1. q-tip | Rated | 02 Dec 2011 | Add A Review

The Graham Marsh designed Terrey Hills course opened in February 1994 and has since established itself as a top Sydney golf club. Read the first 2004 review which I concur with…

Measures 6501m Par 72 off the black tees (6151m off the blues) with four par 3s ranging from 155-187m, ten par 4s ranging from 345-405m and four par 5s ranging from 492-513m.

I know the rankings of Australia’s courses are an imperfect way of measuring architectural merit, as Australian Golf Digest (March 2010) ranks TH #46 in Australia and #6 in Greater Sydney (only behind NSW, The Australian, Royal Sydney, The Lakes and Concord), but they are a reasonable guide to use.
The course is built over clay/shale based land with wide and undulating winter green couch grass fairways and teebeds. The bent grass greens are a mix of Penn A-1 & A-4 which are smooth with consistent roll. There are 98 bunkers scattered throughout the layout which is fringed to the north and west by Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and in addition there is also water coming into general play on at least 9 holes – the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th & 17th.

Front nine highlights include: the 383m straight 3rd (index 10) with a leftside bunker off the tee just short of the water which then curves to the right around the water which skirts along the leftside to a green with 3 rightside bunkers; and the 390m slightly downhill gentle dogleg right 7th (index 2) with 3 fairway bunkers on the left about 240m to clear off the tee with a small pond 10-70m short right of the green which is guarded by another 2 bunkers, both rightside.
Every hole is bunkered and every par 4 and par 5 has fairway bunkering to avoid off the tee. I agree with others that par is not guaranteed if you are on in regulation as most of the undulating bent grass greens are around 30-40m in length.

The back nine par 4s are all strong holes: the 389m slight dogleg left 10th (index 3) with 3 fairway bunkers off the tee to a green guarded by 3 bunkers and water along the entire leftside from tee to green; the 393m slightly uphill gentle right-turn 11th (index 7) with 3 fairway bunkers off the tee to another green guarded by 3 bunkers and water over the back and rightside; the 405m straight but plays slightly downhill from 150m out of the green 17th (index 1) with the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on the leftside with 2 fairway bunkers on the right off the tee with greenside bunkers leftside and a pond 20m short right of the green along the right edge; and the 372m slight dogleg left 18th (index 5) with bunkers on the dogleg corner left and another 2 bunkers shortside of the green.

Friendly staff and private club with no social visitors allowed to play without a member. On that note members guest rates are reasonable for a top club ranging from $90 on weekdays to $110 on weekends.

Terrey Hills is a very challenging and well presented course located 4km off Mona Vale Road in the northern beaches semi-rural suburb of Duffys Forest. Played here recently in their Sunday competition and was thoroughly impressed from their service and course conditioning.
The facilities are first-class with a 240m long range with couch grass teeing area, 2 putting greens and practice green with 6 bunkers which is used as a spare hole behind the 9th green. Clubhouse tower has touch of Vietnamese/Chinese style pagoda roof which is nice.

Highly recommended if you are able to play here as it is a private club!

2. kiara5 | Rated | 13 Sep 2011 | Add A Review

Played there recently, and must say was a little disappointed. Alot of irrigation leaks which need urgent attention. Didn’t quite live up to the hype that I had heard about.

3. Mr59 | Rated | 24 Aug 2011 | Add A Review

Played recently in a Lexus corporate day and couldn’t believe how much it had matured over the years. The new greens were a little soft but after all the rain Sydney had I could live with that. The staff were really pleasant, a great range of stock in the pro shop and staff that smile along with it was a change to what I’m used to. The buffet was sensational. I look forward to coming back to the Lexus event again.

4. EvoJ | Rated | 11 Nov 2010 | Add A Review

Played Terrey Hills last week. The greens are fixed and the course is in magnificent condition!

Thoroughly enjoyable round of golf.

5. EvoJ | Rated | 07 Sep 2010 | Add A Review

I love this course but I can’t remember the last time I played there without some of the greens being patchy, burnt or GUR and temporary greens in place.

If they ever get the problem fixed this course will flourish but until they do it is simply not worth the cash they are asking for!

6. soupy | Rated | 10 Jun 2010 | Add A Review

Played Terry Hills in Charity day. Very nice course and lay out. Although it was a wet day course was good. Greens were nice but patchy grass, but smooth. Fairways were generous enough not to be nasty and allow for 20 handicapper ( me) to survive. Overall a great layout and variety.

7. DoosanBears | Rated | 02 Dec 2009 | Add A Review

played this year 4 times but very disappointing because there are no management system at all. The golf culb management should be more careful to take care of the courses. $150 per person is absurd….

8. Kakuna | Rated | 16 Feb 2009 | Add A Review

Played the course several weeks ago. Was very dissapointed with the speed of greens and overall condition of the course. There are some great holes but also many average holes. The pro shop staff were also very unpleasant.

9. phang | Rated | 31 Dec 2006 | Add A Review

I've had the pleasure of playing Terrey Hills a few times now and it's certainly one of the best courses I've ever played.

High hadicappers will walk away in awe of the course, most likely a bit battered and bruised from the challenge, but wanting to take up the challenge of playing again.

Low handicappers will be rewarded if they bring their A game. Anything less and the course will jump up and bite them. (Oh yes, snakes are permanent residents on the course so beware when your ball goes bush)

Greens are really fast and the subtle ridges are not easy to read. Even hitting greens in regulation is no assurance of Par.

The clubhouse and facilities are top class. Pro shop is well stocked with knowledgable staff. They have a Callaway fitting system, pretty much assuring any golfer of being able to find the best combination of shafts and heads to suit their swing.

Don't knock back an invite to play the course. You'll regret it if you do.

10. | Rated | 07 Jul 2004 | Add A Review

Sometimes you walk away from a golf experience and you can't make up your mind whether you like the course or not. I've decided I really do like Terrey Hills because no matter the quirks in design, it's finish is top class.

The front nine plays largely amongst a forested area on this plateau in Sydney's northern suburbs. There's water in play on a few holes, but for most of the time your thoughts are about keeping it straight and avoiding the trees and scrub. The highlights on this nine for me include the third, a dogleg left par 4 where an accurate long iron from the tee sets up an approach across the edge of the dam to a green set against a hill, sloping down towards the water. The seventh is also a strong par 4, largely downhill but quite long and tight. I've played here twice and found the green twice only to badly read my first putt and miss my par - I caution the green doesn't read easily! The par 5 ninth is a good risk/reward hole, reachable in two by longer hitters, but a risky play with another dam abutting one side of the green.

The back nine opens up a little - I won't quite call it links-style but it seems to try to be, which is why I had to decide whether I liked it or not. Whilst more open from foliage, it has more bunkering and what water abounds is more prominent in your shot selection. The best holes this side in my opinion are the par 3 15th, a mid-long length slightly downhill shot defending against water to the right, and the par 4 17th, quite straight but long, well protected by a dam front right.

A private course that unusually is one of the few debenture membership set-ups in NSW (several in Melbourne and the norm in Asia), I rate it top 5 in Sydney as it's finish is on a par with any course I've played.