Inside Golf - September 2010

MELBOURNE’S MORNINGTON PENINSULA

MOTHER NATURE MUST HAVE BEEN A GOLFER

When the golfing gods spied the Mornington Peninsula, they surely must have smiled.

The Mornington Peninsula’s sand dunes create naturally contoured challenges and fast-draining soils. Add to this cool, refreshing sea breezes and you have a region that provides near-perfect, year round play.

The landscape delivers true links courses designed by the greats: Peter Thomson, Robert Trent Jones Jnr, Ross Perrett, Tony Cashmore and Greg Norman.

The result: a superb quality of golf that’s been likened to Monterey in California, the Hamptons near New York and Fife in Scotland.

A ‘TOP TO TOE’ GUIDE TO GOLF

Fourteen clubs (including eight of
Australia’s top 50) are within an
easy 30-minute drive, and there’s an
incredible variety of links, parkland and
resort play. Social golfers have plenty to
enjoy, while low handicappers will find a
real challenge.

Northernmost courses include the Mornington Golf Club, with 18 holes, fast greens and fairways high on cliffs above Port Phillip Bay. Devilbend Golf Club, an 18 hole, par 71 course of 6000 metres, is set in a peaceful flora and fauna reserve.

A little further south along Port Phillip Bay is Safety Beach Country Club, with a challenging 18 holes, easy walking and low green fees. Rosebud Country Club has 36 testing but not physically demanding holes, while Rosebud Park Public Golf Course has low green fees and 18 holes that keep you on your toes.

Next is The Cups region, home to some of Australia’s top-ranking courses, including the championship Eagle Ridge course with a magnificent clubhouse.

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY

Moonah Links, host for the Australian
Open in 2003 and 2005, has the Legends
course (Ross Perrett) and Open course
(Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett),
both in Australia’s top 20, with Peppers
Moonah Links Resort course-side.

The Dunes Golf Links is one of Australia’s best public access courses, with 27 holes designed by Tony Cashmore. Nearby is Portsea Golf Club offering fine links golf at, home of the annual Portsea Pro-Am.

The National Golf Club and RACV Cape Schanck Resort overlook the wilds of Bass Strait, with Cape Schanck featuring a vast 18 hole par 70 course. The National has three top 50 courses designed by Greg Norman, Robert Trent Jones Jnr a nd Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett.

The Golf Club St Andrews Beach is set in 175 acres of natural sand dunes and grasslands, while just around the corner in Western Port Bay is the century old Flinders Golf Club on a spectacular clifftop.

GREAT GOLF DEALS

> Play and Stay Package RACV Cape Schanck Two night’s accommodation Full buffet breakfast > Master the Devil Devilbend Golf Club Two rounds of 18 hole golf Free motorised cart hire > Two course play and stay Fairways, Rosebud CC and Eagle Ridge Two night’s accommodation Two rounds of golf Meal voucher > Stay and Play Package Peppers Moonah Links One night’s accommodation Full buffet breakfast 18 holes of golf with cart hire