CLUB OF THE MONTH: Randwick Golf Club

IT can boast something few, if any, golf club in Australia could hope to equal.

And that’s views of the ocean from every one of the 18 tee boxes.

That alone makes Randwick Golf Club rather special … and if any other club can match that, well, do let us know.

Yet there are so many other attractions that make Randwick so popular not just with members but golfers who come from all around Sydney’s eastern suburbs looking for a game.

Established more than 60 years ago, the older golfers love Randwick because it is such an easy walking course and with waves crashing just metres away, it is relatively flat and easily negotiated.

And the best part about that is that you can play a full round in less than four hours on most days.

Even better, public tee times are available during the week as well as at weekends.

While the club does have a strong male membership, there is also a strong ladies’ competition as well as regular weekly medley competitions.

Members would agree that Randwick is also the perfect place to work on and develop your short game.

And while Melbourne has its famous ‘sandbelt’, Randwick is the start of a magic stretch of Sydney coastline that boasts Randwick, The Coast, St Michael’s and New South Wales golf clubs all linked along one of the most picturesque coastlines in Australia.

Golfers at Randwick and its immediate neighbour the Coast have been known to accidentally ‘stray’ onto each other’s courses chasing errant tee shots and it’s fair to say many a player had teed up on one course and finished up on the other one – occasionally even on purpose.

According to Randwick general manager Kristy Strong, Randwick’s position on the coast gives golfers the perfect distraction as it allows players the opportunity to watch whales during migrations in May/June as well as September/October while playing golf.

The history books of Randwick reveal that this course was forced to move from its former site where the University of New South Wales now stands to its Malabar location. With its commanding views of the coastline, most would agree it’s the best move this club has ever made.

Indeed, the clubhouse on the former course was incorporated into the University’s offices and even to this day is still known as ‘the Golf House’.

Today Randwick Golf Club boasts a tremendous clubhouse with a balcony offering unbeatable views over the Tasman Sea.

There is also a wonderful outdoor entertainment space for music and family gatherings.

There is an excellent food and beverage selection at the ‘19th hole’ which opens for both lunch and dinner and is a hit with local residents, while members boast that they are always warm and friendly to visitors and proud to show off their course and clubhouse.

The clubhouse provides an opportunity to house both large and intimate functions. There is also live music every Sunday as well as raffles to keep everyone interested.

Memberships are open for both males and females and you’ll be surprised to learn membership comes in at less than $1000 a year, with no joining fee.

All seven-day members can also play on a Saturday as mixed competitions have become the ‘norm’ on most modern golf courses these days.

Exclusive tee times are available for members and if your game needs more, then there is also a PGA-accredited professional onsite so lessons can be arranged.

That should get you ready and raring to join competition days either midweek or at weekends.

The present layout has some sharp undulations and you might even suggest it is hilly in a couple of spots but it definitely isn’t a difficult course to negotiate your way around.

Off-shore winds are obviously a consideration as there are few trees on the course, giving it a complete links-like feel as the winds can cause havoc on all the fairways.

If the wind does come up you’ll be relieved to learn the layout boasts 13 par-3s and five par-4s.

Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a pushover though. One of the par-3s, the sixth hole, is regarded as one of Australia’s longest and toughest measuring 234 metres (255 yards) off the blue markers and only slightly shorter from the reds, so most golfers will get to use their drivers on multiples occasions.

The par-four 16th, at 351 metres also requires two solidly-struck shots to reach the putting surface – for most golfers anyway.