The Course

Our 18-hole golf course is one of Sydney’s premier golf courses and is kept in pristine condition all year round. With tree lined undulating fairways, feature waterways, and picturesque views to the Blue Mountains, the course provides an enjoyable and challenging round of golf.

Killara Golf Club is ranked in the Top 100 golf courses in Australia at a ranking of 83 (Australia Golf Digest May 2022). Killara returned to the list after a meticulous renovation by course architect Harley Kruse who rebuilt the bunkers, tees and greens, reversed the direction of some of the holes and reopened the playing corridors.

The Environment

Killara Golf Club is committed to present the golf course in its best possible condition at all times, within a framework of ensuring its wider ecological environment remains a healthy and beneficial habitat for the native flora and fauna within its boundaries.

Flora

Killara Golf Club comprising the three paddocks of Home, Farm and Bradfield has a mixed landscape character. Each of the paddocks are defined by their differing landform, scale of space, vegetation type and the amount of road or housing bordering holes.

There are some large stands of native woodland in areas on Home and Farm along with some smaller stands of native woodland species on the edges of Bradfield. These Woodland landscape areas are significant to the character of the course.

Trees planted in the 1940s and 50s with a range of exotic native and exotic trees give larger areas of Bradfield and parts of Home additional mature tree and Parkland character. Mature trees with a mown grass understorey. Typical of these areas are exotic natives such as non local Eucalyptus species, Lophostemon, and Swamp Paperbark and the more exotic non-native species such as Araucaria, Kauri, Fig, Oak, Liquidambar, Jacaranda, Chinese Elm and Pine.

Achieving a more sophisticated Native Woodland character involves selecting non play understorey areas and converting them to revegetation areas of local flora species of naturalised grasses, ground flora and understorey species.

Plant selection

The Club in its course planting is based on using some limited exotic tree species that are part of the current character, and predominantly local flora species that would have once existed naturally on the site prior to 1900s.  The range of local species provides colour, texture and seasonal flowering interest all year round.

Local species are adapted to the climatic and soil conditions of the site. They will grow and survive best with minimal inputs. Local species will provide the right food and habitat to support a wide range of local fauna.

Ecology /Biodiversity

Golf Courses have a valuable role to be places of great biodiversity within the broader community. A healthy landscape environment on a golf course is one that is biologically diverse in both flora and fauna species.

A range of local flora types will provide food and habitat to support a wide range of fauna throughout the year with nectar, seeds and fruit all providing food sources. An increase in birdlife, mammals, insects and amphibians will help create an ecological healthy course which will offer members and guests a greater experience.

Fauna

The composition of a greater plant diversity from the ground flora through to the canopy will attract a wider range insect, amphibian, mammal and bird species as we provide a greater range of food and protection.

The increased fauna and particularly birdlife will greatly enhance the golfing experience at Killara Golf Club.

Course Care & Etiquette

To assist in the upkeep of the course and promote proper etiquette, Members and guests are asked to follow the below instructions.

Local Rules

These are listed on the scorecard and Notice Boards and are to be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf. Penalty for breach of a Local Rule – two strokes or in matchplay loss of hole.

Pace of Play

The number one problem in golf today, as evidenced by the overwhelming golfer complaint, is SLOW PLAY!  In the interests of avoiding slow play at KGC, it is the duty of all players to keep up with the group in front (not in front of the group behind). The following tips can help you keep pace with the group in front of you at all times.

  • Move quickly between shots and when it is safe to do so, play when ready.
  • Once two players have putted out, they should move on to the next tee and continue play.
  • Do not mark scorecards on the green but rather while others are hitting off on the next tee.
  • Do not take excessive practice swings and do not replay putts after completing the hole when other groups are following.
  • Other than in stroke competitions, pick up your ball when you cannot score.
  • Purchase items from the Bush Bar and move on to the next tee in a timely manner.

In the interests of speeding up play, players are encouraged to adopt the ‘ready golf’ principles – no honours on tee or green (the first player ready plays first) and staying ready in the fairway to play when clear ahead.

Remember, by keeping pace you make the game more enjoyable for everyone! 

Bunkers

Before leaving a bunker, all players should carefully rake holes and footprints, leaving the rake in the centre of the bunker, pointing in the direction of play.

  • Always enter the bunker at the lowest point.
  • If required rake other affected areas.
  • Do not pile sand at the edge of the bunker. Push excess sand towards the centre. 

Repair Golf Ball Pitch Marks

Always start at the back of the mark and push forward with the pitch repairer.

  • Use repairer around all sides and slowly ease turf toward the centre of the mark. Do not lift the soil upwards.
  • Lightly tap down with the putter.

Repairing Divots

Knock in all sides of the edge of the divot with your club.

  • Lightly sand the divot from the bucket you are carrying to complete the repair.

Caring for the Greens

Do not traverse the putting green with a pull buggy or place your bag of clubs on the putting green.

  • The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.
  • Players should not damage the putting green by leaning on putters. 

Motorised Golf Carts and Battery Powered Golf Trolleys

These vehicles are not to be taken between bunkers and putting surfaces or onto any teeing ground.

  • Motorised golf carts are not to be taken within the coloured perimeter lines marked on fairways in proximity to putting greens.
  • Players using any of the above vehicles are bound by any rules laid down by the Board of Directors pertaining to the use of such vehicles.

Inclement Weather

In the event of lightning in the proximity of the Club, members and guests should immediately suspend play, mark the location of their ball and return to the Clubhouse.