hole plans – prior to completion in 2018

 

2nd hole

  • Remodelled greenside bunker, relocated new tee complex to the right of the old tee which now sets up a better play line to the green. (2016)

 

3rd hole

  • Remodelled fairway bunker, short rough surrounding the green replaced with short mown grass to give the player more options for recovery shots around the green. (2016)

3rd hole – Plans prior to completion in 2017

 

4th hole

  • High Tee. Enlarged to allow more frequent use and the tee steps have also been rebuilt during the project. (2018)

 

5th hole

  • Remodelled drive bunker (2011) and additional drive bunker (2016) on the left side of the fairway to catch the inaccurate longer hitters. In 2016 the approach and green-side bunkers were remodelled and the severe slope of the old green was softened slightly. In addition the green was extended to the left side, creating an area for extra pin locations.

 

6th hole

  • The three bunkers on the 6th were enlarged and reshaped and now complement all bunkers on course (2018). These changes to the bunkers on the 6th hole marked the completion of bunker modification within the Course Development Plan. In total since working to Crafter and Mogford plans, five bunkers have been removed and 10 added in new locations and/or modified. (Some from one to two, and in some cases two into one.) Since 2011, we have 56 new/rebuilt bunkers on course and four practice bunkers, an overall increase of just four extra bunkers on course.

 

“Dr. (Alister) Mackenzie’s visit in 1926, when he came and viewed the course, in principal his main commentary was around bunkering the course on modern lines, to bring it, in his opinion, up to the standard of many of the top British links courses, so we’ve had that in mind throughout the comprehensive course development plan, to take bunkers that are off the green a little too far, to move them closer, tighter to the lines of play.”

Paul Mogford 2015

 

 

7th hole:

  • Remodelled all bunkers. Removed long drive bunker on right side of fairway beyond break in fairway. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass. (2011 and 2015)

 

8th hole:

  • New enlarged/split tee complex and path network (2011). In 2015, the front area of the green was extended 3-4m towards to the tee to allow for several front hole locations on the green. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass.

 

9th hole:

  • New rear tee added in 2015. In 2015 remodelled bunkers and an additional greenside bunker to the left of the green tightens up the approach to a small target for a generally long approach shot in. Rated the hardest hole on the course. Weed removal to the right of the green approach area was replanted with Moonah trees and will, in time develop into a feature, whilst also provide a safety screen between the 10th tees and 9th green.

 

10th hole:

  • Remodelled green and green surrounds. Vegetation thinning around green was undertaken to create extended views across nearby holes and develop more diversity in the vegetation areas. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass

 

11th hole:

  • The most significant alteration to the course within the current CDP was this hole. (2015)

  • A new tee complex with a new back black tee. Vegetation cleared on the left side of the entire length of the hole, new fairway bunker on the left side, the green was moved 12 metres right and greenside bunkers remodelled. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass.

  • Vegetation removal and removing the lower portion of the cypress trees to the left of the 14th green approach, has expanded the view/backdrop to the wetlands from the 11th green, a great visual enhancement of the hole, now with a green much larger and fairer green, playable in all conditions and so many more hole locations on offer.

  • Extensions to the 11th fairway are soon to begin. Bunker relocation will take place late January/early February 2019.

 

12th hole:

  • A new tee complex, dividing previously one tee into two tees. Vegetation removal on the left side of the entire length of the hole, remodelled drive bunkers to the right and a new drive bunker to the left side. Approach bunkers also remodelled. The surrounds were remodelled and the front area of the green was flattened to allow another front pin location.

  • A small dam (artificially supported via pumped water) between the 12th and 14th fairways was filled in and the existing native grassland vegetation was extended across the old dam to create a much more aesthetically appealing area and there is now no doubt if a ball is lost in the old hidden from view hazard. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass. (2016)

 

13th hole:

  • Minimal changes to a classic par 3 at BH, more interest was created around the green with expansive fairway height surrounds turf replacing short rough areas. Subtle reshaping to immediate surrounds.

 

14th hole:

  • New forward red tee located in line with the existing blue and black tees. Large hill at the start of the old fairway, blocking the view to most of the hole was lowered to expose the line of play all the way to the green. Vegetation removed to the left of the drive area creating an area for a fairway extension, this change has provided an alternative route for the first shot of the hole from all tees. All bunkers remodelled and the old, out of BHGC character green was redesigned (2015) to encourage an approach line, ideally from the left side. (2017)

 

 

15th hole

  • New tee complex, remodelled drive bunkers and left greenside bunker, and two bunkers previously to the right of the green in a deep hollow were replaced with short-mown surrounds grass. (2012)

 

16th hole:

  • Vegetation removed on the left side of the hole, to allow a new tee complex to move left and add further distance. A new fairway bunker on the left and the right greenside bunker was relocated as an approach bunker and remodelled left-side greenside bunker. Woody weed removal on the left side of the green approach area opened a view to our most extensive and developed area of Moonah trees. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass. (2011)

 

17th hole

  • New tee complex, carry and redesigned green complex including the rear 18th tee and surrounds. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass. (2012)

 

18th hole:

  • New fairway bunkers on the right and left sides of the hole, to a green surrounded by mounds intended to create a links character and a separation between the play areas and practice area, pathways and the clubhouse. Expansive areas of kikuyu grass eradicated from the green surrounds area and replaced with a short-mown grass. (2010-11)

 

← Back to previous page

Recent