With a special opportunity approaching for Qantas Golf Club members at one of Australia’s great clubs, we asked one of our brightest young talents to walk you around his home course.
The mighty Sanctuary Cove Golf Club co-hosts the upcoming Qantas Golf Club multi-day tournament at the stunning Gold Coast facility from December 1-5.
And few people know the courses better than Queensland state team member and world-ranked amateur Anthony Quayle, who followed in Tiger Woods’ footsteps in July as the winner of Pacific Northwest Amateur in the United States.
And exclusive to Qantas Golf Club members, Quayle, a member of the QAS squad, gives you a few tips on how to conquer a few of his favourite holes on the two famous courses:
“I choose to base myself out of Sanctuary Cove Golf Club because of the fantastic courses and practice facilities.
“We have a public access course (The Palms), a links-style golf course, and then the members-only Arnold Palmer-designed private course (The Pines) that has been etched out of tall, dense pine trees.
“The country club itself features a five-star gym and recovery facilities, which aid golfers in reaching their full potential.
“Both courses are well protected from strong winds, making them a good test for golfers of all levels.
“A few of my favorite holes between the courses include:
Pines Hole 6:
A 325m par-4 that doglegs slightly to the left. You need to hit a 230m lay-up short of the water that separates the fairway from the green. You will be left with a 100m pitch over water, rocks and bunkers into a severely sloped green. It's a great test for a short hole with fantastic scenery all around.
Palms Hole 13:
A semi-island green highlights this 180m downhill par-3. When the pin is tucked on the right, you will be playing to an extremely undulating green with water short, right and long. Playing left and having to deal with the slopes of the green may be your best option!
Pines Hole 17:
A 517m par-5 that requires an accurate tee shot with water right, long and bunkers and “out of bounds” left. Once in position you have a choice between laying up to a wedge distance or going for the green in two. You will need to carry the ball at least 180m to get over all of the water in front of you. With two good shots this hole can be a game-changer by throwing a late birdie into the mix.
Palms Hole 18:
This 500m par-5 predominantly plays into the wind. With two good shots, reaching the green in better than regulation is realistic. But if you’re unable to reach the green, your lay-up must be just as accurate to ensure you don't wind up in the water hazard short of the green and left of the fairway. Once in position you will be pitching into a two-tiered green with danger short, left and long of the green. A par is a good score here, but a closing birdie is definitely attainable.”
And if that doesn’t whet your appetite, what about the chance to play three tournament rounds – on these tracks and The Links Hope Island — with three of your best mates?
And to top it off, what about staying in luxury at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort as you wind down after each day with wine classes, 19th-hole cocktails, whiskey tastings and presentation dinner and drinks on the final night?
Golf experiences just don’t get much better than this.
For your chance to play on these three superbly kept courses – each ranked in Australia’s top 70 – as part of the next Qantas Golf Club tournament, go to https://www.qantasgolfclub.com/home and click on the “events” tab for further information