OK, boys and girls, get your clubs out, we’re off to the golf course, but the question is, which one? We have plenty to choose from in south west Sydney, from Moorebank’s New Brighton to Picton’s Antill, and lots more in between. But we only have room for five, and once again, may I remind everyone that this is my personal preference. If you disagree with my Top Five, send me your Top Five and we will publish that in the South West Voice, no dramas.
So, with that out of the way, let’s get into it:
Number 5: Camden Valley Golf Resort. I included this course, which I think now boasts 36 holes, for sentimental reasons – it was my very first time on a golf course. It was a charity golf day, and the beer cart ran dry. And no wonder, everyone was drinking one beer per hole. It was one of them old charity golf days which were rather politically incorrect, a boys only event, and this one was no exception. But it got me hooked to the ancient Scottish game and I still love it, so that is why the Resort gets a spot in The Top Five.
Number 4: Macarthur Grange. I can hear the Bronx cheers from here, that’s enough you lot, it is not such a bad course, just don’t walk it. I did once and it nearly killed me. Mind you it was in the days when I still smoked. But this is another local course dear to my heart because I played so often there. It was also owned by a mate of mine, Clem Tacca, so it made it extra special. I am looking forward to playing there for another charity day, for that great south west organisation, The Kids of Macarthur on Monday, September 15.
Number 3: New Brighton, Moorebank. I found this course very easy to play in – in other words it wasn’t too challenging for a hacker like me – but again it is mostly for sentimental reasons it has made the list. For three years in a row I organised the Liverpool City Champion charity golf day back in my Fairfax days. We chose a different recipient every year, and, more importantly, our committee found a way to get around those extremely competitive people who can’t play golf but somehow when they handed in their scorecard it was like four Greg Normans were on their team. How do you do it? Well, the major prizes were won through a raffle out of a hat, and smaller prizes were given to the teams that finished first, second and third.
Number 2: Studley (Camden Golf Course) offers gentle hills, lovely views, very nice greens, and friendly service on the 19th, what more can a social golfer ask for? And from some parts you can stand there and see how the Camden landscape is slowly changing as more and more housing subdivisions come on line. Hopefully among all the rows of houses, the Studley oasis will always be there. A beauty.
Number 1: Campbelltown Golf Course, Glen Alpine. If you’ve played there you will know the first hole means having to hit the ball across a fairly big expanse of water and up a steep hill. I had just started playing and was using hand me downs given to me by a next door neighbour. I got out a two iron (that’s how old they were) and tried to kill the ball, only to see the front end of my club overtaking the ball, which landed in the water. The club went much further, and made a bigger splash, but it still got very wet. The other three dudes playing with me were on the ground in pain with the laughter. Another time I got my biggest driver out for the start of the back nine, I hooked the ball and then I heard a big bang. Either a fence or a back door or – heaven forbid – the family dog. I felt sick for a few days after wondering what I had hit. Of course a lot of people we know live at Glen Alpine, so now and again we’d knock on a few back gates of people like Wests Tigers legendary prop John Skandalis and have a chat before resuming the golf. A lot of memories, a lot of bad shots, one or two half decent ones, I love this golf course.
