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Jr. Staff Writer
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May 26, 2026
A new Chatswood course is rewriting the rhythm of Sydney golf, where shorter rounds take centre stage.
A purpose-built 12-hole course will officially open at Newgreens Chatswood Golf Club on Sunday, 31st May, marking a first for Australia and a deliberate shift away from the traditional, time-heavy format of the sport.
Why shorter rounds are on the rise
Source: Supplied
Positioned on the Lower North Shore, the new layout is designed to tackle one of golf’s most persistent barriers: the four-to-five-hour time commitment typically required for 18 holes. Instead, Newgreens is pitching a faster, more flexible way to play—one that fits around work, family, and social plans rather than dominating them.
“We’re setting a new standard for modern play—golf that moves at the pace of modern life,” said Stephen Peverett, NSW State Manager for Clublinks. “You shouldn’t have to choose between a busy schedule and the game you love.”
Moreover, the concept aligns with a broader global shift in the sport, as clubs experiment with shorter formats to attract younger players and time-poor urban audiences. In markets like the US and UK, nine-hole rounds, par-3 courses and simulator venues have surged in popularity, driven by changing lifestyles and declining patience for day-long games.
Newgreens is taking that idea a step further with a 12-hole format, which is long enough to feel like a proper round, but short enough to squeeze into a morning, lunch break or late afternoon.
A 12-hour opening day celebration
Source: Supplied
To mark the launch, the club will host a 12-hour opening event dubbed “12 Moments of Time Well Spent”, running from 6am to 6pm. The day-long program is designed as a rolling drop-in experience, with different activations unveiled each hour, from a sunrise “First Shot” through to live music and afternoon cocktails.
Visitors can expect complimentary coffee on arrival, breakfast bites from 8am, midday refreshments and a celebratory cake, while Tempo—the on-site cafe and bistro—will be pouring $12 cocktails from 2pm.
Tee times will run throughout the day, with a limited number of $12 green fees available for early bookings. There’s also a “Lucky Ball Wall” in play, where golfers draw a numbered ball before tee-off to win guaranteed prizes ranging from food and drinks to future rounds and memberships.
Beyond the golf course
Source: Supplied
The course opening builds on the broader Newgreens precinct, which launched in late 2025 and has been steadily positioning itself as more than just a golf destination.
Alongside the course, the site includes multiple dining venues, wellness facilities such as a hydrotherapy pool and gym, and a suite of event spaces catering to everything from corporate functions to weddings, including a private 26-seat theatre.
Located just minutes from Chatswood CBD, the development reflects a growing push to reframe golf as part of a wider lifestyle offering—one that blends sport, hospitality and social experiences into a single, flexible destination.
Bookings for Newgreens Chatswood Golf Club‘s opening day tee times are now live, with spots expected to fill quickly ahead of the weekend launch.