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short and sweet
The golf weekend is an important part of the sporting calendar, enjoyed by groups, singles and couples alike. Here, Andrew Bertram selects his favourite spots in Victoria for a short break.
Within easy reach of Melbourne you will find a dozen clubs with on-course accommodation, providing the perfect excuse to throw your clubs in the boot and head off for some excellent golf. Even the shortest break can lead to some wonderfully enjoyable golf and sometimes, this may be in the most surprising of places.
The Murray River region in the north of the state has long been a popular destination for golfing breaks. The Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort is a fantastic facility with 45 holes and quality accommodation in a choice of villas, apartments, suites or cabins. But golf is the hero here with the Murray Course lined with magnificent river gums, winding its way through sandy river flats and lagoons. The Lakes is a worthy second course with views across Lake Mulwala, and there’s also the nine-hole Executive layout that is a fun place to wind down on a summer evening.
Just two hours’ drive north of Melbourne you will find what I consider to be one of Victoria’s leading country golf clubs. Shepparton Golf Club has long been regarded as a wonderful course but it has a lot more to offer than just golf with motel accommodation overlooking the 18th green and excellent hospitality available in the clubhouse. While there may be higher profile facilities available, you will have to travel a long way to get a warmer welcome than you will receive at ‘Shep’.
While Murray Downs Resort is a tick over four hours’ drive north of ‘Bleak City’, it is a popular destination for golfers looking for a short break, especially in the cooler months when Swan Hill is always a little bit warmer than Melbourne. Recognised as one of the best condition layouts outside of Melbourne, the course is what we should all look for in golf – firm bouncy fairways with true putting, quality greens. Accommodation is just a short stroll away and is of excellent quality, as is the hospitality in the clubhouse.
The Yarra Valley is relatively new on the golfing break radar with both the RACV Healesville Country Club and Heritage Golf and Country Club adding much to the options available. Healesville has recently undergone a renovation by course designer Mike Clayton and he has produced a fun, modern layout that will provide golfers of all levels with an enjoyable game.
Some may say it is short by modern standards. However this is what makes it so much fun for club golfers. There are some beautifully constructed holes that will take your breath away as well as provide you with the opportunity to test all facets of your game. The accommodations on offer are first-rate with all the amenities of a leading spa facility available, making this a great option for the golfer travelling with a non-golfer to both get the most out of their short break.
The Heritage is home to two of the leading courses in Melbourne outside the sandbelt and is also in the rare position of having a high-class, four-and-a-half-star hotel on site. The Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley is the perfect base from which to enjoy the signature Jack Nicklaus-designed St John’s Course and the links-style Henley Course. Both are enjoyable and challenging with St John’s regularly rated among the best 25 courses in the country. On top of being a wonderful golfing venue, The Heritage is also a great spot from which to strike out and discover the Yarra Valley’s many wineries.
The Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia’s most popular golfing destinations with a wealth of first-rate courses. The RACV Cape Schanck Resort was one of the first on the peninsula to provide golf and accommodation. The Robert Trent Jones-designed course provides a fun and testing round that winds through undulating land offering stunning views of nearby Bass Strait. The resort offers a range of accommodation options with hotel-style rooms as well as some two- and three- bedroom villas located on the course and an easy walk from the clubhouse. Although the resort has only one course, the National Golf Club is next door, with three outstanding layouts offering limited access to visiting golfers.
Moonah Links is located on superb links land on the Peninsula. The Open Course is a true championship layout – it was specifically designed to host the Australian Open – and is a great place to see how your game compares to the greats who have played here. Off the back tee it is a brute of a course and one that should be played without any concern of score. The Legends course is extremely enjoyable and one that you will want to play again and again – the perfect complement to the Open. The outstanding Peppers Moonah Links Resort offers all the first-class amenities and service you would expect from a five-star hotel, including a spa and excellent cusine.
On the other side of the bay you can step back in time at The Barwon Heads Golf Club. Carved out of some of Australia’s best links land along Bass Strait, the course is one you will remember for a long time and want to return to repeatedly. Package this with a stay at the clubhouse and you have what I consider to be one of the most enjoyable golfing experiences in Victoria. The high number of club members from the famed sandbelt clubs that have annual weekends here is the best advertisement for Barwon Heads you will find.
Nearby is one of the newer kids on the block. The Sands Torquay is a wonderful mix of outstanding golf and a high-class Peppers resort that has something to offer for everyone. The Stuart Appleby-designed course is links-style with firm, bouncy conditions and lots of sand. It will test every part of your game – before you get seriously pampered off the course.
Golfers can even enjoy a short break without leaving the city boundaries. In Melbourne’s suburbs, two of Australia’s leading courses have accommodation in their stunning clubhouses, allowing non-members to experience all that is great about their clubs.
Victoria Golf Club, host of the 2011 Australian Masters, is a popular destination for groups from interstate and overseas. It is the ideal base to discover Melbourne’s sandbelt as well as being one of the best courses in Australia. Good quality accommodation on the top floor of the clubhouse is enhanced by outstanding hospitality and facilities, giving guests the chance to experience a classic sandbelt course while staying on site.
A little further out of the city in Frankston is the 36-hole Peninsula Country Golf Club. The South is a true championship course that has a wonderful collection of holes that will require your A-game. The North is shorter yet still provides a great challenge and an enjoyable journey through some stunning terrain, interspersed with some memorable short holes. The clubhouse provides a comfortable base for your golfing adventure with recently renovated accommodation and a hospitality team that is highly regarded in the golfing world.
Pictures courtesy various clubs and resorts.
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