GrAHAm mArsH
evelopments.
those options are never going to be available if
ou use the original cost as the basis to doing the
usiness. it cannot operate on that basis.
Palm meadows was done by an overseas
eveloper in the halcyon days of money being
xcessively wasted not only on golf courses but on
many others things including buildings.”
marsh’s retirement from tournament golf is a boon
or the golf industry as it will allow him to dedicate
more time to his design business.
have always wanted to put back into the game,”
e said.
All my life i have been interested in the game and
romoting the game. i’m committed to that.”
marsh, who has designed some of Australia’s topanked golf courses in and around major cities,
ees opportunities to promote the sport in some
emote regions of the country.
e says he gets satisfaction from building quality
olf courses in places like Kalgoorlie in West
ustralian, Katherine in the northern territory
nd Bingara Gorge at the foothills of the south
ighlands in nsW.
some of these projects can turn out to be
bsolutely fabulous,” he said.
n Kalgoorlie, marsh is putting the finishing
ouches to Australia’s first genuine championship
esert golf course.
marsh, who was born at Kalgoorlie, says it will rival
he true desert courses in Arizona.
At the Kalgoorlie Golf Club we have isolated tees
where you have to carry over the red dirt on the
airways,” he said.
While the fairways are generous, once you
et outside of those you are on the red dirt or
ushland – same as Arizona.
believe it will rate favourably with other top
esert courses in the Us as a championship test
f golf.”
urrently nine holes are in play.
t Bingara Gorge, work has started on the golf
ourse.
believe the golf course will be a different style of
ourse we haven’t seen in the sydney area,” marsh
aid.
t’s very much a rustic-style golf course, which can
be described as minimalistic in design.
“We have reduced earth works to an absolute
minimum. it’s very much a bushland setting along
a beautiful gorge.
“While there are constraints on that gorge, we
have been able to incorporate it in the design
on a number of places and stay within the
environmental constraints.
“And the residential is not overpowering on the
golf course, which is always a good thing in today’s
market.
“the gorge and the lake form a beautiful buffer
on one side of the hole so you’ll only ever be
faced with residential on one side of the golf hole,
which is always a plus when talking residential
development.
“We are in final design phases now and i would
expect the opening would be 2012.”
recently golf officials at Katherine in the northern
territory approached marsh about the prospects
of building a quality golf course in the area.
marsh didn’t have to think twice about going off
the beaten track to build a golf course for locals
and tourists to enjoy.
He said while the golf course would not be built
on a massive budget.
still, the golf course will be top notch and fun to
play.
“there are many of these golf courses around
the country that people will visit these areas as
tourism continues to grow.
“Golfers can go and play these fun golf courses
while they are on holiday.
“We understand what they are trying to achieve
and i just feel it’s going to be tremendous to bring
a high level of golf course to that particular region
and give people fun things to do when they come
to town.”
FOOtnOte: Graham marsh Golf design has two
projects underway in China. One is a total remodel
of the Beijing Country Club – a 54-hole complex.
the other is on the island of Hainan, about an hour
south of Hong Kong. the course will be completely
grassed by the end of september and will open
mid-2011
GRAHAM
MARSH
PROFILE
Born: 14th January 1944
(Kalgoorlie, WA)
Height: 1.80m (5’11”)
College: University of WA and
Claremont teachers College
turned pro: 1969
Pro wins: 68
Us PGA tours wins: One
european tour wins: 10
Other european wins: 4
Australasian wins: 14
Japan t