NSW Open’s proud history

The New South Wales Open Golf Championship has a rich history that dates back to 1931.

First held at Manly Golf Club as a ‘close’ format championship — open only to residents of NSW — Charlie Gray claimed the title after a 36-hole play-off with Tom Howard and Sam Richardson.

In 1958, the tournament became a truly ‘Open’ event, attracting the cream of Australia’s golfing elite along with appearances by some of the best players in the world.

The NSW Open Championship honour role includes many of Australia’s finest golfers including World Golf Hall of Fame inductees Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, and Peter Thomson; legends such as Norman Von Nida, Eric Cremin and Frank Phillips and amateurs including five-time champion Jim Ferrier, Owen Beldham and Tony Gresham.

Other prominent names to lift the trophy include Ian Baker-Finch, Ted Ball, Billy Dunk, Peter Lonard, Jack Newton, Peter O’Malley, Craig Parry, Bob Shearer, Ian Stanley and Jason Scrivener.

Harrison Crowe is the defending champion after taking out last year’s event at Concord Golf Club in Sydney.

Fast Facts

• The tournament’s record score is 264 (-24 under) set by Jason Scrivener in 2017 at Twin Creeks Golf Club in Western Sydney.

• Norman Von Nida holds the record for the most wins in the tournament with six. He won the NSW Open in 1939, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1953 and 1954.

• Jim Ferrier, the first Australian to win a major tournament, won the event five times. He first won it in 1933 and then tasted success four years on the trot from 1935 to 1938. Von Nida repeated Ferrier’s efforts in winning four successive times, although his streak was interrupted by World War II.

• Ferrier is also responsible for the most dominant victory, prevailing by a 16-shot margin in 1935. He won by 13 shots in 1938 and 10 in 1937.

• Frank Phillips is also a five-time winner. Phillips, rated one of the best ball strikers of his era, first tasted success in 1956. He followed up in 1960, 1962, 1966 and 1970.

• Greg Norman won the event on four occasions. He first tasted victory in 1978 at Manly Golf Club. Norman edged out David Graham in a play-off in 1983 at Concord. Concord would also be the scene of his other victories in 1986 and 1988.

• The NSW Open trophy is named in honour of Kel Nagle, who won this event on three occasions (1951, 1957 and 1968). Nagle won the British Open in 1960 and finished second in the 1965 US Open.

Don’t be surprised to see others use an iron off the tee in a bid to maximise position and get the best possible angle into the green. It looms as a potential banana skin-style hole and comes immediately after the parthree eighth.

10TH HOLE — PAR 4, 326M

The start of the back nine will be another hole to watch during this week. The professionals will be able to drive this green, although bunkers on the left and right do pose a threat if slightly askew. It means that tactical play may come into calculations yet again off the tee.

16TH HOLE — PAR 3, 144M

The 16th hole will be as much a test of temperament as technique. In keeping with the spirit of the Phoenix Open and more recently the Australian PGA at Royal Pines, the 16th has been christened as the “Party Hole” this week.

The scene will be set as golfers typically perturbed by the slightest shadow or break from silence will be tested under different conditions of cheer, music and crowd involvement.

The short par-three does boast water to the left, which is firmly in play and will place pressure on club selection. A large green does mean that if you come up short, you will have a hell of a putt to make birdie.

18TH HOLE — PAR 5, 532M

Described as a “true brute” by Golf Australia magazine in a course review in 2019, the 18th is a magnificent hole to close out this tournament. It is rated the hardest hole on the course and it is easy to see why.

Water features down the left hand side and a shank puts you in real trouble. The fairway does tighten the further you go, making a great drive imperative. A long second shot will also pose questions, with seven greenside bunkers at the front and water at the back if you go through the green. For the spectator, a terrific hole to finish this tournament, for the golfer, a genuine test of their skill, bravery and temperament.

COURSE NOTES: Redesigned by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson in 1998, the East Course is links style with water coming into play on several holes.

The last five holes can separate a good score and a great score, provided you stay clear of the water hazards and tough bunkering. The course will play 6245m, par-71 this week.

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