[5] The remainder of the course was covered with hundreds of trees and stumps, water holes, and rock shelves which required removal before an 18-hole course could be completed.

Each layout was enabled by the clearing of trees, which provided areas for new fairways and greens and lengthening of existing holes to achieve a course of championship length.

Also in 1952 when the 9th green was reconstructed requiring excavation into the sandstone cliff behind, the advice of Australian Open Champion 1950/52/53, Norman Von Nida was sought.

[9]: p133 In laying out the course, the design took advantage of the often steep hilly contours of the site, as well as the many stands of old growth trees and the deep gully carrying Devlins Creek through the eastern end of the course, ensuring there are few even lies.

The remaining back nine are tree lined, with four dog-leg holes either downhill or uphill, to mainly small greens protected by bunkers.

[citation needed] The 167 metres (183 yd) par three 18th finishing hole is a long carry across the gully, through a narrow chute between tall eucalypts, to a steep fairway immediately below an elevated green.

There are also indigenous trees around boundary and on nature strips including Blackbutt, Smoothbark, Angophora, Stringybarks, and Turpentines to 25 metres (27 yd) high.

"[13] In the early 2000s NSW experienced an extended drought which resulted in rapid lowering of the levels of water storage within the dams in the Sydney region.

[14][15] Commencing in June 2003, initial meetings were held with Sydney Water and Hornsby Shire Council involving agreement by Sydney Water for long term exclusive extraction rights of effluent carried by the Sewer main, and agreement from the NSW Environmental Protection Agency, to protect the local environment, population and waterways.

The plant provides between 500 and 650 kilolitres per day of class A water suitable for irrigation with uncontrolled public access (15 to 19 million litres per month).