Golf – Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula
Discover a region studded with superbly sculpted, high-grade courses including designs by international stars Stuart Appleby and Sir Nick Faldo. Golfers get to play the well-credentialed Barwon Heads, consistently rated among Australia's best. Individual holes offer so much variety with cleverly positioned hazards and subtle green contouring. Nearby is Thirteenth Beach, a 36-hole complex featuring the links inspired Beach Course set among coastal dunes. A little further along the coastline is The Sands at Torquay, the town that marks the start of the Great Ocean Road. Golf at Anglesea comes with a large population of local kangaroos congregating on fairways to form a remarkable hazard. Quality 18s can also be found further west at Warrnambool and Port Fairy.
Barwon Heads Golf Club
Golf Links Road, Barwon Heads
Ph 03 5255 6255
Course length: 5757 metres, par: 70
Nestled in the dunes at the mouth of the Barwon River. Not that long, but overloaded with character and charm. Links
together a series of wonderful holes, none better than the third – a par four of 373 metres. Teeing off alongside the road leading to the surf club, it doglegs right around a naturally occurring sandy wasteland. Once reaching the turn point, it's then an uphill shot to a green set high on a ridge. The downhill 13th is known as the postage stamp for good reason.
Thirteenth Beach Golf Club
Geelong-Barwon Heads Road, Barwon Heads
Ph 03 5254 2922
Beach course length: 6441 metres, par: 72
Creek course length 6396 metres, par: 72
Several fairways on the highly rated Beach Course running parallel to the coastline with just the dunes as a buffer
between golfers and board riders. Perhaps the key feature of the course is a wonderful set of par threes. The short holes offer lots of variety ranging from the brutal 3rd measuring 180 metres to the dainty yet sinister 16th of just 113 metres. The Creek Course, designed by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, is more of a parkland style weaving in and around cypresses and pines.
The Sands, Torquay
Sands Boulevarde, Torquay
Ph 03 5264 3307
Course length: 6582 metres, par: 72
Signalled the first foray into golf course architecture for 2002 Australian Open champion Stuart Appleby. Bunkering is a feature of the design with sand blending seamlessly into the seaside backdrop. Some holes on the back nine border the foreshore reserve and crashing surf of Bass Strait. Look especially forward to the 14th hole, a par four running parallel to the sand dunes with views along the coastline to Barwon Heads.
Queenscliff Golf Club
Swan Island, Queenscliff
Ph 03 5258 1951
Course length: 5873 metres, par: 72
Rather a unique golf destination occupying a large section of Swan Island. Surrounded by water, the course weaves through bushland and natural wetland teeming with wildlife. The endangered orange-belly parrot migrates to the island from Tasmania at the end of each winter. One fairway on the sand-based course is even fenced off to give the parrots free reign. The Department of Defence is the other tenant of Swan Island, which is accessed by a one-lane bridge.
Anglesea Golf Club
Golf Links Road, Anglesea
Ph 03 5263 1951
Course length: 6028 metres, par: 72
Famous for its wonderfully natural layout populated by a national icon in the form of kangaroos. Many of the roos that call Anglesea home were born in the national park that borders the course. They have grown so accustomed to grazing on the fairways that they rarely flinch when stray balls whiz past. Visitors to the clubhouse always marvel at the magnificent views across the course to Bass Strait.
Point Lonsdale Golf Club
Fellows Road, Point Lonsdale
Ph 5258 1523
Course length: 5688 metres, par: 71
Located alongside the heads of Port Phillip Bay but on the opposite side to Portsea. Front nine holes stretch out toward the marsh land of Lake Victoria and its native birdlife. The challenge includes several tricky dogleg holes requiring a lay-up from the tee. Green complexes are relatively small but their slope and orientation combine well with surrounding hazards to dictate the favoured angle of approach.
Warrnambool Golf Club
Younger Street, Warrnambool
Ph 03 5562 2108
Course length: 5750 metres, par: 72
The golf course is right in town and well within walking distance. That's unusual. Built on land close to the beach, there are a great variety of holes played from elevated tees through hilly terrain surrounded by ti tree. Worthy of mention is the stretch from four to six, the uphill par three 13th and the 14th, a par four with an aiming post in the fairway to indicate the best line from the tee. From there it's uphill to a green set high in the sand dunes. Greens are mostly well bunkered and true to putt.
Port Fairy Golf Club
Woodbine Road, Port Fairy
Ph 03 5568 2866
Course length: 5887 metres, par: 72
Considered one of the coastal gems of Victorian golf. Several holes on the back nine would not be out of place at any British Open venue. After climbing the hill to the 12th tee your attention is immediately drawn to views across the ocean to the lighthouse and fishing village in the distance. But a quick refocus on the golf is needed as the stunning signature hole beckons. The fairway of this straight par five follows the beach during its entire length, with out of bounds an ever-present danger on the right.
