One of Sydney’s finest courses and clubs has the spotlight for this edition of the pod, but there’s plenty of additional discussion in a spritely, slightly shorter session than usual. News of the week includes details on Golf in Marvel Stadium at the Docklands in September, which will be similar to the Callaway Golf take-over at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Those interested can secure tickets here - https://marvelstadium.com.au/event/stadium-golf/
 
At the other end of the tech continuum, the 2023 Australian Hickory Shaft Championships are taking place in Melbourne in September, with Woodlands and Kingston Heath co-hosting. Registration details can be found via this link  - https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=9594741941925357895
 
Discussion makes a brief turn into the impending course work by Gil Hanse at Royal Sydney Golf Club, and the potential of the site.  Some points can be taken from Los Angeles Country Club’s North course, recent venue for the US Open, given that it too was a site of extensive work by Hanse & co. The notion of some of those characters at LACC being instilled within Royal Sydney’s course is an appealing thought.
 
The bulk of the episode is devoted to The Lakes, one of the finest layouts in Sydney. Our episode covers the all bases from the early days, dating back to 1928 and the original course of Eric Apperly and Tom Howard, the freeway intrusion and necessary reworking by Von Hagge and Devlin in the late 1960s, to the current day version of the course, wonderfully reworked by Mike Clayton & colleagues.  Scott and Matt consider the strengths and character of the course, touching on a range of topics from grassing, pronounced green contours, reachable par 5s, and par 3 holes concluding each nine.  The course’s standout holes and storied tournament history are also points of discussion.
 
Images related to this episode can be found on our Instagram page (@AustralianGolfPassport) and on Twitter (@AusGolfPassport). Images accompanied by attribution to their owners (for this edition, we thank the keeper of the insta site for The Lakes GC for many images.
 
As the temperature here in Australia continues to fall and winter takes hold, the racks of Angus and Grace Go Golfing contain some beautiful layering pieces and outerwear for freezing days of the middle of the year. Follow AAGGG on Insta (@angusandgracegogolfing) and if you’re in Sydney, be sure to pop in and visit Matt at 39 William Street Paddington. Thanks so much to Angus And Grace Go Golfing for their support of our podcast.
 
Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me - Instrumental / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com