Year Four: Hole Commentary

The current 8th hole is an excellent mid-length par four and the enhancements proposed to this hole are fairly minor in nature.

The pond in front of the tee will be enlarged at the right side as part of the Hole 9 works so the carry off the tee on this hole is not altered. Additional separation at the front right of the main tee will be provided by an extended mound and new Native Pine tree plantings. Tussocks in the sandy rough in front of the forward tee will also be thinned out to improve play through this area for shorter hitters.

In the right rough just past the first group of Pine trees, it is proposed to create a section of joined fairway with the adjacent 9th hole. Beyond this, in the area where there are four small Pine trees, the rough turf will be removed and undulating sandy rough created, with more Pine trees to be planted. In the long term there will be a strong Pine stand here with sandy understorey, so as to discourage play into this area. Casuarina trees in the right rough will be removed in keeping with the general philosophy of removing invasive Casuarinas from the course. Further down the right side in the approach to the green it is proposed to increase the mounding height sufficient to block out views to the green for any golfers playing in from the 9th fairway by choice or otherwise.

Along the left side boundary with James Melrose Road it is proposed to remove all the deteriorating Tamarisk trees – a weed species – and provide new boundary screening through a combination of new mounding and tree planting of Pines and Native Pines. The left side wetland pond edge will be straightened up as part of the hole works. Leading into the green the screen mounding along the boundary will continue to the left of the green and beyond, thus blocking views of the fence and the road that are currently exposed.

The pair of existing front left greenside bunkers are to be rationalised into one bunker, allowing the front of the green to be widened slightly for improved running shot access into the green, while the putting green contours are to be retained, with the overall green surface level lowered very slightly in the green reconstruction process. At the right the fescue turf in the hollow will be removed and the hollow reshaped slightly and returfed in ‘Santa Ana’ couch. At the left rear the existing poor quality vegetation will be removed and replaced by new mounding with Pine and Native Pine plantings.

A remodeled 8th hole will build on its existing strengths with a judicious level of improvement to create a recognisable and improved hole.

The 9th is a straightaway hole over interesting undulating terrain that unfortunately has not capitalised on its green location being near the pond. This aspect is to be the primary change on this hole.

A new tee path is taken to the southern side of the tees and the creation of an ephemeral wetland south of the tees in existing low ground will assist in creating fill for various moundings on adjacent Hole 8. The start of the fairway will be lowered to create fill to build up the mounding height at the right of the carry sufficient to block out views to the 8th green for any golfers playing in from the 9th fairway.

In the right rough, as with the 8th hole, it is proposed to create a section of joined fairway with the adjacent 8th hole, and before this, in the area where there are four small Pine trees, the rough turf will be removed and undulating sandy rough created, with more Pine trees to be planted. In the long term this will become a strong Pine stand with sandy understorey, so as to discourage play into this area. At the green end of the joined fairway it is proposed to extend the existing small pot bunker into a large ‘hybrid’ style fairway bunker. The closer to this bunker that longer hitters dare go, they will be rewarded with the best line into the newly relocated green. The existing left side fairway bunker is proposed to be filled in and returned to fairway giving golfers a safe play from the tee down the left side that will deliver them a more difficult line into the new green.

Just past the current left side fairway bunker it is proposed to join this fairway up with the start of the adjacent 10th fairway. The major change to this hole will be at the green. The current green setting feels separated from the adjacent pond and only a very poor approach shot would find the water currently. It is proposed to capitalise on the potential to have a green on the front nine directly sited next to water, in the way that the 16th and 18th greens do on the back nine, by moving the 9th green across to the north and slightly forward, with the adjacent pond widened out to the south so that the green sits directly next to the water. The new green will be bunkerless and roughly rectangular in shape, with the best line of approach in from the right side of the fairway, while the green will present slightly angled for approaches from the left side. It is proposed to reinforce the pond banks with timber sleepers laid back on the slope, as indicated on the photograph on the Hole Plan, and while these will not be immediately visible when approaching the green, they will be seen by golfers when they are on the green, and will also be prominent from the Entry Road when arriving at the course.

Left of the green will be a broad fairway-cut ‘bail-out’ and traffic area set below the level of the green, and while presenting a safe haven away from the water, recovery from this area will be difficult. The traffic area leads up to two paths to the 10th tees, and also to the new Pavilion, while sleeper banks will be set below the tees to assist in widening the ‘bail-out’ and traffic area.

The re-imagined 9th hole will present a fitting finale to the front nine, with the new green and expanded pond presenting a spectacular foreground to the new Pavilion at Glenelg.

The current 1st hole at Glenelg is a gentle introduction, and proposed changes aim to challenge long hitters while maintaining playability for average members.

A new rear tee will be introduced in the turn-around driveway area, adding 30m for occasional use in events like Club Championships & Pennant. The main tee will be widened and reconfigured, with a new forward tee added to distribute wear. A separate tee path will keep golfer traffic distinct from clubhouse access, and mounds will screen the car park from view.

The rough grass in the carry will be replaced with fairway-cut ‘Santa Ana’ couchgrass for a seamless transition from tee to fairway. The fescue-turfed neck at the dogleg corner will be removed, and the fairway will be widened left over the first pond, creating a larger landing area. A new hybrid bunker will be placed into the right side dune mounding before the second pond, posing a challenge for longer hitters.

The second pond’s rushes and reeds will be replaced with a fescue bank like those on Holes 15-17. The pond will be expanded south and west, utilizing the removed island as fill for new mounding. A new approach bunker will be positioned 15m short of the green to challenge aggressive tee shots. Average hitters will have the option of playing tee shots down the right side of fairway, leaving a clear approach shot into the green.

At the green, the second right-side pot bunker will be removed, with the first bunker widened. Rough along the right will direct golfer traffic left, where the first mound will be removed to create a drop-away area, increasing bailout options but introducing tricky recovery shots. The second greenside mound will remain, with fescue extending behind the green to prevent over-hit balls from reaching the 2nd tees.

A new path will connect golfers to the reconfigured 2nd tees. The putting green will be resurfaced and subtly reshaped. At the left rear, trees under powerlines will be replaced by a dune mound to screen the fence and road. The existing brush fence at the right rear will be extended westward for added seclusion.

These enhancements will create a more visually engaging and strategic opening hole, making an impactful first impression at Glenelg Golf Club.

The current 6^th hole is a long and strong dogleg left par four and the planned alterations to this hole are complete in the first half of the hole, with new realigned tees and new corner fairway bunkering completed in earlier stages of the CEP course works. Our attention is now drawn to the second half of the hole.

The plan is to move the green forward by around 25m and slightly west so that the dogleg angle is reduced. Moving the green also allows the tees on the 7^th hole to be moved back and new rear tee created at the western side of the 1^st hole pond.

Leading into the green it is proposed to create a new linear dune at the left side, which will block the view to the green from the 7^th fairway to discourage dangerous deliberate play down this fairway off the 6^th tees.

On the right side it is planned to excavate an ephemeral wetland in the low ground between the 6^th fairway and the 3^rd green, with fill from this excavation being used for adjacent new mounding at the rear of the new green.

All existing approach bunkers will be removed, and the new 6^th green will be bunkered at front right and middle left. The green will have three distinct tiers, not unlike the 10^th green, with the front left being the lowest, front right next highest, and the rear tier being the highest. This green configuration will encourage a running left to right approach shot.

Left of the green will be a lower broad fairway cut bail-out area, leading up to the 7^th tees, while the rear and right of the green will be protected by new mounding. While shorter than the current hole, the new hole will play at 404m from the rear tee and will be a fine test of golf that is a little more approachable for average golfers.

The 7th hole is a strong par four that can be made even better. Moving the 6th green forward allows the 7th tees to be moved back, adding a new rear tee beside the 1st hole pond. The hole will now play at 420m from this tee, regaining distance lost from the 6th shortening.

The new rear tee, for occasional use, will extend slightly into the pond with railway sleeper supports matching those at the 9th green. Ground behind the current 6th green will be lowered to improve sightlines up the 7th fairway. The main tees will be reconfigured and lowered by 1.2m to reduce elevation, with the back tee extending closer to the pond.

Strengthened dune mounding to the right will enhance screening of the western car park. Additional trees and mounding will improve screening along the car park and Entry Road, continuing to the dogleg corner to block views of the road and Pavilion.

The fairway mow line will be widened left to align better with the tees and connect with an enlarged ephemeral wetland for drainage. At the dogleg’s inside corner, the left bunker will be removed, and the right one reconfigured into a ‘hybrid’ bunker at the foot of the new mounding. The filled-in bunker area will be returned to fairway to encourage play up this side. To further improve safety near the car park, the left fairway pot bunker will also be removed and turfed. Further along, the next fairway bunker will be reduced in size with a raised ridge behind it.

Beyond the dogleg corner, the right-side hollows will be converted into sandy heath rough with exposed sand, similar to the 8th tee carry, encouraging golfers to stay on the fairway and away from the 8th tees and Pavilion.

Little change is planned at the green. The two existing bunkers will be re-revetted, and the fairway widened right of the bunker for better traffic flow. The green will be resurfaced while maintaining its current contours.

At the rear boundary, poor-quality Tamarisk trees will be replaced with new Pine and Native Pine plantings.

These enhancements will make the 7th hole stronger and safer while improving separation from the Entry Road and car park.