Outdoor Setting

GOLFING GREAT GRAHAM MARSH REVEALS BINGARA GORGE COURSE DESIGN AS HE OPENS GOLF COURSE VIEWING PLATFORM

15 November 2010

Internationally acclaimed golf course designer Graham Marsh officially opened the Golf Course Viewing Platform at Bingara Gorge over the weekend, promising it will be unlike anything seen before in Sydney.

Marsh, one of the most in-demand course designers in the world today, cut the ribbon on the 9.5 metre timber and steel tower, giving a bird’s eye view over the construction of the 18-hole Par 72 championship course as it evolves over the next two years.

Assisting in the official ribbon cutting duties were Wollondilly Shire Mayor, Cr. Michael Banasik and Deputy Mayor, Cr. Robert Khan and Bingara Gorge Project Director, Paul Gerlach.

And for the first time, Marsh revealed the design for the course – a rustic, minimalistic blend of undulating grasslands, bush and lakes punctuated by stunning ravines and gorges.

Marsh said: “One of the most exciting things about Bingara Gorge is the site itself. It is a wonderful site with many spectacular features to make use of, and where we can craft a course that fits into the natural contours of the land.

“I am truly excited about this project; it’s going to be a great course that will challenge golfers of all levels,” adds Marsh.

Bingara Gorge Project Director Paul Gerlach said the entire community was looking forward to having a prestigious, beautifully designed golf course within easy reach.

“This course is going to play an important role in the life of residents and the wider community,” said Mr Gerlach. “It not only provides a fantastic leisure activity but will have benefits for businesses that will be able to take advantage of corporate golf and entertainment opportunities. Graham Marsh has a reputation for creating golf courses that reward players when they perform well which is just one of the reasons why he is in such great demand.”

Marsh nominated the 16th, a 137 metre Par 3, to be the signature hole. “The spectacular tee shot, playing from in amongst the sandstone boulders, directs play across the gorge to what is virtually an island green. A beautiful waterfall is just upstream of the line of play. Although short at only 137 metres, great precision will be required to score well as any wayward shot will be punished severely.”

The Bingara Gorge course will be a different style to anything seen before in Sydney where Marsh has also designed the highly rated Terrey Hills Golf Course. In adopting a minimalistic design, rather than a water-hungry resort style course, Marsh will allow the natural landscape to speak for itself.

“This site deserves a different approach,” said Marsh. “Every hole, apart from four that take their context from the irrigation lake, has a relationship with the gorge and a backdrop of mature trees. The site has beautiful undulating areas and we’ve creating a great mix of holes - dog leg rights and lefts, downhill, uphill, some that are dead flat and some that play across the gorge.

“From each set of tees there is a challenge. On the back tees there will be plenty of championship golf but from the forward tees there will be all the challenges you would want if you were just an average player.”

Though famed for his bunkering, Marsh has included only 65 in the Bingara Gorge design. “There are so many features on this course we didn’t want the bunkering to stand out,” said Marsh. “We wanted to be able to feel the synergy between grasslands, lakes, trees and gorges.”

Following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Golf Viewing Platform, Marsh, teed off on the practice hole to get the rest of the day’s festivities underway.

The Bingara Gorge golf course is set within the 450-hectare Bingara Gorge residential community, which will be home to more than 3500 when completed. Designed to place a high value on lifestyle and sustainability, housing lots range from 400sqm to 4000sqm. At the heart of the community is a village centre including retail and community facilities and a K-6 primary school which is scheduled to open in Term 1, 2011.

A limited number of golf frontage lots will be released this year and registrations for this desirable “Sarazen Release in The Fairways” has commenced.

 

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