SANCTURARY COVE - PINES RESORT

ARNOLD PALMER’S ONLY AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED COURSE IS LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER. BRENDAN JAMES TACKLES THE GRAND DAME OF GOLD COAST GOLF.

Utter the words “Sanctuary Cove” to a golfer and his or her reply is likely to be a reflective “ah! The Pines”, accompanying a smile.

The Pines course is the golfing jewel in the crown of the massive 474-hectare Sanctuary Cove resort, marina and residential community – located on the northern outskirts of Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Arnold Palmer-designed Pines is entering its 17th year of play and is arguably in better condition now than it has been at any stage since the first drive was struck in May 1989.

The par-4 5th is a wonderful driving hole where you must find the short grass boulevarde between the ominous rows of Pine trees.

Impeccable conditioning hasn’t always been the order of the day on the Pines. In the mid-90s, the Pines was looking neglected and in need of plenty of work. Since those dark days, I have had the privilege of playing the Pines many times and have witnessed its condition improve dramatically to its current high level of presentation.

In early 1998, more than $2 million was invested in the course, with all 18 greens being converted from Bent grass to Bermuda 328, as well as increasing the putting surfaces back to their original size. This immediately brought greenside hazards – sand and grass bunkers as well as mounding – back into play.

Today, with seven years of maturation behind them, The
Pines’ greens are arguably among the best-conditioned
Bermuda grass greens in Australia.

The Pines comes into its own as one of the nation’s most challenging tests of golf (see how it compares on page 88) – a claim that is supported by an Australian Course Rating of 76 against its par of 72. The layout demands long and straight hitting, especially from the back tee markers, which stretches the layout to 6,681 metres.

Complicating the route from tee to green on 14 of the 18 holes are water hazards of some shape or form. Sixman made lakes dominate the landscape and Palmer’s design incorporates them at every opportunity from the par-3 4th through to the long par-4 18th. The exception to this water dominance is the 166-metre par-3 16th, which has a sea of sand between tee and green rather than H2O.

But as the name suggests, the predominant feature of the course is the Pine trees. The Pine-fl anked 2nd hole is a great dogleg left hole and has always been a favourite, while the 391-metre par-4 5th is a fantastic driving hole with water down the right and Pines to the left highlighting your path to the green. The rolling nature of the 5th fairway can provide all manner of approach shots to a green guarded by a large pod of bunkers to the left as well as large mounds and swales.

Long John Daly left his mark on the par-4 6th ... a plaque between the green and lake commemorates his celebrated drive.

The 330-metre par-4 6th has provided plenty of drama in years past and if you are not on your guard there will be drama on your scorecard before heading to the next tee. Sanctuary Cove hosted two Skins games back in the early ’90s and big-hitting John Daly played in one of the events. When he arrived at the short par-4 6th he took to it with great vigour, much like he would a six pack of Diet Cokes. He smashed his tee shot over tall Pines lining the left of the fairway and cleared a water hazard just short of the putting surface to set up a certain birdie and collect the cash. A plaque has since been laid to commemorate the mighty blow.

Three holes into the back nine, you emerge from the Pine trees to an open section of the course and are confronted by the most talked about hole on the layout.

There are more than half a dozen different tee positions on the 185-metre par-3 13th so choose wisely before teeing off. The green lies on the far side of a lake and calls for a tee shot to fl y all the way over water. Boulders wedged into the bank of the lake are not only cosmetically appealing but are capable of defl ecting golf balls back into the water (or onto the green as was the experience of this writer during a round there a few years ago).

There is no tougher closing stretch of holes on the Gold Coast than the 14th to 18th holes on The Pines. I like the risk and reward aspects of the par-5 17th – a 523- metre dogleg right hole that wraps around a huge lake.

Long hitters who fl irt with the water from the tee have the opportunity of getting their second shot to the green by taking on a 240-metre water carry to the front edge of the putting surface. Playing in a pro-am on the Pines a few years ago, I witnessed a Sydney-based club pro “Tin Cup” his way out of contention by re-loading one ball after another as he vainly attempted to make the long carry from a slightly downhill lie. Ball No.6, which was hit with more than an ounce of anger, survived a watery grave and found the putting surface. The hapless pro carded a 13 after holing his putt. A par would have seen him collect a placegetter’s cheque.

There are major changes planned for Sanctuary Cove and one, which will greatly affect the Pines course, is the re-location of the clubhouse. Construction of a new multimillion
dollar facility, to be located between the present 1st tee and 18th green, is expected to begin this year.

This will not only eliminate the long trek by golf cart out
to the course but golfer’s will, for the fi rst time, be able to
soak in views of the Pines course and the lake beside the
18th green over a post-round drink.

The Pines is a members-only course and memberships to The Country Club, which allows full access to the course, the adjoining Palms course and the Rec Club, are available.
There is no public access to the Pines course but guests at the Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove are able to book rounds in advance.

FACT FILE
LENGTH: 6,681 metres (championship tees), 6,497
(members), 5,421 (ladies).
PAR: 72
ACR/ACWR: 76 (championship), 74 (members), 73 (ladies).
DESIGNER: Arnold Palmer.
GREEN FEE: $160 (guests of Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove only).
ADDRESS: Caseys Rd,
Sanctuary Cove, Qld, 4212.
PHONE: (07) 5577 6005.
WEBSITE: www.sanctuarycove.com
HOW TO GET THERE: From Brisbane or the Gold Coast, take Exit 57 from the M1 freeway. Sanctuary Cove is approximately 50 minutes’ drive from Coolangatta and Brisbane Airports.
CHECK FLIGHT AVAILABILITY: Compare & Book Flights

From the March 2006 issue of Golf Australia