Magenta Shores
REVIEWED BY: BRENDAN JAMES

Australia’s newest Links course is already earning accolades for it’s challenging design and quality presentation. Brendon James travelled to NSW’s central coast to put the latest Ross Watson creation to the test.

Ross Watson is one of Australia’s most experienced and acclaimed golf course designers. In terms of sites for proposed golf courses, he has seen it all.

That is, he thought he had until he first laid eyes on the sandy landscape that is now home to his latest creation, Magenta Shores – located just north of The Entrance on NSW’s Central Coast.

“When I first saw the site I really couldn’t contain my excitement,” Watson told Golf Australia. “I had to ask ‘are they really going to let me loose on this land’?

“They did. The developers signed me up and let me loose. There were really no limits to what we could do with the land because of sand underneath. The only restrictions were that we had to tie in with the real estate and we couldn’t going into the forest areas.”

At Watson’s disposal was a strip of seaside land wedged between the sand dunes at the back of Magenta Shores beach and Wilfred Barrett Drive linking The Entrance with Budgewoi.

“I spent more time on the ground at the site than usual when doing Magenta Shores because I felt I had a rare opportunity to work with a pile of sand on the ocean and shape it in any manner I wanted,” Watson said.

While much of the land already had a wonderful undulating profile, the southern section of the layout was relatively fl at after being used for many years as a local rubbish tip.

“The area starting from the 1st green through to part of the par-4 6th hole is all on top of the old landfill site,” Watson said.

“It covers about 20 acres and we put 250,000 square metres of sand fill over it and its raised the profile of the land in that southern section up to eight metres above sea level and it brought the ocean into view on those holes.”

The shaping and design of this stretch of holes is so good it is hard to imagine Mother Nature didn’t play some role in crafting them over the centuries.

I have no doubt Watson drew inspiration for these holes on some of the great links courses of Ireland, where the flattest land between the sand dunes is used for the avenues of play.

The 523-metre par-5 2nd is a genuine three-shotter, which is flanked by a high wild grass covered sand dune to the right with scrub and sand to the left. When a southerly blows up the coast, the 2nd really bares its teeth as it is one of the most exposed holes on the layout.

One of my favourite holes at Magenta Shores is the par- 34th, which, again, can be a brute in a southerly breeze. Standing on the back tee of the 186-metre hole, I felt like I was back in Ireland. Rolling dunes line the left edge of fairway and wrap around the back of the putting surface, while a huge cavernous bunker cuts in front of the green from the left and another equally menacing trap guards the right of the kidney-shaped green. Off in the distance you can see the ocean and the holiday town of The Entrance. This view is not dissimilar to hundreds of places dotted around the Irish coastline.

One of the real features of Magenta Shores is the variety of its par-3s. The four one-shotters vary considerably in length and each plays to a different compass point, so they will always require a different shot on any given day depending on the wind.

“I really went out of my way to make sure the par-3s each headed to the various cardinal points,” Watson said. “Unless the wind changes radically throughout a round, you will have a very different experience on each of the par-3s with the wind into you, behind you and across depending on the hole and wind direction.”

Watson’s favourite among the par-3s is the shortest hole on the course – the 124-metre 15th.

“It’s one hole that always jumps into my mind because it is such a little postage stamp type hole,” Watson said. “On that part of the course, the hole is kind of isolated and you could be anywhere in the world.

“The hole heads due east and is either affected by a Southerly or a nor-easterly so the tee shot, even though its not very long, needs to be well directed and thought through first.”

In modern terms, Magenta Shores is not overly long from the championship markers at 6,305 metres. Although there are some brutish holes, like the uphill 438-metre par-4 9th and the 550-metre par-5 18th, that require strong hitting even on the calmest of days.

But, on the whole, Watson relies on the elements to add some bite to his design. For example, Magenta Shores has two par-5s that measure 480 metres or less – the 8th and the 10th. Both are easily reachable in two hits, but not if the wind is hurting into your face from the north. That said, the two longer par-5s - the 2nd and 18th – become an easier prospect in such a breeze.

Undoubtedly one of the memorable features of Watson’s work at Magenta Shores is the bunkering.

There are dozens of bunkers scattered around the layout of varying size and depth. As is the case with most Watson courses, the location of the bunkers has been well thought out. The big point of difference with his bunkering at Magenta Shores to any other course he has designed is the shape of the traps. No two bunkers look the same and they are wild looking with Fescue grasses growing over the edges of many.

Such bunkering requires plenty of attention to keep them well presented and course superintendent Kenton Boyd and his team have done a very good job in maintaining them. He must also be applauded for his preparation of the Bent grass putting surfaces. The course only officially opened for play in October and in the months following, the greens have appeared, and played, as if they have been in the ground for years.

Magenta Shores G&CC is a private member-only club but tee times are available for guests staying in the luxurious five-star Quay West Magenta Shores Resort, which overlooks the course. The 5th hole is a good short par-4 where an accurate approach is a necessity. The long par-3 4th hole is cut straight from any one of Ireland’s more popular links courses.

FACT FILE

LENGTH: 6,305 metres (blue tees),
5,913m (white), 5,164m (red).
PAR: 72.
DESIGNER: Ross Watson.
GREEN FEES: $75 (midweek), $90
(weekends). Carts $30. Resort guests only.
ADDRESS: Magenta Drive (Wilfred Barrett
Drive), Magenta, NSW, 2261.
PHONE: (02) 4352 8145.
WEBSITE: www.magentashores.com.au
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Wyong exit
from F3 freeway and follow The Entrance Rd
to Shelly Beach. Turn left and head over the
bridge to North Entrance. Course entry is
two minutes’ drive on the right.

From the February 2007 issue of Golf Australia