Until I had arrived in Melbourne, I didn’t realize how much of a topic St Andrews Beach was amongst the local golf aficionados. Among the things I heard, some told me it’s too tough of a walk (I walked and survived along with Ross Tuddenham and local celebrity Mark Ferguson), too many blind shots, some think 3 green isn’t receptive enough on the approach (I held the green downwind), many think the 9th green is too wild (3 jack for me) some think the 10th green is too small of a target (I hit it to 10 feet with a 3 iron), and others told me the gaps between holes were too significant (ok, maybe). Well, aside from those things mentioned, and those were brought up the most to me, I felt that St Andrews Beach was a wonderful golf course and a course that all visitors to the Melbourne area should definitely play.
The property is beautiful, the hole corridors and the width is tremendous to allow for the strong winds, the turf was firm and fast, there are a couple amazing shorts 4s in holes #2 and #14 (especially #2), the 3rd and 13th greens sit in a cool stadium type of bowl, there’s an excellent par 3 in the uphill 6th where the green is situated on top of a ridge, the wild undulations on the 14th fw were cool, there’s the redan-esque kickboard on the 16th, and I thought that 18 green was beautifully situated in its surrounds.
I hit every club in my bag at least once, I didn’t lose a ball (and it was fairly windy), and the course presented itself in being suitable for all levels of players. Whether or not you’re a fan of SAB ( I definitely am ), like I said, all visitors to the area should head down to play it. Oh, and for all the discussion that comes with the course, I got to enjoy this fast course with plenty of ground movement, beautiful views, and interesting and varying greens for the tidy sum of $59 AUD. Try and top that anywhere else!
Now a few photos….
As always in Australia
Bombs away on #1
Up the hill on David Elvins’ favorite short 4 in the world
Approach into the 3rd
short of 3 green
Par 3 #4 – reminds me a little of #13 at RCCC
5 tee
Up the hill on the 6th
Green from the left
The cool 7th green from 8 tee
8 tee
9 from the back tee
10 tee or #1 at Shinnecock?
10 green from back left
Par 3 11th
Looking up 12 from the outside of the dogleg
Up over the rise on 13
Flag high left off the tee on 14
15 tee
Down the hill on the redan-esque 16th
17 tee
17 green from the far left up towards 18
From the right fw bunker on 18