The first streets within the golfing precinct of Delfin’s Bingara Gorge community have been named after golfers who made their mark on the fairways of Australia and the world.
Kirkwood Chase, where seven of the 11 lots fronting the golf course have already sold, pays tribute to the man who put Australian golf on the map.
Joseph Henry Kirkwood, Sr, won his first Australian Open in 1920 at the age of 23, and went on to enjoy a remarkable career on the professional world circuit. He died in 1970 but his name is remembered each year with the Kirkwood Cup awarded to the Australian PGA Champion.
Sarazen Crescent takes its name from American Gene Sarazen, one of only five golfers to win all the major championships - and the golfer who invented the sand wedge.
Fairway Drive, with only a few parkland and highland lots released so far, will become the main access drive to the future Country Club. Lined by prestigious homes overlooking the golf course, it will connect the western side of Bingara Gorge to the entry and future village centre and primary school.
The street naming coincides with the recent visit by the Ernie Els design team who visited Bingara Gorge last month to finalise the course layout for the par 71 championship golf course.
With the golf course construction program scheduled to begin in February next year, Els’ senior designer Greg Letsche walked the future course – and liked what he saw.
“It is a beautiful rolling site,’’ said Mr Letsche, “that presents many great holes without having to do too much to the land.
“There is also an opportunity here to create something quite spectacular because of the gorge. For example, the 16th hole will be a par-3 played across the gorge and will be beautifully framed by tall eucalypts and the rock faces, which will certainly make it a standout hole.’’
Mr. Letsche said there will be numerous teeing options on all holes that will make it a friendly course for the casual or beginner golfer. “It was of primary importance that we strike a balance between what is challenging for good players and not daunting for newcomers to the game”.
In keeping with Bingara Gorge’s commitment to creating a sustainable lifestyle community, the Els designed course will require minimal land disturbance, instead taking its cues from the natural landscape.
Bingara Gorge Project Director Paul Gerlach said the opportunity to discuss the course with the Ernie Els team had lent a sense of heightened anticipation to the project.
“We’ve looked at Bingara Gorge for many years through the eyes of builders and construction workers,’’ said Mr Gerlach.
“But it’s a completely different experience to view it from a golfer’s perspective, plotting sight lines, gauging the length of a shot and examining the terrain in enormous detail.
“We’re very excited by the ideas that Greg brought to us. We have no doubt that this golf course is going to be top of the must-play list of every golfer in the Macarthur region - and the rest of Australia.’’
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