WINE DRIVE

There are enough wineries in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales to make a liver specialist cringe, similarly, and often forgotten there is also enough golf courses to make a chiropractor shudder or smile with delight, depending on his motivations.

Australia’s oldest wine region and arguably the birth place to Australian wines, the Hunter Valley is home to Brokenwood, McGuigan, DeBortoli to name just a few of the famous wine makers in the area.

The clay based soil in the area that is so palatable to making good wine is also helpful in building and caring for golf courses. Clay typically holds water and remains cool, imperative for the courses located in an area where summer temperatures regularly hit 40*C.

Under an hour away from Newcastle, ‘The Hunter’, as it is affectionately known, offers so much more than simply wine and golf. Concerts, breweries, chocolate makers, restaurants, bars and the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens offer activities and delights sure to appeal to every member of the family or holiday group. The world-class accommodation found throughout the region makes a trip for any of the features of the region an unforgettable experience.

Located amongst the surrounding mountain ranges, many weaving between the neighbouring vineyards, the vistas and proximity to nature found at many of the courses in the Hunter help to take away the sting of a bad round of golf.

With many of the courses located within a stone’s throw of each other, The Hunter presents itself as the perfect location for an exclusively golf based trip or a combination trip, which encompasses the wide range of experiences on offer throughout the area.

Not as widely acclaimed as its more famous neighbours, but equally as busy with players, Hunter Valley Golf, owned and operated by Crowne Plaza, is as hidden a secret as it can be when located on one of the main roads in town.

Taken over by Crowne Plaza Resorts in 2006, what was known as Portofino Golf Club in its early days, is a shorter but very challenging layout compared to the bigger courses in the region. Tight and challenging from the tee, you are best served at HVGC by packing a GPS or purchasing a course guide as some of the hazards, not easily spotted from the tee, are easily reachable and potentially harmful to a player’s score. Longer players may take less than driver for safety off many of the tees at Hunter Valley, but the chance to open the shoulders and take on the challenge is available to all players and good shots
are rewarded.

Cypress Lakes' par-3 11th hole offers some terrific views over the surrounding wine country. PHOTO: Brendan James

Opening in 1992, Cypress Lakes Golf and Country was the first of the golf resorts to open in the Hunter Valley. Designed by American Steve Smyers (his only course in Australia), Cypress Lakes was taken over by The Oaks Group a little over three years ago, as their first foray into resorts.

Inheriting a course that Golf Operations Manager, James Harris, described as “a tired old girl”, Oaks has set out to improve the condition, playability and challenge of the course, while also bringing the resort accommodation and conference areas back to their former glory.

A detailed, planned approach to the agronomy of the course and a large investment of money has seen the course condition transform over recent years. All new irrigation and machinery has the course looking green, even during the tough summer months.

The latest improvement to the golf course is the complete overhaul of the bunkering around Cypress Lakes. With James Wilcher overseeing the design aspects of the project, every bunker on the course is currently in the process of being either filled-in, moved into a more strategic position or redesigned to improve aesthetics as well as to help minimise storm and rain damage. Of the completed bunkers, softer edges and low point entries at the back of the bunkers will help to alleviate many of the problems the previous designs caused while also toughening the defences of the course against longer drives and
modern equipment.

From the back tees Cypress Lakes is a back-breaking challenge, reflected in its 150 slope rating from the tips. The regular competition and social tees are much friendlier for the average golfer and new carts, fitted with the Visage GPS system, are a major plus at
Cypress Lakes to help negotiate the blind tee shots found on some holes and assist golfers in taking on the target golf style of play that is required.

The Great Dividing Range provides a beautiful backdrop to the Cypress Lakes course.

Plenty of holes at Cypress Lakes spring to mind when trying to pick a favourite. The picturesque tee shot on the 2nd hole, overlooks vineyards to the right and is aesthetically one of the most pleasing. The par-4 12th is terrific with a long carry to make the fairway that is tiered down to the right. A significant slope to the right punishes shots missed to the wrong side, while sweeping views across the valley can distract players on this long par-4, where par is a great score.

To celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary later this year, an inaugural pro-am is in the works that will surely test the best players in the country, and be a showcase of the magnificent work The Oaks Group has done to revive what was once the resort to play in New
South Wales.