The Royal Adelaide Golf Club (often referred to as Seaton) is a private golf club in Adelaide, South Australia[1]. It is widely acknowledged as ranking with the best in Australia, and has a world ranking that fluctuates around 50[2][3]. Despite many alterations made since the first blow was struck on it 98 years ago, it retains its distinctive character of a comparatively open links course, an attribute by no means common in this country[4]. It is this character which members and visitors alike recognise as a priceless asset in a golf course situated so close to a major city[5]. Royal Adelaide has played host to the Australian Open nine times, with the most recent being in 1998 when Greg Chalmers took home the trophy, carding an even 288[6]. Taken as a whole, the Seaton course, with its wide open spaces, poses more problems than appear at first sight, except under the most benign conditions. Most members are more than happy to complete their round having played to their handicaps.
In the 2008 golf digest rankings Royal Adelaide was ranked number 5 a drop of 1 from the previous year.
| Hole No. | Metres | Yards | Par | Hole No. | Metres | Yards | Par |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 348 | 381 | 4 | 10 | 335 | 366 | 4 |
| 2 | 500 | 547 | 5 | 11 | 356 | 389 | 4 |
| 3 | 266 | 291 | 4 | 12 | 203 | 222 | 3 |
| 4 | 415 | 454 | 4 | 13 | 420 | 459 | 4 |
| 5 | 420 | 459 | 4 | 14 | 445 | 487 | 4 |
| 6 | 402 | 440 | 4 | 15 | 454 | 497 | 5 |
| 7 | 167 | 183 | 3 | 16 | 165 | 181 | 3 |
| 8 | 356 | 389 | 4 | 17 | 474 | 519 | 5 |
| 9 | 512 | 560 | 5 | 18 | 396 | 433 | 4 |
| Front 9 | 3386 | 3704 | 37 | Back 9 | 3248 | 3553 | 36 |
| Total | 6634 | 7258 | 73 |
"There is always that pleasure at Seaton of pitting one's ability against the course, as well as the surroundings, which have the real golfing atmosphere"
- Jim Ferrier after winning the 1938 Australian Open Championship at Royal Adelaide
Although an Adelaide Golf Club was founded in June 1870, it survived but a few years. The present Club was formed, following a meeting held at the Largs Pier Hotel on 11 August 1892. Later that year, on Saturday 8 October, its first competition was held on a course prepared on the North Parklands. In 1896 the Club moved its activities to a nine-hole course on land leased at Glenelg. This course was expanded to 18 holes in 1898. Difficulties with the landlord at Glenelg prompted the Club to purchase land near Grange in 1904 and the Seaton links were officially opened on 30 June 1906. The Club was granted approval to prefix the title Royal in 1923. Thereafter to became the Royal Adelaide Golf Club.
The land purchased at Seaton had as its nucleus, sand dunes, around which were some ribbons of grassed land but much of the property was a series of poorly drained swamps. Although poor farming land, from the very first, it was recognised as splendid golf country. The first course skirted the sand dunes. These dunes were incorporated into the layout following the visit of Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1926. During the last thirty years the flat peripheral holes have been progressively landscaped to give the present links its distinctive character.
The Seaton course as it was before the alterations made in 1927
The railway line to Grange that transected the property was the means that the members, in the early years, used to come to the links. The first bungalow-style clubhouse was ready for occupation at the end of 1905 and since that time there have been countless additions and alterations to accommodate the increasing number of Members and their varying requirements.
Lady members were first admitted in 1897 shortly after the Club moved to Glenelg, and after 1907 the lady members were referred to as "Associates" Since that time several other categories of membership have been created to accommodate the financial and playing requirements of members.
The Club has always taken a leading part in the administration of Golf in Australia, being one of the foundation members of the Australian Golf Union (now Golf Australia) in 1898. Members, both male and female, have been successful in interclub matches and have won several State Titles. Three of the members have won individual National Titles - Legh Winser in 1921, Miss L.M. Gordon in 1923 and Bill Ackland-Horman in 1949.
The links at Seaton has been the venue for many international and interstate matches and championships and the Club has hosted nine Open Championships of Australia and sixteen Amateur Championships of Australia. The Australian Ladies Amateur and Open Championships have also been played over the links. Royal Adelaide has always enjoyed a high ranking on not only National but also World listings.
Famous celebrity Justin Timberlake was seen golfing here on his Future Sex/Love Show tour during November 2007.