Roger:
Your excitement comes through loud and clear.
Next to authentic linksland, a heathland ennvironment represents the best golfing terrain, in part, because of the sandy subsoil, and the plethora of dwarf species plants that predominate. The heaths are stunning, but sadly in Britain, are being thinned out. This has been a slow, but insidious trend for many years.
On many heathland courses it is not uncomon to find heather (many varieties) gorse, broom, bracken, lichen, plus trees such as: birch, scots pine and oaks. Heathland regions are commonly referred to as: upland or lowland heaths.
Evolutionary wise, much has gone into the formation of heathlands. In Britain, one of the key moves was when the early farmers cleared the land of trees to pave the way for grazing. Some elements: turf, heather, gorse, were collected, and utilised as fuel.
While this enabled humans to survive, the activity ensured that trees would not reappear.
Just as there is no one kind of linksland, heathland content greatly varies. Some areas are colonised only by low-lying bushes and grasses, other heaths contain heavily wooded and dense scub. Some heaths are a combination of both of these examples.
The Melbourne Sandbelt contains 13 or so golf courses. Around 1891, though, vast heathlands roamed over the many suburbs stretching out from the city, down to the bayside suburbs, such as Frankston. Indeed, Royal Melbourne's original location was East Malvern and with many fairways lined by golden gorse, and other heathland species, it served to remind homesick Brits about their mother country. Today, the heaths have all but vanished on account of urbanisation!