Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: craness75 @ May 18 2007, 10:24 AM

Wilksie,

One of my good friends is in the process of purchasing property at the Forest Resort and the land they have purchased is alongside the 16th tee.

I’m wondering if you can describe what the 16th is going to be like ie) strategy, features. From what I can see from the pictures my friends took from the block it is an uphill par 5.

The 16th is a shortish uphill par 5 and is one of the few holes that partially uses an old cleared playline from the original course. The hole plays up through a long valley and there will eventually be some housing set back in behind the trees. Its probably one of the narrowest drives on the course but the fairway shape feeds everything back towards the middle.

There’s a bunker at about 230 left side set into a hill before the fairway levels out a bit at about 270. The approach to the green is bunkered left about 50 metres short and the green is bunkered right side with plenty of room left if you can carry the short left bunker with your second. The green sits up quite high and the land falls off sharply back and right. The green is quite long and slopes back to front quite sharply with a tier about half way.

16 will be a very good golf hole but not the best out there. Its a bit of a long climb after several holes played downhill.

If your friend has purchased where Im guessing he has, then they will have an awesome view over this hole and then down to the lake by the 15th, which in the words of one humble man will be “one of the worlds greatest golf holes”!!

Wilksie, Thanks for the reply. From the photos my friend has taken it looks right up the length of the hole.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: craness75 @ May 18 2007, 10:24 AM

Wilksie,

One of my good friends is in the process of purchasing property at the Forest Resort and the land they have purchased is alongside the 16th tee.

I'm wondering if you can describe what the 16th is going to be like ie) strategy, features. From what I can see from the pictures my friends took from the block it is an uphill par 5.

The 16th is a shortish uphill par 5 and is one of the few holes that partially uses an old cleared playline from the original course. The hole plays up through a long valley and there will eventually be some housing set back in behind the trees. Its probably one of the narrowest drives on the course but the fairway shape feeds everything back towards the middle.

There's a bunker at about 230 left side set into a hill before the fairway levels out a bit at about 270. The approach to the green is bunkered left about 50 metres short and the green is bunkered right side with plenty of room left if you can carry the short left bunker with your second. The green sits up quite high and the land falls off sharply back and right. The green is quite long and slopes back to front quite sharply with a tier about half way.

16 will be a very good golf hole but not the best out there. Its a bit of a long climb after several holes played downhill.

If your friend has purchased where Im guessing he has, then they will have an awesome view over this hole and then down to the lake by the 15th, which in the words of one humble man will be "one of the worlds greatest golf holes"!!

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

I hope his land is 200meters from the tee and 30 meters to the right.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Wilksie,

One of my good friends is in the process of purchasing property at the Forest Resort and the land they have purchased is alongside the 16th tee.

I'm wondering if you can describe what the 16th is going to be like ie) strategy, features. From what I can see from the pictures my friends took from the block it is an uphill par 5.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: Jeffrey @ Apr 23 2007, 05:12 PM

Wilksie,

I noticed when I dropped in to the site the other day that there was not much scrub or undergrowth under the trees. Is that a drought thing or a location thing? What are your plans for the transition from the fairways to this area?

Maybe you saw the bit that was the old Creswick golf course where all the undergrowth was cleared many years ago. On the front nine there is a lot of low undergrowth, very ball loseable and the old mine shafts are are added incentive to not venture too far off line. We want the undergrowth to extend out into playlines in critical spots such as where fairway bunkers are or fairway breaks, al a Pine Valley!! It will take time for new plantings and natural regeneration to give this effect.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: golfer69 @ Apr 23 2007, 04:41 PM

I suspect most of them will be stuck in the area at ther end of the fairways.

Mainly, and about 4-500m in size.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Been away for a couple of weeks sorry for the delayed response...

I suspect the membership base may change a bit, certainly more Ballarat residents anyway. Hotel guests and residents will be the main users of the course though.

QUOTE: ttitheridge @ Apr 23 2007, 11:04 AM

Ready for it?...
No idea.

Sale of lots thresholds for each set of works? Progress on hotel? Has to be something like that, 'cos they ain't extracting $2k per year from Creswick members.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Wilksie,

I noticed when I dropped in to the site the other day that there was not much scrub or undergrowth under the trees. Is that a drought thing or a location thing? What are your plans for the transition from the fairways to this area?

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: golfer69 @ Apr 23 2007, 04:41 PM

I suspect most of them will be stuck in the area at ther end of the fairways.

Slow news day in QLD G69?

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: Jeffrey @ Apr 23 2007, 03:24 PM

What's the average area of the greens?

I suspect most of them will be stuck in the area at ther end of the fairways.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

nice pictures Wilksie. Looks to me like it will rank 45-50 in Australia which will be great for the area.

What's the average area of the greens?

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

the terrain looks similar to Brookwater and about as dry!!

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

QUOTE: Salacious Crumb @ Apr 23 2007, 10:28 AM

Tithers, what is the business model for this place?

Ready for it?...

No idea.

Sale of lots thresholds for each set of works? Progress on hotel? Has to be something like that, 'cos they ain't extracting $2k per year from Creswick members.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Tithers, what is the business model for this place?

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Wilksie,

Thank you heaps for the update. Great to see that of the three original course proposals for Ballarat, one has steered through. Tony Collier up there was rapt that after a stall, things started picking up ($$ for it) big time about a year and a bit ago.

VERY much looking forward to seeing the Ballarat area's first high quality golf course when it is done. And I'm sure I'll think so without closing one eye

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Interesting looking greens mix Wilksie, is it amended with anything? Peat? What grasses are you intending on planting?

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

Thanks Wilksie, I look forward to seeing it.

Topic: Forest Resort Update April 07

The construction of the new Forest Resort course at Creswick (near Ballarat) is basically complete (all earthworks anyway). All greens have now been sanded and topsoiling of the fairways is underway. Irrigation installation is also proceeding well. Water, of course is an issue at the moment but wont be once the hotel is up and running and ALL the water from it and the residences is recycled through an on-site treatment plant for reuse on the golf course. But until then we are relying on storage, which is obviously way down (as with everywhere else). Grow-in over the winter will be somewhat reliant on the weather therefore, but it should still be open and playable by about Christmas or so. We have also been in regular contact with Rob Allenby who is the co-designer, and is also very pleased with the waysthe course is looking. Here are a few photos.

In order they are; approach to 2nd green, 3rd hole par 3, hole 7 short par 4 from near tee, behind the 8th green, drive on 9th, 2nd shot 10th, hole 13 par 3, drive on 15th, clubhouse/hotel behind 1st tee..

[attachment=4763:Hole_2.jpg] [attachment=4764:Hole_3.jpg] [attachment=4765:Hole_7.jpg]
[attachment=4766:Hole_8.jpg] [attachment=4767:Hole_9.jpg] [attachment=4768:Hole_10.jpg]
[attachment=4769:Hole_13.jpg] [attachment=4770:Hole_15.jpg] [attachment=4762:1st_tee.jpg]