Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: Ally Mcintosh on January 03, 2025, 06:41:30 AM
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I’ve never been to Australia.
I have reason to travel to Singapore occasionally and am thinking I might add one week in Australia end of this year or next.
If you had one week for a first - and potentially only - visit, what would you do? I’ll play 36 on one or maybe two days but will not do it at different clubs. One day, one club.
Let’s pretend access or cost no issue but I’ll need downtime in the evenings so max one internal return flight once there.
Not all about “best” but a good percentage of best will be preferred. I can look at rankings but you guys are the ones that actually know…
Thanks for humouring me…..
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Ally,
Easy - come to Melbourne. At the risk of upsetting people there is more really good golf within an hour of Royal Melbourne than there is in the rest of the country. (Sandbelt and Mornington Peninsula)
Take a day, fly to Hobart, and play Seven Mile Beach. You can take the 7.00am plane down from Melbourne, play 36 and get the 6.00pm plane back. Easily - the course is 10 minutes from the airport.
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Ally,
The Aussie GCA boys and girls are very generous hosts. Wherever you choose, you’ll be well looked after. I’d second Mike’s thoughts on Melbourne. Cracking Courses, fun city, much architectural interest - well worth the visit. Mind you, Sydney’s not far behind! Can’t speak for the home cities of our other down under brethren, unfortunately. Hope they all might chime in. You’d need a good month to see it all.
Have fun!
Cheers,
M.
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Melbourne only.
I've went to Tasmania, Sydney and Adelaide over 18 days. You don't have enough time for two destinations and there's too much to see in Melbourne to go elsewhere. You can even play 36 a few days while there.
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I can look at rankings but you guys are the ones that actually know…
Don't let rankings push the agenda. Woodlands, Commonwealth and Yarra Yarra have as many lessons as Metro and Victoria. Just play as much as you can, each course has something special to share. Don't miss East, it has holes every bit as good as the West. Enjoy. Trip changed me. Laval was the result.
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I had a month there 8 years ago. With only 7 days, I think Mike C's shout is right, though that means missing Barnbougle. I don't know whether you could do a day at 7 Mile, then 36 (or more) at Barnbougle the next day then back to Melbourne?
NSW (and Newcastle) and Royal Adelaide are all worth seeing but not worth losing the travelling time for if you only have 7 days.
When are you thinking this might be, by the way? I'm seriously contemplating (as in almost certain to do) a couple of weeks at the end of the year to coincide with ticking Boxing Day at the MCG for an Ashes Test off my bucket list.
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Great to hear this Ally. Go for it asap!
Indeed I and my clubs were in Melbourne, Tasmania and King Island last year and I will be heading that way again this coming November on the way to NZ.
It’s not really necessary to say it but Melbourne (Sandbelt and Mornington Peninsula) and Tasmania (including King Island) have exceptional golf. So too apparently does the Bellarine Peninsula (on the other side of Port Phillip Bay) although I’ve not seen any courses thereabouts.
Question is how much can be squeezed in during one week?
The old golf-tour adage of ‘any time spent in a car, train or plane is lost golf time’ very much applies.
Therefore some related things to consider:
Flights. It’s a bloody long way even with a stopover. Arrive as fresh as possible (thus maybe not via a crowded flight seated in economy class). Through careful choice of arrival/departure times more golf can be squeezed in.
Melbourne Airport is the opposite side of the city to the Sandbelt and the Mornington Peninsula.
The Melbourne suburb of Sandringham would be a good area to base yourself. Nice area, close to all Sandbelt courses and easy travelling to/from Mornington Peninsula.
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If there’s a strong desire to see Barnbougle, the King Island courses or 7 Mile Beach then more flights will be needed which may entail time travelling to/from Melbourne Airport if flights aren’t available from a local airport such as Moorabbin. There are specific golf tour flights from Moorabbin direct to/from Barnbougle and King Island. Locals will better know relevant details.
Time of year. Not just weather wise but daylight considerations and the dates of other busy Melbourne events (eg Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup etc) depending on whether you’d like to avoid or attend them!
As to courses, you’ll regret it if you don’t play Royal Melbourne (West) and Kingston Heath. Otherwise Victoria in particular is delightful but all are meritorious and well worth playing. My suggestion would be to take the advice of the locals on the worthiness of playing the various others. I doubt though if any will disappoint. If time and flights allow Barnbougle Dunes and Cape Wickham in particular (and I’m confident 7MB too) are unforgettably magnificent.
Go, go, go! Wonderful place. Fabulous golf.
Atb
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I had a month there 8 years ago. With only 7 days, I think Mike C's shout is right, though that means missing Barnbougle. I don't know whether you could do a day at 7 Mile, then 36 (or more) at Barnbougle the next day then back to Melbourne?
It would be two very, very long days I think. Google says it's just over three hours drive from Hobart airport (which is right next to Seven Mile Beach) to Barnbougle. You'd have to do that after golf, and you'd need to get a one way car hire to Launceston unless you wanted to have to make the drive in reverse the next day. I suppose you _could_ just about get a very early flight down to Hobart, pick up a car, play golf, drive to Barnbougle, do 36 the next day, then drive to Launceston and get the last flight back to Melbourne, but I think you would have to be certifiably insane to do so. Otherwise it's three of your seven days.
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I had a month there 8 years ago. With only 7 days, I think Mike C's shout is right, though that means missing Barnbougle. I don't know whether you could do a day at 7 Mile, then 36 (or more) at Barnbougle the next day then back to Melbourne?
It would be two very, very long days I think. Google says it's just over three hours drive from Hobart airport (which is right next to Seven Mile Beach) to Barnbougle. You'd have to do that after golf, and you'd need to get a one way car hire to Launceston unless you wanted to have to make the drive in reverse the next day. I suppose you _could_ just about get a very early flight down to Hobart, pick up a car, play golf, drive to Barnbougle, do 36 the next day, then drive to Launceston and get the last flight back to Melbourne, but I think you would have to be certifiably insane to do so. Otherwise it's three of your seven days.
Pretty much as I thought. I'm going to have a couple of weeks (though at least one of those days will be at the MCG watching Duckett and Crawley slaying Australia's bowling (or, alternatively, Mark Wood blowing their batting away) and one will be Christmas Day). But I do want to see 7 Mile Beach (I saw the site 8 years ago, before construction had started) and the two courses at Barnbougle are World class. Then there's the pinot noir.........
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Thanks all,
Seems like two options:
Option 1: Seven days in the Melbourne area. This one is likely the sensible one allowing me downtime… or
Option 2: Melbourne & Tasmania. Much as Mike’s suggestion makes sense, I’m not sure I could travel to Tasmania and not see Barnbougle. So flight dependent, I could maybe do something like this? (Tell me if I’m mad): Day 1&2 in Melbourne. Day 3 morning round in Melbourne, fly to Hobart and drive to Barnbougle. Day 4: 36 in Barnbougle Day 5: Drive to Hobart, play 7 Mile Beach, fly to Melbourne. Day 6&7 in Melbourne.
I’d do my work in Singapore before hopping over so much of the jet lag would be gone… Likely December but more likely 2026 than 2025… although I knew I’d start scheming as soon as I posted this!
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Option 2: Melbourne & Tasmania. Much as Mike’s suggestion makes sense, I’m not sure I could travel to Tasmania and not see Barnbougle. So flight dependent, I could maybe do something like this? (Tell me if I’m mad): Day 1&2 in Melbourne. Day 3 morning round in Melbourne, fly to Hobart and drive to Barnbougle. Day 4: 36 in Barnbougle Day 5: Drive to Hobart, play 7 Mile Beach, fly to Melbourne. Day 6&7 in Melbourne.
If you're going to try that, you can fly into Launceston from Melbourne on Day 3, and save yourself a couple of hours driving up from Hobart. I'm sure you can get a one-way car rental for not much more.
There are also DIRECT small-plane flights from an airport in the middle of the Sandbelt right to a grass landing strip at Barnbougle. Usually those are for groups going down; I don't know if there is a chance of being an extra passenger on someone else's trip, but it's worth looking into.
Personally, I would do Tasmania at the start or end of the trip, to save yourself going through the airport an extra time, although the Australian airports are pretty easy for domestic flights.
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There are also DIRECT small-plane flights from an airport in the middle of the Sandbelt right to a grass landing strip at Barnbougle. Usually those are for groups going down; I don't know if there is a chance of being an extra passenger on someone else's trip, but it's worth looking into.
There are specialist tour operators and small private plane airlines operating from Moorabbin Airport, which is the local airport that’s adjacent to various Sandbelt courses, taking tours direct to Barnbougle private airstrip (and King Island).
By the time you’re likely to be going I would expect such companies will be incorporating excursions to 7 Mile Beach flights as well.
As Tom suggests you may be able to piggy-back onto one of these tours/flights. Worth enquiring.
Atb
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Clayts is correct, if it's a week, Melbourne is the place.
Of course you could design an "ironman" trip, whenever I see an itinerary on WRX they seem to spend every non golfing minute travelling. Maybe hit all six states in Australia playing 36 holes per day, return home and head straight to a drip at the hospital.
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I would only note that your "one day, one club" rule probably shouldn't be a strict one when the courses are so close together. The longest drive between ten or so main sand belt courses is 20 minutes, and mostly more like 10 minutes from one to another. Hard to imagine skipping a course because it's a full 10 minutes away!
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I would only note that your "one day, one club" rule probably shouldn't be a strict one when the courses are so close together. The longest drive between ten or so main sand belt courses is 20 minutes, and mostly more like 10 minutes from one to another. Hard to imagine skipping a course because it's a full 10 minutes away!
It’s about my only rule, Matt. I find it quite ignorant to be at a great club and then have to rush off without experiencing it, just to get to a tee-time elsewhere…. Plus I’m not so young anymore. I’ll manage max 2 rounds of 36 in a 7 day visit. I’d rather miss courses than play more.
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Overnight flights from Singapore hit Sydney first thing in the morning, so if you wanted to see NSWGC (15min from Sydney airport) you could be picked up from the airport, play golf and then take an evening flight to Melbourne to attack the sandbelt the next day.
You start packing more into a week than you might have initially sought to, but when it’s all so far from home…
In Melbourne I think if you see RM West, Kingston Heath, Commonwealth, Victoria and Peninsula-Kingswood (North) then you’ve seen the variety of the Sandbelt and also the best of it.
The Barnbougle courses are superb, obviously, but if you’re coming to Australia to see Australian golf, there’s a very good argument that seeing National (Moonah) and National (Gunnamatta) or St Andrew’s Beach are a more valuable use of your time.
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It’s about my only rule, Matt. I find it quite ignorant to be at a great club and then have to rush off without experiencing it, just to get to a tee-time elsewhere….
It's a great rule. In the same way that turning up to play 18 holes at Muirfield and then leaving immediately to make a tee time at NBWL diminishes the experience of both clubs, the same is true of any great clubs anywhere. I enjoyed lunch after playing Kingston Heath every bit as much as the golf. KH, by the way, was the biggest positive surprise of my time in Australia (I did, admittedly, play it in almost perfect condition, the day before the World Cup started there). It is an absolute must see.
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Overnight flights from Singapore hit Sydney first thing in the morning, so if you wanted to see NSWGC (15min from Sydney airport) you could be picked up from the airport, play golf and then take an evening flight to Melbourne to attack the sandbelt the next day.
The idea of taking on NSW straight from the airport after 24 hours or more travelling immediately struck me as madness, even for a much better golfer than me. Then I re-read Ally's OP. If the journey from Singapore isn't too bad, then NSW really is worth seeing (and not just for the eye candy of cresting the hill at 5, possibly the most beautiful moment in golf?).
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Ally,
It's funny I was going for 7 days originally. Mentioned my plans to my wife and she said that makes no sense. She kept having me add days till the trip made far more sense "to her." We settled on 18 days. Figure out when you can go for more than one week. It's a once in a lifetime golf experience, make it that. Rushing around won't.
I went surfing, met Lloyd Cole in Sydney for drinks, played with Clayts, joined a beachside GCA get together in Melbourne. Give the trip room for more than rounds of golf.
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Ally
it has all been said. Plenty to see in Melbourne. Base yourself there.
If you do value seeing Barnbougle, then do a direct small plane flight from Moorabin to Barnbougle, and return at end of the day.
Trying to drive around the Launceston to Barnbougle roads to fit things in is likely to lead to silly decisions, eg driving at twilight. Bad things happen. The flight won't be cheap though.
Either stay longer, or keep it simple. If you must see Barnbougle, pay the money and for a fly-in/fly-out day trip from Moorabin and play Dunes and Lost Farm. Alternately, drive down to the Mornington Peninsula and see some other different golf landscapes.
James B (in Adelaide)
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Ally,
I would consider a one-way ticket as you may not want to return....... :D
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Ally I’m just interested to see how you combine all this great advice into a useable itinerary. It will be great regardless. ;D
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Well thanks again all. A lot to chew over.
It seems that many people are suggesting a two destination stop would take more than 7 days. If I go down that route, perhaps I can extend to 9. It won’t be Ian’s 18.
The Singapore-Sydney-Melbourne-home option seems as enticing as the Tasmania one.
Surprised how many people seem to think the Tasmania option is a jump too far (if I do do this, I will take Tom’s advice and schedule at the beginning or end of the trip. I likely won’t get the small charter plane though - want to see 7MB with Barnbougle. So particularly interested in James’s “bad things happen” comment, referring to the drive from Launceston).
Side question here as it got me thinking: Does Barnbougle have a passing resemblance to St Patrick’s? Always was very high up on the list of Tom’s courses I wanted to see because it appeared to be the closest to a GB&I links. But perhaps that’s exactly why I don’t need to see it?
Who knows? I will make something happen. And it will be based primarily or solely around the Melbourne / Mornington Peninsula area. Thanks for all the advice, both on here and by IM.
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Ally,
James would have been referring to the likelihood of hitting some of the local wildlife on the drive from Hobart to Bridport. The Launceston to Bridport drive tends to be Roadkill Central so I'd imagine that Hobart to Launceston would be similar. Hitting a kangaroo in a rental car tends to be a little expensive.
I wouldn't be surprised if the charter companies that currently do King Island and Barnbougle flights out of Melbourne add Hobart/Barnbougle once 7MB is up and running.
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[quote author=Ally Mcintosh link=topic=73482.msg1763257#msg1763257 date=1736066480
Side question here as it got me thinking: Does Barnbougle have a passing resemblance to St Patrick’s? Always was very high up on the list of Tom’s courses I wanted to see because it appeared to be the closest to a GB&I links. But perhaps that’s exactly why I don’t need to see it?
[quote]
I’m a big fan of both Barnbougle and St Patrick’s.
Both are wonderful while Tassie and Donegal are delightful to visit.
My recollection though is that they have very different grass types.
Others could likely elaborate further on the grass type aspect.
Atb
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[quote author=Ally Mcintosh link=topic=73482.msg1763257#msg1763257 date=1736066480
Side question here as it got me thinking: Does Barnbougle have a passing resemblance to St Patrick’s? Always was very high up on the list of Tom’s courses I wanted to see because it appeared to be the closest to a GB&I links. But perhaps that’s exactly why I don’t need to see it?
[quote]
I’m a big fan of both Barnbougle and St Patrick’s.
Both are wonderful while Tassie and Donegal are delightful to visit.
My recollection though is that they have very different grass types.
Others could likely elaborate further on the grass type aspect.
Atb
I don’t think so. I believe they’re both fescue
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Surprised how many people seem to think the Tasmania option is a jump too far (if I do do this, I will take Tom’s advice and schedule at the beginning or end of the trip. I likely won’t get the small charter plane though - want to see 7MB with Barnbougle. So particularly interested in James’s “bad things happen” comment, referring to the drive from Launceston).
Side question here as it got me thinking: Does Barnbougle have a passing resemblance to St Patrick’s? Always was very high up on the list of Tom’s courses I wanted to see because it appeared to be the closest to a GB&I links. But perhaps that’s exactly why I don’t need to see it?
Who knows? I will make something happen. And it will be based primarily or solely around the Melbourne / Mornington Peninsula area. Thanks for all the advice, both on here and by IM.
As a general rule we like to avoid driving through Roo or Wombat country between dusk and a few hours after dawn. I Drive through an area that has both and am ever vigilant at those times. Driving a hire car would multiply my anxiety considerably.
I’ve only seen the St Patrick’s site from over the fence at Rosapenna before it was reinvigorated. I wouldn’t liken either Barnbougle course to its terrain. My best comparison is a little bit The Island GC (but wider) with the nature of surrounding dunes, a little bit Lahinch in the general movement of Dunes especially.
It’s a question of whether the flight interlude is worth the hassle on such a short trip, especially when you have St Andrew’s Beach a short drive away. I love both courses at Barnbougle but might stick with getting the very most I could out of Melbourne in such a short stay.
Tasmania with the inclusion of 7MB has become worthy of a full week to itself. A rejig of Royal Hobart and whatever happens at Arms End & 5mb will cement Hobart as a great destination
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Surprised how many people seem to think the Tasmania option is a jump too far (if I do do this, I will take Tom’s advice and schedule at the beginning or end of the trip. I likely won’t get the small charter plane though - want to see 7MB with Barnbougle. So particularly interested in James’s “bad things happen” comment, referring to the drive from Launceston).
Side question here as it got me thinking: Does Barnbougle have a passing resemblance to St Patrick’s? Always was very high up on the list of Tom’s courses I wanted to see because it appeared to be the closest to a GB&I links. But perhaps that’s exactly why I don’t need to see it?
Who knows? I will make something happen. And it will be based primarily or solely around the Melbourne / Mornington Peninsula area. Thanks for all the advice, both on here and by IM.
As a general rule we like to avoid driving through Roo or Wombat country between dusk and a few hours after dawn. I Drive through an area that has both and am ever vigilant at those times. Driving a hire car would multiply my anxiety considerably.
I’ve only seen the St Patrick’s site from over the fence at Rosapenna before it was reinvigorated. I wouldn’t liken either Barnbougle course to its terrain. My best comparison is a little bit The Island GC (but wider) with the nature of surrounding dunes, a little bit Lahinch in the general movement of Dunes especially.
It’s a question of whether the flight interlude is worth the hassle on such a short trip, especially when you have St Andrew’s Beach a short drive away. I love both courses at Barnbougle but might stick with getting the very most I could out of Melbourne in such a short stay.
Tasmania with the inclusion of 7MB has become worthy of a full week to itself. A rejig of Royal Hobart and whatever happens at Arms End & 5mb will cement Hobart as a great destination
The most productive rejig of Royal Hobart and Tasmania GC would be to sell up, merge and move to the site of the third course at Seven Mile Beach.
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I’ve only played Royal Hobart once about 20 years ago it was pleasant on a flat but very Sandy site. I would have thought they can get more out of it but am also sure there’s a limit to how good it could be - Could it get to a Woodlands level at the current site?
Tasmania is a course with a few wonderful holes but also constraints of a site with too much severe elevation change.
The option you present is intriguing. Is there any chance of it being in play?
Sorry to hijack your thread Ally.
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Sean,
There is no chance RH could get anywhere near Woodlands (which Ally should definitely see when he's in Melbourne) and Tasmania has some spectacular views but it's flawed and destined to be an 80-100 Australian course.
It's in play if both clubs would commit to it - and assuming they can realise enough money to pay for the relocation.
One RH member I spoke told me the membership thought moving was a risk. I told him the real risk was not moving.
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One RH member I spoke told me the membership thought moving was a risk. I told him the real risk was not moving.
In the stockbroker business this is known as "talking your book". ;)
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One RH member I spoke told me the membership thought moving was a risk. I told him the real risk was not moving.
In the stockbroker business this is known as "talking your book". ;)
Tom,
I should have made clear the opportunity is for them to build the third course on the 7 MB site. There is room for 3 and maybe 4 - certainly a par 3 course.
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Ally
Given your limited time and restrictions - I'd stick to Melbourne (VIC) & Tasmania (I live in NSW so no State bias).
As for the 2 "must plays" in VIC = RMW and Kingston Heath. You could probably do RME on the same as RMW and count that as your 36 hole day. As someone mentioned earlier the drives between the courses on the Sandbelt are next to nothing eg: RM to Kingston Heath is only 15min.
You could spend 7 days on the Sandbelt but I would go for a small drive to the Mornington Peninsula to see something a bit different
Focusing on golf and nothing else I'd do something like
Day 1: Fly Singapore to Melb - play KH
Day 2: Play RMW & RME
Day 3: Drive to Mornington P - play National Gunnamatta
Day 4: Play National Moonah or St Andrews Beach drive back to Melb
Day 5: Play Victoria then fly to Launceston & drive 1hr up to Barnbougle
Day 6: Play Barnbougle Dunes then drive 3hrs to Hobart
Day 7: Play 7MB and fly home
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Ally
Given your limited time and restrictions - I'd stick to Melbourne (VIC) & Tasmania (I live in NSW so no State bias).
As for the 2 "must plays" in VIC = RMW and Kingston Heath. You could probably do RME on the same as RMW and count that as your 36 hole day. As someone mentioned earlier the drives between the courses on the Sandbelt are next to nothing eg: RM to Kingston Heath is only 15min.
You could spend 7 days on the Sandbelt but I would go for a small drive to the Mornington Peninsula to see something a bit different
Focusing on golf and nothing else I'd do something like
Day 1: Fly Singapore to Melb - play KH
Day 2: Play RMW & RME
Day 3: Drive to Mornington P - play National Gunnamatta
Day 4: Play National Moonah or St Andrews Beach drive back to Melb
Day 5: Play Victoria then fly to Launceston & drive 1hr up to Barnbougle
Day 6: Play Barnbougle Dunes then drive 3hrs to Hobart
Day 7: Play 7MB and fly home
Not the worst plan - assuming Day 1 is a Monday. Saturday on the member sandbelt clubs is barely better than impossible. St Andrews Beach is public and fine on Saturday.
I'd play St AB rather than play both Gunnamatta and Moonah at National but you can go wrong with them.
And it'd be a pity to come all this way and not see Barnbougle and Seven Mile Beach.
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There is a lot of hotel changes in such a trip. 4 different hotels in a week. 4 decent drives of 90 minutes or more.
And that is without knowing whether 7MB will be 100% open for whenever your visit occurs.
Less can be more for a golf trip and for a golf course.
James B
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Special courses are well, special, but not necessarily the norm, ie the Sandbelt courses are unique and many (all?) Mornington courses seem to be sand based.
If one wanted to experience what for want of better words are more typical Aussie/Victoria courses which courses would locals suggest be appropriate courses to visit that are reasonably close to Melbourne?
Atb
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Special courses are well, special, but not necessarily the norm, ie the Sandbelt courses are unique and many (all?) Mornington courses seem to be sand based.
If one wanted to experience what for want of better words are more typical Aussie/Victoria courses which courses would locals suggest be appropriate courses to visit that are reasonably close to Melbourne?
Atb
The courses on the Yarra river - Green Acres and Kew are decent examples of Melbourne golf away from the sandbelt. Both busy, thriving clubs. Healesville - an hour north/east of the city is the pick of the courses not on sand.
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Special courses are well, special, but not necessarily the norm, ie the Sandbelt courses are unique and many (all?) Mornington courses seem to be sand based.
If one wanted to experience what for want of better words are more typical Aussie/Victoria courses which courses would locals suggest be appropriate courses to visit that are reasonably close to Melbourne?
Atb
The courses on the Yarra river - Green Acres and Kew are decent examples of Melbourne golf away from the sandbelt. Both busy, thriving clubs. Healesville - an hour north/east of the city is the pick of the courses not on sand.
Thank you.
Atb
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I've been meaning to explore that cluster around the river; having lived here off and on for 20+ years and I have never played anything in that area. There is also Latrobe, Rosanna, Heidelberg and a few others.
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Ally,
FWIW, we flew in today to Melbourne and played Peninsula Kingswood North on our way to the Mornington Peninsula. I would highly recommend working it into your schedule. Really good bunkering, interesting greens, varied holes with doglegs/bends, and a good walk.
Ira
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Ally,
FWIW, we flew in today to Melbourne and played Peninsula Kingswood North on our way to the Mornington Peninsula. I would highly recommend working it into your schedule. Really good bunkering, interesting greens, varied holes with doglegs/bends, and a good walk.
Ira
Ira,
I'm up and down from St Andrews Beach the next week or so if you're around.
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Ally,
FWIW, we flew in today to Melbourne and played Peninsula Kingswood North on our way to the Mornington Peninsula. I would highly recommend working it into your schedule. Really good bunkering, interesting greens, varied holes with doglegs/bends, and a good walk.
Ira
Ira,
I'm up and down from St Andrews Beach the next week or so if you're around.
Mike,
We play National (Old) tomorrow and St Andrews Beach Saturday. Staying in Flinders tonight and Friday night. We then head to Melbourne for the Australian Open and four days of golf. It would be great to connect if it works for your schedule.
Ira
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Ally,
FWIW, we flew in today to Melbourne and played Peninsula Kingswood North on our way to the Mornington Peninsula. I would highly recommend working it into your schedule. Really good bunkering, interesting greens, varied holes with doglegs/bends, and a good walk.
Ira
Ira,
I'm up and down from St Andrews Beach the next week or so if you're around.
Mike,
We play National (Old) tomorrow and St Andrews Beach Saturday. Staying in Flinders tonight and Friday night. We then head to Melbourne for the Australian Open and four days of golf. It would be great to connect if it works for your schedule.
Ira
DM sent!
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Ally,
St Andrews Beach should be on your list as several people already have suggested. The routing does an ingenious job of using a relatively severe piece of land. I will be curious about your reaction because the sensibility of the course reminded me of Carne (albeit without the huge dunes). I also will be interested in your views of number 13 which I found on the edge between brilliance and diabolical.
One caution is that it is a busy course at least during summer so do not plan on a fast round.
Ira
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While I loved visiting Barnbougle, the combination of a Coore course and a Doak course can be found in many locations. Often, it is extremely windy - which is fun with the right attitude but can be brutal to the golf game. My memories of Tasmania are at least as much about the island as the golf.
Sandbelt golf cannot be found elsewhere and includes my favorite collection of golf courses. There is ample great golf to fill a week. If you go elsewhere, do so because you want to see other parts of the country.
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There has been lots of great advice on this thread - thank you once again - but I’ve heard something similar to that last post by Jason from a couple of people.
Only counter I’d say to Jason’s point is that Doak/Coore combination is quite common to those who live in the US, less so here. I’m more likely to visit Barnbougle than I am Bandon.
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There has been lots of great advice on this thread - thank you once again - but I’ve heard something similar to that last post by Jason from a couple of people.
Only counter I’d say to Jason’s point is that Doak/Coore combination is quite common to those who live in the US, less so here. I’m more likely to visit Barnbougle than I am Bandon.
And Tasmania has better Pinot Noir than Oregon.
Ducks for cover.
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AllyMy take would be to stay in Melbourne if you only have one week. A 36 hole day at Royal Melbourne to play both East and West. Then definitely Kingston Heath and Victoria. Then take your pick of Metropolitan, Commonwealth, Yarra Yarra and Woodlands. If you want to venture out of Melbourne slightly a day at Barwon Heads is very hard to beat, especially with an overnight stay in the clubhouse. Enjoy!
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Ally,
We just finished our once in a lifetime visit to Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. You undoubtably will choose great courses. So my final piece of unsolicited advice is that if you play any courses twice, I would choose Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne East. That is not because they are better than Royal Melbourne West. Rather, I found KH and East to be more subtle and to require more precision. This particularly was true of the greens at KH and the lines off of the tee for both courses.
You will have a great trip!
Ira