Hunter Valley

Set within the famous Hunter Valley vineyard region, the Richard Mercer-designed Hunter Valley course is the main sporting attraction at the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley facility, where holes are routed around several attractive water features.

The 18-hole layout extends to almost 5,800 metres from the back tees, playing to a par of 71 (34 out then 37 in), and holes are set out as two returning nines, each of which end on a large double green in front of the clubhouse. With three par threes on the shorter outward half – including back-to-back short holes at #3 and #4 – and three par fives on the inward half, the course is a bit lop-sided.

Highlight holes include the longest of the five par threes on the card at the 208-metre 8th (with out of bounds to the left of the fairway); the tough 399-metre 13th (the third hole played in a separate 5-hole “compartment” to the north of the main property); and the 454-metre 18th, where the fairway wraps around a lake that separates the closing holes on both nines.