I had the pleasure of playing RC for three days over Easter.

In the 80s, Royal Canberra had a reputation of the Augusta of Australia, and was at one stage rated in the Top 5 courses in the country.

Over time, the course rating slipped dramatically and was heading out of the top 50. The club appointed Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead (OCCM) to provide a masterplan and redesign. There were some limitations on what could be achieved - the course is based within a historically significant arboretum, and has many trees around 100 years old which were unable to be touched. The proposal was accepted, and the redevelopment work went ahead one nine at a time.

Holes 1-18 have now been completed for a year, and have bedded in perfectly - 19-27 has been put on hold temporarily at this stage.

All holes have been changed - some minor alterations and updates, some with major changes. The fairways are generally now very wide, with large level tee boxes allowing for variation of tee positions, new bunkers and bunker strategy and completely new greens. Par remains 72, and from the plates was a long and difficult test for the average club golfer.

The greens are complex, with very few flat putts, and position off the tee becomes exceptionally important for measuring difficulty of approach shots - being above the hole on greens running at 11 to 11.6 over the weekend saw overly aggressive players putt off the green on many occasions...

Trees away from playing lines have been removed to improve light and turf health, and a few trees along corridors were cleared up and removed for safety and playability.

There were some excellent acknowledgement of prior design features - the 11th green features a significant ridge running the length of the green similar to the old course.

The 16th was always the highlight of RC, being around 410m over a valley to a ridge, with a long iron approach over another dip to a green perched on top of the next ridge. It has now been joined by 14 and 15 in the strongest strip of holes in the ACT by a long shot.

14 had the tee moved 40m up the hill to feature a water carry over Lake Burley Griffin. Around 6 willows were removed, a centreline bunker added, and the fairway widened by 30m to the lakes edge to set a dramatic tee shot. The approach from a small ridge over a valley to a raised, multi tier green required precision shotmaking, or a decision on where you wanted to miss. The 15th used to be a short, nondescript par 5 that modern clubs had turned into a virtual 4 - OCCM added a creek across the front of the green, with a 1m tall wall and the green nestled atop the wall. 2 good shots still saw a player putt, but a mishit 2nd - or 3rd - and the ball was wet with a difficult recovery. 16 was only mildly changed, and remains a classic.

Overall, the changes were exceptional - anecdotally the members initially complained it was too difficult, but the use of the white tees for competition rather than the black plates, and familiarity with the greens and internal slopes have seen the membership warm to the changes.

RC hopes to again host a major womens event in a couple of years, and is a setting that would be a true test for both the men and women.

FWIW, best gross was 143 by Australian rep Josh Armstrong, best nett was 143 by a local member.

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Put it this way - I inquired about membership after playing. Unfortunately the reality is I am 10 years away, but I could not imagine getting bored playing here. Its amazing.