An alternative for a Port Stephens golf tour
Situated near the northern headland of Port Stephens, Hawks Nest is one of those hidden gems of Australian golf. A golf tour in Australia and in particularly to Port Stephens or the North Coast of NSW, is not complete with at least some consideration given to a round here.
Despite a recent history and a permanent population of only 5000 in the area, Hawks Nest Golf Club has progressed quickly. Now many of it’s regional golf neighbours of are in envy of it’s financial strength and it’s layout quality.
Rapid progress but dark clouds gather
Hawks Nest Golf Club was formed in 1963 but it was not until the early 1970’s that land was leased from Great Lakes Council. The land, a vegetated sand dune area is a few hundred metres back from the beach. The first nine holes were carved out by volunteers and extended to 12 holes in 1986. Another six holes to make it 18, were completed by 1989.
It is a credit to the foresight of those volunteers that they designed such a fine layout. Designer Craig Parry has recently been commissioned to make some changes but they are largely minor and simply corrective. In 1977 a clubhouse was built and has been added on since that time till a total internal refurbishment in 2021.
However it was revealed in a Four Corners program in 2021 that the family of disgraced former NSW MLA Eddie Obeid had bought 1.4 hectares of former aboriginal land next to the clubhouse and were planning a multi-storied development there. There was even talk that Greg Norman would be brought in to redesign the golf course!
The proposed 140 apartment development has created friction both within the aboriginal community and the wider community and is the subject of a court appeal and community opposition at the moment.
A sandbelt layout on the NSW mid-north coast
The course at Hawks Nest is a surprise. First of all with quality of it’s surfaces. Shaved kikuyu fairways and bent greens over ancient sand dunes are always going to give you great drainage and quality. Superintendent Ben Mills who learn’t his trade at the Packer course Ellerston, along with his staff consistently produce a course that is of the highest quality.
The financial strength of the club has seen the expensive but highly effective Ecco bunkers installed throughout the course.
The first couple of holes immediately sharpen your focus, especially if your shots habitually veer left. The first of 347m is a straight away par 4 with bush and OB hugging the left hand side of the fairway. Into a southerly as in the day I played there recently, it was 5 wood for my second shot.
The 2nd is straight away but tight par 5 of 450m with OB and the road waiting on the left. The 4th of 371m is another demanding tee shot with bush waiting on the left with a narrow, bunkered green looking for a good approach shot. Like all good courses subject to the wind, the front nine has holes in different directions so it doesn’t become a grind hitting into the wind for a succession of holes. It also has a combination of tight holes and other holes where you can open the shoulders and breathe a little.
It is the holes after you return to the clubhouse and begin the back nine that will need you to really focus. The 10th, a par 3 of 135m to a well bunkered, redan shaped green. People sit at the window of the clubhouse and watch how you go.
The 11th a par 4 of 419m is probably the toughest hole on the course, especially into a north-easter. A slight dogleg with a heavy band of trees waiting on the left, it will take two good shots to get home on this one.
The 12th, a par 4 of 384m twists it around again with a tight left to right tee shot. Then a second to a raised green with a huge swail in the middle where a three putt is on the cards if you are on the wrong side of that dent.
The great thing about Hawks Nest is that it could become suffocating with its tight fairways. But through its course management program and use of volunteers, the trees have been cut back and underneath has been cleared out. Underneath the trees is mown grass so it is hard to lose a ball and escape from their entrapment is relatively straight forward.
The 18th back to the clubhouse is the only water carry on the course but there is grey tee markers available for those who don’t feel they can make the carry. Hawks Nest has an extensive clubhouse which is the social hub of the area.
Car or ferry, the choice is yours
The course is well worth a consideration on a Port Stephens or a day trip excursion from the Hunter Valley with us. You can either do the hour trip around from your accommodation at Nelson Bay by car or you can grab your golf bag if you have a group of 8-10 players and do the ferry cruise across the blue water of Port Stephens. We can organise with the golf club to pick you up with a shuttle bus. Checkout your itinerary options on a Port Stephens trip with us.
But don’t take just our word for it. Leading tour professional and course designer Craig Parry had this to say, ” I recently found a hidden gem Hawks Nest Golf Club. Which is only a two and half hours drive from Sydney. Situated on North Coast of New South Wales. Where you will play one of the best courses in New South Wales. It is a truly challenging Championship course, superbly maintained by Superintendent Ben Mills and his grounds staff. This tree line course rewards good drives, iron shots, a sharp short game with deceivingly quick greens.”
Is it time to change your Port Stephens golf plans?