Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To assist in answering questions regarding the Championship Course Plan, the following set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) has been developed. These FAQs will be a ‘living document’ – new details, as well as answers to common questions, will be published as they arise.


Why is the Club making these changes?

The Club’s heritage is important to its members and the surrounding community. Restoring past historical components of the Championship Course is important as part of this redevelopment. 

Currently, the Course is unsustainable with a non-native ecosystem. The birdlife and native fauna are sparse and floral diversity is limited to just 30 different species.

The trees planted over 70 years ago, which fundamentally changed the Course into a parkland-style course, are ageing, narrowing the fairways and failing at an increasing rate. The plan is being implemented to return the Course to its original heathland character.

Return to the top of the page.


What will the new Championship Course look like?

The new Championship Course will create more seasonal flowering interest along with textural and colour differences that exist in the dynamic plant species of the Sydney coastal heathland and Eastern Suburbs banksia flora communities.

These species, some of which are extremely rare or endangered, will form a palette of plants and trees unique to the Club’s Championship Course and will create a landscape we can proudly call the ‘Royal Sydney Heath’.

Return to the top of the page.


How many trees will be planted?

The proposed course landscape will create a unique coastal heathland environment and provide ecological diversity and native habitats for plants and animals, which is not possible with the current vegetation. In order to achieve this, over 700 new trees will be planted, made up of attractive and sustainable local species, consistent with the original vegetation of the area. The planting and establishment of these trees will coincide with the removal of approximately 559 trees, a number of which have been identified as detrimental to course health and posing a risk to the community.

The implementation of this landscape plan will create a self- sustainable ecosystem which will maximise the geographical and environmental aspects of the course.

Return to the top of the page.


Will my view change?

Visual analysis assessments will be completed before the commencement of the redevelopment of the Course, to provide as much information to the community about the management of potential visual impact.

In addition to adjacent neighbours, residents of the Bellevue Hill, Dover Heights and Vaucluse areas who overlook the RSGC will be provided with this information.

Return to the top of the page.