Royal Sydney Golf Club
Royal Sydney Golf Club is a golf club in Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia, a suburb of Sydney.
Founded in 1893, Royal Sydney is one of Australia's premier sporting and social clubs. It features an 18-hole Championship Course, a 9-hole Centenary Course, two golf practice areas, a golf teaching studio, 18 tennis courts, two bowling greens, two croquet lawns, a squash court, a Fitness Centre as well as an elegant Clubhouse.
It has hosted the Australian Open on 15 occasions between 1906 and 2016.
History
Royal Sydney was one of the earliest golf clubs founded in Australia, initially as 'Sydney Golf Club' in 1893, in Concord, New South Wales. Four years later, in 1897, Queen Victoria granted the Club its ‘Royal’ prefix. Tennis, billiards and croquet have been played since 1905 and bowls was introduced in 1929. The current Clubhouse was built in 1922 and, in 2003, was extensively renovated. In 2011, a fitness centre and swimming pool was built.Golf Courses
Championship Course
The Championship Course was described as "an ‘old-fashioned’, traditional, heavily bunkered, tough test of golf, especially in any wind. There are no gimmicks, no tricks, chasms or watery caverns". Its undulating fairways and treacherous bunkers ensure that the Championship Course is a challenge, even for the most avid golfer. A major renovation to the Championship course, led by Gil Hanse, was completed in 2025. The new course has been renamed the Bay Course.Centenary Course
Royal Sydney also offers a 9-hole course called the Centenary Course. It was completely rebuilt to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Club in 1997. The course was designed to utilise every golf club in the bag for the competent golfer with dynamic terrain, featuring tight fairways and small contoured greens. Water comes into play on six of the nine holes, presenting a further challenge for golfers.Australian Open Championships
Royal Sydney has hosted the Australian Open on 15 occasions.- 2016 Jordan Spieth
- 2013 Rory McIlroy -
- 2008 Tim Clark –
- 2006 John Senden -
- 1999 Aaron Baddeley –
- 1994 Robert Allenby –
- 1988 Mark Calcavecchia –
- 1969 Gary Player –
- 1956 Bruce Crampton –
- 1946 Ossie Pickworth –
- 1934 Billy Bolger –
- 1928 Fred Popplewell –
- 1922 Charlie Campbell –
- 1911 Carnegie Clark –
- 1906 Carnegie Clark –
Other Sports
Snooker
The Royal Sydney Golf Club maintains three Championship quality, full-size tables, which are some of the last remaining among Sydney's private clubs. The Club holds annual singles, doubles and handicap tournaments for snooker, along with a monthly "Lightning Snooker" competition, which takes place on the first Thursday of each month. The snooker room enjoys a strong patronage, with a dedicated Women's evening on Wednesdays and is a popular location following a round of golf or as a book-end to a dining reservation.Tennis
Royal Sydney also possesses 18 tennis courts - 11 lawn courts and seven hard courts.The Club has hosted many tournaments and produced a number of internationally successful players including Sir Norman Brookes and Gerald Patterson.
Although the starting date of tennis at Royal Sydney is unknown, historical records first indicate the existence of courts in 1905. The popularity of tennis grew and in 1913 another nine courts were laid. By 1920 there were twenty-five courts in play.
In July 2003, Royal Sydney hosted a ladies Federation Cup tie.