Hunter Valley - Stonebridge - anyone tried it?

[bartman]

Hey all,

I'm going to be up the NSW Hunter Valley this Easter - I was thinking about trying out the new Stonebridge course (ie the old Cessnock Golf Club). Anyone tried it since its been redone? I liked Cessnock for what it was, not sure about the new course.

[live4golf]

Not a huge change from the old course...greens are a heap better, few new holes. The greens are typical Troon, pristine condition and well maintained. The fairways are rustic without being crap and the rough is rough. If you liked the Oaks, you should really enjoy Stonebridge.

[Peppas]

Playing there on Friday, I'll let you know if I agree with Live4Golf or not

[Xout]

Anyone played here lately?
Have a game lined up for thursday. Not sure what to expect.
A mate of mine played in August and said it was still very much evident there was construction happening.

[live4golf]

Heaps of construction. The course is in pretty rough condition, greens still good. Off the fairways is rocky, fairways are grassed but are a bit sparse.

[Xout]

Thanks for the tip.
Worth playing for the price, or go somewhere else do you think?

[live4golf]

It is still worth the hit.

[3oneday]

I played it in June, tough course in spots, some long par 4's with one (7 I think) where I have no idea how you get it on the green in reg.

Will be very nice when the grass grows on the fairways but couldn't fault the greens.

[live4golf]

I played it in June, tough course in spots, some long par 4's with one (7 I think) where I have no idea how you get it on the green in reg.Will be very nice when the grass grows on the fairways but couldn't fault the greens.

7th...driver, wedge.

[3oneday]

I think i had 7 iron (or 4) but the green is 5 metres deep it seems

[live4golf]

I think i had 7 iron (or 4) but the green is 5 metres deep it seems

That is a different story. I hit a pw to it on the weekend and it hit the front fringe and stayed on first time. So you need to be lucky

[Xout]

I'll let you guy know next week if its come along any further.
Thanks for the heads up.

[Chapzzzz]

I played there 3/10/2014.

It appeared to me that the club had sold of a lot of land for housing.
With that money they spent it on greens, bunkers and a new club house.

The greens were perfect, ruled true and were all one pace.
Some were a bit small and hard to hit but overall very impressive.

The course otherwise is in crap condition.
Fairways and Tee blocks are below average even for a country course.

The course layout is nothing to write home about and the par 5's are short and all reachable in 2.
One of them 16th was a rescue and an 8 Iron 17th was Driver and 7 iron.

More leave it than take it in my opinion.

Cheers
Chapzzzz

[virge666]

Playing there on Saturday.. Will report back

[live4golf]

Poor Virge and Xout picked a weekend the greens were scarified and sanded...they are really bad today.

Sorry guys - If you want to come back, I can let you know when the greens are back to their normal standard, they are really very good greens...honest.

[virge666]

Yeah... The course is a bit starved of water...

The greens looked good and even sanded were true.

Shot even around the track in a 7 hour round...

[KristianJ]

Yeah... The course is a bit starved of water...

The greens looked good and even sanded were true.

Shot even around the track in a 7 hour round...

I have no words...

[Sydney Hacker]

How does it take an average 23 minutes to play every hole on the course? There is no way I would have been finishing the round.

[virge666]

Drove me mental... Got in at dark..

[mrbluu]

Shot even around the track in a 7 hour round...

I thought u would have walked off!!!

[virge666]

2 under after 15.. But it was for a local comp I was part of.

I had to watch that mess

[Xout]

Yeah live4, the greens were unfortunately sanded... Shame as we called a month ago to check when they were going to be cored so was disappointing.
Agree with Virge though. For the amount of sand on them they were still a reasonable speed and rolled very true, so that was a plus.
Tee boxes, and bunkers were great. Fairways were a long way off. The guy i chatted to said they are looking at about 4 years before its where they want it to be, and they are probably 2 years behind schedule.
Was worth checking out but it needs more time before its going to be up there with the other hunter courses.

[Xout]

Speed of the round was fine. 4.5 hours i think.
And length of the course was pretty enjoyable for some of the guys I went up with. Who are short hitters.