6.  Thirteenth Beach

 

This Tony Cashmore-designed gem celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and it is testament to the quality of the layout that has managed to maintain its high standing and improve on its ranking over the years. The Beach course may only be ten years young but it fits in so well with the surrounding dunes that one could be mistaken for thinking this par-72 has been in the ground here for decades. This can be attributed to Cashmore’s highly creative design and a willingness to let the land dictate the location of the tees and greens. The opening four holes don’t really reveal what lies ahead as the layout heads away from the clubhouse again and into the dramatic sand dunes that separate the course from Thirteenth Beach.

Barwon Heads, Victoria

Tony Cashmore (2001)

6,391 metres, par-72

Beach course

GREEN FEE: $59; $79 (peak holiday times).

CONTACT: (03) 5254 2922

www.13thbeach.net

7. The Dunes

The Dunes led the wave of development that has turned the Cups region in the middle of the Mornington Peninsula into one of country’s great golfing grounds.

Designer Tony Cashmore fashioned the undulating terrain into a rugged, sprawling tee-to-green test, with the natural bunkering and the odd blind shot punctuating every player’s round here. Dropping two places in the ranking here should not be seen as a slight on The Dunes given the intense competition for spots behind both the Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm layouts.

GREEN FEE: $52 (weekdays); $69 (weekends, holidays).

CONTACT: (03) 5985 1334;

www.thedunes.com.au