That’s my question as I havent been there.
You dont get links golf here…others would know better, but Port Fairy is probably the closest thing to Links Golf in the state. Classic Sandbelt if playing in Melbourne and on the peninsulas you are getting wide sweeping dunes golf with lots of elevation changes etc.
I will drop it
One says v linksy
The other says nothing v linksy
I let you guys fight it out
Having never played true links golf in the UK, perhaps I am way off. Sandbelt golf is brilliant, even for garbage golfers like me, but if you turn up to them thinking you are getting Links golf, then I would disagree with the comment above. Its kinda semantics and depends on what you think links golf is. You cant go wrong with any of the premier sandbelt clubs and if you go down Mornington Peninsula, you wouldnt be disappointed playing either Dune or St. AB
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Might be easier to just see for myself
Have played all of the links courses of import in UK and Ireland.
No real links courses outside UK and Ireland but looking for as close as I can get elsewhere in the world
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Barnbougle, Port Fairy or The Dunes is where you will be closest to Links STYLE golf in this part of Australia. They aren’t technically Links golf by linking the town to the golf course, but the style of play is certainly there vs the courses in the UK that I have played.
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You asked about courses that play “linksy”. Many of the great links courses in Ireland and the UK play through dunes, that’s what you’ll get at Barnbougle, St Andrews Beach, Barwon heads, the Dunes, 13th beach etc. but that’s not the only aspect of links golf that these courses (as well as some of the sandbelt courses) feature - they are all along or within spitting distance of the coast, they feature tight turf, play firm and fast and the wind / elements are often a factor.
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Thank you @Thinbullet and @wilbur.kay. You understood my question.
I have now booked all of those courses as my preference is for links, heathland and other sand-based type courses.
Especially like proximity to the sea plus wind.
Looks like this will happen in March 2023. Tasmania and King Island also on the card.
You can seriously ask him anything golf related and he will reply.
I found an old set of Lee Trevino blades a while ago and sent him a pic. He then replied with details of the year Lee came down to Australia and left his set of clubs with the guy who caddied for him down here.
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True. I posted about playing Yarra Yarra on NYD like four years ago in response to a ‘yanks need to play sandbelt golf’ tweet and we went back and forth for awhile about my experience. He was genuinely intrigued and we kinda walked thru how I played it.
Ftr, 94 with 49 putts!
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Other good links/links-style courses in NZ
Ohope Beach
Waikanae
Otaki
Kinloch (miles from the sea but trust me on this one)
Miramar (get in quick before it becomes a 9-holer)
Nelson
Muriwai
There’s probably more but these are the ones I have played.
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How many times did you putt off the green?
Thank you @sliceroulette. The itinerary is building.
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About 3 or 4 times. 4 putted I think three more/different greens and three putted another half dozen.
Hey Melbourne types: is there a car share system in the area? I’m wondering about the logistics of not getting a rental car for my trip. I can jump on the train from Geelong back to Melbourne and am planning on Ubers for most of the golf down Mornington way. The longest journey is between Peninsula Kingswood and Sorrento, which is getting on for two hours on a bus and would be an hour in an Uber, so was thinking some kind of car share would be an option…NZ drivers licence could be a spanner in the works?
Also taking early recs on pubs, bars, restaurants, breweries and bottle shops in the Brighton area please and thank you!
Pantry on Church St for Breakfast/brunch. St Martins is also good.
There are a few Vintage Cellars - one on Church St and the other on Hampton St. There’s a big Cole’s on Bay St. A smaller Cole’s and Woolies on Church St.
There’s a nice butcher on Church St and at the Hampton St shops (near to the Vintage cellars) called Meatsmith. Espresso Room near Meatsmith is good for coffee.
Opposite the Big Cole’s is a nice Japanese Robata grill place called Ro Brighton. We tried a few other restaurants all of which were decent.
I’m not too sure about good pubs, head to St Kilda, Middle Park or Port Melb for that. We had a beer at the Half-Moon on Church St which had music in the evenings - it was perfectly acceptable.
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The fresh pasta place at the Hampton St shops looks incredible, and the pasta is great but we found the sauces a little underwhelming. Your mileage may vary.
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O’Connels in south melb was one of the best pub meals I’ve had in years (pre covid years) so can highly recommend.
Car share - a mate of mine uses GoGet, but he lives in the cbd so I’m not sure what the deal is outside of that area.
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