Australia Golf

[Glen Rapoport]

Just got informed of a family wedding taking place in Melbourne in September 2006.  Can anyone suggest 1.reading material 2. course selection 3. minumum time for this trip 4. reasonable itineary without trying to do too much.  Thanks in advance.


Glen

[Jason Topp]

I would start here:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinioncohn1.html

If you search for all of my posts you will find several threads in planning my recent trip as well as my thoughts on some of the courses.

I arranged the trip on my own and found it was not much work.  I just contacted the clubs through their websites.

Phillip Gawith used a tour operator and should be able to shed some light on going that route.

I stayed at the Novatel St. Kilda.  It was a nice location on the water in between the sandbelt and the CBD.

[Jason Topp]

This was the original thread:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=16261;start=msg282027#msg282027

I would also recommend considering Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania.

[Mark Bourgeois]

I would start here:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/opinioncohn1.html

I stayed at the Novatel St. Kilda.  It was a nice location on the water in between the sandbelt and the CBD.

St. Kilda's got a good vibe. The service downtown at the Westin is top-notch.

Make a reservation right now to eat at the Flower Drum.

[Chris Kane]

How long is a piece of string?  You could spend anything from two days to three weeks in two weeks in Victoria, and play a good course every day.

The only must-plays are Royal Melbourne (West) and Kingston Heath.  Others worth playing on the sandbelt are (in no particular order) Commonwealth, Metropolitan, Royal Melbourne (East), Victoria, Woodlands and Yarra Yarra.

On the Mornington Peninsula (an hour from Melbourne), consider Peninsula (North), The National (Moonah and/or Old), Portsea, St Andrews Beach, The Dunes.

I'm not sure what your budget is, the sandbelt courses will cost you $150-300 as a manager's guest, and the others will be $60-150.

[JESII]

On top of the courses mentioned make sure to get up to Sydney while there (one hour flight at about $200 RT) and play New South Wales. Melbourne is really cool, and Sydney is breathtaking, as is NSW.

[Tyler Kearns]

Glen,

I am leaving for a 2-month journey to Australia in early February, with the first month dedicated to golfing while my wife in working. I contacted Michael Clayton, who advised me on the "must-sees";

SYDNEY - New South Wales and Newcastle
ADELAIDE - Royal Adelaide and Kooyonga
MELBOURNE - Royal Melbourne (East & West), Kingston Heath, Woodlands,    Peninsula (North), Metropolitan, Yarra Yarra, Commonwealth
MORNINGTON PENINSULA - Portsea, National (Moonah), St. Andrews's Beach
TASMANIA - Barnbougle Dunes

I've added a few others, namely Royal Sydney, Victoria and Huntingdale to my itinerary, and perhaps a few others on the Peninsula like 13th Beach and the Dunes.

Everybody I have contacted, through this website and at each club has been extremely helpful and accomodating. I sent formal letters of introduction to most of the clubs, but at Jason said, contacting them through their website will also work nicely.

TK

[Jason Topp]

If you are without kids, this might interest you:

http://www.golfselect.com.au/offers/offerView.aspx?offer_id=F8929BAF-7214-4D91-B62D-FAEBAE58A7DD

[Andrew Summerell]

Glen,

1. Reading material that is worthwhile:
- The Sandbelt: Melbourne's Golfing Heaven (Paul Daley)
- Golf Courses of the Morningtong Peninsula (Ross Perrett & Kimbal Baker)

2. Course selection:
The course selection given by Chris is spot on.

3. Minimum time for this trip:
2 weeks will see you play all the courses you need without over doing it.

4. Reasonable itineary without trying to do too much:
I would suggest if you want to play courses in the sandbelt & Mornington Peninsula you are best to organise accomodation near the sandbelt for 2/3 of you trip & separate accomodation near the peninsula for the other 1/3. This will cut down driving time.

The sandbelt is relatively compact, with many of the courses bordering each other, so if you are playing 2 courses in one day the decisions are made easy for you.

There will be a bit more driving on the Mornington Peninsual, but not an over amount. Plus, clubs like The National have 3 courses, 2 of which are worthwhile, & if staying down that way, your only long drive will be to Portsea.

I wouldn't bother going to 13th Beach, because it's on the Bellarine Peninsula which requires a very long drive or a trip on a car ferry.

Melbourne is pretty easy to get around, so I would suggest you hire a car & drive yourself. I'm from Sydney, but have little trouble finding my way in Melbourne & I'm directionally inept, so if I can get places, you will have no trouble.

accom.com.au is a reasonable Australian accomodation site.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Melbourne is pretty easy to get around, so I would suggest you hire a car & drive yourself. I'm from Sydney, but have little trouble finding my way in Melbourne & I'm directionally inept, so if I can get places, you will have no trouble.

Manage the hook turns, do you, Andrew?

[Andrew Summerell]

Melbourne is pretty easy to get around, so I would suggest you hire a car & drive yourself. I'm from Sydney, but have little trouble finding my way in Melbourne & I'm directionally inept, so if I can get places, you will have no trouble.

Manage the hook turns, do you, Andrew?

Nothing like turning right from the left hand lane.

Trying to avoid them once caused me to take one & a half hours to get back to my hotel that was only half an hour away.

We won't tell Glen that, though.

[Mike_Clayton]

Glen,

There is good accommodation in the clubhouse at Victoria - 30 minutes from the middle of the city and in the heart of the sandbelt - and at Peninsula - 50 minutes from the city and 30 minutes from the middle of the courses on the Mornington Peninsula.
Contact Peter Stackpole at Vic. and Gary Richardson at Peninsula if you are interested. Vic.especially have some unbelievable deals in quiet times like $150 for bed,3 meals and golf.

Most will tell you the same thing about the courses to play.
Ranfurlie is 15 minutes from Peninsula and also worth a hit.

[Andrew Summerell]

Ranfurlie is 15 minutes from Peninsula and also worth a hit.

Sorry Mike, I should have mentioned Ranfurlie. It is well worth a round. Like I said, if it was in Sydney it would be the 2nd best course.

[Sean Walsh]

I'm suprised that of the courses mentioned Barwon Heads has not rated a mention.  

They also have on course accomodation and the course and club house are wonderful.  Unlike the Peninsula courses that some what question whether they are links, this is a true links.

All that would be required is to finish your golf on the Mornington Peninsula by 4.30 then head to portsea and take the ferry across to Queenscliff.  within 45 minutes you would be at the course.  

I personaly would put it before all but RM, KH, Victoria, St A's Beach.  I haven't played Portsea or woodlands but from discussion on this site would put it at the same need to play level.  With the time you appear to have it would be a shame to miss this area of the coast.

Also if I were coming to Vic for Sandbelt golf then The Victoria Clubhouse would be the no 1 choice for accomodation.  Both for price and position.  Although if you want to stay in the city ask Philip GAWITH where he stayed that was a great position.

[Shane Sullivan]

My husband and I are doing a golf trip in February in Victoria and I would appreciate some advice.

Currently we are playing Moonah Links, St Andrews Beach, Portsea, Kingston Heath and Woodlands.  (We are also getting down to Barnbougle Dunes).

We did a similar trip two years ago and then we played Victoria, Huntingdale, Royal Melbourne, the National (Old and Moonah), 13th Beach, the Dunes, Cape Schank and my husband also played Sorrento.

My question is this:  I can add one more course either in the Mornington or the sandbelt.  Which one do I add?  

[Mike_Clayton]

Shane,

Go to Peninsula - play the North and the first 10 on the South.

Tyler,

I obviously forgot to include Victoria on the list I sent you.I'm glad you included it.
I look forward to catching up when you get here.

[Chris Parker]

Glen,

I've never been to Oz (I'm jealous!), so I can't recommend any courses, but I can recommend a great book.

My sister brought me back the 2002 edition of the Australian Golf Course Guide when she returned from her year-long trip "down under" four years ago.  The 2006 edition is available here.  It profiles every golf course in Australia, provides comprehensive maps, and also offers numerous discounts.  Well worth the purchase, even if it is just for reference!



Also, check out ausgolf.com if you're unfamiliar with it.

[Glen Rapoport]

To all of you who have taken the trouble to give me so much advice so soon....thank you.....just ordered the Australian Course guide and will now start the research and fantasizing phase of this trip.  If anyone else has more suggestions....bring it on.  Thanks again

Glen

[Brad Klein]

Over lunch the other day I tried explaining to Glen the right hand turn from the left lane in Melbourne. I'd have been better off trying to straighten out my bowl of spaghetti. The first time I saw it, while taking a morning stroll from our hotel, I stood on the corner and watched in amazement and had no idea what was going on.

Anyone know the history of that maneuver?

I'm a big fan on golf trips of not trying to do too much, and if you do something extra, make it different. For a first timer over there, I'd suggest getting immersed in the Melbourne area and the Victoria coast and a side trip to Tasmania/Barnbougle, and if forced to decide I'd opt for that over going to Sydney. New Souht Wales GC is amazing, but otherwise there's not enough other special places in Sydney to warrant such a diversion.

Also, I always think it's a good thing to focus on what you do see and never worry about you're not able to see. Melbourne/Mornington is enough to fill up two weeks easily.

[Glen Rapoport]

Help....what is a "hook turn"?  Is is different from driving on the left in the UK and making a right turn.  Do they have the ubiquitous "round a bout" all over in Australia?

Glen

[Sean Walsh]

Re the hook turn, Try standing in the middle of one attempting to direct traffic while also avoiding being run over.  First week out of the academy.  Weeds out the one's with ordinary spatial awareness.  Closest call was from some idiot talking away on his mobile phone.  Maybe that's why I still refuse to own one  

Hook turns are there to allow an easier flow of traffic for the Trams.  They obviously take up the centre of the road and this way are not prevented from going straight ahead by a right turner waiting for traffic.  Works quite well when drivers are used to them.

Also Roundabouts abound.

And as I have said in many other threads please, please, please give Barwon Heads some thought for your itineraries.  Would make a good one or two night stopover on the way back to the airport from the Mornington Peninsula.

[Philip Gawith]

Glen - have a look on the internet for the book Darius Oliver did on Australian golf. I think you will find it quite a nice "taster".

I stayed in  central Melbourne at a hotel called the Langham. Not cheap, but very well located and I would recommend it - though it is c 40 min drive from the courses.

[ed_getka]

bump