Melbourne Sandbelt and Mornington Peninsula Combination | 9 nights, 6 games

A long, accurate drive is required on this straight par four. Heavy rough and fairway bunkers make the first shot most demanding. An excellent starting hole.

A well placed tee shot will leave only a short, uninterrupted pitch to the green. However, heavy timber on the left could spell trouble for any wayward shots or shortcut attempts. Accuracy, not distance, is the key.

This is the shortest par four on the course. Most players will be looking for birdies here, but the terraced green is very undulating and could turn a potential one-putt into three.

The fairway is wide open, but a drive to the left affords the best approach to the heavily bunkered green. Once again, the green has many undulations and slopes from back to front.

Although this is the longest par three on the course, it is a fairly straightforward hole. There are plenty of sand traps on both sides, but the size of the green provides reasonable margin for error off the tee.

A difficult par four requiring a long drive and a long second shot. A string of bunkers waits to snare any approach straying right, although the area around the green itself is fairly clear.

The par five seventh hole is a definite birdie or eagle chance. Drive down the left centre of the fairway, short of the cross bunker. I favour a fairway wood or long iron to pass the small swale at the entrance of the green. Any shot short of the swale is very difficult to judge.

Another long par four requiring placement off the tee. The drive must be kept left to open up the green and avoid fairway traps and rough on the corner of the dogleg. The green is severely bunkered on the left.

A relief, but accuracy is essential. Many will use an iron from the tee. The green slopes from left to right and is virtually surrounded by bunkers and thick bush.

There should be plenty of birdies on this short hole, but any misdirected shots will finish in either heavy rough or one of the numerous bunkers, which surround the green.

This hole has many pitfalls. Fairway bunkers just over 200 metres from the tee, heavy timber on either side, and an out of bounds behind the narrow green. There will be more bogeys than birdies on this tough hole.

A solid par 5, and a real birdie chance with three well executed shots. However, the players, who take the shortest line along the left, must contend with fairway traps, thick timber, and an out of bounds.

Another potential birdie opportunity, but again the tee shot should be well placed. Any shot hit to the right will leave a more difficult approach over bunkers to the small green.

The longest hole, where birdies will be scarce. Bunkers 45 metres short of the green leave little opening for long hitters attempt to get close in two. An out of bounds left and behind the green provides an additional mental hazard.

This hole is considered by many to be one of the best par three's in Australia. The very narrow green is protected by deep bunkers on both sides and slopes sharply from back to front.

The first of a trio of great finishing par four's. This hole doglegs right with a large number of bunkers perfectly placed to deter or challenge long hitters. The extremely fast, sloping green requires a delicate putting touch.

An extremely difficult par four, particularly if the wind is blowing from the north. Any shot hooked to the left is 'dead', and the huge, sloping putting surface will produce many three-putts.

An accurate long iron approach is required to set up a par on this hole. The green is guarded by traps on both sides and like the previous 17, has many rolls and borrows.

A solid drive will leave a short iron or pitch but it’s a dangerous gamble as your first shot of the day. The more conservative play with a long iron or hybrid will avoid most of the trouble but leave the more difficult mid iron to an elevated green. If in doubt, playing a little left with your approach takes advantage of a handy backstop, funnelling the ball back onto the putting surface.

One of the most picturesque holes on the North, the shot across the valley to a green set into a large dune has some similarities to the famous 5th hole on Royal Melbourne’s West Course. The most important yardage here is to the front edge of the green, and the dilemma when the greens are firm is deciding how close to flirt with it. Land just a few feet short and your ball will finish at the bottom of the slope some 30 metres from the green. Play too boldly and you’ll be lucky to hold the green.

An aggressive drive and the reward is a shorter shot and full view of the green, but a bad swing and you can easily find either of the left bunkers or worse still, end up playing another. Laying up further back in the fairway takes full advantage of the wide fairway, but the view to the green and the short hazards will be blind.

The tee shot on the 4th must be threaded between the sandy waste on the left and bunkers down the right. It looks much narrower and more difficult than it actually is, and for shorter hitters, the fairway is at least 40m wide, only narrowing where the longer hitters drive their ball. The new green here is receptive to running shots played out to the right, with slopes helping shoulder a ball toward the middle of the green. Only when the flag is tucked in the left corner does the player need to take the more attacking line directly over the bunker.

The tee shot on the 5th is like no other on the sandbelt; a thrilling drive through a valley with steep banks on either side. The fairway is wider both short and long of the valley making for an interesting decision from the tee. This par five is easily reachable for those who can drive beyond the valley but for those needing an extra shot or two, its best to hug the left side of the fairway for an easier pitch to the green. To the right the fairway drops off into a bowl leaving a difficult uphill pitch across a deep greenside bunker.

The 6th is the first of the drivable par fours on the North course and this one is somewhat unique for the sandbelt as it plays fairly steeply uphill. There are a multitude of options from the tee depending on how you feel on the day. Short of the bunkers, up the narrow tongue of fairway left, safely out to the right and away from the hazards, or attempt a thrilling drive across the sand. Each will result in a slightly different approach – sometimes easier or sometimes harder depending on the pin position of the day. The challenge is to figure out what works best for you.

The 7th is one of the highest parts of the property and among the most picturesque tee shots on the North course. Aiming for the widest part of the green on the right is generally the best play here with only the bravest (or silliest) taking dead aim when the pin is tucked in the left corner. Surrounded by deep bunkers and a cavernous hollow over the back, anywhere on the dance floor is often a great result here.

Many of the world’s great short par fours feature a penal hazard which one must flirt with to gain an advantage, and here we find perhaps the biggest, deepest, angriest hazard on the course. There is an abundance of fairway to the right but the angle into the green makes for a more difficult pitch from here. In the right conditions, some will choose to try and carry all the trouble to finish on or around the green and leave a relatively simple up and down for birdie. For those who can’t make that sort of carry, a small bump just right of the big hazard can help funnel a running ball further around to the left, leaving a fairly straight forward pitch.

The 9th begins the most difficult stretch of holes on the North. This long par four has been stretched as part of the redesign and will require your best two shots to find the green. The best line off the tee is close to the sand down the right, leaving a slightly more friendly angle into the green.

Back to back strong par fours at 9 and 10 and here we have one of the narrowest and most difficult tee shots to boot! This green is loosely based on a “redan”, a design concept where the putting surface tips from front to back and right to left and tends to reward those who can bounce or run the ball into the green. The most difficult pins here are at the front where the player must land their shot well short and on a small flat spot close to the bunkers on the right. From the very back tees, this hole measures 465 metres…so can be played as a par five on occasions for members or the strongest of par fours in tournament play.

A long sandy waste up the left and a cluster of bunkers at around 240 metres on the right generally takes the driver out of the hands of the longer hitters. The approach plays to one of our favourite greens on the property. The smart play is to land short with a running shot and allow the contours to funnel the ball towards the middle of the green.

The “hogsback” is a wonderful feature in golf course design and, whilst not that common in Australia, we are lucky to have a few within a few hundred metres of each other…one here, another on the 8th South and then again next door at Long Island on their fabulous 8th hole. The hogsback rises at around 210m from the tee and extends all the way to the green. Tee shots short of this are relatively simple as the fairway is wide and fairly flat but it leaves a long, difficult second. With a well struck driver or 3 wood, those wishing to take on the domed fairway will enjoy a significantly shorter second but the risks of finishing in rough or sand are high and a certain bogey awaits.

Much like the 12th hole, the tee shot here becomes riskier the more club you take. For most, the best play is a long iron or hybrid, with the angle a little better from the left side of the fairway than the right. The pitch can be a difficult one when the wind is gusting with deep bunkers on most sides and a putting surface tilted strongly from back right to front left.

The North course is blessed with some beautiful backdrops on the short holes, and this one, whilst the flattest is no exception, surrounded by an amazing expanse of heath and sand. A lot has changed here since I first joined as a 15 year old. Back then, pine trees covered the hill behind the green and trees lined both sides of the hole. There was little in the way of any heathland or sand, and the trees were so thick it was like someone had turned off the lights as you walked down the fairway. With careful tree removal and some encouragement of the heathland plants and grasses which originally covered much of the site, we were able to return this ground to what it once was and give the 14th its unique look.

A largely blind tee shot plays over a ridge which runs across the fairway, but it opens up a great looking second. There is some nice visual trickery at play with the second shot as the bunker on the corner of the dogleg merges with greenside bunkers and those around the 9th green, making it appear like there is more trouble (and less room) than there actually is. The best line is over the bunker on the dogleg which opens up an easier approach, especially when the pin is tucked in the right corner.

The 16th is best played left to right. The safe play is a little left of centre where a small mound helps nudge a ball towards the middle of the green. The most difficult pin is far right and over the large bunker. To get close, one must take dead aim over all the trouble

At 550 metres, the penultimate hole is the longest on the property and is a legitimate three shot hole for practically everyone. Two huge bunkers guard the preferred line from the tee and the reward for playing over these is a clear view of the green and a much shorter shot. The green is a tricky one with the hollow at the front difficult to see from the fairway and easy to hit into, making for a difficult up and down. Bogeys are plentiful from down here!

The tee shot at the last gives no hint to what lies around the corner…perhaps the most photogenic approach on the property, with the green sitting at the base of a huge natural amphitheater and framed by bunkers and heath. The longest hitters will try and drive the corner bunker and leave a short pitch, but plenty of trouble awaits anything off-line. I quite like playing a shorter tee shot with a 3 or 4 iron. The slopes help funnel the ball close to the corner bunker and it eliminates virtually all risk and leaves an 8 or 9 iron with a great angle when the pin is over on the right.

A deceptive hole, short with a big fairway trap, but a real birdie chance. Players need to drive left or centre, with a fairway trap guarding the right side and a steep hill running into deep rough for tee shots hooked too far left. The small fast-sloping green is stepped and guarded by deep bunkers at the entrance.

A long-driving hole with a different approach. Accuracy is required off the tee to navigate the dog leg and then a deceptive hill up to the hole often leaves players short. The green is guarded by bunkers along the right fairway and on the left of the green.

A deceptive hole; short for a par four, but an accurate iron is recommended off the tee as the target area is small. The green is guarded on both sides by sand traps, but a good eight iron can set up a birdie chance. A trough from the centre of the green running right can be a problem.

Par threes often present a little relief from long driving, but not this one. A wood is often used off the tee, firing up to an elevated green, where it's hard to judge the distance. A straight shot can avoid a couple of huge bunkers, especially on the left.

The 5th Hole is a short Par 4. After a blind drive you require a lofted, well judged short shot to a green that slopes downward to the back of the green.

The 6th Hole is a tricky Par 3 surrounded by bunkers that require precise club selection. The green has many deceptive slopes.

The 7th Hole is a long Par 5 with bunkers along the right hand side. This green can be reached in two, given the right conditions.

This is a long par 4 and the main danger with this hole is to miss the green on the right hand side.

The 9th Hole is a demanding short Par 4. The drive is tight and the second shot, with approximately an 8 iron, is to a very narrow green, surrounded by difficult bunkers.

A good driving hole where there is room in the left for the average golfer from where he can lay up short of the fairway bunkers. The low marker may wish to carry the drive bunkers to set up a long second shot at the two tierd green. Such a drive must beware the out of bounds on the right. Leave all approaches under the hole to leave an uphill putt.

The 11th Hole is a short dog-leg Par 4, wide open driving hole to a very narrow sloping green.

The 12th Hole is a long Par 4 which sometimes requires two woods. The second shot needs to be accurate.

The 13th Hole is a beautiful short Par 3 with a sloping green. Well bunkered and requires good club selection.

The 14th Hole is a demanding dog-leg Par 4 that requires a precise long iron second shot to an elevated green.

This short Par 4 can be birdied with a well judged lofted second shot. The green has a slope throughout the middle making it a true Par 4.

The 16th Hole is a long difficult Par 3, well bunkered with a ridge running through the middle of the green.

One for the attacking golfers, with the barrier of fairway bunkers forcing the decision to go long twice or lay up short and approach with a sand iron. It's an open driving hole, but accuracy is needed, with all the emphasis on the choice of the second shot, with those traps neatly placed to catch the wrong decision-makers.

A great way to finish, with a long hole, but offering the accurate hitters a birdie chance to sign off with. The long drivers still need a big second shot, but the green is large and inviting once you pass over the fairway bunkers. The green is surrounded by traps with some rough in front and the entry is nice and narrow.

A good open driving hole, this presents a wide area leading up to a big green with little danger. But it's a deceptive hole, with a hooked tee shot leading to danger in unplayable trees on the left. A deep trap on the right of the green, plus a grassy mound and deep rough on the left, makes it a little deceptive. A hard par four and not a lot of birdies.

A fast sloping green stands between a par and a possible eagle as this hole can be reached in two. There's plenty of room for the drive and a long iron can put big hitters on the green if they carry the bunkers guarding the entrance to the hole. Hitting too far left will find some thick ti-tree or maybe heavy rough - or the deep bunker.

This is a real birdie chance, with a good drive able to set up a comfortable approach pitch. But beware - the green slopes down over the back and it's easy to finish well past the pin. Bunkers on the left are dangerous, but it's an open approach.

A tough hole that is a good par if achieved. The drive goes over a hill, with fairway bunkers looming for the short shot. A wood or long iron approach must be straight, as bunkers on either side of the green are trouble.

Accuracy and the right choice of club makes this a superb par three hole. A middle iron is needed to cross a valley to the green, heavily fortified with bunkers. The fast green has a steep slope from front to back and is a tricky test.

Rated as the most difficult green on the course, the early shots are crucial. A sharp dog leg makes it vital that the tee shot carries a minimum of 200-metres across dense rough and fairway traps, in order to leave the ball in the right position. The elevated green slopes towards the front and produces many three putts.

A deceptively easy-looking hole where club selection is vital. The tee shot must be well-placed, with the narrow green and difficult undulations making long putts tough. It goes uphill from the tee, with plenty of bunkers, especially for those who over-shoot the green.

The 8th Hole is a deceptive Par 4 that requires a well judged second shot, to a flat green, that slopes towards the back bunkers.

The 9th Hole is a testing Par 4, uphill to the green, well bunkered on both sides.

A tempting hole for the big hitters, especially if they attack the pin by cutting the corner. But that's where the danger is, as the sand bunker is huge and a miss can be penalised. It's short, but suits the disciplined players who go the right way around. But watch the long drivers tackle that corner!

A deceptive hole that tempts the big hitters who challenge the fairway trap and rough on the left as they go direct. A second shot to a sloping green is a long haul and must be accurate, with bunkers guarding the entrance. A drive and a four iron can still produce many bogies.

A lengthy fairway which requires a couple of long shots, especially off the tee where some early bunkers await the strong hitters. This modified par four becomes difficult into the northerly wind.

The 13th Hole is a challenging short Par 3, with a pitched green making it difficult to get close to the pin.

The 14th Hole is a very good Par 4 with the green sloping right to left, making it hard to get close to the pin.

The 15th Hole is a short but tricky Par 5 which can be reached with an iron. The green slopes sharply to the front.

An extremely tough Par 3 noted for its extensive bunkers and small green. Woods are often required from the tee, however don't overplay, lay up short to find an easier approach.

Again two long shots are required, with the drive passing some bunkers on the left-hand side of the fairway. It's a tight driving hole and the second shot to a modified green needs a mid to short iron depending on the wind. Dangerous traps on the right make for a straight approach.

This is a pleasant-looking hole, but full of danger. A dog-leg to the right means the drive must carry upwards and over 200-metres to present an approach shot from a downhill lie. The green looks awesome, well-protected by bunkers, but a good eight iron lobbed nicely will pay dividends.

This hole is a mid length par 4 whereby keeping a line left of the distant cypress trees, you can cut the corner off the fairway.

The second shot on this hole is at least one more club than the yardage would suggest, and into the wind possibly two or three more clubs.

Play this shot straight at the pin, don't go left and right.

This short par 4 has plenty of room to the left with the drive, however a drive played left will leave a difficult second shot. The best line is straight over the bunkers.

Don't let the dune put you off on this par 5. The carry is only 140 metres from the back tee to a big wide valley. The best line is directly over the white stone.

This par 3 has a large green and down wind plays a short 200 metres. The best line for this hole is down the left edge.

This is the last of the blind drive holes. Drive over the hill into the huge valley which leaves a big bail out area for the second shot to the right. Playing this line however will leave you with a tough pitch.

Off the tee hit as far as possible.

This part 4 has a big dogleg to the left, so aim just to the right of the fairway bunkers.

A long drive over the bunker will leave you with a beautiful second shot.

On this short par 4, the bunkers on the dune can be carried if the wind direction is right.

This par 5 is the longest hole on the course with a tough dog leg to the right. A long drive down the centre will open up the hidden green through the wasteland.

This hole plays long into the wind with more room at the back left section of the green than what appears.

Watch out for the second shot as it is longer than what the yardage would suggest on this par 4.

Off the tee, keep left of the "six pack" fairway bunkers and carefully place your second shot. Also make special note of the reverse tier on the green.

For this par 4, a drive left of centre will ensure a shorter and safer shot.

A beautiful looking par 3 hole however if you intend missing the green (which none of us do!) miss it right.

Aim just left of the slot in the dunes, and this will bring you to rest in a beautiful wide valley.

Getting your ball on this very wide fairway should not be too difficult. All the trouble is around the green, which is not large and has some quite severe slopes. Attack the flag only if you are confident of nipping the ball otherwise the front of the green should be the target.

A par five hole running to the north with an intriguing green set obliquely to the line of general play. Strategy for playing this hole will vary tremendously according to the power of the player and the wind conditions on the day. One thing is certain though. More pars and birdies will be made by a tee shot into the fairway, followed by an iron shot second to the heart of the fairway between the final framework of bunkers, located at pitching distance from the green, without succumbing to the temptation of attacking the green directly for two.

A gem. This slight dog-leg left oozes natural appeal and was formed by nature, not a bulldozer. The tee shot is ideally played left of centre to receive favourable bounces and to shorten the journey. The second shot must be played with regard to the raw bunkering beyond the green. Putts from the front of the green are invariably slow.

Already the course is clearly favoring the long hitter and the requirement is again laid out here. The tee shot if powerful affords a much easier second shot to a green where very obviously shots will feed to the left on landing. It is a great penalty to miss this green in regulation on a target specific mission.

An unusual hole across the top of a ridge. The tee shot must be played with precision to control direction in prevailing cross winds. To miss the target left is a likely disaster. To miss right affords some prospect of a par.

A challenging short par four where accuracy reaps rewards. A must hit fairway since it is a most difficult green to find from rough or fairway bunkers. The firm green will only reward a soft approach (unless headwinds prevail). Perhaps the most challenging greenside bunkering in the state.

A piece of pure links beauty and challenge. The teeshot is framed by the deceptively deep bunkers. A rear pin placement will favour running approach shots, to a green which is about 3-4 clubs in depth. The aggressive play is to take on the left fairway bunker and enjoy the added distance of landing the drive on the down slope to set up a birdie.

An elevated, exposed par three with the question asked about precise ball striking from the tee. Three distinct pin locations on the green provide variation and challenge along with a test of putting prowess. A shot left short, or one which finds the deep bunkers front right, prohibits recovery for par.

A semi blind tee shot is particularly challenging for shorter hitters who play to the heavily contoured narrower section of fairway. If hit strongly and left of centre the successful drive will leave a basic pitch to a firm yet fair green where contours can assist the skilful in birdie production.

A strong drive is required to maximize run on the fairway downslope. The true links style amphitheatre around the concave green feeds approach shots towards the centre. If the second shot is simply played to the centre of this challenging green the golfer will consistently reap reward.

Teeshot plays to a plateau. Choose approach club carefully to avoid bunkers, and out-of-bounds, on the back right. If the approach to the green is being played from a short drive, height and carry are a premium on the shot to control existing contours and to obtain benefit from the land.

Length appears to be the only issue on first sighting. The hole is in fact a test of placement too with birdies and pars set up by being left of centre in the fairway after two shots. Again the powerful player has the edge, but the patient consistent player is in with a chance too.

A hole where luck will intervene. For best results play the tee shot to the right of the pin on all occasions other than fierce winds to the contrary. Soft landing tee shots receive the best treatment on a hole that few will prevail over.

The drive to a wide and down sloping fairway affords an improved angle for those who can place the shot left of centre. The second shot offers great advantage for those capable of elevating the approach from the downhill lie. On the green itself most approaches will be gathered by the concave surface.

Stay right to avoid the penal grass, which runs the length of the leftside fairway, forming a dog-leg of rough for second shot (for long hitters only). The approach can be engineered to finish close to the target if the slopes on the green can be used to good effect.

Great driving hole. Attack with second shot club selection. Shots hit short to green will feed to four deep bunkers left of green. Contours at back of green are favourable. The fairway bunkers are among the deepest on the course and must be avoided at all costs.

Wind consideration is important from sheltered tees. Shots landing in front will kick forward from the downslope. Loss of direction here is tough to recover from so play to the left half of the green with a positive shot and enjoy the result.

The drive played to the left half of the fairway will run into an up slope where little run is available. An arrow up the middle and another to the deceptively narrow green is the best play. The deep green will send most approaches to it?s centre and is around three clubs in length.