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The accommodation is in villas, of one to four bedrooms, set in clusters on the hillsides overlooking the golf course. They are five star and then some, offering a rare standard of opulence, with large balconies for out-door entertainment and giving breathtaking views to the Brokenback mountains that serate the horizon.
The clubhouse is home to a trio of restaurants, bars, the pro shop and concierge-guest reception. Nearby is the acclaimed Golden Door health spa and the Kids’ Club.
There are tennis courts, swimming pools, a fitness centre, archery, bicycles and convention facilities for up to 500 delegates. Off-site activities include vineyard tours and wine tasting, hot air ballooning, sky diving, off-road driving and horse drawn carriage excursions. You could be bored here but you’d have to work at it! Cypress Lakes set the standard for all the resorts we were to visit.
Renowned, among other things, for its cuisine and standard of service, the resort is located at Pokolbin, a 90 minute drive from Sydney on the highest point of the Hunter Valley. Thus, it's an idyllic regular weekend retreat for Sydney businessmen: many are members of the golf club and travel there each weekend to sample the good life and indulge in a little fun in the fresh air.
The resort is a haven for wildlife, too – kangaroos are frequently seen on the fairways – and birds of all species flock to the lakes that dot the course. America's Steve Smyers has designed a welcoming lay out with everything on an expansive scale and redolent of his home State of Florida. The bent grass greens and couch fairways offer large targets and the presentation is equally impressive.
It’s considered one of Australia’s finest resort courses, one demanding imaginative course management, solid tee shots and a sound short game. There are some carries over water, others over gullies and even the corner of a vineyard!
Cut your tee shot on the par four 11th and you’ll be crushing grapes. You’ll also be digging deep: a local rule says if you hit into the vines you must buy a bottle for your playing partner. It makes for prolonged post-round yarn spinning. Fortunately, there’s always a courtesy car, or your villa will be only a stagger away.
Don't over-do things, though: you wouldn't want to miss out on dinner in the resort's Pipette restaurant. It will be a highlight of your stay, a celebration of the culinary style for which Australia has become justly renowned. Your best beloved will be enchanted.
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