A round of golf is not always about playing 18 holes, nor is it about tough challenges and breaking handicaps.
COPPERCLUB PORT HUGHES
Designed by Greg Norman on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula, two hours northwest of Adelaide, CopperClub has some of the best playing surfaces in South Australia.
Visitors will find 18 sets of tees across the nine-hole layout, which is made up of two par-5s, two par-3s and five par-4s.
One of those par-4s – the 294-metre 2nd – is considered among the best short two-shotters in the country. It is a terrific short four with an expansive sandy wasteland bunker to the left and visually striking, intimidating bunkers guarding the right-front portion of the green. This creates choices for line and length that vary considerably depending on wind direction and speed. Unless the drive is long and true, lay up your approach left of the bunkers and chip it on from there.
Ideally, you should play away from the flag if it is in front of the pot bunker, which is cut in the middle of the massive double green shared with the 5th hole.
Green fee: $36 (nine holes)
VICTORIA
APOLLO BAY GC
Apollo Bay is one of Victoria’s most popular summer tourist destinations along the famous Great Ocean Road.
For any visiting golfer, the town’s little nine-hole course will be a memorable stop.
Located on Point Bunbury, Apollo Bay is an exposed links with commanding ocean views, none better than standing over a putt on the 3rd green.
The nine-hole course has four par-3s and five par-4s, with alternate tees on some holes and two greens on another, all of which makes for an interesting and enjoyable round.
Green fee: $25 (all day ticket).
AUSSIE GOLF RANCH
The Aussie Golf Ranch’s Saltwater Creek is a links style par-3 course that is the brainchild of PGA professional Rohan Walker, who dreamed of a course where he could teach kids the basics of the game whilst also providing a challenging layout for golfers of all abilities.
He found 23 acres of coastal dunes, about 100 metres from a secluded sandy beach on Red Rocks Bay and just a few minutes’ drive west of Cowes on Phillip Island.
Acclaimed course designer Ross Watson was commissioned to design the nine-hole par-3 course and his dream to strike a balance for juniors and accomplished players was achieved.
The course, with holes between 103 and 183 metres, has nearly 20 bunkers, water on many holes and grass-covered mounds surrounding each green. The G2 bentgrass greens have plenty of movement and are beautifully presented.
The ranch is also home to a great nine-hole two-club pitch and putt course, with holes between 22 and 54 metres, makes for a lot of fun for all golfers.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes).
BARWON HEADS GC – PAR-3 COURSE
Barwon Heads is rated among the finest courses in Australia. But there is more terrific golf on offer than what the championship course presents.
The club also has a brilliant par-3 layout, which was redesigned a few years ago by the highly-acclaimed design team of Neil Crafter and Paul Mogford of Golf Strategies.
The wintergreen couch putting surfaces are set up to roll slower and accommodate the undulating greens, which really add to the fun to be had in a round. The most memorable hole here is the 8th, which was inspired by
the famous Dell hole at Lahinch in Ireland, and features a thin green squeezed between high mounds.
Green fee: $10 (nine holes).
CERBERUS GC
Cerberus is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s hidden golfing gems.
For nearly 80 years, until 1999, the course could only be played by defence personnel
at HMAS Cerberus. In fact, the course today is the fourth incarnation of a layout at Cerberus, which was originally the Flinders Naval Depot.
Today, golfers can enjoy beautiful views of Western Port Bay and Hann’s Inlet, while enjoying the layout’s tree-lined kikuyu fairways and bentgrass/poa annua greens.
Green fees: $17 (nine holes, weekdays); $19 (weekends).
CHELTENHAM GC
Located in the heart of the Melbourne Sandbelt, Cheltenham has a rich history dating back to 1930.
Vast areas of ti-tree and bracken were cleared to create a design overseen by Frank Lennox, the then curator of the Victoria Golf Club next door. Lennox’s creation has filled out around each hole over the years but the essence of his work, including the routing, remains.
The greens are small for the Sandbelt and the fairways relatively narrow, so this course demands accuracy, not distance. As a result, Lennox’s design has always been a challenge and has gained a reputation over the years for producing high quality junior golfers, who have gone on to professional careers including the likes of Stewart Ginn, U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Griffin.
Two short par-4s open the round and any gains made here, can be easily lost on the 8th and 9th holes – a pair of lengthy two-shotters that run north and south and are easily influenced by the prevailing winds no matter what the time of year.
If you’re looking for a great value for money Melbourne Sandbelt experience, Cheltenham is the course.
Green fee: $26 (nine holes).
EASTERN GC – SHARK WATERS
Shark Waters at Eastern GC is a picturesque Greg Norman-designed nine-holer that has been routed around wetlands, which is a big feature of the entire property.
The course, which opened for play in 2017, has the same Grand Prix couch fairways and T1 bentgrass greens to be found on the adjoining nationally ranked 27-hole layout.
The all par-3 layout is well-suited to golfers of all standards, from juniors and beginners to professionals working on their short-iron play.
Shark Waters is open to play for members and guests.
Green fee: Contact the club for details.
EAST GEELONG GC
Lying between the beautiful Corio Bay and Geelong’s Botanical Gardens, East Geelong offers nine, well-manicured holes with alternate tees creating an enjoyable 18-hole layout.
Golf was first played here in 1923 and today boasts healthy, couch fairways and good-quality greens.
The course has six par-4s and two par-5s, while the lone par-3 is arguably East Geelong’s most memorable. The pretty 4th/13th hole lies next to the bay adding to the challenge presented by the 198-metre journey from back marker to green.
Green fees: $20 (nine holes, weekdays); $25 (weekends).
www.eastgeelonggolfclub.com.au
FRANKSTON GC
Of all the courses featured here, Frankston – often referred to as the Millionaires’ Club – is the most private and requires an invite from a member to play.
If you do ever get the chance, you’ll love the experience of this hidden Sandbelt gem. Few holes are better than the opener though. The short downhill par-4 affords players a view of Port Philip Bay in the distance as the fairway descends to the bunkered green.
Green fee: N/A.
No website available.
GEELONG GC
The original Geelong Golf Club was founded in 1892 but after 112 years the 18-hole layout was forced to close.
A decade later, in 2014, the club began its new life as a superb nine-hole creation designed by Graham Papworth.
There is a modern look to this stunning course, with well-manicured Santa Ana couch fairways and bentgrass greens, punctuated by strategically placed bunkering.
A favourite hole is the 282-metre par-4 3rd hole, which plays slightly uphill and demands an accurate tee shot to avoid trees and bunkers. Fairway bunkers left are easily reached but longer hitters may choose to blast a drive towards the green. But be wary, it is guarded in front by a scheme of five bunkers.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes)
KINGS COVE GC
The lakefront residential community at Kings Cove Metung was once grazing land but has been transformed during the past two decades with more than 15,000 trees planted and several wetlands regenerated.
The Kings Cove nine-hole course is central to the residential community.
The Ted Parslow designed layout transformed the property into a modern course, with dynamic green complexes incorporating big putting surfaces with dramatic slopes and tiers. Parslow also used bunkering sparingly in his design, especially along the fairways, but they certainly play their role in protecting most greens.
Green fee: $20 (nine holes)
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