Auto Club Golf Championship - Mornington Golf Club

The 2014-5 Auto Club Golf Championship had us heading down the Mornington Peninsula late in January. 

The Mornington Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs on the Mornington Peninsula with spectacular views over Port Philip Bay from the high points of the course.

Clubhouse

 A light misty rain cleared before a 8am shotgun start.  We started on the 18th hole, a uphill par 5.  On to the first a short par 4, but it was quickly evident that there were not too many holes where you did not need to consider the slope of the fairway that often had the ball heading for the rough with a sideways bounce.

Par 4 1st Tee

Par 4 1st hole

 

The 3rd hole is a medium length par 4 that requires a drive kept left on the fairway that slopes towards a lake on the right.

3rd green

The par 4 4th hole is rated 1 on the card and is uphill all the way.  The fantastic views of the bay start from here as you reach the green.

4th green

The 5th is the first of the par 3 holes and time for more views.

Par 3 5th tee

Par 3 5th hole

View from 5th tee down 17th hole

The scores were not anything to write home about today, but the weather had turned out kind, good company and great course made the day enjoyable.

The 6th is another medium length par 4, and that brings us to another par 3, the 205m 7th.  Watch out for golfers crossing from the 16th green!

Par 3 7th hole

View from 7th tee

The front nine finishes with another uphill par 4 to the clubhouse.  A short walk to the par 3 10th that plays shorter than its 164m due to the downhill change in elevation.

Par 3 10th

Par 3  10th hole

After the turn I started to hit irons a little better and built up to a more respectable 16 points on the back nine (including a wipe on our starting hole the 18th).

13 tee

13 hole

13th green

The 14th is a long par 5 with a double dog leg right and then left, with the approach aiming straight at the Melbourne skyline.

The 15th has a blind tee shot over a sloping fairway that requires a accurate second to a well protected green.

15th tee

View from 15th tee

15th green

The 16th is the last of the par 3's with possibly the best views of the bay.  A short hole but again demands an accurate shot to the green.

Par 3 16th hole

View back from 16th tee

Commonwealth Golf Club (31)

Another SGA Tour Victoria golf day, this time at another Melbourne Sandbelt classic, Commonwealth Golf Club.  This was my first visit to Commonwealth and was the last of the eight sandbelt courses for me to play.

Par 4 First hole

A shotgun start but we were on the first hole, so a gentle start to the round.  A generous fairway awaits a long iron and wedge to the green.

Commonwealth was rated 31 in the 2012 Golf Digest Top 100 Australian Courses and after falling a few places from 2010 I note they have climbed back to 28 in the 2014 rankings.

Par 3 15th - Hole in one competition hole

Today we had a hole in one competition on the short par 3 15th.  Only 127m in length but the pin was tucked just over the front bunker and the prize did not go off.

Par 4 16th

The par 4 16th hole bends around the lake and is a challenge.

A great day on a beautiful course, look forward to another game here soon.

Huntingdale Golf Club (38)

It was the first Social Golf Australia Victorian game for 2015 at this favourite Melbourne sandbelt course.  Huntingdale was in excellent condition, and with their very impressive new clubhouse now in operation, it was a pleasure to spend a day on the course.

Par 3 Third Hole

Finished the day with 32 stableford points and left a few out there so reasonably happy with the start to the year.

Par 3 5th hole

Still need some work to correct the over the top swing but had the irons generally under control and striking the ball better.

Par 4 18th hole

Leura Golf Club ( - )

A family holiday to the Blue Mountains in NSW provided an opportunity to enjoy a game at Leura Golf Club.  The course is one of the oldest in the Blue Mountains and enjoys spectacular views of the Jamison Valley.  Unfortunately the day I played was one of heavy mist so the famous view of the 14th was unable to be seen.

1st tee

Par 4 - 1st hole

Looking back down 1st hole to clubhouse

The course has the two nines separated with holes 2 to 10 a short cart ride after completing the opening short par 4 first.

I teed off early about 6:40am and so had the course to myself.  A light misty rain for the first two holes then cleared although the mist remained for the rest of the day in Leura.

5th tee

Elevated tee of Par 3 - 5th hole

After completing 10th, you ride back past the 1st green to the 11th tee to complete the back nine.  These holes overlook the Jamison Valley and have spectacular views on a clear day.

14th tee

Approaching 14th green - mist obscured views

The 15th is a 136m par 3 and as I was walking to the tee, the mist from the valley started to drift across the course.  by the time I teed off, I could no longer see the green which made for an interesting shot, which found the bunker right of the green.

15th tee

15th hole - mist coming in.

The 16th is a good par 5 with two water hazards to the right.  A lay up short of the hazards leaves an uphill shot to the left hand side of the green that feeds down to the hole.

16th fairway and green in centre.  17th tee and green in background.

The last is an uphill short par 4 finishing below the clubhouse.

18th tee

Par 4 - 18th hole

Leura Golf Clubhouse

Royal Canberra Golf Club (37)

It was actually a number of years ago when I managed to play at Royal Canberra Golf Club, which was a reciprocal club of Royal Fremantle Golf Club of which I was a member for many years.

On a holiday visit to Canberra, I took the opportunity to visit the club pro shop and pick up a ball.

The course is in a magnificent setting amongst the trees of Westbourne Woods with pine, cedar and birch trees lining the fairways.

10th hole

They have added a new nine holes since I played making 27 in total.  On a quiet Saturday in Canberra after Christmas the one place that was busy was the Golf Club with members teeing off in cool conditions.



18th hole

I look forward to a visit in the future and playing again on this magnificent course.