I first had the privilege of playing The Vintage in early 2002, about six months before the course was officially opened.









At the time, I was playing to a five mark and the A-grade golfer’s ego forced me to tackle the Greg Norman/ Bob Harrison-designed par-71 from the tips. I remember driving back to Sydney that afternoon a bit shellshocked but excited. I had just played the most difficult golf course in Australia and I loved it, in a masochistic kind of way. Since that eye-opening Autumn day, The Vintage has undergone significant change on and off the course. The development has matured, with some nipping and tucking on some of its holes, as well as some cosmetic enhancements.










The swing of this writer has also changed. I swear that at some stage during the past year, a 20-marker has come back from the dead and possessed my body. Not that there is anything wrong with that … if you had a 27 handicap previously. Bearing this in mind, I recently made the two-hour drive north from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, fearing what the course would do to me. On the first tee, I even convinced my playing partners to move forward from the back tee. I couldn’t see the point in letting the course get a free kick on me while I’m down.

It didn’t take long into the round to witness some of the changes that have been made to The Vintage. The 356-metre par-4 2nd is an L-shaped dogleg right hole that is bordered by stands of Casuarina trees left and right. When the course first opened, the trees cut well in from the right, impinging on the driving line and creating one of the tightest driving holes I can recall playing. Some of the trees and associated undergrowth have since been thinned out to make this a much fairer hole. It was also noticeable that the club, as well as Norman and Harrison, had abandoned a plan to have an American Buffalo grass as the first cut of rough on each hole. Earlier this year, Couch was planted around the edge of every fairway and by the end of next year, this grass will be thicker and more punishing than it is now.

To read the rest of this review please purchase the November 2005 issue of Golf Australia magazine. Order your copy at www.mymagazines.com.au

For more information on The Vintage GC, check out the website www.thevintage.com.au