COURSE Master Plan…
We as Members, have had a wonderful heritage handed down to us, let us make every effort to preserve and maintain its beauty.
May we reprint from the famous phrase, so often used by past president and Patron of the club, the late E.J, Hyde, “Don’t stop, further progress is necessary.”
Robert Giblin, of Pennant Hills Golf Club - History . 1988 p 47 (a quote from circa 1949)Features and components of the Course Project…
This is a large and complex undertaking, what are the features and what are the nonnegotiable elements of the project?
1. There must be an 18-hole course in operation for the entire period of the project
2. Temporary greens must be high quality with normal putting surface grass
3. Construction cannot begin until the Centenary year is complete (Some pre work may commence)
4. Cart path planning must be integrated with the overall plan notwithstanding it may not be complete when the final new hole is commissioned. Completion of the cart path may take longer
5. It is a three-year project with 3 holes completed within each growing season (2 growing seasons per year). Preconstruction work on some temporary greens and tees will be undertaken in 2023
6. All greens constructed to USGA standards
7. Project management will be the responsibility of the Board through a special committee comprising Captain, Course Superintendent, Head Professional, GM and specialist advisers as required
8. Work will be predominately undertaken by existing greens staff with specialist shapers and other services contracted in
9. Preliminary budgets indicate circa $200k per hole or $3.6m, $1.6m to be funded from cash flow and residual debt of $2.0m. A contingency plan of voluntary member debentures is being investigated
10. Completed course must be Par 71/72 for women
1. Completed course must be Par 71/72 for women
2. The Board was of the view that a longer course outcome was preferable to a shorter course outcome
3. The key point being that the existing slope rating might be protected on the longer version, otherwise larger greens, less bunkers, shorter course could result in a lesser degree of difficulty
4. This view was raised at the first review group and two schools of thought emerged, one that was protective of hole 7 and inclined to a Par 70 (men) outcome
5. Should that be the case, the 3rd hole being shortened to reduce balls leaving the perimeter would be the only change to the course review, all else would remain
6. The discussion finished, no agreement was reached, in fairness no agreement was sought
Par 71 or Par 72…
Project emphases…
Course development since 1949 has always been about water, tees and greens which invariably includes bunkers and bunker design. Much has been done. However, we now have the complication of balls out of bounds where the risk of a ball hitting a windscreen or causing driver reaction and an accident on either Pennant Hills Road or the M2 could have serious consequences. Especially on the M2 where vehicles travel at 100km per hour. Less so perhaps on Copeland Road.
The primary risk is injury or death to a motorist or passenger, the consequence to PHGC is that in the event of an incident the authorities may close down all or some of perimeter holes 1, 2, 3 and 5 to a lesser extent 4.
The redesign of holes 1 and 2 includes tee (lowering) and fairway strategies (traps and direction) to encourage the ball away from the perimeter and to make it more difficult to clear the perimeter.
The redesign of holes 3, 4 and directional emphases of 5 is to mitigate risks to balls on Pennant Hills Road and M2, this will be further enhanced by tree plantings.
The redesign of these holes requires amendments to 4, 7, 11 and 12.
That we have been able to develop a plan to accomplish this with minimal effect to the genius of “Course # 5” is a remarkable achievement.
We understand that a development application to Hornsby Council is needed., trees will be an issue.
“Course # 5”
Course # 5 was completed in 1935, progress was stalled by WWII, renewed in 1949 under Harry Small who gathered a committee comprising E.J. Hyde with Messer's Church, Lees, Carruthers, Meredith (Green Keeper), Lannen and Johnson (State Agronomist). Based on Eric Apperly’s plan they set about reconstruction of tees, greens and fairways. This process has continued for the past 72 years.
So, what now are we proposing to change?
3rd: Reduced to par 4 by lowering the tee and taking it forward by 25m as well bring the green back by about the same distance. The area released in the NW corner will become a turf nursery.
4th: The tee moves back to the corner of the block adjacent to where the old 3rd Green was and the hole remains a par 3 to a new green reallocated toward the current 11th fairway.
7th: Becomes a par 5 by moving the green forward toward the old 4th green.
11th: Becomes a par 5 with an “L” shaped shared green with the new 3rd .
12th : Becomes a par 4 as the tee is moved forward to allow the 11/3 shared green to be built.
Course remains Par 71, with other tee changes, slightly longer than the existing course (longer by 72m to 5,775m).
The current course layout is known as
What are USGA Green Construction Standards?...
For the past 60 years or so USGA green construction standards have been the gold standard of high quality green construction throughout the world. The Standards are supported by periodic update and advice on construction options and methods. The fundamentals of these standards include a series of steps (abridged) :
1. The Subgrade: the subgrade must conform to the slope of the finished grade, it should be 400mm below the surface or 450mm if an intermediate layer is necessary and must be thoroughly compacted to prevent further settling.
2. Drainage: The pattern must enable the main drain to be along the line of maximum fall, lateral drains no more than 5m apart and extend beyond the green and collar. Disposal must be away from the playing area. Pipes must be phatic 100mm min, geotextile sleeves are not recommended.
3. Gravel and Intermediate layers: The entire subgrade must be covered with a layer of clean, washed, crushed stone to a minimum of 100mm conforming to the proposed surface grade to a tolerance of 2mm
4. Root Zone Mixture: sand particle sizes are outlined in a table, if soil is used it must have a minimum sand content of 5% to 20% with particle sizes outlined in a table. Peats if selected must have min organic content by prescribed weight. All root zone components must be mixed off site.
5. Top Mix covering, Placement, Smoothing and Firming: Root zone material is to be placed on site to a uniform depth of 300mm with a tolerance of 25mm and should be moist when spread
6. Seed Bed Preparation: Sterilisation of the mix by fumigation should decided on a case by case basis according to regional factors.
7. Fertilisation: This is subject to regional factors for grow in processes.
This is a short summary of a 10 page booklet with reference tables, it is not a complete treatment.
Bunker Design…
The customary bunker design at PHGC is the traditional high sand face providing a significant white flash relief and a pleasant visual effect to the course. In many cases, the high face is not in play and slopes away from the green. In other words, it is not really in play but has an aesthetic affect. In periods of heavy rain these bunkers are “washed out” and cause maintenance problems.
The redesign of the greens provides an opportunity not to remove all high face bunkers but to provide a better mix by converting a number to the “rivetted” style. The design and maintenance balance is tempered with playability and aesthetics that consider how water flows, how to mow around the bunker as well as entry and exit points.
These rivetted bunkers have traditionally been found on European courses, particularly on Scottish courses where the rivetting is manually constructed using climate friendly natural material.
Who else has done what?…
Club Project Cost Nature of project Bunkers & Grasses
Killara $5.0m Harley Cruise Project
Reconstruction of all greens, 2 holes reversed
Rebuilding some fairway bunkers
Eliminating a par 3 Bringing a spare hole into normal rotation
Concord $4.5m Tom Doak , Brian Slawnik - Renaissance Golf Design. 9 holes open all times, no temps. Sep 2017 to Nov 2018 Wider fairways, 200m shorter Shaped by Brian Schneider
Avondale $2.5m (greens resurfacing only and rebuilding of all bunkers)
Ross Watson, Craig Parry
Resurface all 18 greens with the reshaping of 3 entire greens. 18 holes remained opened at all times with temporary greens in play Project took 2 years and was completed pre-dominantly by inhouse staff. The rebuilding of fairway bunkers is continuing project
Riveting by “Eco Bunker”
Sir Grange Zoysia on tee and green surrounds
Pure Distinction on Greens
Couch grass on its tees
Kikuyu grass on the fairways
A4 bent grass greens
69 Bunkers replaced
18 Greens rebuilt
Santa ana surrounds
A1/A4 greens
Pymble $3.8m
Golf By Design – James Wilcher
Project will be completed in 6 stages
All greens, green surrounds and bunkers to be rebuilt. Utilising a shaping team consisting of 3 construction tradesmen. Will be completed over 3 years
A1/A4 greens
Tahoma 31 couch surrounds and tees
Also used around fairway bunkers
Who else has done what?…
In early 2018, Killara undertook an ambitious course renovation, replacing all green complexes, bunkers and surrounds. At a cost of $5 million, the project will come in on budget when the new layout officially opens in September.
The bravest decision Killara made was to adopt a ground-breaking style of bunker and green complexes. The putting surfaces will be Pure Distinction turf and the surrounds comprise the hardy Zoysia grass. The bunker walls are EcoBunker turf sods made from recycled synthetic grass while the bunker base is a porous concrete aggregate
of PHGC ?
True
Who else has done what?…
A $4.5 million redesign that was performed nine holes at a time. All 18 green complexes and 69 bunkers were rebuilt along with some fairway reshaping. New irrigation and drainage works were also incorporated. The overall look is different, but the focal point took place closest to the flags.
Alterations to the layout include a split of the old fifth hole from a long, dogleg-right par 5 into a short par 4 and a long par 3, plus the reunion of the par-3 seventh hole and par-4 eighth. The first move was to address boundary issues off the 5thtee when played as a par 5; the latter gave back a par 5 and turned a pair of so-so holes into one far stronger one. Holes were suffocated by too-tight tree lines
Concord lost 175 trees (in a one-plus-one agreement, more than 200 others were strategically planted elsewhere on the property) as overall the whole place breathes a lot more with healthier trees. This has kept the course challenging for good players and still manageable for lesser golfers by making the course more playable from tee to green and more exacting closer to the hole.
As length is the main criteria for a high slope rating, Concord reduced its overall length by 200 metres to a 6,110metre black course mainly due to the expansion of the greens being mostly towards the tee.
The course, over the past three decades, had become claustrophobic in parts with trees and fairway bunkers, narrowing the playing lines to the extent that some holes could really only be played one way from tee to green.
SLOPE RATINGS: Mens – Black 129, Blue 128, White 127, Red 123, Silver 122. Women – Black 141, Blue 140, White 139, Red 136 and Silver 133.
PLAYING SURFACES: Penncross A4 bentgrass (greens), kikuyu (fairways), couch (being oversown to kikuyu rough)
Who else has done what?…
Avondale also undertook similar works to Concord where by they looked to upgrade greens and bunkers. The process was completed with the assistance of Harley Kruse (Architect) and Links Golf Construction.
Cost of the project came it at approx. $2.5m (Our estimate).
In terms of the greens the whole process took about 4 weeks and was followed by 6 months of establishment. Work included stripping the top 100mm of the green and reseeded with A1/A4 bentgrass.
Links Golf Construction stripped the top and reshaped 3 greens.
The reseeding and establishment was in house.
Harley Kruze paid particular attention to the bunker construction with the team completing all bunkers on a hole (3 fairway bunkers) in 2 weeks.
The 3 fairway bunkers on the 17th received a full redesign and included the installation of capillary concrete installation.
3 fairway bunkers on the 5th had minimal reshaping along with capillary installation.
Some new drainage was also installed.
Links Golf Construction did all the bunker work, turfing was in house.
Who else has done what?…
GBD (James Wilcher) has been appointed as the 4th Golf Course Architect in the Clubs near 100-year history with design outcomes including issues of safety, playability and aesthetics.
It is expected that these works will take approx. 3 years and cost $3.8m
As with the other course Pymble have engaged external contractors to assist with shaping with the remainder of the work to be completed inhouse.
Staging plans – Construction and Scorecards
HOLE 1 PAR 5 452M LADIES PAR 5 424M
The existing back tee to be dropped by +- 1,5m and the second tee to be slightly higher than the retaining wall that borders it, in the front. Waterflow off the green will be at the front, back left and right of the green.
PAR 4 285M
Move the main teeing area to the right and to a lower level to possibly reduce stray golf balls finding the road on the right. The hole will be a few meters shorter. Build two bunkers on the right of the fairway between 230 and 260m from the back tee.
Move the center of the green 8m to the left and lower it slightly which will result in cut material which can then be used to build up the left side of the new green. Water flow off the green will be off the front, the back and to the left of the green.
HOLE 2 PAR
4 377M LADIES
HOLE 3 PAR 4 349M LADIES
PAR 4 303M
The tees are moved down the hill by about 100m in length and more than 10m in elevation. This should result in a safer mode of play as it relates to golf balls reaching the road to the right. The total length of this hole is now 349m. The green becomes a double green with the new green 11. A steep mound in the middle of the double green substantially isolate’s golfers from the one portion of the green, to the other. The green is also moved forward to allow for the construction of a new back tee, behind green 3, for hole 4. Flatten the landing area.
GREEN IS UNDER REVIEW
HOLE 4 PAR 3 153M
LADIES PAR 3 95M
This hole is now a shorter hole because of the extension of hole 7 into a par 5. The green for hole 7 is more or less where the existing 4 green, is located. The green is long and narrow and features a swale through the middle of the green draining from right to left. Two bunkers on the right offer a challenge to golfers when the pin is on the right.
GREEN IS UNDER REVIEW
The right fairway bunker is moved up and a little to the left, while the mounds between the tees and this bunker is adjusted slightly, to make the bunker more visible from the tees. The second right fairway bunker is retained but reshaped. The green is extended to the left and at the back right. Waterflow is off the front, left and back right of the green. The existing right greenside bunker is re-modelled into a much smaller bunker, while a large new bunker is introduced to the left of the green offering many challenging pin positions close to this bunker. This bunker is slightly left of the center line to allow for run-up shots.
HOLE 5 PAR 5 511M LADIES PAR 5 458M
HOLE 6 2 PAR 3 183M
LADIES PAR 3 145M
This hole now features one bunker on the left and only one bunker on the right. The green is generally extended all around with waterflow off the front, back right and back of the green. As an option, the tee could be raised.
HOLE 7 PAR 5 450M
LADIES PAR 5 345M
On this hole the green is moved back close to where existing green 4 is, to turn this hole into a par 5. The red tee is moved up so that it becomes a 345m par 5. The green complex features a bunker to the right and front of the green, with a low area to the left of the green. Waterflow off the green is at the front, back right and front left of the green.
GREEN IS UNDER REVIEW
HOLE 8 PAR 5 414M LADIES PAR 4 344M
The tees are reconfigured on this hole where a new back tee is proposed, with the existing back and senior tees re-built. The existing red tee is removed, so the hole becomes a little longer from the front markers. The green is enlarged to the left with a new ‘catch’ bunker introduced at the back left the green. The front right bunker is reworked to look more ‘dramatic’. Waterflow is off the front, left and right of the green. It is suggested to remove the formal landscaping behind the green and use this material around the clubhouse area. Indigenous small trees can be introduced behind the green to allow this area to remain playable for golf.
HOLE 9 PAR 3 132M
LADIES PAR 3 92M
The green is aligned across the line of play at an angle from 8 to 2 o’clock. This will test the golfer’s distance control, depending on where the pin is. The existing left front bunker is converted to a short mow hollow area.
The green features a bunker guarding the right of the green. The green will have a very slight crest in the middle so that water will move off the front left and the back right of the green.
HOLE 10 PAR 4 376M
LADIES
PAR 4 342M
The carry over the right fairway bunker is a few metres longer than before and it is recommended to close the 1st right fairway bunker. The green is enlarged in front with waterflow off the front and centre right of the green. A small bunker at the front right of the green provides definition and guards the front right pin position. Install a catch basin to the left of the green to intercept surface water flowing across the front of the green.
HOLE 11 PAR 5 432M
LADIES PAR 5 359M
On this hole, it is proposed to move the green back by about 42m turning the hole into a par 5. A new red tee is proposed as shown on the drawing. The green, which is now a double green with green 3, features a front right bunker and surface waterflow off the green is at the front and centre right of the green.
GREEN IS UNDER REVIEW
HOLE 12 PAR 4 350M LADIES PAR 5 321M
Build new tees. At the green, build a bunker at the front right and back left of the green. Enlarge the green in the front and at the back right. Waterflow off the green is at the back right, middle left and off the front of the green. Have a steep grass slope at the back of the green to help flatten the new green.
HOLE 13 2 PAR
4 348M LADIES PAR
4 286M
Build a new fairway bunker to the left of the fairway at about 265m off the back tee. The green is wider than it is deep with a swale running through the middle, from back to front.
Waterflow off the green is at the front, left and right. Flatten the landing area
HOLE 14 PAR
3 148M LADIES PAR
3 129M
Close the existing bunkers and build new bunkers to the left and front right of the green. Extend the green substantially to the front and move the entire green complex to the right to get more sun on the green and to bring the pond on the right more into play. Waterflow off the green is in the front and at the back of the green.
HOLE 15 PAR 4 283M
LADIES PAR 4 225M
Rework the left and right fairway bunkers, moving the left bunker by a few metres into the fairway. Close the second right fairway bunker. Enlarge the green all the way around, but mostly in the front area. Have two bunkers on the right and one bunker to the left of the green. Waterflow off the front left and the front of the green. There is a soft swale running diagonally across the green from 1 to 7 o’clock.
HOLE 16 OPTION 2 PAR 4 325M LADIES 318M
This green has two smaller bunkers to the right of the green to make access from the cart path to and from the green easier and one bunker left of the green. The entire green complex to move slightly to the right. Waterflow off the green is in front and off the centre left of the green.
HOLE 17 OPTION 1
PAR 4 327M LADIES
PAR 4 318M
Re-align the back tee to aim at the centre of the fairway. Add a second right fairway bunker at a carry distance of 255m— as an option. The green is enlarged in the front and features a small bunker at the right front and a bigger bunker to the left of the green. Waterflow off the green is in centre right, at the back and the front of the green.
HOLE 18 PAR 3 169M
LADIES PAR 3 123M
Extend the green at the back left and change the 3 bunkers to the left and right of the green with two bunkers left and two bunkers right of the green. Remove the hedge behind the green, as an option, and replace with a sandstone retaining wall which will result in the putting green being made wider by 2m. Waterflow off the green is in the centre left and the front of the green.
