This month sees a second New South Wales Open at Concord after the course’s successful return to the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule last March. Bryden Macpherson’s victory came after four days during which the multi-times-redesigned Concord layout proved its modern worth.
Originally designed by Dan Soutar in 1916 and altered late last century by Ross Watson, Concord was a relentlessly solid golf course hemmed in by suburbia. A $4.5 million redesign penned by American course architect Tom Doak in 2017 saw Concord lose some trees, gain others and have all 18 green complexes and the 69 bunkers rebuilt along with some fairway reshaping. New irrigation and drainage works were also incorporated. Today, the overall look is different, but the focal point of the work undertaken by Doak and design associate Brian Slawnik took place closest to the flags.
Part of Concord’s new appeal stems from the clever approach to the surrounds. Hugging parts of all greens are couch-grass fringes, which create so many more options around each one. Golfers can now bounce their iron, pitch and chip shots onto the greens far more than in the past when so many approach shots and greenside plays simply had to take the aerial route due to the green designs and the unpredictable kikuyu surrounds. It’s now a more multi-dimensional layout with strategic features that all players – whether those in the NSW Open field or Concord members – can appreciate.
THE DETAILS
Concord Golf Club
Ranking in 2020: 46th
Prior rankings: N/R (2018), 52nd (2016), 59th (2014), 51st (2012), 43rd (2010), 34th (2008), 38th (2006), 33rd (2004), 39th (2002), 54th (2000), 47th (1998), 50th (1996), 38th (1994), 49th (1991), 37th (1989), Third Ten (1986)
Where: Majors Bay Rd, Concord NSW 2137
Phone: (02) 9743 6111
Photo by Gary Lisbon
