The battle lines are drawn across the bay. Here, we present Mornington versus Bellarine: a friendly clash of coastal titans, where fairways replace front lines and birdies beat bayonets. Let’s march into the fight and see which peninsula truly claims golfing supremacy.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
THE DUNES GOLF LINKS
Tucked away on Victoria’s gorgeous Mornington Peninsula, The Dunes is a must-visit for any golfer ready to join the fray. Consistently ranked among Australia’s top 25 courses, its 18-hole championship layout delivers authentic links golf that rivals even the fanciest private clubs. Add a welcoming clubhouse and a lively membership, and you have a club which feels as friendly as it is impressive.
If you’re after something a little lighter, the Cups Course is a real treat. This 9-hole links course is built to the same high standards as the main course, but with a more casual, approachable feel. It’s perfect for families, beginners, or anyone just wanting a fun round without the full championship challenge.
Golfers looking to sharpen their skills will love The Dunes Driving Range – the perfect training ground before taking on the main campaign. With grass and all-weather tees, target greens and sweeping views across the rolling links terrain, it’s the only range on the Peninsula where you can use a driver. Professional instructors are on hand to help fine-tune your swing, making practice as enjoyable as it is productive.
For those planning a getaway, Links Lodge offers luxury accommodation right in the heart of Rye. From two-bedroom suites to one-bedroom studios, every room boasts sweeping views of the Peninsula. Whether you’re after a round of golf, a visit to a local winery, or a relaxing soak at nearby thermal springs, Links Lodge makes the perfect base for exploring the region.
From championship golf to a fun 9-hole round, from hitting balls on a top-notch range to relaxing in style at Links Lodge, The Dunes has it all. It’s a complete golfing experience on the Mornington Peninsula, one that invites you to play, stay and soak up the scenery every step of the way.
PEPPERS MOONAH LINKS RESORT
Moonah Links Resort stands tall on the Mornington Peninsula frontline; home to two very different, but equally formidable courses. The Open Course is the star attraction – the only course in Australia ever built specifically for the Australian Open. Stretching 6783 metres, it’s a serious test, even for seasoned golfers. A typical club-handicap player might need an extra eight strokes just to make par. But don’t be intimidated – multiple tee options mean everyone can take up arms, even if the full championship length is usually saved for the big tournaments. With rolling fairways, dramatic undulations and winds that keep you guessing, every hole demands a bit of strategy. Add in spectator platforms and world-class design, and you have a taste of what top-level golf is really like. As five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson said, “The Leviathan of a course is a new experience for Australian golf. Visitors will get a whiff of what top championship play is really like.”
Then there’s the Legends Course, which opened in 2003. Slightly shorter at 6315 metres, it’s a touch more forgiving, but still plenty challenging. Designed by Ross Perrett, the layout threads through mature Moonah trees and native bushland, with clever bunkering that nods to Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt. Each hole is named after a golfing great – homegrown heroes and international icons alike – making every round feel like a walk-through golfing history. Together, Moonah Links’ two courses serve up a perfect mix: the adrenaline of championship golf on the Open Course and the relaxed, thoughtful challenge of Legends. A true double-front assault of golf brilliance.
FLINDERS GC
Perched high above the ocean near West Head, Flinders Golf Club is the Peninsula’s coastal fortress, offering sweeping views across Western Port to Phillip Island and the rugged Bass Strait coastline. Just 20 minutes from RACV Cape Schanck, the club blends more than 120 years of history with top-quality playing conditions.
The club officially opened in 1903 under David Maxwell, a Scot and inaugural champion of Melbourne Golf Club (later Royal Melbourne). Even before then, workers at a local cable station had carved four clifftop holes, giving early golfers a glimpse of what would become a classic seaside layout. Historic holes such as Niagara and Spion Kop once defined the course, before being replaced in 1950, following a 1926 visit from Dr Alister MacKenzie. He famously said the course was “equalled by only one other natural course, which is in California” and recommended turning the Coffin hole into a short par-4 (the present-day 4th hole), still regarded as one of Australia’s best short par-4s.
Much of the course remains on its original footprint, but modern enhancements – reshaped greens, strategic bunkers, mowing lines, and new trees – have added both charm and challenge. Designer Michael Henderson is now guiding a masterplan to open up fairways, refine greens and reduce bunkers from 70 to 56, creating more strategic choices for golfers of all levels.
Flinders Golf Club combines history, strategy and spectacular scenery into a seaside stronghold. Whether you’re strolling the fairways, enjoying a light lunch, or hosting a special occasion in the award-winning clubhouse, it’s a commanding position in the Battle of the Peninsulas – and one that’s hard to outflank. Imaginative greens and wide fairways which test both long-and short-game creativity – a series of friendly skirmishes for every golfer.
SANDHURST CLUB
Sandhurst Club isn’t just about golf, though with two of Victoria’s finest courses, it’s hard not to get caught up in the action. Situated among over 1300 homes, the club is one of Melbourne’s most sought-after communities, offering world-class facilities for golf, weddings, events and family fun. After a round, you can unwind in the Members’ Bar and grab a bite, making it a perfect day out with friends or family.
Golfers are spoiled for choice with Sandhurst’s two outstanding layouts, both designed by five-time British Open Champion Peter Thomson AO, CBE, alongside the Thomson and Perrett team. Tee times are easy to book online up to 14 days in advance, for up to eight players, with carts ready to go on arrival.
The Champions Course is a real highlight, celebrating past winners of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Australia. Each hole comes with a plaque honouring a past champion and their unique skills, blending strategy, challenge and stunning Sandbelt scenery. At 6277 metres and par-72, it’s a course which rewards thoughtful play and a keen eye – a true battlefield for strategy-minded golfers.
Just next door, the North Course takes a more open approach, inspired by Scotland with classic features like the Wall on the 3rd green and the Burn running through the 9th fairway. Stretching 6478 metres with a par of 72, it challenges golfers to think strategically, while offering plenty of visual appeal across the rolling Sandbelt landscape.
Together, the Champions and North courses make Sandhurst Club a destination hard to beat. With top-notch design, immaculate conditions and a relaxed, welcoming vibe, it’s no wonder Sandhurst is a favourite for golfers, families and anyone who loves a great day out on and off the course.
THE NATIONAL GC
The National Golf Club in Victoria is a private members' paradise, offering 72 holes of exceptional golf across two sites at Cape Schanck and Long Island.
The Old Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, winds over heaving terrain with fairways threading between large sand dunes and native tea trees. With undulating greens, generous fairways and stunning coastal views, it’s one of Australia’s most memorable courses – and a world-class experience, perfect for those ready to test their tactical skills in this coastal war campaign.
The Moonah Course, named after the ancient coastal trees dotted across the property, rewards bold, thoughtful golf. Its serpentine fairways, towering dunes and standout par-5s make every hole a challenge, and the walk is one of the most enjoyable in the country.
On the Cape Schanck coast, the Gunnamatta Course sits beside the crashing waves of Gunnamatta Beach. Designed by Tom Doak, it makes the most of the natural Sandbelt contours with strategic bunkers,
ST ANDREWS BEACH
A Tom Doak–Mike Clayton masterpiece, St Andrews Beach stretches across the dunes of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, offering a rugged, fast and thrilling Australian links experience. Dormant couch fairways, firm bentgrass greens and natural undulations make for a round full of shot-making creativity, where every hole feels like a tactical engagement with the land. Kangaroos loll about, native bush frames fairways and wind adds challenge, making every hole play differently, depending on conditions.
The course is designed for fun and strategy, from wide, inviting par-fives like the opening hole, to punishing par-4s into the nor-west wind, and par-3s guarded by dramatic bunkers. It is consistently playable year-round and offers public access for $125 a Saturday tee-time, making world-class golf surprisingly attainable.
With a modern clubhouse, play-and-stay options and hot springs planned, the course delivers a true links adventure with every visit – a battlefield of creativity and strategy for players of all levels.
PORTSEA GOLF CLUB
Set between the sparkling waters of Port Phillip Bay and the rugged coastal flora of Point Nepean National Park, Portsea Golf Club is pure seaside golfing bliss. Since opening in 1926, the course has grown naturally through rolling sand dunes and Moonah forests, where wind, elevation and sweeping views shape every shot – each hole offering a tactical challenge worthy of a friendly duel.
Recent work by Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead, building on designs by Alex Russell, Sloan Morpeth and Mike Clayton, has widened fairways, reshaped greens and reimagined bunkers, giving golfers more strategic options while keeping the course’s natural charm intact. Each hole invites creativity, whether you’re threading a shot through the dunes or letting the ball run along firm fairways.
Portsea isn’t just golf. The onsite accommodation offers sweeping bay views, making it a perfect base to explore nearby beaches, national parks and coastal villages. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, it’s a rare spot where history, natural beauty and genuine links golf come together effortlessly.
RACV CAPE SCHANCK
RACV Cape Schanck Resort is home to a stunning 18-hole, par-70 championship course designed by renowned American architect Robert Trent Jones Junior. Set along Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the course offers tree-lined fairways, elevated tees and breathtaking ocean views from 11 holes, creating a spectacular backdrop for every round – a true front line for strategic play.
Players of all levels can enjoy the course year-round, thanks to excellent drainage and meticulously maintained greens and fairways. The layout features two hectares of expansive greens and large, open bunkers, providing both challenge and variety throughout the round.
Whether you’re a serious golfer chasing your best score or an occasional player seeking a memorable day on the links, Cape Schanck delivers. Its combination of strategic design, natural beauty and consistent playing conditions makes it one of the region’s premier golfing destinations. A round here is a complete coastal golfing experience.
ROSEBUD COUNTRY CLUB
Located on the Mornington Peninsula, Rosebud Country Club offers golfers a choice of two 18-hole courses, each with its own character. The North Course weaves through towering pine trees, stretching 6204 metres from the men’s tees with a par of 71. The South Course is open and wide, featuring generous fairways and large greens, playing 5973 metres to a par of 72. Both courses challenge experienced players while remaining enjoyable for casual golfers, and year-round water access ensures pristine conditions – a dual theatre of operations for players seeking both strategy and fun.
Practice facilities are second to none as well, with a 220m driving range, chipping and putting greens and a practice bunker. The clubhouse bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, overlooking the 1st hole, while the venue doubles as a stunning location for weddings, birthdays or conferences.
With a rich history hosting events like the 1976 Australian PGA Championship and recent Players Series, Rosebud is a golfing destination you’ll return to time and again.
SORRENTO GOLF CLUB
Right in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, Sorrento Golf Club offers a pure golf experience set against breathtaking coastal scenery. Steeped in history and tradition, it’s widely regarded as one of Australia’s premier coastal golf destinations, where every round combines challenge, beauty, and a true sense of place - a classic battlefield for every golfer’s strategy.
The course winds through undulating terrain, testing golfers with generous landing zones, forced carries, sharp doglegs and superb bent grass greens. Strategic bunkering demands accuracy over power, while firm, true putting surfaces reward careful shot-making. Mature trees and native bushland line the fairways, and ocean breezes with panoramic bay views add to the memorable walking experience. Varied tee boxes make the course accessible for all skill levels, while better players can enjoy shaping shots with finesse. Meanwhile, the charming clubhouse overlooking the 18th green provides a refined yet welcoming retreat just 90 minutes from Melbourne.
Related Articles
Review: Yering Meadows Golf Club
RANKING: Australia's Top-100 Courses for 2026
