1926 – 1927 Dr Alister MacKenzie and Royal Sydney
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In late 1926 and early 1927, originally at the request of Royal Melbourne, for whom he designed the West course, Dr MacKenzie undertook a brief tour of Australasia. Royal Sydney requested the renowned course designer to visit the Club with a view to recommending course improvement, which he did in December 1926, residing at the Clubhouse during his visit.
Dr MacKenzie wrote a five-page report, undated, but presented to the General Committee on 16th December 1926; he recommended the filling in of many bunkers, and a completely new scheme of bunkering, but made favourable comment regarding the course itself.
Dr MacKenzie made brief notes regarding alterations to 16 of the 18 holes in play; in the absence of making a detailed plan, MacKenzie explained to Lt-Colonel Bertram, the Royal Sydney Secretary, the appropriate way to implement the desired changes.
Press reports, corroborated by documents in the Royal Sydney Archive, confirm that changes to bunkering on the course were made, the work carried out slowly over several years in the setting of economies necessary in the years of the Depression.
Dr MacKenzie also recommended the course be re-ordered, to create two loops of nine holes, each loop finishing at the Clubhouse. That recommendation was not taken up by the General Committee.
It is probable that most MacKenzie design features have not survived through to the present years, although some sketches and photos held in the Archive may depict original work. This matter is subject to ongoing evaluation.