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The number three golfer in the world Ernie Els today walks over the site of his first Australian golf course design project at Wilton Parklands in Sydney's south-west.

Els, the three-time major winner, has been commissioned by leading Sydney developer Bradcorp to design the 18-hole championship course, which will be the centrepiece to the development. The course will be an integral part of the environmental system at Wilton Parklands, where 1,165 residential blocks will be offered in Stage One, as well as a primary school and up to 200ha of open space. The golf course and club house are slated for completion by spring 2006.

Els is in Australia to defend his Heineken Classic title in Melbourne. He says he is excited that Ernie Els Design, a joint venture between Els and golf legend Jack Nicklaus, was chosen for the $1 billion Wilton Parklands project, set on more than 1,200ha of undulating pasture land dissected by steep vegetated gullies and creek lines with a high scenic value.

"Playing golf in Australia is always a delight, so to have the chance to create a course in Sydney is a wonderful challenge," Els said. "I've been in close contact with my forward design team who've spent considerable time at the site, and they tell me it has the potential to be among the very best we have worked on anywhere in the world."

Bradcorp CEO Peter Brennan said he was extremely happy with how the Els design team had responded to the job so far.

Mr Brennan said the Els team had been asked to take into account players' differing skill levels in designing the course. "There have been some recent changes in golf trends that will be reflected in our design," Mr Brennan explains. "Some courses being designed these days are frankly too difficult for even good golfers to enjoy. So we hope to have two or three different configurations available to cater for different standards."

Bradcorp has asked Ernie Els Design to keep families in mind as well.

Ernie Els Design is going from strength to strength with six courses either open or under construction in China, Dubai, South Africa, the US and the Bahamas. The highly experienced Jack Nicklaus team provides the technical know-how to bring Els' course blueprints to life.

"Ernie Els will add profile and prestige to the development of Wilton Parklands," Mr Brennan said. "The golf course will be an integral part of the environmental system at Wilton Parklands. We think the golf course is very important from an amenities standpoint, and will add substantially to Wilton Parklands' outlook and feel, its open space, vistas and pleasant environment."

Els, affectionately nicknamed "Big Easy" for his amiable nature and seemingly effortless swing, has a wonderful record in the Heineken Classic, having won it three years in a row (2002-04). He arrives in Australia in tremendous form, having started 2005 with a third in the Mercedes Classic in Hawaii and a second in Hawaii's Sony Open, where he stormed home with a final-round 62 to finish just a stroke behind Vijay Singh.

"And I'm sure Ernie will bring his very best form with him when he comes to design Wilton Parklands golf course," Mr Brennan said. "One of the things I'm happiest about in our association with Ernie is that he is just 35, in the prime of his life and with great years ahead of him. He is a perfect fit for Wilton Parklands: a young guy with a fresh approach to a project that is all about providing the people of this region with a new and better way to live.

"About 75 per cent of the blocks we offer will be more than 1,000 square metres, giving people the opportunity to build their dream homes in a beautiful green setting just 30 minutes from the beaches of Wollongong and an hour from the CBD."

Bradcorp's masterplan for the development, which has been revised to incorporate Ernie Els' involvement, is based on a philosophy to ensure Sydney's southwest has housing options that appeal to professionals and managers, and to those working in the service and knowledge sectors.

Twenty-five per cent of lots have golf frontage and a further 20 per cent have bushland or reserve frontage. The estate has been designed to maximise views of open space and the golf course, so as to enhance residents and visitors experience of its natural setting. It will incorporate dramatic crossings of the sandstone gorges, waterfalls and most holes sets against bushland backdrops. A 4ha lake and views of the Razorback ranges will also enhance the experience of playing and walking the course.

Trees and bushland will be retained around the course to ensure the experience is not dominated by views of the housing.

Bradcorp is building a community at Wilton Parklands, complete with a school, childcare centre, village centre with shops and commercial uses, 18km of paths and trails and high quality sporting facilities through the upgrading of the Wilton Oval.

The country club will feature function rooms, bars, restaurants, pool, gym and fitness centre, tennis courts, playground and childminding and a BBQ and recreation area.

An Environmental Trust will be established and managed by residents to conserve 120ha of bushland - 30 per cent of the site. Bradcorp will provide seed funding at 1 per cent of the sale price of the land, a management first.

Bradcorp's environmental approach includes a total site integrated water management strategy, which will save 50 per cent of potable water - a 10 per cent improvement on Government requirements.

Wilton Parklands will have a highly sophisticated communications system, with Telstra to make the site its first "Smart Community" in Sydney, with all homes and premises connected by fibre optic and Telstra's suite of new technologies. A community intranet will be set up and high-speed communications will be provided through Telstra's Smart Communities program.

Mr Brennan said the creation of Wilton Parklands will provide a range of spin-off benefits to the residents of the existing village of Wilton: sewer services, a community big enough to sustain a public school, shopping centre, medical services, public transport and a regional social and cultural hub.

Bradcorp has lodged the first development applications with the Wollondilly Council for the golf course and the initial infrastructure and Mr Brennan hoped it would be determined within a few months.

Wollondilly Shire Council has endorsed a draft LEP to rezone the land and the proposal is now being assessed by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources.