I just got back from my 19th trip to Australia, with all trips beginning in 2007 involving part or all of my trip on the Mornington Peninsula, in late March.
After my fifth trip, I became an overseas member at The National.
On the first trip, I played The Dunes as my first course in Australia. The next day I played The Moonah Course on the National, followed by The Ocean Course the same day. The Ocean was renovated before Covid and became Gunnamatta. The Ocean was the least played course among the three courses then. Gunnamatta became the busiest course after the renovation.
The Old is the favorite of some members, largely due to the beauty of the views from part of virtually every hole. That being said, I generally prefer Moonah and Gunnamatta over The Old. But I never worry about which of the three courses I'd play on a given day.
The Dunes and St. Andrews Beach are the two highest ranked public courses in the area. Green fee is about $100 AUD.
Of the Moonah Links courses, I prefer The Legends course. The Open has bunkering features that seemed like what one of the issues with The Ocean - too many and in the wrong place.
I played Barwon Heads and Thirteenth Beach, Beach Course, on one trip many years ago. The proximity of The National and the other courses made it seem like work getting to Barwon Heads and Thirteenth Beach.
I generally anticipate seeing one snake per trip. I usually see them at a distance. By late fall and early winter, they won't be out that much. They are all venomous, which removes ambiguity about what to do.
Best wishes for a great trip. I'm returning in November.
Charles Lund