Magenta Shores, a links-style 18-hole layout on a pristine, narrow sand-belt peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the famous Tuggerah Lakes.
SELDOM does a course present even better than it photographs.
So, be prepared to be blown away when you visit Magenta Shores on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Already rated alongside Bonville International as probably the best country course in the state, Magenta continues to knock the socks off anyone who plays there.
It’s no pushover either.
Although watching their new golf general manager Paul Riley, himself a PGA member, as well as seasoned professional Rob Willis (my editor) and renowned teaching pro Glenn Whittle play there last month convinced me it could be mastered, with the right amount of skill, patience . . . and a decent putting stroke.
Magenta is the proud result of renowned designer Ross Watson, who has worked on courses such as The Vines (WA), Kooindah Waters, Shelly Beach, Concord, Horizons, Melville Glades and so many other prominent layouts.
Yet even Watson admitted he had been waiting for a site like Magenta Shores since he first went into course design more than 30 years ago.
And for those unlucky enough to not have played there, Magenta Shores is a links-style 18-hole layout on a pristine, narrow sand-belt peninsula right between the Pacific Ocean and the famous Tuggerah Lakes.
Every hole offers the golfer a wonderful landscape with stunning ocean and bushland views.
And such is the landscape that when many courses in Sydney and even the rest of the Central Coast are closed due to weather conditions, Magenta Shores is still open and playable . . . and a mere 80-minute drive from Sydney.
It blew the club’s new general manager Paul Riley away when he first set eyes on the layout.
Fresh from a 17-year stint working in Hong Kong, Riley had been looking for something special to draw he and his family back to Australia.
“I was lucky enough to apply for a job here and when I arrived, I felt the nuts and bolts of this place were just fantastic,” Riley told Inside Golf.
“I did some homework and when I looked at the aerials of Magenta Shores, well, they were amazing.
“My first interview here I drove through and when you arrive you look straight left and see holes eight, nine and 10 and I found myself thinking, ‘hey, this is a proper golf course’.”
Riley went on to point out that Magenta Shores boasts two vastly different nines with an Irish-Scottish ‘seaside’ feel on the front nine and a back nine that has a ‘Kingston Heath’ feel about it.
“I’d say 13-14-15 are my favourites. That’s a really strong part of the course,” he said.
“Having said that, the second is a great hole where you see whales and dolphins cruising past while you play the hole. It’s such a unique area.
“The one place I could possibly compare it to, was the old Hyatt Coolum, where the Australian PGA and Coolum Classic events were played. We have a similar concept with the Pullman Hotel and around 290 houses on our property. However, Magenta Shores, in my opinion, is actually a much better golf course and set-up.
“With the current playability of this championship course, it is being touted as the best course in NSW, outside the Sydney CBD.
“And when we played the NSW Women’s Open here the community really embraced the players, they billeted them and really helped out,” Riley added.
With Magenta Shores receiving increasing rave reviews and recognition for the quality of the course and facilities, from golfers both close by and from further afield, Magenta Shores Marketing and Membership Manager Hannah Boyd explains there has recently been an influx of membership enquiries.
One of the signature holes at Magenta Shores, the par three 15th.
“We have been inundated with enquiries and applications with the lifestyle membership category Magenta Shores offers, which has been very well received from residents living in Sydney and Newcastle,” Ms Boyd explained.
“This category option offers 16-rounds of 18-holes annually, in addition to access to all amenities and facilities. Also included is the ability to play in Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday club competitions,” she said.
The lifestyle membership is available for $1,745 and if a member of this category ticks over 16-rounds within the year, they then have the opportunity to purchase additional rounds.
“Furthermore, Magenta Shores is seeing an increase in regular full memberships as well, especially from a lot of northern Sydneysiders,” Ms Boyd continued.
“They get to play the number 14 ranked course in the country, as voted in the 2024 Australian Golf Course Guide, while realising this great course can be under an hour’s drive away.”
Its been well-documented that Paul Riley is the younger brother of high profile tournament professional Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley, with the former Australian Open and Scottish Open champion a potential visitor to Magenta when he takes a break from his Sky TV commentary duties on the European Tour.
“He’s back here in mid-December and will be up at Magenta Shores for a visit. I might get him to bring the Australian Open trophy up for the members to see,” Riley said.
Membership is still open at Magenta Shores and the course boasts impressive practice facilities, consisting of putting greens, a warm-up driving range and chipping green with bunkers.
As expressed above by Boyd and Riley, various levels of membership are available. For more details go to the website at magentagolf.com.au.
And a final word on the Magenta Shores course from the newly installed General Manager.
“We’re 80 minutes from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and you don’t have to go to Melbourne to experience a sandbelt gem like this,” Riley said.
. . . And yes, Magenta Shores really is better than those stunning photographs that hit you straight away.
