On Thursday, it will host the country’s most prestigious golf tournament.

Today, the Australian Golf Club played host to a college reunion as Matt Giles took former University of Southern California teammates Jamie Lovemark and Rory Hie on a guided tour of the Jack Nicklaus-designed lay-out.

Six years ago, the trio went within two shots of securing a national championship for the Trojans.

Their careers subsequently took them to different points of the globe, but they remained in touch and their friendship never waned.

And so it was on a mild Sydney afternoon that the ex-USC brethren found themselves laughing and joking their way through 18 holes in preparation for the Australian Open.

"It’s nice to have the boys down," Giles said.

"By all accounts they love it here."

Lovemark and Hie could scarcely have asked for a better partner. Giles is a local, having been a member at The Australian for the best part of a decade.

His coach Gary Barter is also based at the course.

While most of the field is getting a taste of the re-designed lay-out for the first time, Giles has been devouring every inch of The Australian in recent months.

"This is where I do all my practice," Giles said.

"I remember playing in the Aussie Open here in 2004 when I was 15.It’s amazing how quick that has gone." 

"If I am in town, and we don’t have an event on, I come out here and play the Wednesday comp. We get the same group of 15-odd guys."

"Is it an advantage because I know some of the greens and reads? Of course. The way it is playing right now it is probably not as important to have played here heaps."

"But it’s always nice playing your home track of course."

Lovemark and Hie have been the chief beneficiaries of that local knowledge.

"It feels like we’re doing a practice round in college except we have caddies now," Hie said.

"This is my first time here. It’s nice to have someone who knows their way around the course."

Giles has had a year plagued with injury but the signs have been promising of late.

He finished in a share of fifth at the NSW Open but couldn’t get it going at last week’s Australian Masters as he finished in 53rd place behind Nick Cullen.

"I am sure everyone wants to play well," Giles said.

"This week it is one of those things when it is your home course, some guys put extra pressure on for whatever reason."

"I’ll be pretty cruisy this week – I had the day off yesterday and not playing the pro-am."

"My game is in pretty good shape – I am back healthy which is important. Hopefully have a solid week."