Is there anything worse than the sound of rain on a Sunday
morning? Especially when you've lined up golf at one of
NSW's most eagerly awaited new private courses?
The new course at Magenta Shores has been a topic of lively
discussion on the iseekgolf forums in recent weeks, with over
5,000 views of the message threads to date. So it was a double
disappointment that the day we had booked to review Magenta had
turned out to be an overcast and damp day with a fierce Southerly
coming straight off the ocean. Had we known before teeing off
that the day's foursome champs would be won with a 92 off the
stick, we might have repaired to the comfort of the new clubhouse
there and then, but we didn't.
I was joined at Magenta Shores by three keen iseekgolfers and
between us we had the golf world covered. My first guest was
Jeremy Squires, a former pennant regular from Monash who soon
showed us why he played off 1. Les Speerin was the lefty of the
group and also handy off six. The last member of the team was
Mike Kavanagh, a social player who had recently started playing
again after a lay off. Our first impressions of Magenta Shores
were of a well organised, friendly and modern club, with
plentiful chipping and putting facilities and a practice range in
front of the clubhouse that, whilst restricted to hitting short
irons only, at least offered the chance to warm up those
shoulders properly rather than hitting into a net.
It was on the first tee that we were to learn our first lesson
about Magenta Shores.
Open for less than 20 weeks now, it's just not a course you
want to be playing in a Southerly.
Or a Northerly for that matter. This is a true links style
course, largely exposed to the mercy of the elements, especially
the ocean breezes. And on this day, boy did they blow. (To give
you a taste, on the par five eighteenth, a safe drive, followed
by a smooth 5 wood, saw me still 200 from the green into the head
wind. One of my career best 3 woods got me to the front edge.
Driver, 5 wood, 3 wood! Now that's a tough finishing hole.
Front Nine
But anyway, back to the start. Golf course designers these days
don't seem to have a lot of time for getting people off to an
easy start. During the eighties and nineties new courses would
start with a long par three or a wide open par five, just to get
people off the tee and away. But, apparently, not any more and
certainly not here. Standing on the first tee at Magenta we were
faced with encroaching water down the left, a tight fairway and a
distant green that looked a mile away. Into a head wind.
As the round unfolded it became clear that this is one of the key
elements of Ross Watson's design here. On a number of holes,
clever natural bunkering made distances very deceptive, just
sowing that small seed of doubt as you stood over the ball. Holes
that were in reality a good drive and a medium iron looked like
three shotters off the tee and approach shots were often
foreshortened by bunkers skulking 30 or 40 metres short of the
green. In addition, the land here is very undulating, in true
links style. You really rely on the sprinklers for the yardages.
We all made a bit of a hash of the first and blamed the wind.
Trouble is, the beautiful long second was also very, very long
into the wind and equally tight off the tee. When I asked
people's first impressions as we limped off the second, the
word "intimidating" seemed to sum it up. Our scratch
man, who was soon to hit the shot of the day, was already a few
over. The rest of us were barely troubling the scorers.
After a slight let up at the downwind but still lengthy 3rd, we
found the wind right in our face again at the excellent yet
intimidating par three fourth. With three of us hitting driver
(and needing it) our scratch man showed his true colours in
puring a three wood to literally 2 inches from the stick.
Jeremy's ball finished so close that I genuinely believed we
might see the slowest hole in one on record as a gust of wind
seemed odds on to eventually coax it into the hole. Sadly it was
not be. After being at sixes and sevens, literally, for the first
few holes, it was great to celebrate a birdie, but in truth the
broad smiles on our faces were more a result of finally feeling
the fierce wind at our backs.
With blindish drives, the next few holes were easier but also
real "local knowledge" holes and you'd do worse
than to follow the course guide to the letter on each of them.
One criticism of the course is that there are no maps or signage
on the tees. Whilst the pro shop hands out a printed guide to the
course, I'd prefer not having to unfold a paper map at each
hole just to work out where we were going.
Having been a little conned by the clever bunkering again, and
having largely missed out on the chance to benefit from the wind
at our backs, especially at the downwind par five, we trudged to
the ninth wishing we could play them again.
It was no surprise to see the ninth rated as stroke index one.
Les described it as a "muscular hole" and at the rough
end of 440 metres into the howling gales; it was out of range in
two to most mortals. Once you got to the green there was little
respite as the huge green was a devilishly difficult mass of
swales and undulation,
The greens were in terrific condition throughout on the day we
played although we all struggled at times to read the borrow and
each of us picked totally the wrong line on at least one
occasion. Opinions were divided on the bunkers, some of us noting
that they looked like authentic Scottish links bunkers, but
there's no doubt that you might get the odd rough lie with so
many overhanging edges and steep faces. But who said bunkers
should be easy?
Back Nine
As we turned to the back nine, the wind was really beginning to
take its toll. Hitting into the wind was a struggle and
controlling the ball downwind as much of a problem. The course
still nevertheless presented a challenge of shot making, from
making the decision to lay or go for the second shot at the par
five 10th (went for it and landed in a huge bunker) or navigating
a route up the partially split fairway of the 11th. This is a
course that keeps you on your toes all way round. There's
barely a single hole where you can open your shoulders off the
tee and many where a wayward shot leaves you stone dead.
The pretty short 15th is a classic short hole, very Scottish in
looks and design (which is meant to be a compliment of course)
with thick grasses bordering the bunkers and a bail out zone left
of the flag that offers safety but an impossibly difficult chip
to another undulating green.
The last three holes are as much of a challenge as any of the
first 15, and again require accurate tee shots to set up a good
look at the green. The hole I'll definitely remember though
is the aforementioned 18th which is far from your regular two
solid shots and wedge. Measuring a mammoth 550 metres off the
blue tees and heavily bunkered, this is a true par five and a
half, especially into the wind. Having hit three good wood shots,
I still had a tricky chip from the front edge and sadly finished
the round with another six.
It was hard not to be affected by the difficult conditions, but I
was really impressed by the layout and like my playing partners
would love to have another go at the course on a calmer day.
There was a definite and welcome change of pace on the back nine
as the course went inland but overall it was a joy to play and
I'd expect to see it deservedly feature in the various lists
of Australia's Top 50 golf courses in no time at all.
The Panel Verdict
Jeremy Squires (Hcp 1)
The unique bunkering caught my attention as did the tightness of
the fairways. It's a tough course and given that many of the
holes run north and south, you should beware the breeze and club
accordingly.
I'd rate this course in my personal top ten and would suggest
it is a course best suited to the better player. Whilst I was
impressed overall by the challenge, the 9th hole was a little out
of character with the rest of the course, especially with the
severely undulating green.
Les Speerin (Hcp 6)
I could play here every day. Possibly just short of championship
material, Magenta Shores is nevertheless a great test for all
golfers and a fantastic taste of links golf. On many of the tees
you could imagine you were playing one of the superb holes that
English, Scottish and our very own Mornington Peninsula links
courses are famous for.
The first few holes are very intimidating. There was a sense that
the course got a bit easier in the middle, but from the 14th
onwards it was all on again, with mature trees, snake habitats
and heavy rough to contend with before a tight downhill approach
to a green that is blind from the tee. Bess advice I can give,
especially on the first few holes is "don't go
left"! High handicappers should take plenty of balls and
enjoy the walk and scenery and cherish any good shots. It's a
good test for the B grader who fancies himself a bit and even A
graders will find breaking 90 a challenge.
Mike Flynn (Hcp 27)
I loved it, but my mates would kill me if I brought them here!
The course is very tough and first time up you are hitting blind
on many holes. This is a course that you'd like to play a few
times to get to know it better. I especially liked the 12th hole,
a nice par three with a deceptive layout.
We had a great day at Magenta, despite the impossible conditions
and we agreed we'd all be happy to get the chance to play
again, although we might check the weather forecast first! It was
an easy 90 minute Sunday morning drive from Sydney and the course
was quiet when we played with only Craig Wing and a few fellow
Roosters venturing out on the course at the same time as us. The
members that weren't playing in the comp were obviously
sensibly tucked up out of the wind
There were some nice touches in the clubhouse, from the Molton
Brown toiletries to the plentiful fluffy towels and clean and
modern facilities. There's a well stocked resort style golf
shop and the friendly bar staff seemed to be doing a roaring
trade on the Sunday we were there, with families and golfers
mixing for a relaxed Sunday afternoon atmosphere.
The club is currently members only although people staying at one
of the on-course villas can arrange a game. You can also play the
course if are a group of 12 or more.
All up, it's an experience I thoroughly recommend.
(4.5) | Add A Review
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19 Dec 2011
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22 Jul 2011
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13 Oct 2009
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22 May 2009
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02 Dec 2008
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12 Nov 2007
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1. McDivot | Rated
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13 Jan 2012
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Add A Review
This course has improved with time. I have played it a few times at regular intervals since it’s opening, and i can now say it tests all parts of ones game.The long grass around some of the greens encountered in the course’s early days has, for the most part, been removed and the short game options have opened up accordingly. Flop up a 60 degree wedge or bump a 8 iron along the deck, the choice is yours.
Firm, evenly grassed fairways ensured great lies and were sufficiently wide that truly bad shots received the harshest punishment, while the bravest drives opened up the best playing lines for approach shots to the tricky green complexes.
The greens were at great speed for a course that could have a 30 knot Nor’ easter one day and a 30 knot southerly the next. Unfortunately we played in the latter so the scores were not the best, but the fun level was still up there.
The FoH staff we encountered were friendly and the green keepers very respectful of golfers, all to a man turned off noisy machinery when we were swinging nearby.
Definitly a course that needs to be played a number of times to learn, but with a ISG tee time booking that is affordable.