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palm reading
After much anticipation, the new Palms course is open for play at Sanctuary Cove. Jon Underwood travelled to Queensland to try out the latest addition to the ‘Golf’ Coast.
Golf can often be a cruel pastime, capable of crushing human spirit in the same way Bubba Watson crushes a drive.
My game was going through one of those phases the last time I played at Sanctuary Cove. The ball was going so far right I could have been accused of golfing fascism. During the usual post-mortem I mentioned one particularly bad hole to the club pro.
“I hit my drive so far right it even cleared the dam,” I confessed. He looked at me with a mixture of pity and confusion. “I didn’t even know there was a dam over there,” he replied. Spirit duly crushed.
So it was with less than happy golfing memories I returned to tackle the new Palms course, redesigned, re-routed and renovated at a cost of almost AU$9 million by Ross Watson, whose previous credits include Royal Sydney, Paradise Palms and The Vines, to name a few.
Watson claims The Palms is unique because of its rustic bunkering and strategic layout. It only opened in April but is expected to make a high debut in the next set of Australian course rankings.
My guide for the day is resident professional Tim Lynch, who is almost as new here as the course, having arrived at the club shortly after The Palms opened. But he’s already in love with the course and reckons one day it could host the Australian PGA Championship.
“When people come here they won’t ever forget it because of the remarkable changes,” he says. “It was quite average and bland before but it has had a steroids injection. It’s just phenomenal. It’s a championship course now and really testing.”
Any doubt this is a tougher proposition than the old layout is banished within the first three holes. The opener is a heart-starting 484-metre par-five played with the threat of water down the left and right. This is followed by a testing 387-metre par-four (the second longest on the course) and a wicked par-three of some 190-metres. If you haven’t been to the excellent driving range for at least 30 minutes beforehand, your round could be over before it begins.
After this demanding opening stretch, the course offers a variety of holes where accuracy replaces distance as the prerequisite to good scoring. I loved the simplicity of four and six, the challenge of the downhill par-three fifth, and the water threat on seven and eight. This is a course where brain, not brawn, will win the day.
Arguably the two best holes on the course are nine and 10. The former is a beautiful looking driving hole with bunkers left and right just inviting you to smash the ball down the middle. But a good drive will still leave a long- to mid-range iron to a well-protected green. It’s a tick under 400-metres off the tips but stroke index one on the card.
The 10th used to be the old 18th and big hitters will fancy their chances of reaching the 472-metre par-five in two but must contend with water short of the green. Most will plot a course down the hole, coming in from the right to leave the best angle to attack the small, tiered green.
According to the card, the back nine is longer and tougher than the front and certainly some of the holes ramp up the challenge. The downhill 12th is a real beauty with water biting into the green on the right-hand side while the 16th, with it’s carry over water from the back pegs, will probably earn ‘signature’ status.
Even though I tackled the course from the back markers, I didn’t find it insurmountable. I enjoyed the mixture of visually appealing par-threes and testing par-fours that Watson serves up. The bunkering is indeed special, more akin to a classic links-style course than a Gold Coast resort, while the raised greens with their swales and undulations make putting a real test.
“The Pines is a walk in the park compared to the new Palms,” adds Tim as we finish our round.
WHERE TO STAY
The best way to enjoy a golfing holiday in these parts is to stay at the Hyatt Regency Sanctury Cove. Why? Well, apart from being a luxurious hotel with extremely hospitable staff and numerous amenities, staying at the Hyatt can also get you on The Palms and The Pines, the only Arnold Palmer-designed course in Australia.
While popular for conferences and weddings, the Hyatt is also a great place for couples and golfing parties to relax, thanks in no small part to the sandy beach lagoon at the front of the property. But if you’ve seen enough sand after the golf course, the heated pool and spa is the place to be.
And if you’re not a golfer, the Champions Hair Beauty Day Spa is definitely worth a visit…just ask my wife. Taking the chance to escape our three children for a bit of quality ‘me time’, she opted for the hour-long Radiant Facial (AU$110) and reported back that it was worth every cent. They also do body wraps and exfoliation using the finest spa products from Thalgo.
Dining is also a treat thanks to the provincial-style cuisine served at The Fireplace Restaurant, so named because the chefs cook the food in a massive wood-fired oven right in front of you. Straight out of the fireplace and onto your table…dinner and a show. My high country pork cutlet with apple and balsamic braised red cabbage was simply scrumptious.
WHAT ELSE TO DO
Not only does the Hyatt Regency put you in the perfect spot to play golf, you’re also just a five-minute stroll to the Sanctuary Cove Marine Village, where an array of shops, art galleries and restaurants await.
We took a leisurely walk around the precinct on a sunny Saturday afternoon and found the place buzzing with locals, visitors and sailors, who berth their boats and come ashore for drinks at the local yacht club. And don’t forget to check out the Italian cuisine of Marinara’s Restaurant or the café style of Nineteen. Both offer great food at very reasonable prices.
at a glance
Getting there: Jetstar fly direct from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns to the Gold Coast. 131-538; jetstar.com
Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove is a 40-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport.
Green fees: The Palms: AU$115 for Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove guests, AU$150 for visitors with club membership and official handicap. The Pines: AU$170, club membership and official handicap required.
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove has 243 rooms and suites with a choice of views over the marina, golf course, beach lagoon or gardens. Room types vary from King Rooms to the Manor Suite.
Facilities: Beach lagoon pool, three restaurants and bars, 14 meeting rooms, Country Club with five new tennis courts, a 25-metre pool and The Champions Hair Beauty Day Spa offering a range of
beauty treatments.
championshairbeautydayspa.com.au
Stay & Play: HRSC is offering a golf package that includes accommodation, buffet breakfast, use of the Country Club facilities, plus your choice per person per day of a polo shirt or one round at The Palms, The Pines, Hope Island or another course in the area. Prices start from AU$455 per room per night based on twin share. An upgrade fee applies to The Pines or other Gold Coast courses.
For more information and bookings within Australia, call 131-234; for New Zealand, call 0800-441-234; e-mail: sanctuarycove.regency@hyatt.com; sanctuarycove.regency.hyatt.com
For golf inquiries, visit sanctuarycovegolfclub.com.au
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