Hosting a corporate golf event spanning multiple days offers the opportunity to venture outside the big cities. Regional Australia has some great venues to host a corporate event over two or three days. However, staging a corporate golf event outside a capital city poses the challenge of accommodating guests.
Curlewis Golf Club on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula has set a new benchmark for mixing golf with entertainment. Located an hour from Melbourne and 15 minutes from Geelong, Curlewis markets itself as a ‘one-stop shop’ when it comes to hosting corporate golf days, conferences and team-building exercises.
Its par-71, links-style layout redesigned by Michael Clayton is ranked No.69 on Australia’s Top 100 Courses. The new Curlewis clubhouse is outstanding in scope and ambience for large gatherings. Its signature restaurant Claribeaux combines contemporary fusion with a French influence. Ivor’s Spike Bar offers casual dining and caters for cocktail parties and private dinners.
At the western end of the property is The Range @ Curlewis. The $8 million entertainment complex features 18 indoor/outdoor driving bays, Toptracer range-technology, X-Golf simulators, two-tiered mini golf and dining facilities.
Just last year Curlewis opened a luxurious motel adjacent to the clubhouse. Accommodation @ Curlewis sleeps up to 126 people. Every room has eco-suite installations and modern furnishings (accommodationatcurlewis.com.au). As for networking and team building, Curlewis is in close proximity for winery tours and mussel masterclasses.
Across Port Phillip Bay at Rye on the Mornington Peninsula, Peppers Moonah Links Resort is another regional one-stop shop. Moonah Links has 36 holes of golf, practice range, short-game area, on-site accommodation, fine dining and an outdoor heated pool.
Along with 70 deluxe rooms and suites – all with stylish decor and golf-course views – Moonah Links has seven conference and event venues. For team-building exercises, Peninsula Hot Springs, St Andrews Beach Brewery and The Cups Estate winery are all within a 10-minute drive. Horse riding, fishing charters and water activities are further options.
The Vintage Golf Club at Pokolbin in the New South Wales Hunter Valley is an exceptional corporate venue, 163 kilometres north of Sydney via the Pacific Motorway. The Vintage staff can manage a day from start to finish on an 18-hole layout designed by Greg Norman and Bob Harrison, ranked 51st on Australia’s Top 100 Courses.
The Vintage clubhouse features The Legends Grill restaurant and two large function areas. Resort guests have the option of staying at either Grand Mercure Hunter Valley or Château Élan at The Vintage.
Château Élan offers 5-star luxury with 10 resort villas and 100 rooms. They range in size from studio to two-bedroom and all feature balconies or terraces. The Mediterranean-themed resort has an exquisite day spa for non-golf partners. Each of the 20 spa suites has a screened sanctuary courtyard for total privacy.
Pokolbin is perfect for cellar-door wine tasting with more than 100 vineyards in the surrounding countryside. Next door to The Vintage is the Bimbadgen winery and restaurant that can host outdoor musical concerts for as many as 10,000 people.
