Living the Golf Lifestyle: Owners’ experiences

When Paul was first introduced to picturesque Port Stephens by some close friends, he immediately knew he would eventually end up buying and living there.

"I had friends who moved to Nelson Bay from Sydney some years ago who continually raved about the place and frequently asked me to come up from Sydney and stay", recalls Paul. "Listening to them speak of the area, it was as if they had moved to paradise, so I eventually relented and came to visit."

"Well, they were right about it being a paradise and over the course of many subsequent visits, I decided at some point I would buy in the area, which I did approximately four years later. Although my friends lived in Nelson Bay, I decided to buy in Tanilba Bay because it's quieter, does not have the onslaught of tourists and holiday makers every school holidays, has a large Coles supermarket within a few minutes drive, has a handful of restaurants that continually expands and improves and is slightly closer to Sydney, to which I still need to travel every month", says Paul.

"Like most homes close to golf courses, my property is surrounded by nature with many trees that attract a range of birds such as Sulpher-crested Cockatoos, Rosellas, Frog Mouth Owls and various others. For the last two years a pair of Kookaburras has made a nest in one of the trees and raised their chicks. I'm fortunate to have a property backing on to waterfront and regularly see dolphins swimming past plus the occasional turtle poking his head up out of the water. There is also a bevy of black swans that often swims past and even a Koala makes his appearance known some nights with various grunts that must be Koala-speak. Driving past the golf course, I have sometimes seen Kangaroos bounding along beside the road or enjoying the grass and other vegetation", said Paul.

"Although I am not a die-hard golfer, I know should I ever retire, I will likely have more time to spend playing the game, to which I am looking forward. In the meantime, I'm happy to play the occasional round. Being only two hours from Sydney, my two sons sometimes drive up and play a game with me. Although my closest course is only 2 minutes away in Tanilba Bay, everyone in Port Stephens appears to be only 10 to 20 minutes drive from a championship course. I really can't believe the choice of splendid golf courses we have up here. It is remarkable and probably somewhat unique", says Paul.

"The additional benefit of living in a small town like Tanilba Bay is the fantastic community that exists in my street and amongst the suburb", Paul adds. "No matter what you need to do, there is always a neighbour who is prepared to lend a hand or someone that knows someone that will come to do the job."

Living anywhere in Port Stephens provides the resident with a broad choice of golf courses, all within just minutes drive away. Paul's home is almost equidistant between Pacific Dunes Golf Course in Medowie and Horizons Golf Course in Salamander Bay, both of which are Top 100 Courses in Australia. Driving a little further is a very nice course at Nelson Bay.

However venturing slightly further south enables Paul to play at Newcastle Golf Club, a Top 20 Australian Championship Golf Course. Driving south west to the Hunter Valley provides an enjoyable drive through pretty villages like Morpeth and Maitland plus various townships as well as an extensive variety of vineyards, making a wonderful day trip plus the opportunity for a round at Cypress Lakes, The Vintage or Ellerston Golf Courses.

"As a consequence of choosing a waterfront property that is so close to so many great golf courses, I feel like I have the best of both worlds", said Paul. "I have three golf courses within 2 to 20 minutes drive plus I'm able to enjoy the sight and sound of the sea lapping on the foreshore as well as the abundant nature located in this environment."