When it comes to great golf courses, Australia has more than its fair share.
After all, Australia's population is tiny compared to the big golf markets of the US and Japan and, to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom.
There is no state or territory in Australia that has more good golf courses than Victoria.
Melbourne's sandbelt is famous throughout the golf world, while the Mornington Peninsula has some brilliant courses and there's plenty of courses worth playing on the Bellarine Peninsula and in regional Victoria generally.
In this article, we list our 5 favourite golf holes in Victoria in no particular order.
And there is an important distinction to be made between 'favourite' and 'best'. The holes in the video above (listed below) are this writer's favourite holes which can be influenced by great memories playing them, an over-emphasis on scenery or both. For example, a list of the 5 best golf holes would consider the 5th and 6th holes on Royal Melbourne's West Course ahead of the course's 17th hole.
Kingston Heath Golf Club - 15th Hole
One of the greatest par-threes in Australia, this hole features a wall of sand between tee and green and the putting surface appears tiny as you stand on the tee. The back section of the green is significantly large than the narrow front sliver of green and the green's steep back-to front slope means tee shots over the green are left with a diabolical recovery.
Victoria Golf Club - 15th Hole
A drivable par-four which can be heavily influenced by weather conditions. Long hitters can drive the green with a tailwind or no wind, but a headwind makes laying up short of the left bunkers to the widest section of fairway the smartest option. The green is long and narrow but misses to the left or long will run down a steep embankment, leaving a treacherous pitch back up to the putting surface.
The National Golf Club (Old Course) - 7th Hole
Arguably the most spectacular golf hole anywhere in Australia, this hole won't soon be forgotten by anyone who's plays it. The green is massive and has a large shoulder dividing it into two sections. Tee shots falling short, left or long will likely leave your ball languishing in the ravine, your frustrations offset only by the magnificent views of Bass Strait.
The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (West Course) - 17th Hole
Widely regarded as the best golf course in Australia, Royal Melbourne's West Course is full of brilliant holes and the 17th sneaks under the radar a bit. The uphill tee shot is partially blind - particularly for long hitters - and the closer you play the left-hand fairway bunkers, the better the angle into the green. Another big putting surface, the green slopes steeply from back to front and the back right bunker is generally the worst place to miss the green.
Port Fairy Golf Links - 12th Hole
Country golf doesn't get much better than Port Fairy and the scenery on the straighaway par-five 12th hole is world-class. The hole is fairly simple, avoid the out of bounds and sand dunes to the right and avoid the marram grass on the dunes to the left. A row of bunkers slightly short and left of the green were added earlier this century and the awesome views of the Southern Ocean are a constant.
