Vines (Lakes)

The Vines Resort & Country Club is situated in Swan Valley, the oldest wine growing region in Western Australia, and boasts a 103-bed hotel, 54 apartments, racquet sport facility and swimming pool in addition to the Lakes and the Ellenbrook, its two championship golf courses.

Graham Marsh and Ross Watson designed both layouts in the late 1980s and a composite of both was used when the Heineken Classic was hosted here from 1993 to 2001. The Lakes course was stretched to over 7,000 yards when the Johnnie Walker Classic – won by Craig Stadler's son, Kevin – was played over its 18 holes in 2006. In 2009 the event returned to Swan Valley when New Zealand teenage amateur Danny Lee became the then youngest champion in European Tour history, at 18 years and 213 days old.

Located on the edge of the Darling Ranges, the Lakes course is gently undulating, with most holes lined by heavy scrub and brush. Kangaroos roam freely, providing plenty of photo opportunities for the TV cameras when they need to fill dead airtime during broadcasts from here!

There are several risk-and-reward holes on both the front and back nine which can be very costly if the wrong decision is made. Bunkers and grassy hollows can be deep and penal and water hazards are positioned to punish wayward shots so best to keep to the generous fairways or face up to dropping shots.

It's generally accepted that the holes on the inward half form a better collection of fairways than those on the front nine (presumably that's why they formed the back nine of the composite tournament course) with the quartet of strong par fours at the 11th, 14th, 5th and 17th requiring long, straight drives off the tee.

The 18th, a 517-yard par five, is a great closing hole, with water all the way up the left of the fairway and bunkers threatening the tee shot to the right of the landing area. There are a couple of ponds guarding the front of the putting surface then four greenside bunkers offering further protection to the pin. Most golfers will be delighted to walk off with a five on the card at the home hole.