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A golfing dream come true
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Hawkesbury Golf Resort owner and ardent golfer , Darren Hawes ( r ), discusses plans for the course ’ s super-dooper rebuild with the resort ’ s head professional , Justin Roach . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
by Greg Martin
As I was interviewing Darren Hawes , I could feel his passion for the project that he is undertaking , by transforming and rejuvenating Rum Corps Barracks Club into a Golf Resort .
As Darren unveiled his plans for the redevelopment of the course , I could well understand why he has named it the Hawkesbury Golf Resort !
But first let ’ s reminisce about the history of the course since it first opened in 1987 as an adjunct to the adjoining Rum Corps Barracks Resort ( now known as the Crowne Plaza ).
The resort operated the golf course until 1986 when husband and wife , Barry and Alison Green , purchased the 19.5ha property .
The Greens were at the helm for 25 years , but retirement beckoned , and they sold the course to Kingdom Lakes Development who arrived with a host of plans to fully develop the site into a “ golfing mecca ”.
However , the heavy inundations which caused extensive flooding in the Hawkesbury after Kingdom Lakes ’ purchase , firstly halted work on the proposed renovations , and eventually the hoisting of a white flag by the new owners .
That ’ s when highly successful businessman , Darren Hawes , stepped in to fill the breach , purchasing the property last winter with a determination to provide the Hawkesbury with a worldclass golfing facility .
To say Darren is enthusiastic about the project is to say Jack Nicklaus could swing a golf club !
“ We already have the popular driving range up and running – much to the delight of a host of golfers from near and far wanting to improve their swings ,” Darren said .
“ Work has just commenced on the nine-hole golf course which includes a couple of changes to the course which I ’ m sure will be appreciated by players old and new .
“ Work includes resurfacing all nine greens , installing a lake on the dogleg second hole and automatic watering throughout the entire course .”
Weather permitting , Darren says he is confident the revamped 9-hole course will be ready for play by August or September .
However , in the meantime , the pro shop will be completely restocked , and golf enthusiasts will be able to have fun as well , honing their putting skills on two spectacular Mini-Golf courses which Darren expects to the ready for business in April or May .
“ Stage 3 of the project will be an 18- hole chip-and-putt course which should be up and running at the end of the year ,” Darren said .
“ One of the final two project developments , both of which I envisage being open in early to mid-2025 , will be a large building housing one of the Mini- Golf courses , bar-café , mini-pro shop and five golf simulators .
“ Rounding off the development on the driving range will be covered two-tier lines of tees boasting the very latest TrackMan technology .”
TrackMan is a device which uses Doppler radar to monitor the launch of a golf ball .
It is set up behind the golfer and is roughly the size of a laptop .
With each swing , it measures every aspect of the club movement , the trajectory of the ball , and its landing .
It is equipped with a video camera so golfers can , after their shot , watch themselves swinging the club .
When the entire Hawkesbury Golf Resort is open , Darren said he would employ “ around 25 ” staff – mostly locals - across the course maintenance , pro-shop and hospitality sections .
61A Hawkesbury Valley Way , Windsor NSW , Phone 4577 6600 www . hawkesburygolfresort . com . au Facebook : Hawkesbury Golf Resort
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 165 // FEBRUARY 2024 11