The Royal Sydney Golf Club

The Royal Sydney Golf Club in New South Wales, Sydney, is a reputed sporting and social club of Australia, and one of its oldest as well.

History of the course:

The Royal Sydney Golf Club has come a long way through history. Although there were many course layouts designed over the years, history can only accredit its original creators. The brain-child of Irving Kent and C.C. Bethune way back in 1893 saw a 9-hole course being laid out in the Bondi sandhills area.

Since then, over the years, the course has been changed, developed and modified by various architects, yet keeping in mind the "traditional" golfing concept of its founders.

The 6230 metres, par 72 Royal Sydney Golf Course layout consists of rolling firm fairways, innumerable well-positioned bunkers, and smooth greens; today, the 2 courses that the Royal Sydney is proud to own are its 18 hole Championship course and the 9 hole Centenary course, both of which are a formidable challenge to amateurs and professional as well.

Some of golf's greatest that have played at the Royal Sydney Championship Golf Club are Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Gene Sarazen, and Greg Norman.

The Clubhouse of the Royal Sydney is also well-known throughout the country for its grandeur and style.

Course Trivia:

The Royal Sydney has hosted numerous championships, most famous being, the Australian Open Championships (11 times), the Australian PGA Championships and the Australian Men's and Ladies Amateur Championships.

The famous 18th hole of the Royal Sydney looks from the fairways towards the final green, with the clubhouse in the distance- a remarkable sight.

The Royal Sydney club has played host to the 1999 Australian Open, won by Aaron Baddeley.

One of the leading sporting Institutions of Australia, the Royal Sydney Golf Club encompasses within it an overall combination of 27 holes of golf, lawn tennis courts, squash, croquet and bowling greens.

The 9-hole Centenary Course at the Royal Sydney is a short course which was remodeled anew in 1997 by course architect, Thomson Perrett. The new course features rising and falling terrain consisting of firm fairways and small contoured greens, with clever bunkers all around. Small water bodies also cause obstacles on 6 of the 9 holes; small in size yet challenging!

The Royal Sydney Golf Club is a private golf course. Guests must be accompanied by a member.

As per The Australian Top 100 Golf Courses (2006 rankings), The Royal Sydney Golf Club has been ranked as No. 22.