From my window-side table at
the bistro, the first fairway has
topography that bucks and plunges
like a raging river, and it draws my
eye along its wide ribbon of grass
before it crests a final hill between
the tea-trees, leaving me with only
the tantalising promise of a green.
The view is enough to whet my
appetite for a game tomorrow,
and vies for my attention from
the masterpiece of an entree
placed before me; long slivers of
lamb fillets marinated in a Thai
honey and ginger glaze climb into
a complicated spire over a bed of
Asian cress. The wind outside is
rising in strength whipping the teatrees into frenzy. Not exactly the
weather for golf, but that’s Cape
Schanck for you, as tempestuous
and unpredictable as the devil.
The RACV Cape Schanck Resort is
proving to be and an excellent base
for my golf forays in grape country.
Close by is the Dunes, a classic links
course of championship quality and
always highly ranked in Australia’s
annual Top 100 Golf Courses. Other
quality courses in the region include
Portsea, Sorrento, Flinders, Eagle
Ridge and the Open and Legends
courses that make up the Moonah
Links. The Legends course is a
resort-style course, and the Open
course is an 18-hole championship
links designed by Thomson,
Wolveridge and Perrett specifically
to host the Australian Open that
had its debut here in 2003.
Over the next few days, I knock on
cellar doors and sample some fine
drops while playing some of the
most challenging and affordable
golf courses to be found anywhere.
Volume 3 • Issue 30
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