New South Wales | Hunter Valley & Newcastle | 4 nights | 4 games

A challenging tee shot over water. Right hand side of the fairway i s the ideal position from which to play the approach shot. Club selection on the approach is vital. Better to play for the back of the green otherwise your ball could roll back down the slope.

Elevated tee shot to a sloping green. The tee shot is best to be played to the left hand side of the green. This hole tends to play a little shorter than the distance suggests.

A long hole by any golfers standard. Tee shot is to be played to the right hand side of the fairway. Watch the cross bunkers on your second shot. This is a long and undulating green. Caution is to be taken on your putts.

A well planned tee shot makes this hole a lot easier. Choose the high or the low road but watch the bunkers. The green is relatively small and there is a water hazard on the right of the green.

The tee shot is best played to the right hand side of the fairway making the approach a little easier. The green on this hole slopes from back to front. Very important that your second shot finishes beneath the hole to make putting a little easier.

The tee shot on this hole should be carefully positioned. For the long hitter a three wood or one, iron may be a wise decision. Do not be short on your second shot.

This is a magic Par three. Club selection is very important. The best side to miss the green is on the right even though the bunker is waiting.

A hole that will stay in your memory. A long par 4 with a three level fairway. In the distance there is an orange mark on a tree, aim slightly right of this. Plan your approach to the left side of the green; deep bunkers right can be expensive.

This is a medium length Par four with a slight dog leg to the right. The green is narrow and careful club selection is required.

Straight forward par five, steer clear of the bunkers and you will have a good chance at a birdie.

Important to place your drive to the left of the fairway or you could be down tasting grapes in the vineyard. There is a water hazard to the left of the green so be aware.

This is challenging par three and the bunkers make club selection difficult so choose your club carefully. The green is a relatively large target however if you aim too far away from the pin, putting could be difficult.

This is a test of golf. Drive the ball to the left of the bunkers. The approach shot is over a water hazard. If you don't think you can make it aim at the left side of the green, there is a hail out area short and left of the green.

Club selection on this par three is very important. It definitely plays longer than the distance on the card. Don't he short or the ball will roll back down the hill and leave you with a difficult approach shot.

Aim for the centre of the fairway with your drive. Avoid the cross bunkers on your second shot. Your approach shot is best played from the side of the green.

Straight away par four. Beware of the cross bunkers. For the long hitters watch out for the hazard on the next fairway with your drive (on the right), under the right conditions you can easily reach the green for one.

Hit your tee shot to the left of the middle bunker. Beware long hitters, you only need to hit the fairway (lay up). There is a water hazard approximately forty metres short of the green.

A tough finishing hole that could easily ruin a good score. A long straight drive is a good start, especially off the back tees. Plan your approach shot to be under the hole as the green runs very fast downhill.

This is a nice opening tee shot, driver all the way here, however the hitting area gets narrower the longer you drive from the tee. A drive towards the right hand centre will give you the safest line as the fairway slopes right to left. The approach shot is to an elevated green, sloping back to front, with two levels. If unsure of club selection, short is better than long. Be cautious of the deep greenside bunkers left and right.

Semi-blind tee shot, driver is the club selection. Aim at the flagpole and you will be in the centre of the fairway. This is a fairly wide fairway with a good amount of room to the right. Too far right brings bunkers into play. Aim for the middle of the green, as it is surrounded by treacherous bunkers. The green has many subtle borrows and should be carefully looked at.

A very tough par 3 requiring an accurate shot to a well bunkered green. A 3 wood or low lofted hybrid is the sensible play. Any shot going wide left or right will make your chances of getting up and down for par more difficult.

Driver again from this tee. Aiming down middle/left of fairway will see your tee shot finish in the perfect position. From here the toughest part of the next shot is the club selection. Laying up just short of the hill is your best option for a flat lie. Third shot is with a short iron, keeping your ball below the pin as this green can become quite slick.

This is by far one of the tougher holes on the layout. This requires an accurate tee shot towards the right centre of the fairway as it feeds down to the left. The telegraph pole in the distance is the line for this shot. You need no more than a 3 wood or low lofted hybrid. Your second shot then becomes the challenge as club selection can become difficult. This is a fairly flat green but treacherous once missed, particularly if you miss left!

The aim for this hole is to position your tee shot towards the left centre of the fairway, as it will feed right. From here choose your club carefully as most players fall short on distance to this well elevated green. The side to miss this green is towards the left, as it too feeds to the right.

Club selection is the key to this hole as it is downhill from an elevated tee. Once you have chosen your club then just hit it. Indecision brings most unstuck here. Short left is the only area to miss this green. Going long is not a place to hit it.

A tee shot positioned towards the left side of the fairway will ensure a good chance of an attacking second with a short iron. As with a lot of holes at Newcastle avoid going long. If you are unsure of club selection for approach shot take a shorter club.

The tee shot needs to be towards the left side to avoid the right-side fairway bunker. Your second shot will need to be a fairway wood or hybrid to lay-up and leave you with a flat lie. Your uphill approach with a short iron needs to be under the hole. Avoid going long left or right here as this leaves a downhill recovery shot.

A crucial tee shot to start your back nine. Take a 3 wood or low lofted hybrid to either reach the hill or go just over. Second shot with a fairway wood or hybrid, down left side, leaves you short of the final hill. Third shot is blind to a green fronted on both sides by difficult bunkers. Make sure you take enough club to reach the middle of the green.

Driver down left side gives best angle of approach to the green. Second shot with a short iron avoiding the front bunkers. Accuracy is the key as you definitely don?t want to be long.

This par three can bring many unstuck. The green slopes from right to left, making the tee shot critical. Placing your ball on the left hand side of the pin will give you an uphill putt. Missing the green to the right leaves a very difficult second shot.

Driver from the tee, aiming at the left fairway bunkers in the distance, gives the best position for your second shot. Laying-up short of fairway bunkers leaves a short iron approach to an undulating green. When the pin is cut in the rear left, the centre of the green will give the best results.

A demanding driving hole that requires a well positioned drive for an approach to a relatively open green. The tee shot is best played to the left centre of the fairway to give you an unobstructed view of the green. An approach shot left short of the pin will give you the best result.

Another demanding par 4 where the tee shot is vital. Aim straight over the middle of the Ladies tee. Positioning towards the left centre will give the best approach to the green and all pin spots. Tricky green requires careful reading from back and side.

Demanding par 3 where only real trouble is large bunker on right side of green. Green can become very firm and may require a shot landing short or just on front edge.

An accurate tee shot down the left side is a must here. A small drain on the right hand side of the fairway is easily reachable from the tee. Uphill second shot to an elevated green often requires more club than first thought. Approach must be spot on as green is very fast with treacherous slope from back to front. Missing the green long here is not an option.

The tee shot here is driver, to position the ball on the top of the hill. Second shot is crucial as this is a tricky green sloping from back to front. An approach shot short of the pin will give you the best result.

The first is a testing par four, owing more to its setting than its length. A winding creek poses trouble from the tee on this opening hole. It snakes along the right-hand side of the hole before cutting across the fairway and trailing off into the left-hand rough. However, the fairway is generous in its width, and there is ample room to land your tee shot. A good drive will set up a real opportunity of making a three, as the second requires only short iron over the creek to a large relatively flat double green (shared with the par three 5th).

The second holes character is noticeably different from the first. The wide open expanses so obvious when entering the golf course and when playing hole 1 disappear as you move into the more heavily wooded the next eight holes are still exposed to the elements and will prove to be quite testing. At 374 metres sheltered part of the site. Don't be fooled though as the second is a mid-length par four demanding both length and accuracy. The hole dog-legs to the right with a large fairway bunker guarding the inside of the turn which should be avoided at all costs. A mid-iron is required to a slightly raised green which is angled left to right across the line of play and which is therefore more easily attacked from the right hand side of the fairway.

This is a tricky little par four which is perhaps the designers favourite. The hole itself requires a sound strategy from tee to green if par or better is to be made. The clever manipulation of contours and the shrewd siting of fairway bunkers combine to make the tee shot look more daunting than it really is. Standing on the tee it is quite difficult to gauge how much fairway you have to aim at. Better players will have to weigh up whether they will use the driver and attack the hole, taking the shortest line over the bunkers on the right, or lay up to the left with a mid to long iron. Taking the latter option, you are left with a difficult pitch to a small, raised green which drops away quickly on all sides. The difficulty in hitting this green is increased by the fact that it has a 'false front' with anything too short rolling back off the green and down to the bottom of a swale, from where a delicate chip shot is required to save par.

Played from the most south-westerly corner of the site, this long par five is quite a challenging hole, especially when played into the prevailing north-easterly winds. Bunkers dot the fairway at both the first and second landing areas, placing a premium on accuracy. If you can avoid the sand on your first two shots, you are then left with an approach to a picturesque green nestled amongst a natural setting of Banksias and Sydney Blue Gums. However, like the sixteenth, you should not let yourself be distracted by this attractive backdrop, as the hole is certainly no push over. The entrance to the long sloping green is narrow, and is protected by traps to the front right and left. Longer hitters attempting to get home in two will also need to consider the close proximity of the surrounding vegetation, which will punish those who stray too far offline.

The fifth is possibly the most difficult par three on the course. This is essentially due to the need to combine length and accuracy from the tee. Any shot short of the large double green (shared with the 1st) may find the water that closely guards the front right portion of the putting surface. Overcompensation for this hazard or through the green you ensure an encounter with one of the strategically placed bunkers. From the sand a golfer is left with a delicate recovery, with the water on the opposite side of the green waiting to swallow up anything played too boldly.

By far the longest hole on the layout, this demanding hole requires long precision hitting if it is to be tamed. However, although it stretches out to 555 metres from the championship tees, it does generally play downwind when the prevailing north-easterly is blowing, helping to shorten its length considerably. Therefore a potential birdie is certainly not out of the question. Assuming you get a good drive away the second shot is partially blind, played over a small ridge that bisects the fairway mid-way between the first landing area and the green. If the ridge can be 'flown' and the second shot land on the down slope beyond the benefit of additional run will shorten the hole considerably. The eventual target is a narrow green closely guarded by two small bunkers to the left and one larger bunker to the right.

Although it is the longest par four on the course, the seventh is a relatively benign hole that will yield its fair share of birdies if played conservatively from tee to green. The hole doglegs slightly from left to right, with the preferred line of play from the tee down the left-hand side. As you would expect this line is guarded by a lone bunker in the edge of the fairway. If you manage to avoid the sand you are left with the best line into the long green, which is protected by two more bunkers to the right and front left. The green itself is relatively flat, ensuring that if the green is reached birdie is not out of the question.

The eighth is an uphill par three that requires a well struck long iron or fairway wood to an enormous green, protected by deep menacing greenside bunkers to the left and short right. However, the vast putting surface does provide an ample target to aim at, and the front of the green has been kept open to allow the ball to be run in for those without the muscle to 'fly' the green. Once reached, a deft touch will be required on the green to avoid three putting if the ball comes to rest a long way from its intended target. The seventh is an attractive hole, with its large green nestled in an amphitheatre of native trees and shrubs.

The ninth hole is a tough par four, which makes for a challenging and memorable finish to the front nine. A huge bunker is strategically located on the inside of the dogleg, tempting longer hitters to take it on in favourable conditions. The bunker should be avoided at all costs though, as their steep faces make a successful recovery a difficult prospect. The second half of the fairway narrows significantly about 90 metres short of the green, before widening back out to reveal a large elongated green framed by two greenside bunkers on the left. The open front of the green accommodates running shots, which will be required by many to get home in two. A par here would indeed be a pleasing result.

The tee shot on this short par-4 requires a carry over a winding creek that bisects the fairway approximately 160 metres from the tee. This creek continues up the left-hand side of the hole to the green where it widens out to guard the front of the green. A generous fairway awaits a reasonably struck tee shot from where a deft pitch is need to reach a shallow green hugged by water in front and a copse of trees behind. If attacked, a birdie is a real possibility, which may be the catalyst for a great back nine, however a substantial error could result in a bogey or worse. How much of a gambler are you?

The 11th is the first of two par fives on the back nine. Strategy on this hole is dictated by several water hazards of considerable size, the first of which stretches for some 80 odd metres down the left-hand side of the first landing area. Although set back from the fairway, its presence is enough to make you question your line off the tee. A pond on the right-hand side extends into the fairway narrowing the landing area significantly at around the 240-metre mark, placing a premium on accuracy for longer hitters if the green is to be reached in two. Really though, only the very brave would be foolish enough to take on this right side pond. The second shot doglegs slightly to the right, where a lone fairway bunker on the left and water to the right guards the intended landing area. Having avoided the water from the tee, longer hitters will have to weigh up whether they will take the water on again and go for the green in two, or play conservatively and lay up and rely on an accurate pitch or successful long putt for four.

The only significant trouble off the tee on this straightaway par four is a small pond on the left-hand side of the fairway which for most is probably too far out to contemplate. Assuming the fairway is found, accuracy is the key on the approach shot if par or better is to be made. At best a mid to long iron will be required to reach a green heavily guarded by hazards, with bunkers short and right and water to the left and rear. However, to favour the shorter hitter the front of the green has been kept open, which provides the opportunity to run the ball onto the green if wind dictates that this is the best option.

The thirteenth is a distinctive par 4 which is bordered by water on the right-hand side of the fairway for the entire length of the hole. Although generous in its width, the landing area is protected on the left by a large bunker set into the edge of the fairway. This bunker is cleverly positioned to punish tee shots that have overcompensated in an attempt to avoid the water on the right. Like the twelfth a mid to long iron is required on the approach to a green guarded closely to the right and rear by the ever the present water hazard. Anything left of the green is fraught as two more bunkers guard this side of the green leaving the task of making four particularly onerous.

At 161 metres, the fourteenth is a shortish par three which needs a well struck mid-iron to reach he green. A high degree of precision is required from the tee to avoid the surrounding bunkers, the most menacing of which guards the entire left edge of the green. As one of the largest bunkers on the course, this huge expanse of sand can be particularly intimidating from the tee, especially if the pin is cut behind it in the rear left portion of the green. Also the length of the green means that club selection can vary significantly depending on where the pin is cut, and this decision can be made more difficult if the wind happens to be blowing from the north-east, which it typically does. Par here will be a rewarding score.

Orientated northward, the fifteenth is a medium-length par four yet it's the open nature leaves it exposed to the prevailing winds from the northeast, which on certain days can lengthen it considerably. Accuracy from the tee is a prerequisite as the drive leaves a narrow avenue of trees with the landing area guarded by water to the left and sand on the right. Once these hazards have been successfully negotiated, you are then left with an approach to a demanding green set at the base of a hill. Par here, is a real possibly and would set up a storming finish to the round.

The back tees for this hole are elevated, which affords the golfer a great view of the fairway that snakes its way between two large lakes. Negotiating these lakes can be a gruelling challenge, especially if crosswinds are blowing. The second-half of the fairway doglegs left to a green nestled amongst a group of majestic angophoras, which pose like a natural cathedral in the afternoon light. But don't be fooled by the beauty of this setting, as precision is required when playing the approach if a four is to be made. The green drops away quickly on all sides into rolling swales, ensuring that if the green is missed on approach, you will be left with a delicate up and down for par. To add to its difficulty the green is also protected by bunkers to the front right and left, set back from the green to catch any short misdirected approaches.

At 200 metres from the back markers, the par three seventeenth is a stern test of golf. Angled slightly right to left across the line of play the huge green has an open front and is shaped to accommodate running approach shots, which in all likelihood will be required by many to reach the putting surface from the tee. If the green is reached in one shot, par is not guaranteed as the sheer size of the green means that three putting is a real possibility. Bunkers right and left combined with some ever-present water, combined with the length of the tee shot and huge putting surface ensures that a three on this hole will be either well earned or otherwise lucky.

At just a tick under five hundred metres, the eighteenth is a golfing gamblers delight but also a testing par five to close out the round of golf. Water is again a feature on this hole and helps dictate strategy from tee to green. A large elongated lake is situated down the right-hand side of the hole, which is the shorter and therefore preferred line of play. The lake is positioned so as to enforce the dog-leg, and a strong drive flirting with the lake is required if players are to attack the hole in the hope of getting home in two. The hole is made even more difficult by the tall avenue of trees framing the entire left-hand side of the hole. The large lake continues across the front of the green, pinching the fairway into a narrow opening to the left-hand side of the green. This configuration ensures water must be carried if the green is to be hit in two. For those who decide to lay up a deft pitch is required over the edge of the lake to a large undulating green, protected by bunkers to the left and rear.

Play the opening shot across the lake to a right to left sloping fairway. A drive landing in the middle of the fairway will feed left opening up the green for a short to mid iron. Aim your approach to the centre of the green setting up an easy 2 putt easing yourself into the round.

Distance control off the tee is key to this hole, ideally a fairway wood off the tee to the centre of the fairway will open up the green so you can play your approach through the narrow opening of the casuarinas. A short to mid iron to the centre of this small green can set up a birdie opportunity.

This is the toughest test on the course. Thread your drive between the fairway bunkers on either side of the fairway leaving yourself a long iron to the green. Keep your approah shot right, as anywhere left of the green will result almost certainly in a bogey.

Play your tee shot down the right hand side ideally with a 3 wood. Make sure to stay right as the fairway slopes severely from right to left. The green is surrounded by deep bunkers so make sure of your club selection for the approach shot.

The first of The Vintage's world class par 3's. This hole is slightly uphill so keep that in mind as this undulating green is unforgiving for anything short, long,left or right.

An elevated tee shot must be played down the left centre of the fairway. From here the hole bends from left to right slightly, with a large sloping green. Make sure of your distance, as anything that lands short will stop and anything long leaves a treacherous up and down.

This par 5 gives you the first real chance to give your tee shot everything you've got. The picturesque 2nd shot can be played one of two ways: first pull out the 3 wood and thread the needle between the large bunker and the vineyard or lay up as to leave yourself with a wedge to this 2 tiered green.

One of the worlds great par 3's. Water right and bunkers left make this one of the most demanding holes in the country. After choosing your club, stay positive and go for the centre of the green , then take 2 putts and go to the next with a smile on your face.

A longish uphill par 4 requires a strong tee shot up the left centre of the fairway. Be sure to keep your approach shot to the right centre of the green as anything left will result in an automatic bogey at best.

This long par 5 requires a tee shot down the right hand side. Distance control on the second shot is important. Make sure you get to the bottom of the hill to be certain of a short uphill 3rd shot to this narrow green and watch the bunker on the right hand side of the green as it can be hard to make par from.

A drive down the right side taking on the creek provides you with a clear 2nd shot of the green. Anything centre left is safer but will be blocked out by the large mound. This is a large flat green so make sure of your club selection and there is a birdie opportunity.

Nothing but wetlands between you and the green but a solid tee shot can set you up with a birdie opportunity on this par 3.

Play your tee shot across the wetlands on this short par 4 making sure you hit the centre of the fairway as trouble is everywhere. This is a short 2nd shot, but once again surrounded by trouble. Accuracy will help make a birdie, however anything else can result in a high number.

The longer hitters want to hug the right side of the fairway as this will allow them to take on this wonderful par 5. For everyone else stick to the left and lay up short of the creek. Finally play your wedge to the green.

A short but interesting par 4. Either lay up short of the bunker on the right or take on the water to allow for a short approach. Be sure to look for the pin position on this green as it can be 3 clubs from the front edge to the back.

A drive up the right hand side just inside the bunker line is the ideal position on this par 4. This allows you to open up the green for your approach. Hit your mid iron into the green and try to make birdie on this sloping green.

The last of The Vintage's classic par 3's. You must allow for the downhill nature of this hole as it is surrounded by bunkers and wetlands. Right side off the tee is the safe option, however be careful of the overhanging eucalypt as it has been known to throw a ball or 2 back across into the water.

A strong par 4 to finish your round. Keep your drive to the left side of the fairway as anything right will be blocked out by the large trees short right of the green. On the approach stay away from the bunker on the short left. Play for the centre of the green and this will result in a 2 putt par and make that first drink in the clubhouse all the more enjoyable.