Federal

Founded in 1933, Federal Golf Club started out with a 9-hole layout (playing to sand greens) in the grounds of the old Acton racecourse, which now lies below the sparkling waters of Lake Burley Griffin, built in 1963.

The club moved a few miles south to Red Hill in 1949, when James Herd Scott brought another 9-hole layout (also with sand greens) into play. Two years further down the line, members had the use of a full 18-hole layout.

It would then take another four years before eighteen grass greens became established, thanks to the combined efforts of Les Robinson of the city Parks and Gardens Department and Alan Hunt, the head greenkeeper.

Prosper Ellis then advised on improvements to the layout in 1967 and it’s his design that’s still in use today, half a century later. An irrigation system has also been installed and other minor modifications carried out to further upgrade the course.

The course now extends to 6,240 metres from the back markers, laid out as two returning nines. The 155-metre 8th is a feature hole on the outward half, played over a pond to a kidney-shaped green that’s surrounded by five intimidating bunkers.

On the inward half, the most difficult hole on the card appears at the very last at the 385-metre 18th. It’s uphill all the way from tee to green on this stoke index 1 hole, with the fairway doglegging right to a significantly raised home green.