GOLF MELBOURNE
Golf Melbourne - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Golfer’s City Paradise | |||||
| By: Nicky Camp Johnston, Issue 43 – Winter 2010 | |||||
| (Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne Golf Club West, The National (Moonah), Metropolitan Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club East and Victoria Golf Club – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) | |||||
| WITH FIVE OF ITS COURSES RATED IN AUSTRALIA’S TOP 10 THIS YEAR, ALL UNDER AN HOUR’S DRIVE FROM THE CBD AND ITS LUXURY HOTELS, MELBOURNE IS A GOLF PARADISE. NICKY CHAMP JOHNSTON HELPS YOU PLAN YOUR CITY GOLF BREAK. | |||||
| The lush grounds and unique sandy subsoil of the Sandbelt region in Victoria is home to several world-class golf courses making Melbourne an ideal destination to take a break if the purpose of your holiday is to enjoy a few rounds. All of the top courses are within an hour’s drive from a range of luxury inner-city hotels such as The Langham Melbourne, Park Hyatt Melbourne and Crown Metropol. Kingston Heath Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club West and East courses, The National Golf Club, Metropolitan Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club all made it into the top 10 in Australian Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses for 2010. The list that has ranked Australia’s best courses since the 1980s has always had a Melbourne course at the top. Less than 30 minutes drive from the heart of the city, Kingston Heath Golf Club has always ranked among Australia’s top three courses and this year took out the number one spot due to the stunning natural surroundings and variety of play. This par-72, 6,436 metre championship course was officially the longest ever seen in Australia. Designed by Dan Souter and as a testament to his skill, it has stood the test of time with no extensions since opening for play in 1925. Visiting course architect, Dr Alister MacKenzie, adapted the existing bunkering in 1926, making it still one of the best bunkering systems in the world today. He also converted the blind par four 15th hole into an uphill par three making it one of Australia’s most ingenious par threes. Playing host to the Australian Masters tournament last year saw Tiger Woods successfully snare a prestigious Gold Jacket. From tee off to the 18th fairway this course is truly a great mix of short holes, par threes and is, overall, a challenging course for players of all levels. For over a century, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club West course has been at the pinnacle of Australian golf, consistently ranked number one until this year when it ranked third on the list. When Dr Alister MacKenzie designed this course he took into consideration a variety of golfers’ abilities and handicaps. The course has wide open fairways which also challenge more seasoned players making Royal Melbourne West an enjoyable experience for everyone from the first-timer to the professional. The sculpted hills and fertile sand ground proved an excellent base for the layout of the 6,240 metre course. The standout holes are the par three 5th, par four 6th and the challenging 10th which is home to the deepest sand bunker in the country. Boasting outstanding par threes, breathtaking bunkering, undulating dunes and native grasses this course is worthy of world-class praise. Drive further south to get to The National’s Moonah course, located on Cape Schanck on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Named after the native Moonah trees which inhabit the landscape this course was designed by Greg Norman and opened for play in 2000. The longest in the region at 6,576 metres the key standouts of this course are the spectacular panoramic ocean views and stunning scenery. Designed in a single loop the course winds back to the clubhouse. Sometimes strong south-westerly winds will play havoc with your game. The golfing academy here has state of the art technology to help improve your swing and enjoyment of the game. This year the course ranked 6th in the list. Closest to the city, the Metropolitan Golf Club course is only a 20-minute drive from the CBD and is known for its transformation from an uncharacteristic flat ground to the stunning botanical masterpiece it is today. Many native species of plants and birdlife, rainbow lorikeets, ravens and tawny frogmouth owls are all are residents of the Metropolitan. The bunkering is the standout of this course and is arguably the best-conditioned of all the Sandbelt. The fairways around the bunkers are hand-mown to provide an additional challenge on this magnificent course which ranked 7th on the list this year. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club East course is equally as worthy as its more famous western counterpart but the main difference between the two is that the East is shorter in length at 6,007 metres. Starting and finishing at the main clubhouse for the two courses, it covers ground across several roads and despite the obstacles this is an ideal course for less experienced players due to the shorter length of play and flat ‘paddock’ holes. This year it ranked 8th on the list. In the heart of the Sandbelt and situated across the road from the Royal Melbourne West, is the Victoria Golf Club. Founded in 1903 this par-72, 6,278 metre course has played host to many professional tournaments including the Australian Open in 2002, and will be a major drawcard for international players during the Australian Masters in November this year in which Tiger Woods is a confirmed starter. Outstanding bunkering and a mixture of long and short holes define this course along with an exceptional likeness to the Royal Melbourne West. It ranked 10th in the list this year. | |||||
| Note: It is important to check with each individual course if it is public or private and its conditions of entry. | |||||
| Kingston Heath | |||||
| Kingston Road Cheltenham Founded: 1925 Designer/s: Dan Soutar (1925)/Alister Mackenzie (1926) Open for play: 1925 Championship Length: 6,436 PAR: 72 ACR (Course Rating): 73 Type: Sandbelt/Parkland | |||||
| Royal Melbourne Golf Club West | |||||
| Cheltenham Rd Black Rock Founded: 1929 Designer/s: Alister Mackenzie (1931) Open for play: 1931 Length: 6,240 PAR: 72 ACR (Course Rating): 72 Type: Sandbelt | |||||
| The National (Moonah) | |||||
| The Cups Dr Cape Schanck Founded: 1989 Designer/s: Greg Norman & Bob Harrison (2000) Open for play: 2000 Length: 6,576 PAR: 72 ACR (Course Rating): 76 Type: Links/Sandbelt | |||||
| Metropolitan Golf Club | |||||
| 1 Golf Rd Oakleigh South Founded: 1908 Designer/s: J.B. MacKenzie (1906)/Dick Wilson (1959)/Michael Clayton (ongoing) Open for play: 1906 Length: 6,500 PAR: 72 ACR (Course Rating): 75 Type: Sandbelt | |||||
| Royal Melbourne Golf Club East | |||||
| Cheltenham Rd Black Rock Founded: 1927 Designer/s: Alex Russell (1932) Open for play: 1932 Length: 6,007 PAR: 71 ACR (Course Rating): 72 Type: Sandbelt | |||||
| Victoria Golf Club | |||||
| Park Road, Cheltenham Founded: 1903 Designer/s: Oscar Damman, William Meader & Alister Mackenzie (1927) Open for play: 1927 Length: 6,278 PAR: 72 ACR (Course Rating): 73 Type: Sandbelt | |||||
| STAY: | |||||
| The Langham Melbourne | |||||
| Park Hyatt | |||||
| Crown Metropoll | |||||
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