The Vines Resort & Country Club (Ellenbrook)

IN: COURSE REVIEWS | BY: Bruce Young | | REGION: Perth, WA DATE: 24 Jun 2002 | Rated

So named, because of its relationship with the adjacent wine growing region of the Swan Valley, the Vines Resort has positioned itself as one of the leading golf and residential resorts in Australia. Though only thirteen year since it's opening in September of 1989, the Vines Resort, some forty minutes drive from Perth's CBD, has generated much interest and activity in that time.

Hailed as one of the finest resort courses in Australia, and amongst the best tournament courses in the land, it has in many ways, as a result of its success, trailblazed the golf related residential developments that followed.

In the mid-80's, West Australian golfer, Graham Marsh, who had established a fine reputation and playing record in Japan, was asked by the President of the Japanese company, Sanwa Tatemonoto, to seek out a likely land parcel that could accommodate a high quality golfing facility incorporated with a residential golfing resort.

Marsh, who at that stage had his eyes on a future role in golf course design, sought the help of his friends and associates in the west and a suitable property was secured in the Swan Valley to the north and east of Perth.

Marsh had already completed his first project in Australia at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast and, following that project, had invited Ross Watson, a Queensland based golf course construction/design consultant to form the new company Marsh Watson Pty Ltd. Watson had been involved in several remodelling projects and had acted as the golf course construction supervisor at Palm Meadows. With the help of local planning companies in Perth, the development secured approvals and construction of the initial twenty-seven holes commenced in late 1987.

The course opened in September 1989 with an opening to beat all openings, and even though it was staged in the middle of the pilots strike that year, many national and international guests attended, often having go via Singapore from Sydney to get to Perth.

The facility now boasts two eighteen-hole courses but initially only twenty-seven holes were established, allowing for the alternating of the then three separate nines. Each of the nines, Ellenbrook, Lakes and Wildflower were similar in playability and quality although it was the Ellenbrook and Lakes that gained the profile as a result of the Australasian PGA Tour event, the Vines Classic, being held there in it's first few years.

A further nine holes were opened in 1997, this time under the design of Graham Mash Golf Design, providing the opportunity to isolate one eighteen hole course for members only and one for the public. This is still the case, although they are alternated, providing even greater benefits for both members and visitors.

The fourth nine, which has now become holes three through eleven of the Ellenbrook course, has a slightly different feel to the others, perhaps a little more dynamic than that of the initial twenty seven although it was important to retain a similar style to the original layout. The name "Ellenbrook" stems from the Ellenbrook Creek that borders much of this side of the course and of course the "Lakes" course name speaks for itself.

The latest nine also have a significantly different residential mix and a greater housing density. Again, however, the project sold well, no doubt capitalising on the reputation that had already been created and a growing acceptance by the Western Australian public that forty minutes was not too far from town.

The holes that have always stood out for me were several on the composite course, although having said that, there are plenty of others that catch the eye.

The par five third (540 metres) of the tournament course (12th Ellenbrook) is a fabulous par five. Why? Because it offers just so many options from the tee and indeed also with the second shot and the approach. From the tee a tree dictates the shape of tee shot either right to left for those brave enough to take the shorter route or the safer left to right shot faded around the tree. From the tee shot there are then several landing areas, divided by fairway bunkers that can be selected to set up the third shot to a long green. This hole is to me one of the really fine par fives in Australian golf.

The par three 8th (178 metres) of the tournament course (17th Ellenbrook) is a par three that is characterised by the ridge that runs through the green at about the half way mark. Beyond the ridge the green gathers to the left and a favourite pin position in the Heineken Classic was the back left pin. There are also several very good pin positions to the front half of the green, especially front right and a good variety of tees creating the variety to make this hole play through a range of clubs.

The par four eleventh (11th Lakes) 391 metres, is possibly the toughest par fours on the course. A demanding tee shot to a fairway guarded by water right and bunker left and often played back into the prevailing afternoon breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor".

The 13th (Lakes course) 155 metres, is a fine par three guarded front right and left by bunkers. A tier runs through the green, which is slightly angled across the line of play especially when the pin is tucked in the back right of the green. Normally just a mid iron it also typically plays back into a right to left breeze.

The 16th (Lakes course) 179 metres is yet another very good par three. The degree of difficulty is very much determined by the pin setting, and choice of tee, as a centrally located bunker in the front of the green protects back right flag positions. A gentle ridge runs diagonally across the green ensuring that a bail out to the left to avoid the water right and the bunker will result in a very difficult putt across the green.

The par four 17th (Lakes course) 390 metres was always a key hole in the Heineken Classic and is a demanding hole in any situation. From the tee you are faced with a bunker right and a lake left running virtually the entire length of the landing area. The landing area is narrowed further by a gentle camber down to the lake so a very precise tee shot is required. Once that is safely negotiated it requires a mid iron to a slightly elevated green. The difficulty of the hole however, is in the tee shot.

The par five 470 metre 18th (Lakes course) is a superb finishing hole providing, as all good holes do, many options. Typically, during the week of tournament play, the prevailing wind meant that many birdies and eagles were on offer once the drive was safely negotiated. It still however required a very precise second shot, if a decision was made to go for it, to a green protected by water front and bunker behind. The options are to lay up short or right of the water and leave a short iron to a very wide but relatively shallow green.

These are but a few, of the very fine holes on the thirty-six hole facility but ones that I have enjoyed and appreciated. There are several others but space prevents a complete rundown.

The greens here are large, averaging around 700sq metres, which was the intent of Marsh and Watson, to create large areas that could accommodate the many pin positions required on a resort golf course. Hitting the green at The Vines is one thing, getting it into the area of the pin is another. The greens are Pencross Bent, with the fairways, tees and semi roughs in Greenlees Park Couch, an Australian variety of Bermuda. An interesting mix, especially given the heat in the Swan Valley during the summer. The important factor, however, is that the heat in Western Australia is a very dry heat and where bent grasses suffer most, is in hot humid conditions.

The golf course is typically Graham Marsh in that it is a very strategic layout designed for the golfer that plots and thinks their way around the course, rather than the power hitter. Having said that both courses do measure around 7100 yards from the back tees, but positioning is a key requirement in order to score well from any of the multiple tees available.

One of the real features of The Vines, I have always felt, is the linear nature of the course. Such a configuration ensures that every hole is even more unique, as in most cases each hole is isolated from the others. It even further enhances the peaceful surroundings of the Resort.

A quality golfing facility and, as is so important in high-end resort courses, the presentation is of a similar high standard.

The fact that The Vines is regularly rated amongst the best courses in Australia and among the top three resort courses tends to speak for itself. It has gained a very good reputation with tournament golfers, members and the general public, suggesting that the courses have a broad base of acceptance. It has proven to be a very good venue in terms of tournament logistics and despite not now staging a professional event has everything in place if and when that opportunity arises once again.

It is the perfect facility for a conference or corporate golf given the standard and variety of accommodation, the golf courses and the other resort activities available. Not to mention that it is in the middle of one of Australia's recognised wine producing regions.

The clubhouse offers first class locker rooms and dining facilities for all golfers. The members and corporate days areas offer some of the best locker room facilities that could be found on a golf course anywhere. A well-stocked and roomy golf shop awaits golfers with plenty of variety in terms of Vines merchandise.

The Resort now boasts the four star [url=www.novotelvines.com.au]Novotel Vines Hotel[/url] built alongside the original clubhouse. There are also condominiums that were built in the initial stage of development and that offer one two or three bedroom apartments alongside the eighteenth of the Lakes course and again within a two-minute walk of the clubhouse.

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