Is there a better collection of golf courses in one region, for quality and quantity?
A dozen of the 100 best golf courses in Australia sit on 723 square kilometres of boot-shaped land that touches the south-eastern edge of our second most populous city. If you haven’t yet been to or played golf on the Mornington Peninsula, well, you haven’t really lived now, have you?
There is simply no better golf destination in the country and you could easily play every day for a week and not take a step down in the quality of courses encountered. Which brings about something of a dilemma: how much golf to play. Do you dig in and eat the entire cake in one sitting or save some for later? Are you the type of person who thinks the best way to tackle Disneyland is to attempt every ride? If so, the Mornington Peninsula is the golf haven for you.
With so much world-class golf on offer, the best approach is to ask yourself what style of courses are you looking for? While there is a distinct links-like flavour to the Mornington, the peninsula does offer ample variety. Just prepare to be wowed by the courses and possibly challenged with some capricious seaside weather that only adds to the mystique.
A great short-break combination might take in the timeless qualities of The Dunes, which looks like it’s been there for centuries but has really only been in play for 25 years, and perhaps the Legends course at Moonah Links plus a dash of Rosebud or Eagle Ridge thrown in for variety. Or you might go hard-core and tackle the behemoth that is the Open course at Moonah Links then any of the courses at The National (which generally allows public play on at least one of its three peninsula courses each day) plus St Andrews Beach. However, both of those combos omit Portsea and Sorrento, which are gems and should be part of any Mornington golf itinerary. Whether you’re seeking top-shelf course architecture, user-friendly layouts or a combination of both, the region caters for all tastes. The question quickly becomes: how much golf can you squeeze in while there?
Afterwards, your next decision centres on what to do after golf. With amazing wineries, craft distilleries, spa experiences and other enticing attractions part of the Mornington Peninsula’s offerings – while remembering you’re only a 60-minute drive from the Melbourne CBD – all manner of options beckon.
PLAY
1 The National Golf Club (any course)
2 The Dunes Golf Links
3 St Andrews Beach Golf Course
4 Moonah Links (either course)
5 Portsea Golf Club
6 Sorrento Golf Club
7 Rosebud Country Club (either course)
8 RACV Cape Schanck
9 Flinders Golf Club
10 Eagle Ridge Golf Club
EAT & DRINK
Pt Leo Estate
ptleoestate.com.au
Montalto winery
montalto.com.au
Ten Minutes by Tractor
tenminutesbytractor.com.au
St Andrews Beach Brewery
standrewsbeachbrewery.com.au
Red Gum BBQ
redgumbbq.com.au
STAY
Links Lodge
thedunes.com.au
RACV Cape Schanck
racv.com.au
Carmel at Sorrento
carmelatsorrento.com.au
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula (from April)
ihg.com
DO
Peninsula Hot Springs
peninsulahotsprings.com
JimmyRum Distillery
jimmyrum.com.au
Sorrento village
visitvictoria.com/regions/mornington-peninsula/destinations/sorrento
