The slightly shorter, but more challenging, 7th hole is a gem. The view from the elevated tee on this 470-metre par-5 reveals all that stands between you and the hole – tall trees left and right, two fairway traps encroaching on the driving line from the right. You can’t help but have the feeling here that any ball not finding the wide fairway from the tee will be lost for good. It is only a steady descent from the tee down the fairway, which bottoms out at a creek about 75 metres short of the green. From here, the putting surface lies well above you with bunkers left, right and short. This hole asks plenty of questions en route from what to hit from the tee, to where to lay-up for your second or what club you might need to hit the green with your second shot.

Similar questions are posed on Bonville’s iconic closing hole – a 460-metre journey up-and-over a hill between deep strands of towering flooded gums that line the way to the green, that lies just beyond a pond and meandering stream. Standing on the crest of this hill looking down toward the green, with the azaleas in full bloom (remember, only in spring), you can imagine, if just for a moment, a similar view confronting players at the Masters when playing the famous 13th or 15th holes. For many players, there is never any question whether to go for the green in two shots or not. In such a wonderful theatre that the 18th provides, it is hard not to add to the drama by throwing off the shackles and risking a dropped shot or two by playing aggressively.

I was so pleased with what I found at Bonville on my most recent trip there to compile this feature. The resort is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and it has never looked or played better in two decades.