The Illawarra region of New South Wales is renowned for its iron and steel. But it also possesses great natural beauty from the beaches to the hills, which form the scenic backdrop to some quality golf courses.
Wedged between the steep escarpment of the Great Dividing Range and the ocean, NSW’s Illawarra region has been built on steel, great surf and a leisurely lifestyle.
Wollongong, less than an hour’s drive south of Sydney, lies at the northern gateway to the beautiful south coast and first comes into view as you wind down the steep escarpment from Mt Ousley.
Known as ‘The Steel City’, Wollongong and neighbouring Port Kembla is home to the biggest steelworks in the country and has been a hub of steel manufacturing for nearly a century.
While steel has been the economic mainstay of the Illawarra for so long, tourism continues to grow as a more visitors spread the word about the region’s fantastic beaches, beautiful rolling hills as well as a wide range of other popular attractions -- from the natural to the historic and the adventurous. And you don’t have to look too hard to find delicious food and wine.
And golfers don’t miss out either with a wide selection of quality courses offering superb views and enjoyable challenges.
The oldest course in the Illawarra is Wollongong Golf Club, which dates back to 1897. In the early years of this century, course designer Ross Watson developed a masterplan for an extensive redesign of the layout to take into account an expansion of the clubhouse, to include accommodation, and a residential complex overlooking the course.
One hole that was untouched by the changes is a classic short par-3 where the where the wind off the sea is a heavy influence on your shot and club selection. The tee of the 137-metre 17th is perched high above the green and City Beach to the right. The green is set below the level of the adjoining dune and is ringed by six deep bunkers and a few hollows, while the putting surface, interestingly, breaks subtly away from the ocean.
Design changes have also been made in recent years to the Port Kembla Golf Club, just 15 minutes’ drive south of the Wollongong club.
Port Kembla implemented a masterplan, created by course designer James Wilcher (Pacific Dunes, Elanora and The Cut), which has seen the redevelopment of 13 greens and their surrounds. These very good changes and the ongoing high quality presentation combine to make Port Kembla one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf to be played on the NSW South Coast.
It’s lush, easy walking fairways are bordered by a combination of gums, melaleucas and s well as lakes and ponds (especially on the back nine) making Port Kembla a layout that rewards the straight-hitter.
There is plenty to like about much of the front nine, which offers glimpses of ‘sandbelt’ golf with very little rough between the fairways and the coastal scrub. The remodelled bunkering has raised the standard on these holes, especially on the short par-4s like the 266-metre 7th where a scheme of fairway traps right of the driving zone can make you think hard about your strategy for the hole.
Arguably the most memorable holes come later in the round starting with the par-5 14th where the final approach is to a big, wide green with much of the right side of the putting surface tucked behind a lake. The easy play here is to lay-up short but this area is relatively narrow between fairway bunkers left and the water to the right.
Water also comes into play on the par-4 16th and 17th holes. The 311-metre 16th bends from left-to-right around a lake to reach a green that lies just beyond the water’s edge. The slightly longer 17th turns from right-to-left and features water along most of its left side.
Port Kembla’s nearest golfing neighbour to the west is The Grange Golf Club, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.
The course, which is owned by Dapto Leagues Club, recently engaged Troon Golf to manage the course and announced in June 2016 that it would undertake a $7 million refurbishment of Grange’s clubhouse, function facilities and the golf course.
The Grange’s new clubhouse was unveiled in August 2016 and work has begun on the new design for the course.
A more recent addition to the Illawarra golfing landscape is Calderwood Valley Golf Course, which is a leisurely 15-minute drive south of Dapto.
Set amidst 30 hectares of farmland, Calderwood Valley lies at the foot of the rugged and spectacular Illawarra escarpment and was designed by Wollongong-based course architecture firm McKay and Sons. With the range and surrounding native bush as a backdrop on most holes, the views are stunning.
The 18 holes cover gently undulating land that features clear running creeks and some lakes as well as tree-lined fairways. Most importantly, Calderwood Valley is a fun course for all players, no matter what their ability, and all tee times are devoted to public play.
Long hitters will lick their lips in anticipation of making a good score through the first nine holes. The outward half has three par-5s – the 452-metre 1st, 449-metre 5th and the 455-metre 7th. The 7th, for mine, is the best of them with a tight fairway presenting from the slightly elevated tee. A pot bunker deceptively placed 40 metres short of the green, may cause you to second guess your club selection for the approach, whether it is your second or third shot.
The 131-metre par-3 8th is Calderwood’s shortest and is framed by steep hills to the right and the escarpment off in the distance behind the putting surface. A lake in front of the tee adds the final touches to a beautiful hole. Arguably the best hole of the back nine is also a par-3 – the 149-metre 13th. It is a straight away one-shotter but the tee shot must fly between tall trees left and right, set on the banks of a creek, to find the large putting surface. The green lies within a natural amphitheatre and when you reach the green and look back towards the tee, take a second to soak in the striking view of the escarpment.
Situated conveniently between Wollongong and the picturesque Kiama area, Shellharbour is home to one of NSW’s biggest real estate developments undertaken during the past two decades. The creation and growth of the multi-billion dollar Shell Cove development also gave rise to the South Coast’s newest golf course – The Links Shell Cove.
Shell Cove opened for play in late 2003 and has proven to be a popular addition to the Illawarra’s golfing stocks and can only rise in popularity after recent changes made to the layout.
Course designer Richard Chamberlain created a masterplan for the redesign of the layout after the original 1st and 9th holes were taken out of play. The new holes and routing came into play in August and have been well-received, with the new short par-4 7th – incorporating two playing lines to the green – being the pick of the changes.
Heading south from Shell Cove, you will find one of the prettiest courses in the Illawarra. Kiama Golf Club doesn’t have the magnificent scenery of Wollongong, Gerringong or Calderwood Valley, but a round at this short course is like taking a stroll through a well-kept, lush tree-lined garden. The layout is on predominantly flat land between the Minnamurra River and the south coast rail line just north of the seaside town and features a nice variety of holes in a beautiful setting.
The same can be said for its inland neighbour, Jamberoo Golf Club. Once you pull into the picturesque Jamberoo village, you don’t have to venture too far to find the golf club as the course entry is in the main street.
The course’s origins date back to 1980 when the Jamberoo Social Golf Club negotiated a lease with the local council for the land the course now covers. The club started small with a few sand greens, while the first grass green was laid in 1985. The current 18-hole layout was put into play in 1992 and with thousands of hours of volunteer labour behind it, Jamberoo has blossomed.
Stunning rural, bush and mountain views, as well as 96 native bird species calling Jamberoo home, add to the overall enjoyable golfing experience at Jamberoo.
Hyams Creek winds through the middle of the course, coming into play on 10 holes during the round.
The 111-metre par-3 7th hole is one of Jamberoo’s prettiest offerings, with the aforementioned creek feeding into a pond between tee and green. The putting surface slopes from back-to-front and is receptive to high approach shots but they key here is to leave an uphill putt for your birdie … or par.
Jamberoo’s penultimate hole – a 323-metre par-4 – could be my favourite simply because of the green shape, size and position. The putting surface is a large peanut-shaped offering that is separated from the fairway by Hyams Creek. The green lies diagonally to the approach, which must be played over or between two tall trees sitting on the edge of the creek. The pin position on this green dictates the strategy from the tee more than any other hole on the course.
Strategy is also a key factor when playing the most scenic of Illawarra’s courses – Gerringong Golf Club.
Located between the seaside towns of Gerringong and Gerroa, the course lies on undulating terrain between two headlands and overlooks the beautiful Walkers Beach.
Since the club purchased this land from Kiama Council in 1985 (after leasing the land for a few years) the course has evolved into one of the most enjoyable places to play anywhere on the NSW south coast. Much of that can be attributed to the spectacular views you experience from the opening tee shot to the last putt.
In recent years the quality of the holes and the playing surfaces has improved markedly, which makes a round of golf at Gerringong even more enjoyable. Much of the improvement has come from the conversion of all the greens from Bermuda Tifdwarf to A4 Bentgrass, the rebuilding of many tees and a program of bunker refurbishment.
In my opinion the best trio of holes at Gerringong starts at the 360-metre par-4 3rd hole – a left-to-right dogleg that demands a tee shot to be carried over the edge of a dam before climbing uphill to a green cut into the side of the hill.
The 562-metre par-5 4th hole can be best described as a beautiful beast. The tee is perched high above Walkers Beach and the hole doglegs left-to-right following the arc created by the back of the beach. Thick coastal scrub is all that separates the fairway from the sand. The aforementioned dam on the 3rd hole cuts right across the 4th fairway and, depending on your length from the tee, it is worth considering a lay-up from the tee particularly into a southerly wind. Two more dams lie short of the bunkerless green and only the longest hitters in the game would even contemplate going for this target in two shots, and even then it would have to be with a strong tailwind. I’ve played at Gerringong many times in the past two decades and I have parred this hole once and never birdied it … what a beautiful beast.
The 5th hole – a sharp dogleg right par-4 of 334 metres – leads you away from the beach and up a hill to one of the highest points on the course. Again, the green is terraced into the side of the hill and the view from the back of this green over the course and the ocean is worth the green fee alone.
My last stop on this Illawarra road trip took me away from the sea views and 45 minutes’ drive into the hills and the picturesque Kangaroo Valley Golf and Country Resort, which lies halfway between the coast and the beautiful Southern Highlands.
Originally designed by Jack Newton in the last 1980s, Kangaroo Valley changed owners several times during the ‘90s and with each change, major works were completed on the course until it was extended to 18 holes. Long-time member of the club Philip Mudie was responsible for some significant changes including the relocation of greens and the conversion of the putting surfaces from couch to the fine bentgrass greens to be found there today.
The current owner purchased the site in 1997 after the course had been left vacant for 18 months and 10 years on the layout has never looked or played better.
The 8th – a 352-metre par-4 – is one of Kangaroo Valley’s most challenging and scenic holes. Your tee shot must be played from an elevated tee across a valley to reach the fairway, which sits at a slight right-to-left diagonal. From the fairway, your approach must be played over another valley to reach the smallish, hillside green. Miss the green left here and you will have a long pitch to get back to the putting surface.
WHERE TO PLAY
WOLLONGONG GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $42 (18 holes). www.wollongonggolfclub.com.au
PORT KEMBLA GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $15 (Monday, 18 holes); $25 (Tuesday to Friday); $35 (weekends and public holidays). www.portkemblagolfclub.com.au
THE GRANGE GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $35 (18 holes). www.thegrangegolfclub.com.au
CALDERWOOD VALLEY
Green fees: $22 (weekdays, 18 holes); $28 (weekends and public holidays).
THE LINKS SHELL COVE
Green fees: $1 (Monday, 18 holes walking); $29 (Monday with cart); From $29 to $45 (Tuesday to Friday with cart); From $35 to $75 (Saturday with cart); From $35 to $59 (Sunday with cart). www.linkshellcove.com.au
KIAMA GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $34 (18 holes). www.kiamagolfclub.com.au
JAMBEROO GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $25 (Monday to Wednesday 18 holes); $17 (Thursday and Friday); $27 (weekends and public holidays). jamberoogolf.com.au
GERRINGONG GOLF CLUB
Green fees: $32 (18 holes). www.gerringonggolf.com.au
KANGAROO VALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT
Green fees: $35 (Monday to Thursday 18 holes); $30 (Friday to Sunday). kangaroovalleygolf.com.au
WHERE TO STAY
KANGAROO VALLEY GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT
The resort features a variety of cabin and villa style accommodation, overlooking the picturesque golf course.
There is a range of play and stay packages including the Weekend Wonder package that offers four people, two nights’ twin share accommodation, unlimited golf and cart usage, dinner and breakfast from just $445 per person. kangaroovalleygolf.com.au
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