The National Golf Club
The National Golf Club is located a short drive south of Melbourne, at Cape Schanck on Victoria’s spectacular Mornington Peninsula. The Club has three exceptional and highly regarded 18 hole golf courses, the Old Course, the Moonah Course and the Gunnamatta Course (formally Ocean Course), ensuring that it ranks as the best piece of golf real estate in the country.
About the Club
Launched in February 1985 as an equity shareholding, The National Golf Club was the first new golf club formed in Melbourne for approximately 60 years and soon became the new direction in Australian Golf.
The original course was opened for play in March 1988, and following the purchase of additional land on the adjoining property — a spectacular piece of natural golfing links amongst the sand dunes with the coastline to Port Phillip Heads in the background — an additional two 18 hole courses were constructed and opened for play by the end of the year 2000.
Image credit: Gary Lisbon
Old Course
One of the true tests of golf, especially when the wind is up, which is often. Strategic ball positioning is a must and any misdirected shot is severely penalised. The greens are large and tiered, and only those with sure hands who can keep their nerve will prosper. A dramatically beautiful course with unsurpassed views of the coastline.
Moonah Course
Rugged bunkering that is consistent with the natural landform is a key design feature of the Moonah Course. It is a fair but challenging course that has been built in the spirit of how golf was meant to be played. The fairways and greens are exceptionally well maintained and good shots are rewarded with birdie opportunities. Strategic bunkering and hole routings that incorporate the natural sand dunes penalise errant shots.
While there are not the ocean views apparent on the Moonah Course as on the other two courses at the Club, the inspiring ‘Cups’ country scenery is no less dramatic.
Gunnamatta Course
The Ocean Course has undergone a recent design upgrade led by renowned golf architect Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. The course is now known as the Gunnamatta Course, from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘sandhills’. Doak has successfully created an interesting yet challenging course for all abilities with improved routing to take advantage of the ocean backdrop. The Gunnamatta Course layout features superior green complexes, wide fairways and fewer, more appropriately positioned and designed bunkers.
OLD COURSE 7TH, PAR 3, 139 METRES
Few golf holes anywhere in the world could claim to have as dramatic a backdrop to this magnificently sited par 3 at the Old Course.
Correct club selection is vital and can vary significantly depending on the strength and direction of the wind. Anything short is consumed by the deep cavernous ravine. The right hand pin position is the most difficult with a rear bunker catching anything over played.
No matter what the outcome of the hole, you will also walk away from the green truly inspired.
