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.
BELLARINE PENINSULA
13TH BEACH GOLF LINKS
Thirteenth Beach invites golfers to step onto its fairways and take command of its Beach and Creek Courses, relax in the Clubhouse, or stay in their beautifully appointed lodges, perched right next to the 1st hole of the Beach Course. Staying on site guarantees your access to the action, making your visit a complete golfing experience.
The Beach Course, a true links layout designed by Tony Cashmore, is a frontline of fun and strategy, arguably boasting the finest collection of par-3s in Australia. Every hole feels like a skirmish with the elements, where wind, undulations and clever bunkering test both skill and strategy. Meanwhile, the Creek Course, a parkland gem co-designed by golfing great Sir Nick Faldo and Cashmore, rewards careful tactics while providing a more forgiving but still-engaging challenge. For a quick tactical engagement or to sharpen your short-game weapons, the 9-hole Short Course – also designed by Cashmore – offers a compact but genuine test for all players.
In 2020, 13th Beach launched a Course Improvement Program under Course Design Consultant Darius Oliver, famed for co-designing Cape Wickham Links in Tasmania and currently working on a dramatic cliff-top course on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The program focuses on bunker rationalisation, improved access, maintenance, drainage, playability and conditioning, ensuring the courses remain both formidable and enjoyable.
In parallel, thoughtful redesigns maintain the original architects’ vision, while making the courses more playable. Under the expert eye of Darius and the tireless greenskeeping team led by Course Superintendent Steve Hewitt, these upgrades have been executed with minimal disruption to play. Golfers can enjoy 13th Beach as a friendly battlefield where strategy, skill and fun converge across some of Victoria’s finest fairways.
CURLEWIS GC
Curlewis stands as one of Australia’s most progressive and exciting public access golf courses; a true battlefield for golfers of all levels. Officially opened in 1970, this much-loved Bellarine course occupies 157 acres of naturally undulating terrain purchased by East Geelong Golf Club in 1947. Early development was limited by water access, but the couch grass base laid back then has grown into a firm foundation for today’s links-style fairways, challenging bunkers and large, contoured greens. Playing Curlewis is like entering a strategic war campaign, where every hole tests skill, patience and courage.
Just an hour from Melbourne and 15 minutes from Geelong, the course offers sweeping vistas across to Corio Bay, a reminder that every battle campaign benefits from a commanding vantage point. Since Lyndsay and David Sharp took the reins in 2015, heavy investment in course and clubhouse improvements has seen Curlewis rocket up the rankings, establishing itself as a premier destination on The Bellarine.
The 6150-metre, par-71/73 links, designed by Vern Morcom and enhanced by Kevin Hartley in 1976 and Michael Clayton in 2001, challenges players with firm, fast greens and wind-swept fairways - a tactical test where strategy often trumps brute force. The new clubhouse commands attention, with grand vistas, a “Warhol Wall”, sun-drenched terraces, and cutting-edge AV facilities. Epicurean warriors can feast at Claribeaux or enjoy a relaxed mission at Ivor’s Spike Bar, while local and international beverage options keep spirits high.
For those sharpening their artillery, The Range @ Curlewis offers a state-of-the-art 18-bay driving range, teaching academy, club fitting, Xgolf simulators, Toptracer Range, and a two-tiered mini golf course. PGA Teaching Professionals are on hand to help golfers refine every shot, ensuring every round is both challenging and fun.
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, Curlewis blends a golden past with a shining future. Green fee players are always welcome, ready to take on the course and emerge victorious from one of the Bellarine’s most hip, green and fun golfing battlefields.
BARWON HEADS GC
The gates of Barwon Heads Golf Club open each year to thousands of visitors – some marching in as guests of members, others charging the course as green-fee warriors, event recruits, or function and accommodation allies.
Though a private stronghold, the Club offers daring outsiders limited chances to test themselves on its storied links. Green-fee tee times appear on select days, and strategic players often pair their round with a stay in the heritage-listed Clubhouse, strengthening their ranks for the campaign ahead.
Since 1924, guests have bunkered down in the iconic Clubhouse, earning honorary membership and guaranteed access to the course, even during the busiest skirmishes of weekends, holidays and January battles.
Perched high above the fairways and coastline, the Clubhouse serves as a command post to regroup, refuel and savour one of Australia’s most memorable golf experiences. All troops, however, must respect the Clubhouse’s dress codes and keep to sanctioned areas of the fortress …
LONSDALE LINKS
Lonsdale Links has stormed onto the Geelong and Bellarine scene, a newly redeveloped gem that’s open to both the public and its loyal members. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne and 30 from Geelong, this links battlefield has earned Top 100 accolades from Golf Australia Magazine, Golf Digest, and Golf Magazine across the Asia-Pacific – proof that this golf course is a force to be reckoned with.
Every round at Lonsdale Links is a tactical engagement. Inspired by trailblazers Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, and Charles Banks, the course - rebuilt by Ogilvy Cocking Mead - is designed to reveal new challenges with each sortie. Template holes hark back to a golden age of golf, demanding strategy, precision and a touch of daring from all who take it on.
When the day’s battles are done, the Point Lonsdale Clubhouse stands as your command post, offering lunch, dinner, coffee, or drinks with uninterrupted views of Lake Victoria – a perfect place to regroup, refuel and toast victory on the links.
PORTARLINGTON GC
Near the beach but not a links, dotted with trees but not quite parklands, this Bellarine gem defies easy labels. Here, every round is a skirmish of skill and strategy – whether you’re taking on championship events or a casual clash with mates on the shorter layout.
The course offers superbly conditioned bent greens that drain fast, gentle undulations for an easy march and a range of tees that let every player pick their preferred challenge. Each hole presents a tactical choice; a chance to test your skills and sharpen your game with every swing.
Off the course, the fully stocked pro shop is a hub of characters (and advice), while the clubhouse provides the perfect rallying point to refuel and swap tales from the fairways.
So grab your gear, assemble your squad, and step onto a course where strategy meets fun at every turn.
Set sail with Port Phillip Ferries
For golfers heading to the Bellarine Peninsula, getting there is part of the experience. Port Phillip Ferries has turned the simple trip across the bay into a relaxed prelude to a day on the fairways, or a reward after one. Departing from Melbourne’s Docklands, the ferry glides across Port Phillip Bay to Portarlington, dropping passengers right at the doorstep of some of the region’s finest golf and leisure spots.
Port Phillip Ferries has an exciting range of two-and three-day golf packages which take care of everything. These packages include the short ferry journey across Port Phillip Bay, shuttle transfers for the whole time you’re there, all golf reservations, accommodation at the newly refurbished Portarlington Grand Hotel and a few extras thrown in for good health.
The Portarlington Grand Hotel is absolutely stunning. Its recent renovation has transformed it into the Jewel of the Bellarine. Now featuring 18 boutique rooms, several dining areas and an open-air Atrium Bar, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a day on the golf course.
As all golfers who have been to this region would confirm, the Bellarine Peninsula is fast becoming the new destination for amazing golf in Victoria. With courses such as Lonsdale Links, 13th Beach, Curlewis and Portarlington GC, passionate golfers are spoilt for choice when it comes to quality golf course design and experience.
With Port Phillip Ferries, getting to the Bellarine isn’t just about transport, it’s about easing into the pace of coastal life, swapping traffic for sea air and letting your golf getaway begin the moment you leave the city behind.
The Bellarine: where coastlines meet clubfaces
This underrated peninsula has a knack for stealing a little piece of your heart. It is a place where ocean breezes mix with the sound of drivers pinging off the tee; where days drift lazily and every turn seems to offer something worth lingering over.
From the surf breaks of Ocean Grove to the calm waters of Portarlington, the Bellarine has character to burn. Barwon Heads is where coastal life meets golf in perfect harmony. You can wander the beach, explore boutique shops on Hitchcock Avenue, and still squeeze in a round at Barwon Heads Golf Club or 13th Beach Golf Links – courses where coastal winds add their own challenge to the day’s game in a destination that was recognised by Australian Golf Digest as the country’s best golf town in 2025.
Ocean Grove is a family favourite: golden sands for surfing lessons or sun-soaked afternoons, plus a kid-friendly miniature hit at Bellarine Adventure Golf or a quick round at nearby Curlewis.
Down by the bay, Portarlington blends maritime history with modern indulgence. Fresh mussels and cool-climate wines are on the menu at Jack Rabbit or Terindah Estate; ideal for celebrating a day’s round. And if you’re arriving by ferry from Melbourne, the trip itself sets the tone for a relaxed, scenic escape.
Inland, Drysdale delivers a quieter pace, with boutique producers, farmland views and the Bellarine Rail Trail threading through it all. For a unique spin, hop aboard The Q Train, where degustation dining meets a heritage railway experience.
Whether you’re chasing birdies, beaches, or an award-winning glass of pinot, the Bellarine delivers it all –“laid-back, full of local flavour and ready to reward every golfer who ventures this way.
To plan your trip, head to visitgeelongbellarine.com.au.http://visitgeelongbellarine.com.au
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