Rated
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22 Dec 2005
Hidden Valley is part of a sprawling regional estate between
Wallan and Kilmore just off the Hume Highway near Melbourne, and
no doubt looks to the example of the US residential golf
community for inspiration. Designed by Pacific Coast Design with
Craig Parry signing off on some changes post opening, it is a
very well maintained course that has grown in and matured quite
solidly from its early days. And I think this is necessary, for
resort golf's appeal lies heavily in the ability to pamper
the golfer with high quality turf conditions as part of the ride.
To begin with, the course does not feel shy in using forced
carries over water, a feature that as I will allude to
throughout, makes for some very enjoyable situations amongst your
friends and some really fun shots, but may be a different kettle
of fish to those who play here every week. The forgiving
members' course from the back tees this is not. In places,
these features are contrived and a bit too much of an obvious
effort to stun in instances where great subtle architecture
can't be found. I am critical of this, but I cannot avoid
admitting that the different foursomes I played amongst on recent
outings there had a great time. There is no doubt the course
succeeds in striking some terror or at least an elevated pulse
rate over a few shots. I will say this much though. If you
aren't a single marker on your game, maybe avoid stroke
format unless you are prepared for a few drops and a few high
numbers, especially if the tees are back.
The Front Nine
The front nine is the far more tame of the two. It is the stretch
from the 13th to 15th and again on the 18th where the wet stuff
takes most of its toll on the scorecard. The two front nine par
5s are quite different. The 2bd is a plain hole downhill and
often downwind, with a centre fairway bunker making an effort to
add interest to the tee shot. The 8th follows, and is a lot more
interesting on a better piece of property. Winding down from an
exposed grand area to a narrowing tree lined climax, the hole
allows players to be conservative but makes demands of the player
wanting to give themselves a chance of dancing in two.Despite
being overall a little narrow for the second shot, I think this
hole is loads of fun and will give itself up to those who play it
very well.
The 10th is wide open. The better approach to the green from the
right side isn't defended on either the first or second shot.
Perhaps then the test is to avoid complacently bombing it
anywhere and ending up on the left side. From there, players have
to carry a trap to a shallow raised green for their second, or
play a third from well below the putting surface without seeing
the bottom half of the flagstick.
The most contentious of the long holes has to be the 15th. I
will, in many ways, contradict myself but here goes nothing. It
is not a hole which achieves any measure of carefully hidden
strategy, and for a hole where most players need an absolute
minimum of three shots to reach the green, doesn't provide a
single instance of choices or a selection from options for a
shot. It does, however, set hearts racing, and provides the type
of excitement and tension in your group that makes it a
challenging if daunting prospect. I don't favour this hole
for regular play or on a members' course, but I will happily
admit that for the occasonional play in a betting foursome or for
casual fun, it keeps the player very interested. It could have
been done better and without being so penal, but others will love
it for the same reasons I'm more cautious.
The Par 4 Holes
The par 4s vary considerably, and I have to say I really like
some of the tee shots. There are too many bland second shots to
plain green complexes, but the holes in their entirety are rarely
alike and easy to remember separately. This is always a good
sign. The first is a brutal welcome from the tips (memo to ground
staff, cut the overhanging branch), up a slight rise to near the
corner of the dogleg right. Many players will face a blind
second. The green is large and there is no severity around it as
a fair offer for having an unsighted shot in. Hole 3 is plain and
uninspiring, whilst the 5th is close to being really cool with a
spoiling blemish. Played through a widening chute of trees to a
rolling contoured fairway, it offers a bailout towards the left
to a wide landing areas with a longer shot in, whilst the daring
line to the right of a centre tree takes on a deep ditch along
the right to a shorter shot in.
Hole 6 is long and although it has a carry of around 140-150m
from the tips, the hazard is a creek rather than the back nine
style of a large lake. A lay-up is there for those who need it.
The 7th is a short par 4, slightly uphill with water to the
right. A long iron lays up before it, or the driver takes on the
still reasonably wide fairway. The gradient of the hole also
makes for a slightly raised green complex that avoids the boredom
of some of those before it.
The 12th is a dogleg that begs you to take driver over the
corner, but this is not a good play. The fairway narrows
extremely after the 200-220m mark, with misses dealt with harshly
either long right into jungle or left amongst thick rough with
the ball below the player's feet. If the fairway is hit with
the big stick, the second shot is a great birdie opportunity. The
lay back into a wide fairway around 180-200m off the tee leaves a
shot from a little lower, making sure the conservative play
isn't rewarded as well as the fairway finding daring play.
The green itself is two tiered from back left to front right as
it sits almost diagonally to the line of play. The left hole
locations would be tough to access from well back, and overall I
welcome one of the course's more interesting greens.
The 13th is another double water carry. A lake lines the entire
right of the hole from the tee until the wide bunkering just
short of the front edge of the green. The tee is set across the
water from the lake, making the hole a dogleg right. The safe
line over less water (about 120-140m carry) to the left will
leave no chance at hitting the green, the medium play (160-180m
carry) will leave a mid to long iron in, and the gutsy play to a
tempting peninsula (210-230m carry) leaves just about 110-120m in
to the middle. The large green is wider than it is long, but
receptive and banked enough to not want to penalise anybody who
has done the right thing in avoiding the water.
I like the 14th, with water left at about the 220m mark all the
way to the front and lots more room right. The wide green is
contoured and a fronting bunker gives that intermediate
reward/punishment to those who carry the water but fail to reach
the green. Again though, it gives the wide play to the right no
lesser a shot in, and indeed a better one to a tighter left hole
location. The multi portioned green makes the second shot
distance control very important.
The Short Holes
The short holes are similarly contrasting. The 4th has two tees
very wide apart, allowing for very different lines of play into
the deep green. As with many holes, this one suffers from having
very flat and bland bunkering, in this instance at its front
left. My point is that if it has been decided that forced water
carries over deep lakes are okay, then why are most of the
bunkers quite benign and bland? At least unlike a lake, a deep
and treacherous bunker doesn't steal the golfer's pill,
whilst still exacting a potentially heavy toll. The contradiction
is a bit stark.
The following short hole is the 9th, a carry of around 110m
entirely from tee to about five yards short of the green over a
lake. When the flag is left, the best miss is still right, and
good players will note this. For these reasons, I actually like
the hole a lot. It has the fun of the water carry and has both a
forgiving and penal miss area that should be weighed up as part
of the decision making. If I was a member of a course with this
hole, I know I would be fond of it over a long period of time,
and respect its role in the framework of the journey.
The next short hole is the 16th, a receptive back to front
sloping green that won't forgive the player who goes over the
back. A sound hole, but not overly memorable. Perhaps it is the
required valium for those who have survived the aforementioned
15th.
The 18th - Island Green
Finally comes the 18th, the signature hole of the entire course,
the most controversial many would say, and definitely the most
touted. It is an island green par 3. And thankfully, the island
takes up more land than just the large (but not overly wide)
green, because from the tips it is fairly long too, at around
180m. Also, it has a drop zone over the back so players don't
have to stand there and pepper the lake with ball after ball. Now
granted most players don't play this brute from the back tee,
but I can tell you from experience that the tee shot looks
terrifying from back there. The regular tee from around 150m is
less formidable whilst still menacing. Left of the green is wet.
Short has just one bunker cut into the front between it and Davey
Jones' locker. Long has some trees and plenty of room behind
the putting surface to chip back. Right has a bit of rough and
sand before the splash to at least let the player make their
bogey with the same ball they began the hole with.
I'm going to say it. The 18th hole admirably achieves its
aims of making a statement, being a talking point, and keeping
the players interested. Personally, I like to see holes that make
players discover over time what they should do and trip them up
for not realising it or providing an option of a daring and
difficult shot for potentially great reward compared to a lesser
quality shot or conservative play resulting in a tougher follow
up. Ultimately, does this hole have its place? Yes it does. I
don't suggest it be commonly replicated, but I have
absolutely no doubt that a large number of golfers will look
forward to this hole when playing here, and many of them will
want to come back and play it again.
When you come here for a game, choose a betting format in pairs
or a stableford event, to minimise some of the watery pain and
penal nature of some holes. But overall, golfers who like a well
maintained course with plush conditioning and a premium resort
feel will love it here. Most will be interested and be glad they
did, and many will be more than happy to return for more
opportunities to get back and dice with those holes that beat
them. Take a cart if you can, as there are a couple of treks from
one hole to the next, but the walk isn't overbearing. And the
very comfortable and stately clubhouse bar or couches inside are
a treat after the game.
(3.5) | Add A Review
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08 Jan 2008
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28 Jan 2007
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22 Jul 2006
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1. billybassos | Rated
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17 Feb 2008
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This course is a cracker!! One of the better layouts i have played for a long time. The island green 18th is a perfect way to end a round, it is challenging without being too difficult. The rest of the course is undulating and fairly long, fairways are very wide and forgiving which is a plus for the not so accurate players off the tee. The only down side was the dryness of the course, greens and tee’s are fantastic but the fairways could use a drink, still the fairwys are more than playable. All in all a great layout with the potential to be an absolute gem. $55 on a sunday was a bit pricey too.
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