Hope Island Golf Club
The Links at Hope Island was the first attempt in Queensland to create a golf course based on many of the features of the British links courses on a site that did not exactly lend itself to such a task. That the design company Thomson Wolveridge and Perrett, the original developer Shinko Australia and subsequent owners have been able to achieve the result they have speaks volumes for their respective skills and commitment.
The project was initially conceived in the late eighties on land that was sandwiched between two water courses, the Coomera River and Salt Water Creek on the north of the Gold Coast in Queensland. The site had been particularly floodprone, and whilst the creation of such a project in this type of land area can raise many environmental and engineering issues, the resulting golf course and associated residential development have in fact alleviated many of the original concerns with a divide now created between the two water bodies thus virtually eliminating the flooding previously experienced.
Shinko Australia the Australian arm of the Japanese parent company Shinko engaged the services of Peter Thomson and his partner Mike Wolveridge who were joined later in the project by the addition to their partnership of Ross Perrett.
At a time when courses such as Parkwood, Palm Meadows, Sanctuary Cove and Robina Woods had been completed or were underway on the Gold Coast, their task was to create a golf course that would stand alone in terms of style. To this end the team involved set about creating a links course that would incorporate Thomson's great knowledge of such courses, having been so successful in tournaments in Britain including five wins and three seconds at the British Open.
The site was difficult not only for the issues mentioned earlier but also because the marine clays that dominated the sub surface materials of the site made for difficult and indeed expensive construction. The large lake that adjoins the eighteenth fairway proved to be one area where good quality fill was obtainable and most of the course's relief, in terms of its topography, came from this one source. The other problem the designers had was the desire by the developer that relatively mature trees should be a feature of the course which is hardly typical of links courses and while the designers were able to convince the client to reduce their number, the trees were planted on a reasonably large scale.
In the late nineties when the original developer, like so many of their fellow Japanese companies, was feeling the pinch, a management buy-out of both the real estate and golf course was undertaken by Jeffersen Properties ensuring continuation of the project. In turn they felt the need to solicit support. Therefore in June of 2000 the Sydney developer Lang Walker, through one of his companies, McRoss Developments, purchased the overall development. This new ownership appears to be the start of a much clearer direction ahead for Hope Island Resort.
Officially opened in March 1993, the course measures some 6450 metres (7000 yards) from the back tees, 5900 metres from the resort tees, and 5200 metres from the ladies tees.
Two very separate loops of nine holes, one heading south east and the other heading south west from the clubhouse, provide a contrast in terms of direction but evenly balanced in terms of difficulty. The course was used for the Johnnie Walker Classic in early 1997 (won narrowly by Ernie Els) although during that event the nines were reversed to accommodate tournament logistics. The preferred arrangement for both tournament and regular play however would be to play the course as it was designed. That would allow for the use of the spectacular par five finishing hole which incorporates many options and brings into the equation the tough par three seventeenth and the eighteenth as an interesting finish to any event.
The feature holes on the front nine are the par five second where accuracy from the tee and for the second are necessary to set up the best approach, the great par three fifth which if you are looking for par or better don't bother missing the green from the tee and the par four sixth which provides an interesting tee shot to a fairway that is more generous than it appears from the tee.
Holes on the back nine holes that stand out are the par four 13th which shapes its way right to left around a lake and requires a deadly accurate second to a tiered green, the short but dangerous par four sixteenth measuring only 320 metres from the back but with plenty of danger especially with the second to a shallow green well protected by a centrally placed bunker and the aforementioned eighteenth which is a fine finishing hole.
The most talked about, photographed and controversial hole on the course is the par three seventeenth which at 230 metres from the back tee across water is not my idea of a great hole. There is a bail out option to the right for those not strong enough, brave enough or silly enough to have a go but to be faced with three bunkers protecting the green once clear of the water, just over cooks the hole in terms of difficulty. It is true that they seldom play the hole from the back, in fact even during the Johnnie Walker Classic they were using a tee that required a shot of 180 metres or so, and from there the hole was more than acceptable even for players of that class. If I had my way on this hole I would have one of the three bunkers guarding the front removed despite the fact that it may reduce the fabulous aesthetics that the bunkers create.
There is good variety throughout the course with the par five eighth, eleventh and eighteenth reachable for the longer hitters. The second, another par five, typically plays into the easterly wind so that along with the fact that the last twenty metres of the hole rise some two metres to the green mean that it takes two great hits to get there. All four par fives head in differing directions.
The four par threes also angle in different directions, north, south, southeast and southwest and range from 140 metres (fifth) to the 230 metre seventeenth As mentioned earlier the par fours vary from the nearly reachable sixteenth to the long and difficult fifteenth so overall a very good balance and blend of holes.
Many of the greens are raised from the surrounding fairways by around a metre plus thus serving the dual purpose of providing flood protection and a greater degree of difficulty for those missing the green.
The golf course is littered with typical Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett bunkering varying from those which provide no real penalty, to those which ensure that just getting out is the main solution. Most are visible and as a consequence provide a means of direction although there are occasions where the generous open spaces to avoid the bunkers are subtly hidden e.g the landing area for the second shot at the last.
A much promoted facility for golfers is the GPS system available on carts. Hope Island was one of the first in Australia and in terms of resort play it has its benefits. There is no doubt that it increases the speed of play and provides a worthwhile watchdog for those controlling play. I think it has its place in resort golf but that is where it should stay.
As is typical of all the newer courses in this region, competition dictates excellence in service and the resort has itself ensured that all visitors are greeted and serviced in such a way that they feel important.
Although a public access facility the Resort also has a range of memberships both corporate and individual about which more information can be sought by calling the resort directly. It also has a range of practice facilities including a wet driving range and first class teaching staff.
Clearly one of the best in the land, the Links at Hope Island has from its opening, regularly been voted as the best Resort course in Australia. It has missed such accolades over the past couple of years, although now that the greens have been replaced and are again providing a quality putting surface and the new ownership is now providing stronger direction for the Resort, it may be that it will once again hold that prestigious title.
Where it sits in terms of Gold Coast golf courses is very much an individual opinion but for mine it is amongst the top three at worst and probably the top two. If I am asked, as I often am by visitors as to where to play, Hope Island is always one of the first on my list of recommendations. What I saw on my latest visit has only further reinforced this opinion.
Visitors to The Spikes Cafe & Bar at the Hope Island Resort Golf Club can enjoy a delectable meal while overlooking the rolling greens of our beautiful golf course. This elegant restaurant makes the perfect setting for a relaxed meal any day of the week, and is open to club members and the public until 6.30pm. "Spikes" offers modern Australian cuisine encompassing different ethnics and some Eastern cuisine. A new menu was recently launched with the aim of making the menu a little lighter and the emphasis is on fresh, local products.
