Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Spring / Summer 2011 | Page 28

Red Hill Estate’s resident
winemaker samples the
bouquet of a Pinot Noir

patterns of green vines march down the
hillside towards stands of eucalyptus
trees backed by the sparkling blue waters
of Western Port Bay.
Red Hill Estate typifies a large number of
enthusiastic wine growers clustered on
the Mornington Peninsula situated only
one hour’s drive south of Melbourne.
Dozens of vineyards such as Willow
Creek, Dromana Estate and Paringa
Estate are set against a backdrop of
stunning rural landscapes and rugged
coastlines. From classic grape varieties
such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and
Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot and Shiraz,
it’s an area where some of Australia’s
finest cool climate wines are produced.
But it’s not just the grape that reigns
supreme here. There is golf among
the grapes, with a concentration of
challenging and affordable courses for
players of all abilities. The combination
of rich red volcanic soil surrounded by
rolling sand dune country makes the
Mornington Peninsula an excellent
destination for the connoisseur of both
fine wines and golf.
Situated across a deep gully of dense
scrub, it sits like an emerald island high
above a no-man’s land of ball-hungry
woodlands. This is the 121 metre
par-3 second, the signature hole at
The National Golf Club. Hit it left, hit
it short or hit it too long and it’s a lost
ball - there is little room for error. With
topography that bucks and plunges like a
raging river, the golfer needs more than
the stunning coastal views over Bass
Strait to calm the nerves.

28 Q Golf Online Spring / Summer 2011

www.golfqueensland.org.au