Twin Creeks GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

 

As a globetrotting professional golfer of the 1970s and ’80s, Graham Marsh won more than 60 titles across five continents. The key to his success was his approach to the game. Every shot was thoughtfully considered and the swing that followed beautifully controlled. He had the ability to strategically plot his way around a course.

Graham Marsh, the golf course designer, has brought that same eye for good strategy to all his creations, which have won him accolades here, in Asia and in the United States. Strategy is an intrinsic element of his course designs, not least his most recent Australian offering, Twin Creeks, a private course and part of a huge residential development at Luddenham, less than 50 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD.

Yet this latest creation is a departure from his previous works, which include Sydney’s Terrey Hills and The Vines and Secret Harbour in Western Australia. While the rewards for good shot-making are still there, what makes Twin Creeks different is its bunkering style. Traditionally, Marsh’s bunkers are predominantly round, flowing shapes with well-manicured edges, usually accompanied by mounds and swales. Here, the varying sizes and depths of the bunkers really impress, and the shaping is particularly intricate, with small or large fingers of grassed areas encroaching into each bunker. Visually, it is intimidating; strategically, it is superb.

Several holes at Twin Creeks linger long in the memory, simply because of the vast sprawl of bunkers between tee and green. You are faced with sand from the outset, with a huge bunker complex down the left of the opening fairway and another smaller bunker to the right. From the tee it is 359 metres to the centre of the green, and the sand-dominated vista is unnerving. But as is the case on most holes at Twin Creeks, thanks to Marsh’s clever design, there is more room to land your tee shot than at first you might imagine. A drive and a short iron is all that is needed to find the generous green – which, not surprisingly, features sand short and long of the putting surface.

The 3rd hole, at 302 metres, is the first of two quality short par-fours. Longer hitters will be champing at the bit to try their luck and reach the green with their drive. A generous landing area short of the putting surface makes it even more tempting, but to pull the shot off you must hit straight over the edge of a water hazard then avoid three bunkers lining the final approach.

On the scorecard, the second of Marsh’s classic short par-fours looks a pushover. But the 309-metre 12th is far from it, with a massive fairway bunker splitting the hole into two distinct routes to the green. The shorter play to the green is to the right of ‘Marsh’s Desert’, but your drive must be precise to avoid finding the long wispy grass to the side.

Twin Creeks is managed by the world-renowned Troon Golf, whose standards of service and course presentation are high, and the brilliant playing surfaces complement Marsh’s challenging design. A private members’ course, access is available for interstate and overseas visitors by prior arrangement with the management. The club also hosts a monthly challenge event for visiting golfers who are members of other clubs.

MEMORABLE HOLES

1st, 6th, 9th, 12th, 16th and 18th

WHERE TO GO

Twin Creeks Dr, Luddenham, NSW 2745

BOOK A ROUND

(02) 9670 8877, www.twincreeksgolf.com.au

OTHER 120 GREAT COURSES NEARBY

Macquarie Links (31 km), Castle Hill (33.3 km), Concord (39.9 km)

WHERE TO STAY

The Chifley Eastern Creek is a 104-room, four-and-a-half-star hotel located 10 minutes’ drive from Twin Creeks. Stay-and-play packages are available for golfers.

BEFORE/AFTER YOUR ROUND

Take a ride on the beautiful Nepean River. The Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler offers classic river cruises into Blue Mountains National Park, where you will witness stunning mountain-gorge scenery while having a bite of lunch, dinner or a Devonshire tea.