G. Shackelford covers the Mornington Peninsula courses

[David_Tepper]

GS's website has a nice blog, with a sizable collection of pictures, covering a number of the Mornington Peninsula courses:

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2011/11/26/australia-round-up-mornington-peninsula-courses.html   

[Ronald Montesano]

Am I the only dude who cannot access his site? At home or at work, I type in the URL and I get a simple "No Access" text message in the upper left corner of my browser. Thoughts? I've spoken with the home provider and with our tech guys at work and each one blames the other.

[Kyle Henderson]

Interesting to read of  Geoff's love for the 16th at St. Andrews Beach. That hole was pointed to as the weakest on the course by several Aussies with whom I spoke. Of course, the weakest hole at SAB is probably better than the best holes on most courses.

[Matthew Mollica]

GS was spot on re: Portsea. Good to get his take on the peninsula.

I find it hard to go past #2 as the best at St Andrews Beach. It is an incredibly good hole.

And, as time goes by, I find there's little that seperates National (Moonah) and (Old).

MM

[James Bennett]

Interesting to read of  Geoff's love for the 16th at St. Andrews Beach. That hole was pointed to as the weakest on the course by several Aussies with whom I spoke. Of course, the weakest hole at SAB is probably better than the best holes on most courses.

Kyle

I have not understood the lack of love for #16 at St Andrew's Beach.  I wonder whether this view is in part to the hole's very late conception (it wasn't part of the initial routing if I recall earlier debate).  This then pushed 17 tee over closer to 18.  It is perhaps the one area on the course which can be regarded as congested (16 geen/17 tee) and 16 has less width than all other holes at StAB.

I have always like 16 - perhaps it fits my eye.

James B

[Chip Gaskins]

I played Kingston Heath yesterday with nicest guy on this board....some guy named Kiteboy? :-)

The sand belt is an amazing place for pure golf ground!

Off to St Andrews Beach....

[David_Tepper]

Between the Sandbelt, the Mornington Peninsula and the climate year-round, it sounds like the greater Melbourne area could be the best golf region, in terms of both quality & quantity, in the world. Any other nominations?   

[Mark_F]

I have not understood the lack of love for #16 at St Andrew's Beach. 

James,

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the bunkering on 16 is among the worst on the course.  The left hand bunker particularly, is appalling.  Just a very poor shaping job.  It would look much better without:


It is also too easy to chunk a shot over the ridge and have it trundle down onto the green, yet a good player can be a trifle strong and have their ball carom off the green.

Just not a very well thought out hole at all.

[Kevin Pallier]

Mark

I could have guessed that the call re: 16th at SAB would have prickled with you 

[Mark_F]

Mark

I could have guessed that the call re: 16th at SAB would have prickled with you 

Kevin,

It would be interesting if one or both of the course's designers could say why the hole turned out the way it has.  They have nothing to fear - the developers are long gone, and if was their shapers' fault, it could just be a belated performance review.

Surely it is your pick for the least distinguished hole too?

[Jeremy Rudock]

Am I the only dude who cannot access his site? At home or at work, I type in the URL and I get a simple "No Access" text message in the upper left corner of my browser. Thoughts? I've spoken with the home provider and with our tech guys at work and each one blames the other.

Did you post a comment on his blog at any point that might have offended someone?  There's some thin skin over there by whomever monitors the posts for Geoff and the IP ban is used liberally.

[Kyle Henderson]

I have not understood the lack of love for #16 at St Andrew's Beach.  

James,

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the bunkering on 16 is among the worst on the course.  The left hand bunker particularly, is appalling.  Just a very poor shaping job.  It would look much better without:

The un-photoshopped view from the tee...



...and the critic beside his least favorite "Gunnamattan" feature.

[Mark_F]

The un-photoshopped view from the tee...

Kyle,

Not fair.  Your image almost makes the hole look acceptable. 

[Kevin Pallier]

Mark

I could have guessed that the call re: 16th at SAB would have prickled with you 

Kevin,

It would be interesting if one or both of the course's designers could say why the hole turned out the way it has.  They have nothing to fear - the developers are long gone, and if was their shapers' fault, it could just be a belated performance review.

Surely it is your pick for the least distinguished hole too?

Mark

One of them. As you know I'm not a huge fan of 13 and add to it 15 plus 10.

[Mark_F]

One of them. As you know I'm not a huge fan of 13 and add to it 15 plus 10.

Kevin,

Fair enough. 

I have never understood the general lack of love people have for 15.  It is a pretty cool hole.  A little like 5 in a way.  Tough to make birdie, easy to par. Subtlety with the drive, then approach, unless very long off the tee. Good green that has a lot more slope than it appears. 

[Michael Goldstein]

Geoff's podcast with Rod Morri is really good. 

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/?1322654605