The Beverley Park Golf Course has reopened for play following the completion of the first stage of a masterplan project.
Located in a southern suburb of Sydney, Australia, the project at Beverley Park is being led by Golf by Design, and has had a focus on alleviating flooding in the local suburban area. This has been done by creating a new creek that runs through the golf course.
GCA spoke to architect James Wilcher of Golf by Design to find out more about the work.
“The new creek transfers above average rainfall from the suburban area to a bay just below the golf course,” Wilcher explained. “The local council applied for and got a grant to undertake the work.”
With the golf course surrounded by housing and buildings in the main, the project aimed to help reduce flooding issues in the nearby streets. A further aim was to improve the quality of the water that drains into the golf course from these streets.
The recent work forms the first stage of a larger masterplan for the course, and saw changes to six holes. Three new tees have been created and three new greens were built.
“The new greens are fantastic surfaces and have real playing interest,” said Wilcher. “They will increase the enjoyment of golfers. Not being a long golf course, we have look to engage players’ minds, rather than their strength. I also think the proportions are about spot on. By that I mean the pre-existing site was very flat and we have manipulated the ground such that it does not look unnatural but still improves drainage and hence turf quality.”
As part of the larger masterplan, eventually all 18 holes at Beverley Park will be affected or changed, and other issues such as water storage and collection, safety, and out of bounds problems will be addressed.
“Being a tight tree lined course, we had to be imaginative in terms of our manipulation of the layout so the masterplan can be attacked in stages, as funds are available,” Wilcher said. “I think what we have done so far has improved the quality of the offering at Beverley Park no end.”