Day 37: The Vintage & Chateau Elan Hunter Valley, Unforgettable, in Every Way…

With Kim Whitehouse and Ray Manulat, my hosts at The Vintage, along with Dog Tache!

With Kim Whitehouse and Ray Manulat, my hosts at The Vintage, along with Dog Tache!

Day No. 37, by all accounts, was definitely one of the best days of the ‘Golf Journey to Australia!’ I woke up in a bed of luxury at the Chateau Elan, the Australian version, with The Stevens Group, of American entrepreneur Dan Panoz’s (who invented time-release medication through a transdermal nicotine patch) Chateau Elan outside of Atlanta.

My hosts, Kim Whitehouse and Ray Nabulat, had a special surprise for me as I walked over to the clubhouse for a game of golf. Australia (& the world’s) legendary tennis star John Newcombe would be joining me and Ray for my first look at the Greg Norman designed parkland course that has strong links characteristics (once the ball hits the ground, especially around the green complexes, there is unexpected movement from bumps, swales and hollows, which are well hidden from the eye of this golfer. I can’t tell you how down-to-earth ‘Newks’ is, just the nicest guy to play golf with. But I will tell you when I write the feature article.

With the great Australian tennis legend John Newcombe. A really good golfer too!

With the great Australian tennis legend John Newcombe. A really good golfer too!

After playing the back nine I interviewed Mr. Newcombe (hey he is a double Hall of Famer- Australian Sport and International Tennis), Ray (who is one of those sort of quiet guys in the world of golf who has golfed and worked in golf all over the world), Golf Course Superintendent Steve Harris and Golf Instructor Richard Mercer.

Out of all those interviews the longest by far was with Richard Mercer. Already a small world for me here in Australia, I should have recognized and placed the Mercer name. Richard’s father is David Mercer, long time pro at Killara Golf Club in Sydney and his uncle is Alec Mercer who I met and interviewed at the Open at The Australian Golf Club. Here is the interview with Alex Mercer. I think I can do a series of articles with the 40 or so minutes of interviewing Richard. So much insight into great Australian golfers like Kel Nagel, Greg Norman and Adam Scott. Stay tuned for those videos!

Thanks Matt and Christie for the John Legend Concert tip! Have fun tomorrow!

Thanks Matt and Christie for the John Legend Concert tip! Have fun tomorrow!

After lunch I headed out to walk and play the front nine. I met Christie and Matt on the 5th green and let them play through but learned that John Legend is in Hunter Valley for a concert tomorrow. Actually, the concert is right next door at the Bimbadgen Winery and the stage is less than a driver from the 7th green at The Vintage.

I could go on and on but I need to go to sleep now so I can wake up and it will be tomorrow. Needless to say the rest of the day was even better. Some wine and cheese with Linda Miles, the sommelier along with some interesting conversation about how she reads her customers not all that different that how Richard or any golf instructor understands there students. More to be revealed in the feature article. Newks asked me to play 18 with his tomorrow and be his partner! Kim extended my stay a night so I could do so and produced a ticket for me for the John Legends concert. Samantha gave me a sports massage incorporating reflexology all over my body, not just the feet, from what I could tell. Then Executive Chef Tony Maher created a Grange T-Bone steak cooked much to my liking. As I sat there in the restaurant, Nate King Cole and his daughter Natalie sang ‘Unforgettable,’ and all I could do is smile and agree that one day at The Vintage is unforgettable, in every way!

It has been an incredible day here at The Vintage and Chateau Elan in Hunter Valley.

I don’t want the day to end but I do want tomorrow to start!

Definitely a magical place!

An absolute THRILL to play golf with the legendary Australian tennis player John Newcombe. Quite unexpected but this is how it came to be at The Vintage and Chateau Elan Spa…   (Facebook Post 1 Pic, Andy Reistetter, 12/5/14)

With Richard Mercer, one of Australia's finest and most respected golf instructors.

With Richard Mercer, one of Australia’s finest and most respected golf instructors.

Steve Harris' son Zac swinging under the watchful eye of Greg Norman.

Steve Harris’ son Zac swinging under the watchful eye of Greg Norman.

The 148-meter (+10% to get to yards) par-3 fifth hole, a beauty!

The 148-meter (+10% to get to yards) par-3 fifth hole, a beauty!

Wine & Cheese & Interesting Conversation with The Vintage's Sommelier Linda Miles.

Wine & Cheese & Interesting Conversation with The Vintage’s Sommelier Linda Miles.

I was ready for my sport massage for sure!

I was ready for my sport massage for sure!

Dinner was a fantastic way to end an exciting and fabulous day!

Dinner was a fantastic way to end an exciting and fabulous day!