Video Credit: Graeme Heinrich from http://www.heinrichgolf.com for this video that was shot in early May 2018.
Photo By: The Travelling Golfer
The Barwon Heads Golf Club
Crafter + Mogford were appointed as the Club’s golf course architects in June 2004. In early 2004, the Committee approved the Course Development Plan (CDP) – a comprehensive 50 page color A3 document detailing course and landscape improvements. The CDP forms the primary component of a larger Property Utilisation Plan, which, when completed will encompass matters including vegetation, practice facilities, the Par 3 Course, the tennis court and car park. Following our successful design and redevelopment of the Par 3 Course (opened in 2008), tennis court precinct, short-game practice facilities and practice fairway, including the teaching hut, carpark and several components of the CDP we then undertook a critical review of the current plans for the course and prepared an updated version of the CDP in 2013.
Laid out on the current site by Victor East in 1921, the layout has remained largely intact During his visit in 1926 Dr. Alister MacKenzie wrote; All that is necessary to make Barwon Heads the equal of the best British seaside courses of championship dimensions is to bunker it on modern lines. At present the greens, like those of most of your courses, are insufficiently guarded’. To that end it has been one of our key objectives - to tighten up the green complexes not only with remodelling bunkers closer to and more across strategic lines but also by incorporating greater use of tightly mown contour hazards such as hollow and drop-offs to not only challenge the golfer but also to add interest and variety to their stroke making.
Today, much of the CDP has been constructed with minor works remaining. Noteworthy is the planned all new 19th hole, which is scheduled for construction in 2020.
Significantly, with regards to course rankings Barwon has risen against the tide in the face of new comers such as Barnbougle and Cape Wickham. In 2018, Barwon was ranked #19 in Australia and #5 in Golf Australia Magazine’s 2019 Top 100 Public Courses survey making it the highest ranking public access course on the mainland.
“In 2004 Crafter and Mogford Golf Strategies were engaged to implement a Course Development Plan (CDP) for The Barwon Heads Golf Club. The CDP is nearing a smooth transition to completion and Member satisfaction regarding the golf course and architectural changes has been extremely positive.
Principal Architect Paul Mogford has been respectful to the character and charm of The Barwon Heads Golf Club throughout the development of the course, whilst having the foresight to make considerable improvements to enhance various holes previously considered by the Members to be less in keeping with our links style course”
This video describes the course changes planned under the Course Development Plan outlined for the Barwon Heads Golf Club in 2016. It also discusses the changes made to the course in the past 5 years.