By 
THERE’S A good reason Tiger Woods and a good chunk of golf’s elite regard Melbourne in the same hallowed way as they do the Scottish coast. The city’s rare ‘Sandbelt’ geology, which extends way down into the Mornington Peninsula, is a course designer’s dream, meaning even the city’s public courses offer a level of quality, diversity and challenge that other cities in Australia can only dream of.
As such, we’ve set out to provide the full rundown of the best courses that one of the best golf regions in the world has to offer, from bucket list tracks to the best and most underrated public courses for everyday hackers.
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
28 Cheltenham Rd, Black Rock
Public or private? Private
You’ve got about as much chance of getting on here as you do winning the lottery if you’re not a member, but if you get so lucky, you can consider yourself to have played on one of the world’s best courses. Described by Tiger Woods as a ‘dream’, both its east and west courses represent the purest of sandbelt golf and are widely considered Australia’s best-kept courses. No wonder Golf Digest named it one of the top 5 courses in the world this year.
Kingston Heath
Kingston Rd, Cheltenham
Public or private? Private
Arguably, the second brightest jewel in Melbourne’s golfing crown, Kingston Heath will have the honour of hosting the 2028 Presidents Cup and, in the eyes of some, rivals Royal Melbourne in its provision of Sandbelt golfing nirvana. Only Royal Melbourne’s famed west course kept it from being named the best course in Australia by Golf Digest this year, which should tell you all you need to know.
Peninsula Kingswood Country Club
211-279 Skye Rd, Frankston
Public or private? Private
The Mornington Peninsula’s premier layout with two pristine courses cut into the Frankston sand, Peninsula Kingswood delivers a one-two punch with its purely Sandbelt north course and more links-adjacent south course. It also boasts one of the region’s best luxury hotels, making it a bucket list must-add for intrepid golfers looking to explore the wonders of golf on the Mornington.
Victoria Golf Club
Park Rd, Cheltenham
Public or private? Private
The host of last year’s Australian Open and consistently ranked among the best courses in Australia, Victoria often gets outshone by its more illustrious neighbours, but thanks to its classic sandbelt layout and chasmic bunkers remains one of the toughest tracks in the state.
The National
The Cups Dr., Cape Schanck
Public or private? Private
With three incredible golf links weaving their way through the rugged heathland of Cape Schanck, The National might be the richest feast of golf in all of Victoria for those looking to stay and play over multiple days. The Gunnamatta course, given a complete overhaul by celebrated designer Tom Doak, is now the pick of the three.
Metropolitan Golf Club
Golf Rd, Oakleigh South
Public or private? Private
One of Melbourne’s most historic and well-kept courses, Metropolitan was got its last major overhaul back in the 1950s courtesy of Dick Wilson, who completed and refined the course to a state of such perfection the layout hasn’t really changed since. Renowned for being perhaps the most well-kept course in the city, it’s also one of its toughest tests, revered and feared in equal measure for the seemingly endless bunkers that flank every fairway and green.
Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club
335 Browns Rd, Rye
Public or private? Public, tee times from $95, 7 days a week
Rural Victoria’s best new golfing destination, Cathedral more than warrants the 2-hour drive north-east of Melbourne’s confines with stunning luxury accommodation and a Greg Norman-designed layout that, thanks to the course’s rustic surrounds, is one of the most unique in all of Victoria.
The Dunes Golf Links
335 Browns Rd, Rye
Public or private? Private
As the name suggests, The Dunes makes the most of the rolling beachside terrain the southern tip of the Mornington provides, offering a more open links experience that, true to the Mornington, still features plenty of sand.
13th Beach Golf Links
335 Browns Rd, Rye
Public or private? One course is private and one is public, tee times from $120, 7 days a week
The Mornington-adjacent Bellarine Peninsula doesn’t have quite the golfing stature as its neighbour on the other side of Port Phillip, but courses like 13th Beach are quickly starting to change that. Both links courses have won awards, making 13th the place to stay if you’re on the hunt for your next golfing staycay.
Lonsdale Links
31 Clubhouse Drive, Point Lonsdale
Public or private? Public, tee times from $85, 7 days a week
Just down the road from 13th Beach lies a newly-opened course that’s already establishing a reputation as one of Australia’s most fun tracks for all comers. Classic in design but making the most of the Bellarine’s unique terrain, the old-school layout makes it tremendous fun and thoroughly unique in the area.
Port Fairy Golf Links
101 Skenes Road, Port Fairy
Public or private? Public, tee times from $70, 7 days a week
It’s a 3 hour-plus drive, but if exploring the more rural coastline west of Melbourne is on your agenda, Port Fairy is a must-visit. With the enviable reputation as being Australia’s best value course, boasting a genuinely top-class links course that’s you can play for $70 year-round.
Portsea Golf Club
46 London Bridge Road, Portsea
Public or private? Public, tee times from $100, 7 days a week
One for the walkers, Portsea only has one hole longer than 400m, but thanks to the coastal terrain it dips and climbs over, it hardly needs one. If a course of challenging short par 4s and unique par 3s sounds like your kind of thing, you won’t find many better tracks in Australia.
Settler’s Run Golf & Country Club
1 Settlers Run, Botanic Ridge
Public or private? Public, tee times from $105, 7 days a week
Situated on the very furthest tip of South-East Melbourne’s outskirts, Settlers Run is quickly gaining renown as a track worth travelling the extra distance for, in no small part thanks to the Greg Norman-designed layout which weaves its way through acres of pristine bushland.
Sandringham Golf Club
209 Sandy Rd, Fingal
Public or private? Public, tee times from $57.50, 7 days a week
Nestled in the same sandy soils as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath just down the road, Sandringham is doing the golf gods’ work and delivering pure Sandbelt golf to the masses. ‘Sandy’ as it’s known has enlisted the links staff at Royal Melbourne to ensure the course condition remains pristine for all comers, while the recently rejuvenated layout has been redesigned to best reflect what makes Melbourne’s golf courses so great.
St Andrews Beach
209 Sandy Rd, Fingal
Public or private? Private
As the name suggests, The Dunes makes the most of the rolling beachside terrain the southern tip of the Mornington provides, offering a more open links experience that, true to the Mornington, still features plenty of sand.
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