Graham Papworth is one of Australia’s more underrated golf course architects. And given the quality of his design at Noosa Springs on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, it is hard to understand why.
Papworth learned his trade working for designer Ross Watson and, later, the Watson and Graham Marsh partnership. He spent nine years honing his skills on projects, which included The Vines and Secret Harbour in Western Australia as well as NSW’s Terrey Hills and Horizons layouts.
A common thread linking these four courses is each design incorporates a residential development within, or around, the boundaries but offsets this with a naturally occurring landscape for golf.
In fact, Papworth’s design philosophy is to place holes to suit and retain existing natural features.
“When the playing strategy of the hole suits the natural landfall, we create holes in a 2010 interview.
