Australian Ripper GC star Lucas Herbert will hit the Hunter Valley determined to protect his NSW Open crown and ‘sample some grapes’ along the way
The New South Wales Hunter Valley has long been a place where people go to indulge life’s finer pleasures: world-class wines, rolling countryside, gourmet food and warm country hospitality.
This November, it will appeal to one of life’s other irresistible pleasures – professional golf – when the Greg Norman-co-designed The Vintage plays host to the NSW Open.
And in a coup for tournament organisers, reigning champion Lucas Herbert will be back and extra-determined to defend his title in a region he admits to knowing very little about.
At 29, the Bendigo-born LIV Golf star has already forged a career that places him among Australia’s elite exports. A three-time champion on the DP World Tour and a PGA Tour winner, “Herbie” could be excused for saving his off-season break from Ripper GC duties for Australia’s two marquee national tournaments. For him to add a domestic tournament – albeit a treasured one – in NSW wine country is a ringing endorsement of the NSW Open’s newfound stature and allure.
“It’s always really special to defend a tournament you have won the year prior,” Herbert tells Australian Golf Digest. “It’s a good way to rediscover some form, especially with some great memories from last year coming back.”
His 2024 NSW Open victory at Murray Downs was vintage Herbert – fearless ball-striking, an iron will on the greens and that intangible ability to produce his best when the stakes are highest. Now, with his name etched alongside legends such as Norman, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson, Herbert understands the responsibility – and the pride – in returning to defend. He’s taking it so seriously, in fact, he’s planned a little reconnaissance mission.
“I haven’t spent much time in the NSW Hunter Valley at all, but we have a trip there with some lads in October, so I am looking forward to checking it out and sampling some grapes,” he says.
The setting for this year’s championship is worthy of the occasion. The Vintage, located in the heart of Pokolbin, is a Norman and Bob Harrison creation that has matured into one of the most popular golf destinations in the country. Opened in 2003, it is currently ranked 53rd in Australian Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses, blending strategic challenge on the fairways with absolute resort luxury off them.
“The Vintage Golf Club is thrilled to host the Ford NSW Men’s Open on our course, and we can’t wait to welcome the players and guests to the Hunter Valley,” says Jodie Staples, director of sales and marketing at The Vintage Golf Club.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our beautiful grounds while celebrating the sport we love. We look forward to hosting an incredible event.”
The routing takes full advantage of the Hunter Valley’s natural amphitheatre. Broad fairways weave through vineyards, wetlands and woodlands. The greens are subtly contoured, the bunkering bold yet refined and the par-4s demand precision and imagination in equal measure. For Herbert, who thrives on power off the tee and putting finesse on the greens, low numbers will be there for the taking.
Stuart Fraser, chief executive officer of Golf NSW, was thrilled with the decision to return to The Vintage for the first time in more than a decade.
“This year’s Ford NSW Open presents a fantastic opportunity for us to ensure the tournament continues to be the most prestigious state championship on the Australian golf calendar,” Fraser said.
“Murray Downs was a fabulous venue for last year’s tournament, and the crowds we saw throughout the week proved how thirsty the public are for elite-level golf. The general public of the greater Newcastle and Hunter region has a real love of world-class sport, and we know fans of the game will throw their support behind our flagship event.”
It’s certainly a tantalising proposition for golf and wine lovers alike – spend a morning watching Herbert thread iron shots through Norman’s corridors and an afternoon sampling semillons and shirazes from cellar doors just minutes away.
Entry to the golf is free, however spectators are encouraged to register for tickets at nswopen.com
Notable past NSW Open champions
1976,’79 Jack Newton
1981 Bill Rogers
1984 Ian Baker-Finch
1978, ’83, ’86, ’88 Greg Norman
1987, ’92 Craig Parry
2004 Peter Lonard
2015 Ben Eccles (a)
2017 Jason Scrivener
2018 Jake McLeod
2019 Josh Younger
2021 Bryden MacPherson
2022 Harrison Crowe (a)
2023 David Micheluzzi
2024 Lucas Herbert
Photographs by nick wall (the vintage); Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf (herbert)
