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Tee time at upgraded course

Lucy Jarvis, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

Brady Watt, who is currently ranked second in the world among amateur golfers, hit the first drive on the 13th hole at a launch of Sun City Country Club’s first stage of redevelopment.

The completion and re-opening of holes 13, 14 and 15 marked a new era for the almost-40-year-old club and is part of a $1 million overhaul.

Speaking at the May 15 opening ceremony, former golf professional-turned-course designer Mike Clayton of Ogilvy Clayton said he was impressed with the results from the first stage.

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‘As someone who has played on hundreds of different courses around the world, I can confidently say that the best golf is played over and around hazards on the ground,’ he said.

‘In the past, much of the game played here at Sun City has been about hazards in the air.

‘Bringing the focus back to ground level is the single most significant change reflected in the redevelopment of these three new holes and will help to transform the game played here.’

Clayton said the course had potential to be one of the top 30 in Australia, possibly even one of the top 15. It is currently ranked outside Australia’s top 80 courses by Australian golfing authorities.

Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts officiated at the opening ceremony, then 22-year-old Watt, one of golf’s rising stars and a Yanchep local, hit the first drive on the 13th tee, which overlooks the southern portion of the course and Yanchep Golf Estate.

These are the first major works at the club since it opened in the 1970s.