Bankstown

Hidden away in the middle of southwest Sydney’s Milperra industrial area, on the edge of George’s River, you’d be forgiven for overlooking Bankstown Golf Club, but that would be a mistake as this urban, tree-lined, member-designed layout is a veritable golfing oasis.

Occupying a rather restricted 105-acre property, the course measures just over 6,000 metres from the tips, playing to a par of 71 (36 out then 35 in), with holes arranged as two returning nines. Water comes into the reckoning at almost half the holes with ponds and small lakes encountered either off the tee, on the approach to the green or – as is the case at the par five 12th – when playing both shots on the same hole!

Highlight holes include the first of the par fives at the 503-metre 2nd (doglegging left around a large irrigation lake); the longest of the par threes at the 187-metre 7th; the tough par four 10th (with out of bounds to the right of the fairway and water to the left of the green); and the difficult par five 14th which bends significantly right from the tee before narrowing towards the green.