New Nicklaus course in the Hunter Valley to become a ‘major international tourist destination.’

Promising news from the New South Wales Hunter Valley last week, that Capital Corporation’s proposed new $150 million golf and recreation resort in Cessnock is still on the cards.

As reported in local newspaper, ‘The Advertiser’, the new golf course will be designed by Jack Nicklaus, and will be accompanied by a five-star resort and prestigious residential subdivision. The property is located directly adjacent to the Greg Norman ‘designed’ Vintage development.

What’s interesting about this latest news from Capital Corporation, is that according to the company’s Managing Director Greg Taylor, Nicklaus himself picked the site and will be creating one of ‘his 25 unique signature clubs around the world.’

While there are hundreds of Nicklaus signature courses dotted across the globe, apparently there will only ever be 25 of these signature Nicklaus clubs – which apparently means consumers will pay top dollar for home sites, hotel rooms and green fees. At least that seems the plan here – and it would make perfect sense if you couldn’t travel elsewhere in Australia and experience world-class golf for modest green fees.

According to Taylor, the project ‘includes an international standard golf course, a clubhouse and five-star 50 room hotel, over 250 luxury villas and apartments providing short stay accommodation and around 300 residential dwellings.’ The cost of the project is estimated at $150 million, and with a projected boost annually to the local economy of around $6.5 million.

Furthermore, Taylor boasts that the development ‘will be a major international tourist destination providing significant economic benefits for the area and significant employment opportunities. International tourists will come into the resort as part of their golfing holiday and experience the Hunter Valley.’

These would be the same international tourists who could play any one of the other 360 Nicklaus courses around the world.

While we naturally wish the development well, an expensive signature course in a depressed tourist locale does seem a little 1990s.

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