Parry’s ‘hands-on’ approach set to boost Bayview!
It’s not often you have golfing royalty doing the ‘hard yards’ on your links…
Yet that’s what Bayview Golf Club has been enjoying in recent months while former US Tour star Craig Parry engineers several major changes on the Northern Beaches layout.
Indeed, Parry is so excited about the improvements taking place there that he has suggested Bayview’s iconic 375m par four seventh might not even be the signature hole at the course in the near future.
Renowned as one of the best–and strongest – holes on the Bayview layout,Parry has restricted most of his improvements to the club house side of the course and his ‘hands-on’ attitude has been welcomed by the members.
And the man who won the golfing world over with his famous six-iron into the hole to beat American Scott Verplank in a sudden death playoff at Doral in the 2004 Ford Championship, is happy to suggest the new 15th at Bayview might even become the course’s new signature hole.
“The best hole has to be 15 which is now just a great hole,” he said.
“And 16 is pretty special too, where we’ve turned a par-three into a short par-four.
“As you walk along the ninth hole you look across and see the rock around the wall of the creek and it is a teaser-type thing – and I think it will be one of the better holes, for sure. “This hole will be great for the good players as well as those that struggle with their games.”
Parry had only played Bayview once many years ago, but these days sneaks out for a few holes whenever his two sons urge him on. He always felt there was plenty of potential there.
“The setting was magnificent, and I always loved the cabbage palms here and the topography you play from – when you go up the hill, for instance, you’re faced with different shots, forced water carries etc,” he said.