A vision realised through time
The Vintage as a golf resort was developed by American entreprenuer Don Panoz and his Australian business manager Jon Stevens. Panoz owns other golf resorts in the US including the Chateau Elan in Georgia and the Diablo Grande. He wanted to bring the same style to the Hunter Valley. In 2004 the Greg Norman/ Bob Harrison design was opened and this par 71 layout was considered to be a brutal test. Harrison maintains that it is often not the designer who wants it that hard!
A reboot required
The course was in danger becoming of what some golf courses are designated by travelling golfers as the “done and gone” variety. They would play there once and never return. Not for the first time one of Norman’s courses or another Hunter Valley course for that matter, had to be softened. Fairways were widened and areas around the green made more ball friendly . It now manages to give players more options and achieves that compromise between testing for the low handicapper and playable for the higher one.
So what are the highlights?
The course like so many championship courses starts off innocently enough with a 331m downhill par 4, however the 100m water carry before you reach the fairway, will have you seeking clean contact. The 2nd tightens the screw with another accurate layup tee shot required. You need the right club and line to hit the a gap in the trees to enable you to shoot at the green over a creek and bunkers.
The 3rd really ratchets up the rigour with probably the best par 4 on the property . Measuring 398m from the tips, a slightly uphill tee shot between bunkers, leads you to a side hill lie across water to a perched green surrounded by bunkers. But again there are options where you can play out to the side of the green and give yourself a relatively easy pitch. The 4th is a slightly uphill dogleg to the left which can bait you to cut the corner. You should avoid this unless you are a designated “bomber.” Again there are options to lay up short of the water hazard and pitch across.
For that is the secret to playing and enjoying the Vintage. If you don’t have the carry or the confidence , look for the short grass options short or wide of the green. They are there.
The short par 3 5th is a delightful hole but the last three holes of the front nine are memorable. The 7th, a par 5 of 507m features a broad fairway which sidles beside the vineyards of Bimbadgen Estate. It features a downhill approach shot to a narrow green and a wall of bunkers on the right.
The 8th is the signature hole of the course, a par 3 of 194m off the back but with other much shorter tee options. It features a water carry of 150m to a redan positioned green which leaves you choosing how much water are you prepared to carry. Again Norman and Harrison have given you options.
The 9th shows you the playability and challenge that the designers wanted for all standards on this course. Although it is a long uphill par 4 of 406m off the black, the deep fairway bunkers are out there for the longer hitter to avoid. There is broad area for the shorter driver to hit and they should treat it like a par 5.
After the turn, the par 5 10th is a broad downhill fairway which narrows to a lake in front of the green and a raised fairway platform which runs around it. You maybe tempted to aim at the platform to shorten the third shot but if you make it, have a look backwards from the green after you finish and you can see there are a lot less riskier options for your layup. Just in front of the water. It is a wedge from there silly.
The back nine is flatter than the front and is more of a wetland journey. The water does come more into play (ie the 130m water carry over the par 3 12th) but you can use the broad fairways to either shorten your next shot or to ensure you are still playing with the same ball.
The highlight of the back nine is the downhill, par 3 17th. It resembles something from Amen Corner at Augusta National with a pond in front and a green surrounded by white bunkers. Just simply an exquisite hole.
The Vintage is not difficult to walk as there are only two long uphill holes (9th and 18th) but you have to be up to be prepared for the 12km walk around the course as there is some travel between holes. The greens for some maybe a little slow but that is a characteristic of a number of resort courses. They have to cater for a wider range of standards than say a member’s course.
Best golf resort in NSW
It is a big call but with the standard of the golf course and what is available off course, it can be strongly argued. Not only is there the accommodation and hospitality that is provided by Chateau Elan but also Accor have Grand Mercure apartments available as well. Additionally there are also numerous houses to rent on the property . Accor also has their own restuarant and bar called “19” which is open to the public and guests can use the gym and swimming pool that is at the resort. Probably it’s only weakness is that resort needs to increase it’s offerings for families with children’s activites not provided as much.
However if you would like to stay at the Vintage as part of a Capital Bucketlist Trip to the Hunter, you could confer with our webpage on Hunter Valley and Port Stephens Golf Tours to look at the itinerary options. As we put personalised tours together, we could put something together to fit your needs.
