Issue 24 // OCT 2015
www.insidegolf.com.au
Glorious golf in
Victoria's
Yarra Valley
PLUS+
Our favourite courses in Christchurch, New zealand
Featuring a championship golf course, stunning views, luxury accommodation, and much more, Terrace Downs will deliver for golfers and non-golfers alike. Transportation is also available from the airport to the resort. Get the most out of your stay with our Golf Unlimited package. Relax in your private villa, and play as many rounds of golf on this fabulous course as you wish - cart hire is included! www.terracedowns.co.nz / golf@terracedowns.co.nz / facebook.com/terracedownsresort / +64 3318 6943 / Windwhistle, Canterbury, New Zealand
golfing facilities. All accommodation offered in the packages is minimum four-stars with a five-star hotel chosen in Hua Hin. All clubhouses are modern and clean, with the pick of them being Black Mountain in Hua Hin where you can purchase a large bottle of Heineken after your round for around $3 and a tasty local Thai dish for under $5.
www.insidegolftravel.com.au Publisher: Outdoor Sports Publishing ACN 113 836 301 ABN 30 043 104 919 PO BOX 437, Miami, QLD 4220 Editor: Richard Fellner M: 0407 000 440 E: richard@insidegolf.com.au Chief Writer: David Newbery E: david@insidegolf.com.au
National Sales: Sam Arthur P: 1300 465 300 F: (07) 5535 4922 M: 0410 575 303 E: sam@insidegolf.com.au
Free golf in Thailand G
NSW Sales: Megan Symington M: 0419 575 000 E: megan@insidegolf.com.au
Tour operator Gimme Golf is offering what all golfers want – Free golf.
Contributor: Bill Colhoun E: ed@insidegolf.com.au Accounts: Sheridan Murphy M: 0404 075 823 E: accounts@insidegolf.com.au Advert Technical Enquiries: Stacey Fortescue M: 0420 319 893 E: stacey@insidegolf.com.au
QLD Sales: David Ross M: 0439 612 458 E: david.ross@insidegolf.com.au VIC/TAS/SA Sales: Jon Perrett M: 0402 852 637 E: jon@insidegolf.com.au Australia/New Zealand Sales: Lisa Coleman M: 0406 031 344 E: lisa@insidegolf.com.au COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Tourism Victoria, Rob Blackburn. INSET: Terrace Downs Resort
olfers heading to Thailand to enjoy the amazing variety of golf courses, food and sightseeing now have another incentive to pack their bags.
All tours over 5 days can include a free round of golf at one of the best courses in that area. If you choose Hua Hin it will be Banyan GC, in Pattya, the undulating Burapha resort and in Phuket, Loch Palm. As an added bonus, include an extension trip to Bangkok between May 8th and September 30th and they will pay for the green fees at Suwan Golf Club. Bonus rounds are courtesy of Thai Tourism and Gimme Golf--subject to availability and an allocation of 180 rounds.
director, points to Hua Hin as the best place in Thailand with three stunning resort courses and another four courses located within 30 minutes of your accommodation. All courses are well manicured with true greens and an assortment of tee-off areas to suit all levels of golfers. Hua Hin also has excellent nightlife with an array of fine seafood restaurants and lively bars, but the town is far quieter than Bangkok with many couples choosing Hua Hin over Pattaya and Phuket which also have quality golf courses.
Other areas to contemplate for a side trip for 3 – 4 days of culture and golf is the northern cooler towns of Chang Mai and Chang Rai, only one hour North of Bangkok with return flights around $100 AUD. These two areas are far smaller and offer five-star
Main season to travel to Thailand for Australians is May through to September to escape the Southern winter and cash-in on low season rates. The weather is still warm and if the rain decides to come through, it’s only likely to interrupt your round by 20 – 30 minutes. Thai airlines can offer some great specials and, coupled with Gimme Golf’s packages, pricing can be as low as under $2,000 if choosing Pattaya for an eight-day, five-round golf holiday with return airfares. Steve notes that many of his groups upon return are asked for their general comments on the tour and the main feedback is on the wonderful “Service”: The hotel staff, the drivers for course transfers, caddies and all golf staff. Just as important in the feedback is the high quality of golf courses--many guests are quite surprised at how good the golf is in Thailand. Gimme Golf is a licensed Travel agent with ATAS Accreditation and a member of Independent Travel Group. Airfares can be booked as part of your package. For more information and golf holidays throughout the world visit www.gimmegolf.com.au •
CAPE WICKHAM & BARNBOUGLE DUNES FLY DIRECT FROM MELBOURNE BY PRIVATE PLANE CAPE WICKHAM & BARNBOUGLE DUNES Steve Worner, Gimme Golf’s managing
3 days – All In clusive - fl ights, accommodation , course fees, transfers & more
FLY DIRECT FROM MELBOURNE BY PRIVATE PLANE
3 days – All In clusive - fl ights, accommodation , course fees, transfers & more
Play the Brand New Play the Cape Brand New Play the Wickham Cape Brand New Wickham Cape Wickham
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Free call 24 hours / 7 days 1800 033 160 INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
Tour Highlights: 9 Over 3 days play 3 of Australia’s greatest golf courses on King Island and mainland Tasmania 9 Land direct at Barnbougle’s private airfield ready for tee off 9 Travel with ease in your own private plane – no check in queues, baggage hassles or wasted travel time Tour Highlights: 9 All organised and3included in the greatest price – flights, accommodation, tee off times, transfers and more 9 Over 3 days play of Australia’s golf courses on King Island and mainland Tasmania 9 Land On-course for 2 nights at Lost Lodge 9 directaccommodation at Barnbougle’s private airfield readyFarm for tee off 9 Travel Get your – 40 players) bookina queues, departure date hassles or wasted travel time 9 withgroup ease intogether your own(4private plane –and no check baggage 9 All Bring your own 9 organised andclubs included in the price – flights, accommodation, tee off times, transfers and more 9 On-course The perfectaccommodation golf lovers getaway, 9 for 2 nights at Lost Farm Lodge corporate retreat or incentive 9 Get your group together (4 – 40prize players) and book a departure date 9 Bring your own clubs 9 The perfect golf lovers getaway, info@airadventure.com.au golf.airadventure.com.au corporate retreat or incentive prize
info@airadventure.com.au
golf.airadventure.com.au
Sea change on Nullarbor Links Golf Club on Friday, April 15.
Along the way, there’ll be a farm stay, a treasure hunt for a $1000 gold nugget, a hole-in-one prize of $10,000, a putting competition and an Indigenous dance night and cooking demonstration. “We start by playing two holes at Ceduna then drive to Penong and play Windmills before heading for the beautiful waters of Fowlers Bay for a concert,” Alf said. “Here, you venture past the whales and the beautiful coastline at Nullarbor to arrive at the beaches of Eucla to meet the Pirate and claim your treasure. Clutching your gold, you move on to the remains of Skylab at Balladonia and the working sheep station at Fraser Range.
By David Newbery
I
T didn’t take long for the 73 golfers and non-golfers alike to run out of superlatives during this year’s awardwinning Chasing the Sun Festival along the Nullarbor Links. “Brilliant”, “fantastic”, “excellent”, “rewarding”, “magnificent”, “memorable”, “life-changing”, “magical”, “world-class” and “sensational” were just some of the words used to describe the festivities. To refresh your memory, the Chasing the Sun Festival sees golfers play the world’s longest golf course – the Nullarbor Links. The golf course stretches 1365 kilometres
from Ceduna, a small town in the West Coast region of South Australia, to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Along the way, golfers play at 15 different “courses”. Some holes on the Nullarbor Links are “through scrub – beware of snakes”, “near the Big Roo”, “behind the caravan park” and “on the eastern side of the roadhouse”. But there’s much more than golf which is why it’s called Chasing the Sun Festival. “We’ve got other things going on so we’ve turned it into a festival,” said festival organiser Alf Caputo. For keen golfers, the 2016 festivities start
with a nine-hole scroungers competition at Ceduna Golf Club in South Australia on Friday, April 8. After golf, it’s a “tour-and-taste” visit to the Astrid Oyster Farms following by a three-course dinner at the Foreshore Hotel. Then wake up to a champagne breakfast to toast the sunrise on the foreshore in Ceduna and prepare for the seven days of fun entertainment and golf interacting with local communities along the highway. The 18-hole golf tournament starts in Ceduna and finishes in Kalgoorlie to watch the sunset with cocktails at the Kalgoorlie
“The Indigenous art and dance of the Ngadju people in Norseman will features strongly in your memories of the festival. “The next morning you journey on to nickel mining and land sailing at Kambalda and then finally to Australia’s gold capital Kalgoorlie.” Sunshine Coast golfer Barry Degenhardt and his wife did the trip this year and raved about it. “What an adventure,” he said. “It’s most probably the rarest event on earth.” If you would like to be a part of this magical festival (April 8-15, 2016), call Alf Caputo on 0407-990-049 or visit the website www.nullarborlinks.com •
luxury Boutique golf HolidAys 2016 MAsters tour 2016
All itrAvel pAckAges include: • • • •
Bonus inclusions • 3 Days at Masters Tournament including Hospitality tent • 13 nights luxury accommodation Pebble Beach, Pinehurst including brand new 5 star suite hotel in Augusta • Playing golf at Pebble Beach | Spyglass | Pinehurst No 2 | The Reserve Club Woodside – plus other amazing courses • Motorised carts and range balls • 3 dinners at Pinehurst ala Carte Restaurants
guArAnteed sMAll groups
Welcome dinners Daily cooked breakfast Luxury Accommodation Pre-golf clinic and lessons with PGA Professional • Private transfers • Tour guide • Golf competitions and prizes
otHer pAckAges AvAilABle: • Las Vegas Package Extension (4 nights) • Masters Week Augusta Package (6 nights) ‘under usd$9k’ 2016 BritisH open & irelAnd extension See website for details
All golf groups cAtered for: China, New Zealand, Domestic Australia golf packages available Additional Cost for airfares for all packages available on inquiry
AfricAn sAfAri 2016 Inclusions Luxury accommodation on a twin share basis • 14 nights luxury accommodation including Jock Safari Lodge in Kruger NP • All breakfasts • Welcome and Farewell drinks incl supper and Golf Presentation • 7 games of golf including: Leopard Creek, Pearl Valley, The Links, Montagu, Pinnacle Point, Simola & Pezula • 6 game drives at Jock Safari Lodge • Full day tour Cape Point, Simon’s Town, Boulder’s Beach and Table Mountain • All transfers
Stacey Arthur | www.itravel-au.com | p: 02 42850711 | m: 0402 327 606 | e: stacey@itravel-au.com All information is correct at time of print and is subject to change without notice, due to matters outside our control such as adverse currency fluctuations, taxes and fuel surcharges
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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Yarra Valley:
Victoria’s golfing treasure
Eastern Golf Club
Long celebrated for its breathtaking views, sumptuous food and world-class wines, Melbourne’s Yarra Valley is quickly becoming a destination of choice for golfers looking to experience one of Australia’s most diverse, scenic and relaxing golf regions.
Eastern Golf Club Following a massive seven-year project to relocate from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs to the Yarra Valley, the new Eastern Golf Club is now open for business, and is drawing acclaim by golfers of all levels. The new $70 million facility includes 18 of the planned 27 holes, a high-tech Golf Academy and practice facility, tennis courts and a spacious and fully-appointed clubhouse complete with adult and kids’ games rooms, Gymnasium, conference facilities and more. The remaining nine holes, plus nine-hole par-3 course will open in 2016. The new clubhouse at Eastern is stunning, and features everything that a good golf club should have. It is warm, stylish, inviting and comfortable. From the big and comfy chairs in the members lounge, to the fully-stocked proshop, 4
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
to the ornate wall hangings and classy entrance, it feels like a home away from home. Greg Norman’s team have successfully nailed the original brief–which was to make a member-friendly course that is challenging to players of all levels. Norman and his team took great care in designing the course to maximise the breathtaking views throughout, while also ensuring that each hole is very playable. There are plenty of risk/reward options, while every hole also features bail-out options for the high markers. There are also five sets of tees, giving a variety of distances and challenges for all players. The large, T1 Bent Grass greens are in immaculate condition and, despite their youth, play and feel as if they are quite mature. The fairways (Grand Prix Couch) are extremely wide and forgiving, which
is beneficial to any wayward drives. And the par-3s are a real feature – with a standout being the 147m 13th, which plays over water and a massive bunker (Inside Golf calls it “Sharks Cove”) to a raised and sloped green. Par is an excellent score here. The club also features on-site accommodation via their Yering Gorge Cottages. These luxury, self-contained, private spa cottages are located on a private nature reserve on the banks of the Yarra River, and overlook the course. These cottages are extremely comfortable and relaxing, and contain everything you need for a weekend away or short escape. There are eight free-standing onebedroom cottages (perfect for couples), two free-standing two-bedroom cottages (ideal for families), and two adjoining two-bedroom cottages which can be
booked separately or together to create a four-bedroom complex. They feature full kitchens, modern bathrooms with Spa baths, AC/Heating, gas barbecue, outdoor decks, broadband internet and all the modern conveniences. Of course, the standout of any stay at Yering Gorge Cottages is walking along the tranquil banks of the Yarra, enjoying the company of the resident wombats, rosellas, rabbits and kangaroos. And if you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the rare white kangaroo that calls the reserve home. The Eastern Golf Club 215 Victoria Road, Yering, VIC 3770 (03) 9739 0110 www.easterngolfclub.com.au info@easterngolfclub.com.au www.yeringcottages.com.au info@yeringcottages.com.au
$1650
• 27-hole championship layout with 3 composite courses • 18 slope-rated courses to cater for golfers of varying ability • Extensive practice facilities including driving range, pitching and chipping practice areas and warm-up nets • Pro-shop staffed by 3 PGA professionals (and 2 trainees) delivering tuition and the latest in golfing equipment, accessories and apparel • Competitions 5 days per week • Terrace Café and Grove Restaurant dining options • Spectacular vistas of the Yarra Ranges and Christmas Hills
YERING MEADOWS GOLF CLUB
178-180 Victoria Road, Yering, Vic 3770 Office and Membership: 03 9738 9000 Golf Shop: 03 9738 9001 www.yeringmeadows.com.au October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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Gardiners Run Golf Course
Gardiners Run Golf Course Located just 35 minutes east of the Melbourne CBD, Gardiners Run Golf Course provides golfers of all abilities with an aesthetically stimulating yet highly playable layout, sure to impress golfers of all ages and abilities. On the doorstep to the Yarra Valley, Gardiners Run Golf Course has been architecturally crafted by Pacific Coast Design, taking full advantage of the gentle sloping contours of the countryside site terrain, to create a golf course that features golfing holes of individuality and character. Warm up prior to your round with their state-of-the-art, world-class practice facilities or take a lesson from their PGA golf professional. Featuring a 90m wide mixed use (couch and synthetic) tee on their 250m long driving range, a short game pitching green and challenging yet sizeable putting green, Gardiners Run Golf Course’s facilities will ensure that every golfer has an experience to savour. A central hub to all your needs, return
after your round to enjoy food and drink on the alfresco deck, overlooking the signature 18th hole green. Social Groups and Corporate Days welcomed - let them organise your next big event! Become a member of Gardiners Run and make the most of Melbourne’s best value membership- 5 day membership- $1008*, 6 day membership- $1134* and 7 day membership $1260* (*conditions apply). Discounts apply for members aged 18-30 and Junior memberships are also available (contact them for pricing). Gardiners Run Golf Course 132 Victoria Road, Lilydale, VIC 3140 (03) 9739 7522 manager@gardinersrun.com.au www.gardinersrun.com.au
Heritage Golf and Country Club Located in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, about a 45-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD, The Heritage Golf and Country Club provides the perfect backdrop for your next corporate golf day.
Heritage Golf and Country Club Framed by the spectacular mountains of Australia’s Great Dividing Range, the Yarra Valley is a special part of Victoria. Home to one of Australia’s most successful wine producing regions, the valley itself boasts incomparable rural scenery.
including a state-of-the-art convention centre and full conference facilities for up to 400 delegates.
The facility comprises two championship-standard golf courses. The St John course is a traditional treed environment based on the American parkland-style courses. It is the only private course in Australia designed by Jack Nicklaus. The Henley course is a traditional links course designed by Tony Cashmore in consultation with Nicklaus Design. Tony Cashmore is well-known as the designer of The Dunes course at Rye, Kingston Links and the Beach and Creek courses at 13th Beach at Barwon Heads. The Clubhouse, Pro-shop, Heritage Retreat & Day Spa, Bars and Restaurants all complement the vision of Jack Nicklaus and Tony Cashmore. Adjacent to the Clubhouse is The Yarra Valley Lodge, a superbly appointed boutique 4.5 star hotel offering 102 deluxe rooms and suites,
Have Fun at the Run
The facility is also a popular location for Corporate golf days and events. Oncourse activities for your corporate golf day can include Pre golf Clinic, Roving Golf Professional, Neck, Back & Shoulder Massage and Novelty Hole Competitions, while you can also get great On-Course Catering Stations including burgers, local wine tasting, pancakes, lattes and more. Corporate Gifts & Merchandise can be organized with either your logo or the Heritage logo, including polo shirts, caps, golf balls, towels and a variety of other golf items. The team can even coordinate Photography, signage, Celebrity MC’s, Competition Prizes, Video / DVD’s and other services. The Heritage Golf and Country Club Heritage Avenue, Chirnside Park, Vic 3116 (03) 9760 3107 enquiries@hgcc.com.au www.hgcc.com.au
yarra valley’S beSt value memberShip 5, 6 oR 7 day and CoRPoRatE oPtions and thE nEw LadiEs PRoVisionaL MEMbERshiP now aVaiLabLE
For more information visit:
www.gardinersrun.com.au
Social GroupS and corporate dayS welcome. let uS orGaniSe your next biG event. Green Fee diScountS apply For GroupS over 12 playerS.
Call now (03) 9739 7522 132 Victoria Road Lilydale 3140 | For more information contact Gardiners Run Golf Course | P (03) 9739 7522 E manager@gardinersrun.com.au 6
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
(03) 9739 0110 | WWW.EASTERNGOLFCLUB.COM.AU
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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Yering Meadows is the only golf course in the Yarra Valley to feature in the list of Top 100 Public Access Courses for 2015 (twice). With stunning views across the Yarra Valley and Christmas Hills and a warm & friendly clubhouse, ensure that you have Yering Meadows on your “must play” list. Visitors are always welcome at Yering Meadows, and social golf is available throughout the week. You are also welcome to play in weekend or weekday competitions. There are extensive practice facilities including a full-length driving range, pitching and short game areas and warm-up nets. Staffed by 3 PGA professionals and 2 trainees, the proshop is stocked with the latest in golfing equipment and apparel, and house a large fleet of electric carts.
Yering Meadows Golf Club
Yering Meadows Golf Club Nestled among the walnut groves and waterways, the three composite par-72 courses at Yering Meadows (Nursery, Valley and Homestead) provide a blend of holes with widely varying challenges – from the bunkering and contours of the legend couch fairways, the pin placements on the large but true bentgrass greens, to the water crossings that
feature throughout, Yering Meadows is a real “risk versus reward” experience. Play it safe if you like, or take it on at your peril! Opened in 2008, recent refinements to this picturesque 27-hole layout provide improvements in both cosmetics and playability. The courses offer varying levels of difficulty depending on the tee markers being played. From the championship black tees (slope 144,
scratch 74), the members blue tees (slope 134, scratch 72) through to visitor-friendly white tees (slope 127, scratch 68), Yering Meadows is the ideal choice for enjoyable golfing for all abilities. Formerly known as Croydon Golf Club which was founded in 1925, it is the most established club in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, and it is the second most established golf course in the area.
Group packages are available including accommodation, winery tours, hot air ballooning, joy flights and even skydiving or rifle shooting for the more adventurous. Green fees: Weekends $65.00, Weekdays $55.00 discounts for group bookings. Cart hire $40.00 Yering Meadows Golf Club 178-180 Victoria Road, Yering VIC 3770 Office: (03) 9738 9000 Pro-shop (03) 9738 9001 www.yeringmeadows.com.au ym.reception@yeringmeadows.com.au
JOIN HERITAGE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB FOR JUST $2000*! Are you planning your next group golf trip? Our golf packages can be customised to suit your specific individual and/or group requirements with our extensive range of golf course and accommodation partners. We specialise in customised group tours for
• Club Members • Social Clubs • Corporate Events GROUP BOOKINGS & INQUIRIES National Travel Desk: Tel 1300 124 220 email: info@greatgolfgetaways.com.au
www.greatgolfgetaways.com.au 8
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
The Heritage Golf and Country Club is considered one of the premium multi course clubs in Australia. It offers its members two championship golf courses, Great practice facilities including chipping, bunkers, full range with targets and putting with free practice balls for members and guests. As a member of this exclusive club you also get the use of the retreat which has two tennis courts, swimming pool, sauna and fully equipped gym.
Call now for information: Phone: Paul Williams (03) 97603135 E-mail: pwilliams@hgcc.com.au | www.hgcc.com.au
International and domestic golf travel specialists
2016 Extend your golf holiday in Bangkok 1 free round at Suwan GC (May-September)
Pattaya $1,180 4 Star Page 10 Hotel $1,525 5 Star Marriott Hotel • • • • •
Pattaya 1 Free Round Burapaha GC
6 Night’s accommodation & daily buffet breakfast 4 rounds of golf with carts & caddies each round Laem Chabang, Siam Plantation, Siam Old and St Andrews All private transfers airport, golf and hotel in an air conditioned modern van English speaking driver and assistance throughout tour
Hua Hin $1,125 4 Star Amari Hotel $1,285 5 Star Hilton Hotel
Hua Hin 1 free round Banyan GC
• 6 Night’s accommodation & daily buffet breakfast • 3 rounds of golf with carts & caddies each round • Black Mountain, Majestic Creek and Springfield • All private transfers airport, golf and hotel in an air conditioned modern van English speaking driver and assistance throughout tour
Phuket $1,745 5 Star Angsana Laguna Hotel $1,585 4 Star Nap Hotel Patong • • • • •
Phuket 1 free round Loch Palm GC
6 Night’s accommodation & daily buffet breakfast 3 rounds of golf with carts & caddies each round Red Mountain, Blue Canyon and Laguna CC All private transfers airport, golf and hotel in an air conditioned modern van English speaking driver and assistance throughout tour
All tours based on low season 8/5/2015 – 30/09/2015. Prices are also based on minimum 4 golfers. Surcharges apply for weekend golf in Pattaya Gimme Golf provides bonus rounds at Golf resorts in Pattaya, Hua Hin November 2013 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL and Phuket until our allocation of 180 rounds is complete for 2016
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‘Thai one on’ in Pattaya and Hua Hin
Black Mountain Golf Club. INSET: Amari Hotel in Hua Hin
T
hailand has always been a favourite golfing destination for Australian golfers. With the cost of hotels, golf courses (including caddies and carts) and food and drinks much lower than the Australian counterparts, it’s no wonder why over one million golfers visited Thailand last year. Mark Penfold from Thailand Golf Tours has been hosting golfers to Thailand for over 15 years and believes that the upcoming golf weeks he will be hosting in March 2016 will be the best value he has released. Held in Pattaya and Hua Hin, the two “Amari Golf Weeks” offer something for everyone; from social golfers looking to experience new golf courses, to competitive players wanting to play in four-round tournaments, all players will enjoy the best golf courses in each region along with the
social aspect that the events have. “Amari Hotels have sponsored the two events in both Pattaya and Hua Hin; both are modern hotels and offer great locations to restaurants, markets and nightlife areas,” Mark says. “Our goal is to provide the highest standard of organisation, offering golfers the opportunity to play a collection of Asia’s finest golf courses and experience the excitement, camaraderie and friendly competition of tournament golf, yet still placing an emphasis on enjoyment. “We believe the Amari Hotels and the golf courses we are playing will assist us greatly in this. Typically we get 90-120 players to these events and gauging by the interest from last March’s events we are expecting a bigger field,” he adds.
Some of the golf courses on offer include: Black Mountain (host to the Black Mountain Masters, an event co-sanctioned on the European and Asian Tour), Banyan Golf Club (winner of best Asia golf course in Asia in 2009), Siam Old Course (host to LPGA each year), Siam Plantation (host to Thailand Open 2015) and Laem Chabang International Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus design and host to many International tournaments since it opened in 1995). Both Pattaya and Hua Hin are beachside resorts, located south of the country’s capital, Bangkok. Pattaya has 30 golf courses located within an hour’s drive of central Pattaya and is just 90 minutes from the international airport. Hua Hin has 10 golf courses and is approximately 2.5 hours transfer from the airport. Best of all (unlike some other tour operators), Mark actually lives in Thailand, giving you the benefit of his unique “local knowledge” and connections to ensure a fantastic golf week. “I decided a while ago if I was going to be the leader in golf tourism in Thailand, then I need to know all about it from a firsthand experience. And what better way than living here. I have a unique insight into how to get the best out of your holiday time in Thailand,” he explains. The package includes 7 nights’ accommodation in a 4.5 – 5 star hotels with four rounds of golf with caddy and cart, all transfers, along with two group dinners, daily and overall prizes, welcome souvenir bag with shirt cap and towel along with airfares from most capital cities. Packages start from $2695. The next tour dates for these Amari golf weeks are: March 5-12, 2016, Amari Pattaya Golf Week, and March 12-19, 2016, Amari Hua Hin Golf Week. For more information, visit www.thailandgolftours.com.au, or contact Thailand Golf Tours on 0419 264 800. •
Experience the NEW world class links courses on
KING ISLAND Cape Wickham
by private 52 seater aircraft
LIMITED AVAILABILITY Book EARLY to enjoy this worldclass golfing experience
Ocean Dunes
All inclusive packages | New world class link courses | Fly Melbourne to King island by 52 passenger turbo prop aircraft 2 pilots with 2 cabin crew | day or extended packages | individual, small and large group bookings | private charter arrangements available bring your own clubs
Ph 1800 815 906 | info@australianairholidays.com
www.australianairholidays.com/lp/king-island-golf/ Available from your local travel agent
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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
the centre of the city (its banks now largely forming an urban park), and through the award-winning Christchurch Botanic Gardens which are over 150 years old. The gardens feature one of the finest collections of exotic and native plants found in New Zealand and are home to a stunning new architecturally designed café and visitor centre.
Christchurch: The Garden City
Clearwater Golf Club
B
OASTING the world’s secondhighest number of golf courses percapita (behind only Scotland) New Zealand is a true golfer’s paradise. With over 400 courses on offer, from familyfriendly 9-hole facilities to spectacular world-class championship layouts, there is no shortage of variety and challenge for the budding golf traveller. One of our favourite golfing spots in New Zealand is the “Garden City” of
Christchurch, featuring a picturesque city, the sparkling Pacific Ocean, the majestic Southern Alps and an ancient volcanic peninsula dotted with charming townships and hidden bays. Christchurch offers a chance to visit a city reimagining itself following the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, with world-class technology and innovation alongside history and heritage. Urban regeneration and
creativity flow through the city in new restaurants and bars featuring local produce, street art designed and painted by talented resident artists and inspirational transitional projects. Christchurch is embracing it’s new future, and is excited about the possibility of having a chance to reinvent itself with modern buildings and bright urban events. The serene Avon River flows through
With contemporary art galleries and open-air markets, take the time to explore Christchurch by vintage tram, a classic Edwardian punt, or perhaps grab your walking shoes and discover the growing network of laneways brimming with bars, eateries and an eclectic mix of boutique shops by foot. Just a few hours’ drive from Christchurch, you’ll discover an astounding variety of experiences. From lush vineyards to sky piercing mountains, pristine glacial lakes to wild coastlines, Canterbury is a region of remarkable contrast. With so much to see and do it really is the perfect setting for an unforgettable holiday. And, of course, it is home to some amazing golf!
Clearwater Golf Club With its glistening spring-fed lakes, Clearwater lives up to its name, providing a lush oasis close to the city and Christchurch International Airport that offers a golfing escape and a change of pace that few New Zealand destinations can match. As you would expect, the dedicated
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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went on to win the Championship, much to the pleasure of the record crowds. Member or guest, Clearwater gives you the opportunity to make your own history and experience the best that New Zealand golf has to offer. Free transfers available for up to 6 golfers from Christchurch city hotels/motels and Christchurch Airport. More information: Phone: (+64) 3 360 2146, www.clearwatergolf.co.nz
Pegasus Golf & Sports Club Pegasus Golf & Sports Club team of greenkeeping staff keep the course in immaculate condition all year round, presenting the golfer with wonderfully-groomed fairways and truerolling greens. The club was opened in 2002, but it owes a debt of gratitude to course designer John Darby and course consultant (and Kiwi golf legend) Sir Bob Charles, who truly have crafted a championship course of which Christchurch and New Zealand can be proud. The experience has thrilled not only Clearwater’s members, guests and many visitors, but a host of professionals who have played over the years as Clearwater has hosted nine NZPGA Championships, two New Zealand Opens and three NZ Women’s Opens.
Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson and Jason Day are just three of the golfers to have played in championships there. None were household names at the time as they developed their games on the then Nationwide Tour, but it is now part of Clearwater’s history that three future Major champions have walked the fairways. It is the fairer sex who have made the headlines at Clearwater in recent years, the club welcoming the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open for the first time in 2013. Lydia Ko, then playing as an amateur, became not only the first New Zealand woman to win her national tournament but also the youngest player to ever win a Ladies European Tour event aged 15 years, 8 months and 17 days. While Clearwater is far from short in
length, especially off the back tees, it rewards the thoughtful player who does their homework. There was no finer example of this than the meticulous approach employed by World Number 1, Lydia Ko when posting her course record 61 during the second round of 2015 ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open at Clearwater, with the driver frequently being left in the bag. What made the round even more memorable was that Ko’s playing partners produced some pretty special golf too. England’s Charley Hull (then Europe’s number 1 player) carded a 64 and SuHyun Oh of Australia, fresh off winning the Australian Ladies Masters the week before, shot 66. The three teens combined for an incredible 25-under par on the day. Lydia
Renowned as one of the best golf courses in New Zealand, the par-72 Pegasus golf course provides four sets of tees at each hole to offer challenge, enjoyment and a memorable playing experience. The course presents bunkers, lakes, and areas of wetland at varying distances from the tee. Alternate lines of play and greens of varying size and undulation provide opportunities to consider strategy as well as test skill and accuracy - with receptive contouring fairways and greens rewarding successfully placed shots. The course has been designed to create a fantastic experience for every level of golfer. Play 9 holes or 18 holes. Electric carts are optional. All facilities are open to visitors and members. Everyone is welcome. A highlight of the facilities available at Pegasus Golf & Sports Club is the state-of-the-art driving range featuring eight covered and eight uncovered bays,
Beautiful parklands-style par 72-18 hole championship golf course only a short drive north of Christchurch Tel: +64 3 920 3300 Fax: +64 3 920 3302 Pegasus Golf & Sports Club 2 Mapleham Drive, Pegasus PO Box 78001, Pegasus 7648 E: golf@pegasus-golfclub.co.nz W: www.pegasus-golfclub.co.nz 12
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
the convenience of automated tee-up systems, and a putting and chipping green to help you get the best results Additional facilities include three practice greens, chipping area, retail and pro shop, tennis courts and a wellequipped gym. The Bunker Cafe & Bar at Pegasus Golf & Sports Club is the perfect place to relax for an after match drink, catch up with friends or simply enjoy the casual dining atmosphere with contemporary New Zealand cuisine. Pegasus Golf & Sports Club’s coaching staff have a friendly and courteous teaching philosophy, ensuring optimal results, whilst maintaining a comfortable learning environment. All levels of golf coaching are catered for. From initial swing assessment and analysis, through to improvement packages and even full 18-hole playing lessons, the coaching staff at Pegasus will help you improve your game for maximum enjoyment. More information: (+64) 3 920 3300, www.pegasus-golfclub.co.nz, golf@pegasus-golfclub.co.nz
Terrace Downs Resort The next time you’re planning a golf trip to New Zealand, be sure to consider Canterbury as a region to explore. With over 55 courses to choose from in the region, there’s plenty to whet the appetite of the travelling golfer. One such course is Terrace Downs Resort, which is located just one hour’s
Terrace Downs Resort drive from Christchurch International Airport and offers the ideal starting or finishing course to play on your trip. This jewel under the mountain offers an 18-hole 6,406m, par-72 course. The front nine offers a beautiful example of a parkland resort course, while the linksstyle back nine provide exceptional views of Mt Hutt and the Rakaia River. With 10 lakes and over 60 bunkers, there are some great challenges, and it’s clear why this course is rated as one of the best in the region. Whether you can swing a club like a pro or are playing for the first time, the course at Terrace Downs will captivate and enchant you. On Friday 22nd November, Terrace Downs is hosting its last tournament of this calendar year, The Terrace Downs
Open, and entry is open to all NZ and AUS affiliated players. The Terrace Downs Open attracts a wide range of top amateurs and social competitors from across Canterbury and further afield, you can contact the pro shop for more information: golf@terracedowns.co.nz. Terrace Downs also offers two luxury accommodation options ranging from 1-3 bedroom villas to the 4-7 bedroom chalets; all units are self-contained to enhance your stay, whether it be from a one night stay to a week. Delicious meals are served in a rustically luxurious clubhouse with the Café open during the day for breakfast, lunch and bar snacks and the Hunters restaurant in the evening offers a fine selection of cuisine. The Resort also has many exciting
activities nearby ranging from horseback trekking to Jet Boating. One activity on the resort that proves to be popular with its guests is the archery and clay shooting run by Neil Gubby of Newzengland ltd, who just won a certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor and is ranked #1 in Christchurch for fun and games. After all the action of being on the course, the Spa can take all the aches and pains away before you can relax back in your room with a glass of wine. Terrace Downs has so much to offer, and there’s something for everyone! Contact the resort to plan your escape. More information: Phone: (+64) 3 318 6943, www.terracedowns.co.nz, golf@terracedowns.co.nz
Mountain Magic at Terrace Downs Resort
Make your next escape one you’ll never forget! Enjoy luxury accommodation with spectacular views, a round of golf on one of New Zealand’s top courses, and a delicious meal in a rustically luxurious clubhouse. Enhance your stay with exciting activities ranging from horseback riding to sky diving, and pamper yourself in the indulgent day spa. PHONE +64 3 318 6943
| | i n f o @ t e r r a c e d o w n s . c o . n z | | w w w. t e r r a c e d o w n s . c o . n z October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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Outback golf iN THailand T
he Outback Golf Bar Limited is a Thai registered Company based in Pattaya, specialising in daily golf and golf tours throughout Thailand. They have a well-established and serene sports bar near the famous Siam Country Club, from where daily golf competitions are run. Established in 2007, the Managing Director, Jack Moseley has extensive experience in the golf tour market particularly to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Bangkok and Pattaya. Jack is a well-known personality in the Pattaya golf scene, a leader and pioneer in the handicap committee, and a true ambassador and administrator of golf tours within Thailand. Together with his partner, Andre Coetzee, they strive to make their guests’ experience seamless, enjoyable and yet affordable. Outback provides scheduled tour packages including accommodation and local transport to all Thailand’s golf destinations and they cater for all levels of golfers, individuals, tour groups and couples as part of their holiday arrangements. Some of the regular destinations visited on a scheduled basis throughout the year include Chiang Mai, where there is an extensive array of fine courses, including the Alpine Resort, Maejo and the spectacular Chiang Mai Highlands; Chiang Rai, which was added to the calendar a few years ago after many golfers fell in love with the mild temperatures and the wonderful Santaburi course. Another interesting course, Happy City, which opened about three years ago and is now beginning to grow in stature. And in Hua Hin, a fast-growing resort city less than 3 hours drive from Bangkok airport, you will find Black Mountain, the top 100 ranked course outside the US and together with the Banyan Golf Club, a must for golf enthusiasts.
Players and caddies at Banyan, Hua Hin, Thailand In addition, the Outback team’s knowledge of the local golfing market in Pattaya, where there are some 20 courses, is second to none and there is a constant stream of local expats and visitors playing in four or more scheduled social competitions per week, all year round.
all major sport events, including NRL, AFL, Rugby, cricket, golf and just about any other sport that you would like to follow, is shown from Outback’s well-equipped sevenscreen open air sports bar in Pattaya whilst you enjoy a great meal or simply a beer or two.
Of course, each round includes your own personal caddie that adds to the enjoyment and comfort of your round, and Australians can find delight in the bonus that
More information: Phone: +66 (0)81 578 1956 or +66 (0)87 760 0179. Website: www.outbackgolfbar.com. Email: tours@outbackgolfbar.com •
Chasing the Sun Golf Festival Ceduna to Kalgoorlie 9 - 16 April 2016
Nullarbor Links, ‘World’s Longest Golf Course’, is unique. This 18-hole par 73 golf course spans 1,365 kilometres with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the Eyre Highway from Ceduna in South Australia to Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Each hole includes a synthetic green, tee and somewhat rugged outback-style natural terrain fairway. The course provides visitors with a quintessential Australian golfing experience that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Kalgoorlie
Ceduna
World’s Longest Golf Course, Australia
“Chasing the Sun” Golf Festival has established itself as a brilliant Australian golfing experience, from the very first sip of champagne on Saturday morning at Ceduna, through to toasting the setting Sun in Kalgoorlie.
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
Indigenous art and dance of the Ngadju people in Norseman will features strongly in your memories of this festival. Finally you head to Australia’s gold capital Kalgoorlie. On this tournament your entertainment is Australian singer songwriter Bernie Scott. He will be performing at Coorabie farm-stay and the final night in Kalgoorlie.
For more information and to view the full itinerary visit www.nullarborlinks.com
H O T E L
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“Chasing the Sun” takes you on a drive to Australia’s famous oyster beds in Ceduna, then down to Fowlers Bay for your first concert. Venture past the whales and the beautiful coastline at Nullarbor to arrive at the beaches of Eucla, you move on to the remains of Skylab at Balladonia and the working sheep station at Fraser Range.
M O T E L
O
cean Dunes King Island remains on track to open at least 9 holes this month, and is set to thrill golfers with its stunning local wildlife.
Wealth of wildlife at Ocean Dunes King Island
A baby seal on the 6th hole at Ocean Dunes
Situated in Bass Strait between Tasmania and mainland Australia, King Island’s soon-to-be world-class offering of golf courses at Ocean Dunes and nearby Cape Wickham will be complemented by regular sightings of an array of fauna including wallabies, sea eagles, seals, echidnas and peacocks. Ocean Dunes director and course designer Graeme Grant believes seal sightings have increased this year alone. “A couple of months ago, a baby seal wandered several hundred metres inland and was found on the sixth green by one of our ground staff. And three weeks ago, Andrew Mitchell, one of Ocean Dunes’ directors, was driving by the tenth and a big bull seal had dropped itself on the edge of the tee. It just goes to show what golfers are in store for,” Grant says. With a wingspan of two metres, sea eagles are perhaps the most majestic birds featured on King Island. “At various times we see a pair gliding over the first hole – a par-five threading its way down to the coast between bold sand dunes.” There are no foxes or rabbits on King Island, which means other small animals and birds have free rein and sightings of peacocks, echidnas and
pheasants are quite common while wallabies have the most dominant presence at Ocean Dunes. Grant estimates that at least 100 inhabit the course and he had originally feared the marsupials could jeopardise his ability to create worldclass grass coverage across the layout. “In fact, we see the wallabies as a great feature of the site without posing any threat or harm to the turf. Every evening I would see 20 or 30 wallabies as I drive around to inspect progress and turf development. During the day, they can be seen feeding on the fine fescue on the fairways or on windy days sheltering behind tussocks or marram grass on the lee side of dunes.” The 17th hole is also proving a comfortable spot for the peacocks that call Ocean Dunes home. “The peacocks live on a big dune between the 18th and 17th and are most noticeable late in the day when they leave the scrub to feed in the open. There would be 15 to 20 around the 17th and 18th holes so quite a sight is in store for those finishing their rounds late in the afternoon.” Meanwhile, it has been announced that Ocean Dunes’ front nine will open for play on October 31st and Grant is hopeful the 10th and 17th holes will also be ready to create a loop of 12 holes along with the already established par-four 18th. More: www.oceandunes.com.au. •
www.thailandgolftours.com.au
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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RESORT OF THE MONTH >
Howlong Golf Resort
N
estled alongside the picturesque Murray River and only 20 minutes from the regional city of Albury/ Wodonga, the recently re-named and re-branded Howlong Golf Resort is one of the finest courses in the area. Situated in the heart of the Rutherglen wine and food district, it is ideally located for anyone wanting to partake in one of the many local delights while on a golfing trip away—whether it’s a quiet weekend for two, or a full-scale “Annual Mates Golf Trip”. 16
INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
The clubhouse features all of the dining and leisure facilities that you’d expect from a modern, welcoming club. Choose to dine-in or alfresco on the deck, while enjoying the service of the attentive staff. With wide open windows and your choice of two restaurants, you can enjoy panoramic views over the gardens, lake and golf course. The club also features two bowling greens, Keno and TAB, sports bar, live entertainment and weekly raffles and promotions.
Accommodation options at Howlong Golf Resort have recently been kicked up a notch, with the recent unveiling of four new luxury apartments. These apartments have redefined the standard that is synonymous with country golfing accommodation, surrounding guests with the perfect combination of luxury and comfort. The apartments each have two generous bedrooms and two beautiful bathrooms, a full kitchen, 6 person dining setting and a 55” flat screen TV.
These luxury apartments are at an attractive price point. With a group of 6, you can each stay from just $40 per person per night. With full golf packages—which include accommodation, unlimited golf, meal vouchers and breakfast—starting from $88 per person you can visit and indulge in Howlong’s country hospitality. Howlong Golf Resort is just three hours from Melbourne and 30 minutes from the Albury Airport. Sydneysiders can fly down
and the resort will arrange to pick you up from the airport. Howlong’s mission is to overdeliver on your expectations, and provide a golf resort experience that is far more than you would ever expect. The Resort overlooks the golf course, bowling greens, tennis court and pro shop. The Resort also offers modern studio rooms and luxury apartments located in a quiet setting off the highway. There is also an in-ground pool, outdoor spa, kids play ground, canoes and bike
hire. The rooms are just 50 meters from the Club with fine dining seven days a week. The area surrounding Howlong is famous for its wineries and with 19 different options to choose from in the Rutherglen Region it is not hard to fill in a few days just taking in the rolling hills around this beautiful region. Currently Howlong Golf Resort has the largest membership base in Australia with a large number of remotely-based
members who enjoy the low fees and the quality course, accommodation and clubhouse facilities when they visit. Howlong hosts a number of major tournaments including the Murray Masters and the Howlong 10,000 which attracts hundreds of members and guests to the area each year. Howlong Golf Resort is highly recognised by Golf Australia as a leading force in Junior Golf programs, receiving the 2011 Jack Newton Junior Golf Junior
Howlong Golf Resort
Club of the Year award, MYGolf Centre of the Year for 2012 and was recently received a Highly Commended award in the Clubs & Community Awards 2014. More information: Howlong Golf Resort 186 Golf Club Drive, Howlong NSW 2643 Phone: 02 6026 5321 Email: enquiries@howlonggolf.com.au Website: www.howlonggolf.com.au
Play & Stay Packages starting from a CRAZY $88 per person! 5 Star Apartments available from November this year! Luxury accommodation at an amazing price.
Stay, play, relax... be entertained at Howlong on the Mighty Murray. Golf Club Drive, Howlong, NSW 2643 T: 02 6026 5321 E: enquiries@howlonggolf.com.au www.howlonggolf.com.au
2011 Junior Club of the year
2012 Golf Australia Centre of the Year
2014 Clubs NSW Highly Commended Award
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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Mandurah Country Club Signature hole #1, par-3
What makes it great: A challenging par-3 that varies in length from 112m to 180mm, the opening hole has a downhill elevation, which makes for an exciting start to any round of golf. The elliptical front-left to back-rightshaped green is filled with devious undulations throughout the putting surface while being guarded by two deep-faced bunkers on the front right portion and directly behind the green, which significantly comes into play with a middle to back-right pin position. The massive tee complex ranges over 70 metres in length and has an elevation change of 14m in height from the lowest tee block to the championship tee, which gives a range of difficulty for all level of golfers. The Mandurah Country Club is a picturesque course that weaves its way through 6093 metres of tuart tree-lined fairways and bunkers. On many holes, the golf course requires players to be able to shape the ball left-to-right and right-toleft. The course’s short dogleg holes are risk and reward, which means players have to be precise with their tee shots around the tight layout. The ability to control the height of the ball flight among the large tuart trees is a big advantage.
Tuart-framed fairways weave their way through the Halls Head area. The dramatic course is a must-play venue for golfers of all levels. With a number of different tee positions, golfers can choose their own challenge.
Course information: Architect/designer Murray Dawson
Course length: Men Black 6093; Blue 5809m; White 5602m; Women Red 5094m PAR: 71 - Slope Black men Blue men White men Red women
126 – par 71, scr 71 123 – par 71, scr 70 121 – par 71, scr 69 123 – par 71, scr 72
Amenities: 18-hole championship golf course, top quality practice facilities including practice range, driving nets, chipping and putting greens and bunker practice area. Strategic bunkering, a combination of natural undulating fairways and the occasional elevated green call for a variety of shot-making. One of the joys of playing this top-quality facility is coming across a plethora of birdlife while kangaroos are in abundance. There’s a fully-stocked pro shop offering
Play golf with alPg Pro anne rollo at the home of the Sanya China ladieS oPen
golf carts and clubs for hire and two professionals are available to give lessons. The comfortable clubhouse includes a restaurant, a newly-renovated bar and showers as well as ongoing social events for members and non-members alike. The dining room includes a ballroom and the lounge and function area overlooks the golf course and boasts the best view in Mandurah.
Special packages: The club offers several flexible golf packages ranging golf with a shared golf cart for:
• 2 players in a shared cart for 9 holes, $59; • 1 player in a cart for 18 holes $59; • 2 players in a shared cart for 18 holes $99; • After 3pm special for any walkers for $20; and • Discounts for larger groups are available on request.
Mandurah Country Club 16 Marsh Place, Halls Head WA 6210 Phone: (08) 9581-2968 Email: admin@mandcountryclub. com.au Web: www.mandcountryclub.com.au
• 1 player in a cart for 9 holes, $39;
Mission Hills Haikou & Sanya Hainan Island 1-9 March 2016 (9 days) Land Tour Inclusions:
AnnE ROLLO
SHERI YU
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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
LAnD PACkAGE P/P Twin Share Golfer A$4,379
• 4 nights at Mission Hills Resort Haikou (5 star) • Daily buffet breakfast • 4 nights at Marriott Hotel Sanya (5 star) • Welcome and farewell dinners • 3 rounds of golf at Mission Hills Haikou top courses • Transfers by luxury coach • 1 round of golf at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya • 1 free body massage voucher (60 mins) • 1 round of golf at Sun Valley Golf Club in Sanya • Green, cart and caddie fees • Fully Escorted by Golf Professional Anne Rollo including golf lessons, tips and on course advise. • China Tour expert Sheri Yu, who has organised this tour, and will act as your interpreter and guide. Airfare: Business class and economy class available on request
For bookings and enquires, please contact: Linzey Cowper M: 0434 246 549 E: linz@fixmygolfswing.com.au Sheri Yu M: 0438 866 850 E: sheriyu@aymgolf.com www.fixmygolfswing.com.au | www.aymgolf.com
Tee it up on a luxury golf tour in CHINA
Sanya, Hainan Island, home to the European Tours Ladies China Sanya Ladies Open. Everything is done for you on this amazing tour; just turn up with your clubs and AYM will do the rest. This is a Luxury tour at an affordable price, with land package only $4379 twin share per person. Mission Hills Haikou is the newest of the Mission Hills franchise in China and is situated on the same latitude as Hawaii. So its spectacular lava fields and warm tropical weather is perfect for an amazing golf experience. There will be plenty of time to relax and enjoy the surroundings and even play an extra game of golf for those truly addicted. You will receive pre-game warm up tuition and tips with Anne as well as on-course strategies and advice during your rounds. AYM also have an amazing deal on an airfare in economy and business class available with China Southern Airlines.
Mission Hills Haikou China
P
lay golf with ALPG Golf Professional Anne Rollo on China’s newest and most exciting golfing destination, Mission Hills Haikou, while also enjoying a luxurious 9-day golfing adventure tour in one of the world’s quickest-growing golf destinations.
The tour is organised and escorted by Anne Rollo—a European Tour winner and coach with over 20 years experience teaching and escorting golf tours all around the world—and Sheri Yu, an Australian/ Chinese speaking host and Managing Director of AYM Golf Tours, with over 10 years experience in taking
Australians to play golf in China in style. Tour guests will enjoy 8 nights/9 days and five rounds of golf in two amazing golfing destinations. You will be amazed by the beauty and luxury, staying in two five-star resorts and playing five rounds of golf on China’s most spectacular golf courses, including Mission Hills Haikou—home of the Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am and featured on the recent Hank Haney Project where world-famous golf coach Hank Haney teaches Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps—and the beautiful
AYM has operated as a licensed travel agent in Sydney since 2006, specialising in golf and sightseeing tours between Australia and Asia for over 400 tour members a year to China, Thailand and Vietnam. Managing Director, Sheri Yu, is a Chinese-born Australian citizen with many years’ experience working in hospitality management in Shenzhen and Hainan Island China, with additional qualifications in Advanced Travel & Tourism Management, Hospitality and Business management. With Sheri’s experience, knowledge and language skills, she is acutely aware of what is required to professionally organise great value escorted golf trips to some of the most stunning locations in the Asian region. For more information: www.aymgolf.com Sheri Yu 0438 866 850 or www.fixmygolfswing.com.au, Linzey Cowper
Discover fantastic golf destinations across Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific with our FREE interactive Golf Map. Download the Inside Golf iPad app from the App Store today! 6 NIGHTS
FREE
Golfers ✤ $1482 pp twin share Non Golfers ✤ $1237 pp twin share
DEPARTURES 2015: OctOber 12 & 19 | NOvember 9 & 16 DEPARTURES 2016: mArcH 15, APrIL 18, SePtember 12, OctOber 17 www.golfgourmet.com.au or call Fred 0414 799 722
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http://goo.gl/ZAXaFD October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
19
A first look at
St. Andrews of 15-16 under par every Open, right? What’s the big deal?
Garrett Johnston @johnstongarrett
T
he Old Course at St. Andrews. The ultimate spot in the game. The home of our great sport and the mecca which many of us seek to journey to “one day.” But it can’t be that amazing can it? After all, it’s only a short, flat course that the pros dissect with scores
Your correspondent took his first trip to St. Andrews for The Open in July, and the reality did not match my perception of the Old Course. It exceeded it, by miles. The Old Course captivates the senses and mind at any time of day, rain or shine. I just so happened to pull up to it, late on the Wednesday night before Open
week as I made the two-hour drive from the airport and Scottish Open at Gullane earlier that day. When you finally make your maiden voyage to Scotland, perhaps for the 2020 Open, you must get to the course the week before The Open–even if it is the Sunday. You see, the R&A runs things quite openly for the masses. The course is open for anyone to walk and soak in its sweet, simple glory. After sleeping for
two hours, I fortunately awoke with the sun that Thursday at 4:00 am and barely could believe my eyes. The setting was like a massive stage with the Old Course’s icons--its commanding R&A clubhouse, the giant yellow Open scoreboards, and naturally the ageless Swilcan Bridge visible all at once. For three hours I took hundreds of photos attempting to capture the magnificence of the Road Hole (17), the simplicity of the first with the R&A clubhouse flanking it, and the gentle beauty of the 18th and it’s small bridge. On TV it looks larger than life, but as you stroll over it you realize you’ve crossed bridges this size at dozens of courses. But just not this bridge. It’s humbling to make the walk. It’s surprising in person to also see the incredibly shiny, moving reflections of the burn when you look underneath the Swilcan. Crossing off major golf bucket list items at odd hours certainly works up an appetite. Make sure you get a full Scottish breakfast when you’re in old town St. Andrews. There are so many good places to eat and enjoy a tea or coffee. I was fortunate to stay at MacDonald Rusacks Hotel along the 18th fairway, something all golf fans must experience either with accommodation or at least a drink from its scenic bars and restaurants. Take in the view and enjoy your brekkie. I stayed in the Young Tom Morris suite, the only room with a balcony overlooking the course. You wake up and realise, ‘This is it, this is centre of the golfing world.” Open week or not. After toasting the Old Course with my
KING ISLAND ACCOMODATION www.golfgourmet.com.au or call Fred 0414 799 722
Be one of the first to play the amazing new Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes courses on King Island and stay in your own house! Sleeps 8, Fully Equipped Kitchen, BBQ, Satellite TV info@kingislandgsa.com | +61 3 6122 1202
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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
glass, I walked its entire layout. I only had 1.5 hours before the wife needed to be picked up at Edinburgh Airport, but she could wait. No matter how far you get from the clubhouse and the old town’s surrounding buildings, they’re still visible and stunning at any distance. In every pot bunker you will see hundreds of fine seashells, a reminder of St. Andrews’ inseparable connection to the sea. My biggest takeaway was how the Old Course, even in its old age, provided a refreshing sense to my mind and sight. If you’re looking for inspiration for your golf game or life in general, St. Andrews provides a calming remedy. The wife was none too happy when I finally arrived... late. But that’s another story. During Open week, a number of fans from various countries made their first visit to St. Andrews as well. Those included some of Australia’s biggest golf fans.
out here and you think ‘these holes aren’t that long and some of them don’t look that tough.’ But when you see them and the bumps and undulations, it’s a different thing. Watching this finish--you can’t compare to it.” Indeed the finishing 18th, backset by the old town’s stunning buildings and the adjacent old road filled up with thousands, is a stage even Jason Day gets emotional thinking about. “I remember my first ever major was at St. Andrews in 2010 and when I got to the 18th tee, it was a feeling unlike anything else in golf,” Day said. “The scenery and images with the great clubhouse on the left, grandstands in the background, and old buildings on the right was just awesome.”
“We came here for day three and four and I got goosebumps on the way coming here,” Chris James-Killer of Melbourne said. “There’s no comparison in person. This setting (18th) is just crazy!”
Matt Jones remembers his first visit to St. Andrews years ago as a moment which “made for a special walk, and a special experience.” In person, he was surprised by how windy and exposed the course would get, and he enjoyed the opportunity it presented to play the ground game.
His mate Dino Dipierdimonico was awed by the Old Course as well.
“It’s a very fair course, that’s what we enjoy,” Jones said.
“This is awesome, it’s something that you dream of your whole life and sometimes you get to do that bucket list stuff and this week we got to do that,” Dipierdimonico said.
Even for best-selling authors like John Feinstein, who has covered sports at nearly every significant sport venues in the western world, St. Andrews compels an emotional response.
“I thought I would have been less intimidated but I think I’m even more intimidated by the Old Course. You walk
“There are so many great golf courses in the world but St. Andrews is the place where I get goosebumps walking on the
grounds,” Feinstein said. Long-hitting American Gary Woodland from the windy state of Kansas paid St. Andrews his first visit during the Open as well. “Coming to St. Andrews, it’s definitely a bucket list kind of thing,” Woodland said. “It’s the home of golf and it’s pretty hard to beat. You’ve heard so many great things and it’s a course that’s really stood the test of time.” Another young U.S. player who first laid eyes on St. Andrews in person during The Open was Robert Streb. Not only did he contend into the weekend and get paired with Jason Day during the third round but he had the experience of a lifetime even before competition began “I sent Tom Watson a text and said ‘could I tag along in a practice round?’
He said 'OK." How often will you get that chance to play with him, what a first time experience for me at St. Andrews. What more could you ask for?" Streb said. Watson of course played in his final act on the Open Championship stage that week. “The course is all it’s cracked up to be,” Streb said. “I got to see it in good and horrible conditions. It’s a fair test.” The Old Course draws visitors and golf enthusiasts from around the world, including Ken Muratsu from Tokyo, Japan. “It’s historic,” Muratsu said. “It’s like a portrait, a print.” The enduring portrait of the game. One that all of us should make every effort to enjoy with our own sight and senses in our lives. Trust me, you’ll never be the same for it. •
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
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‘Bucket List’ golf: A
tiny tropical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is an absolute paradise for golfers. If you want “millionaire’s” golf, you’ve come to the right place. Go Golfing has launched an exclusive Mauritius golf tour starting 11 March 2016 for 8 nights and 4 rounds of golf. This luxury golf holiday in the Indian Ocean will see you play 18-hole golf courses with exceptional panoramas. It features Bernard Langer-designed Iles Aux Cerfs Golf Course – set on its
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INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL | October 2015
own island – as well as Anahita and the impressive Belle Mare Plage’s two championship courses. A golf course on an island is not that unusual. But a golf course that claims its own island—all to itself—is quite unique. And that is exactly what the Ile Aux Cerfs Golf Course (formerly named Le Touessrok) offers. The par-72 course was designed by twotime US Masters champion and Ryder Cup winning captain Bernhard Langer, who wanted to create a “golfing experience
that truly arouses all the senses. From the amazing natural setting to the challenges presented by the course, I want it to be a game to remember for all who play.” Strangely, it is rumoured he never set foot on the island. You’ll reach this stunningly beautiful golf course by water. Almost half of the holes run alongside the turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean. The remaining holes play over and around tidal bays filled with mangroves, providing spectacular view of the nearby
‘Cat and Mouse’ mountain and the lush greenery of the Mauritian country side. And yes, the course is a challenging course. There are lots of obstacles between you and the par. But you’ll never get bored or think you have played such holes before. It is new. It is different. It is not your typical course architecture and it is all about keeping you on the ball, so to speak. Another bucket list golf course in Mauritius is Anahita. Designed by Ernie Els, Four Seasons Golf Club Mauritius
magical Mauritius at Anahita is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course with large fairways and five sets of tees. With wide fairways and friendly rough, the course is not too hard for the average golfer, depending on which tees they choose to use. However, the further back you go, the more challenging Anahita becomes. Then there is the beautiful Belle Mare Plage resort, home to two 18-hole championship courses, one of which – the Legend – hosts the Mauritius Open each December. This 6,003 metre, par 72 layout
was designed by South African Hugh Baiocchi. The course meanders through an ancient deer reserve and you can often see these graceful animals in a clearing on the other side of the lake to the 18th green. The layout’s natural beauty – as well as the area’s variety of wildlife including a host of different species of brightly-coloured birds – will remind you of how lucky you are to be playing golf in such an idyllic setting. The other course at Belle Mare Plage, the Links, is located a few kilometres away
from the actual resort. Much more open than its sister course, the Legend, the Links still has several lakes and numerous outcrops of volcanic rock to ensure the need for accuracy from the tee. This African island has so much more to offer than golf. You’ll be seduced by its colonial charm—from its industries, architecture and people—and you’ll be lured by the relaxed charm of its warm and welcoming people. Add to this the mix of Chinese, Indian, French and African cuisine, the energising beat of the séga
music and the infectious party spirit of the locals, and you’ll soon understand why Mauritius is the golfer’s true idea of paradise on earth. Some will choose to start their African adventure with the Go Golfing’s Select South Africa Golf Safari, 23 February- 10 March 2016 and then follow through with the Mauritius tour. Book online and quote Inside Golf to receive early bird pricing – that’s a saving of $1,000 per couple. For more information freecall 1300 55 28 55 or visit www.gogolfing.net.au •
October 2015 | INSIDE GOLF TRAVEL
23
PLAY THE PEEL
VISITPEEL.COM.AU
BOOK A MULTI-COURSE GOLFING ADVENTURE IN THE PEEL REGION, JUST 50 MINUTES SOUTH OF PERTH. The cut
secrets GOLF Country Club Drive, Dawesville 08 9582 4444 golf@the-cut.com.au the-cut.com.au
Secret Harbour Boulevard, Secret Harbour 08 9524 7133 info@secretsgolf.com.au secretsgolf.com.au
On the edge of the Indian Ocean, this is WA’s must play golf course. The James Wilcher designed 18 hole course offers spectacular ocean views and has been created to excite and challenge golfers of all abilities. An unmissable adventure!
This links course is inspired by the classic Scottish courses. Designed by golf architect Graham Marsh and crafted into the spectacular ocean side landscape, this course boasts 18 superb holes all set against a breathtaking Indian Ocean panorama.
MANDURAH COUNTRY CLUB
THE LINKS KENNEDY BAY
16 Marsh Place, Halls Head 08 9581 2968 admin@mandcountryclub.com.au mandcountryclub.com.au
Lot 199 Port Kennedy Drive, Port Kennedy 08 9524 5991 admin@kennedybay.com.au kennedybay.com.au
This incredible course enjoys an elevated location to offer superbly challenging golf through a parkland setting with majestic trees keeping it interesting all the way. Do not miss your opportunity to play this hidden gem of the Peel region.
Acclaimed as one of WA’s best, this course is characterised by beautifully undulating landscapes, fast running fairways and superb greens. This is a true and traditional links course and with 115 pot bunkers it presents an enjoyable challenge.
MEADOW SPRINGS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
PINJARRA GOLF CLUB
23 Meadow Springs Drive, Mandurah 08 9581 6002 golf@msgcc.com.au msgcc.com.au
Cnr Pinjarra Rd & Sutton St, Pinjarra 08 9531 1252 admin@pinjarragolf.com.au pinjarragolf.com.au
This course has proudly hosted 7 WA Opens and is your chance to experience immaculate fairways gently meandering through towering Tuart trees. This is a course that is both a highly regarded test while also being very playable.
Dating back to 1912, this historically impressive course offers golfers a fantastic day of play. Hone your skills on the practice fairways, take lessons with a Golf Pro, or simply soak up the charming scenery - all just 80km from Perth.
THE SEBEL 1 Marco Polo Drive, Mandurah 08 9512 8300 h8767@accor.com thesebel.com Superbly located on the breathtaking Mandurah Estuary The Sebel Mandurah offers jaw-dropping views and 4.5-star guest rooms and apartments, complemented by exemplary Sebel service and world class facilities for all travellers.