Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield

Rankings: 

   

The Takeaway:  Legends is the better of the two layouts at Moonah Links and still one of the finest public tracks in Australia. The visual appeal, undulated terrain, and individual hole designs garner the strongest appeal to the course and are well worth a visit when on the Mornington Peninsula.  Grade B+

Quick Facts

Designer:  Ross Perrett and Peter Thomson in 2003

Cost:  $55 AUD - $100 AUD (Motorized cart is $50 AUD) Click for current rates

Phone Number:  61 3 5988 2047

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit Moonah Links Resort (Legends)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - Peter Thomson Drive, Fingal, Victoria  3939 – AUSTRALIA

Photos:  See additional photos of Moonah Links Resort (Legends)

What to Expect:  Moonah Links Resort boasts two golf courses; the Legends with individual holes named after winners of the Austrailian Open, and the Open course which was designed to host large tournaments such as the Australian Open. The Legends is the better of the two courses with far more visual appeal and laid out on much more engaging terrain. The varied landscape and sand dunes combine with memorable hole designs to create a final product that makes the Legends one of the best public courses Down Under. The opening hole sets the tone early with an impressive downhill tee shot before the fairway ascends uphill to the challenging green site while the 16th hole boasts the largest green in the Southern Hemisphere. Players are given the option of walking or riding in a cart, so if you play 36 holes you may elect to walk in the morning and take a ride in the afternoon. While the private courses around Melbourne get all the hype, making a trip down to the Mornington Peninsula to access great public tracks is well worth it.

By the Numbers

Tees	Par	Yardage	Rating	Slope
Black	72	6906	74.2	141
White	72	6495	72.2	137
Red (Women)	72	5553	73.8	128

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  1st Hole – 533 Yard Par 5 – The Legends course starts off with a bang with this aesthetically pleasing par 5. The downhill tee shot is great “eye candy” to start out what will surely be an enjoyable round. After the downhill tee shot, the hole turns right and slopes up towards a challenging green. The green is wider than it is deep, but overall, this hole allows you to ease into your round. Aaron Baddeley should be proud to be the namesake for a solid opener.

Best Par 3:  10th Hole – 194 Yards – You’ll want a solid shot off the tee on this longer par 3, as you’ll need to hit over a valley with waste areas on both the right and the left that will surely soak up any wayward shots. Even Bruce Crampton, who won the PGA’s Vardon Trophy in 1973 and 1975 and is the proud namesake of this hole, would have to take a second to think about what club to hit on this hole. Club selection is the key to a good score here. Just try to land it anywhere near the green.

Best Par 4:  4th Hole – 372 Yards – Another tantalizing tee shot awaits you at the par 4 4th hole. Named after the great Greg Norman, who spent an astonishing 331 weeks ranked as the world’s number one golfer, this short par 4 plays from an elevated tee to a fairway that doglegs to the left. There are essentially two sections to the fairway, separated by three challenging bunkers, the upper of which will be challenging to reach for most golfers. Those who reach the upper part will be rewarded with a short wedge shot into the relatively small green.

Best Par 5:  9th Hole – 541 Yards – Gary Player graces us with his presence on the long and challenging 9th hole. With a waste area on the right and trouble on the left, anywhere but straight down the fairway is sure to cause heartache. The waste area on the right makes the hole more difficult, along with the trouble beyond the green, but these areas certainly give the hole an attractive framework to enjoy as you make your way towards the green. The shortest way to the green is to flirt with this right side, but that is obviously also the most perilous. On this hole, the old adage of “play smarter, not harder” certainly applies.

Birdie Time:  11th Hole – 297 Yard Par 4 – This is a driveable par 4 for longer hitters who want to challenge the trouble down the right side. Other players may want to lay up with a long iron down the middle. Even with the latter play, a birdie is an attainable goal. The green is flat and accommodating for an approach. And for those who, like Bobby Locke, are able to “putt for dough,” a solid stroke with the short stick will assuredly give you a birdie.

Bogey Beware:  16th Hole – 202 Yard Par 3 – You’ll need to pull out your inner “Gene Sarazen” from the 1920’s to score well on this difficult one-shot hole. It shouldn’t be difficult to find the green, but three-putt is written all over this green as this hole boasts the largest putting surface in the Southern Hemisphere. Although this shot would be a little shorter than Gene’s infamous 4-wood shot, you’d certainly have your own “shot heard around the world” if you were to ace this one.

Recommended Accommodations

Carmel at Sorrento - For luxury accommodations on Mornington Peninsula, you simply can't beat Carmel at Sorrento. Located within walking distance of the beach, the enchanting location is perfect for just relaxing or enjoying a stroll to one of the quality restaurants or quaint shops. The accommodations themselves are a wonderful blend of hi-tech features, European styling, and as comfortable as being home. No detail is overlooked from the hidden Smart TV's to the chic decor to the deluxe linens, everything features screams quality. The full kitchen inside paired with the grill outside provide everything in-home dining option you could hope for and allows you to enjoy the full featured three bedroom apartment to the fullest. You are sure to be impressed by the multi-story atrium in the common area as well as underground parking for your vehicle. You'd swear that Mr. and Mrs. Clean owned this property with the spotless care that has been put into the property which is perhaps the most comforting feeling of all. If you really want to make your visit to the Mornington Peninsula memorable, make sure Carmel at Sorrento is part of it; I couldn't have been more impressed. Contact: (+61) 03 5984 3512 or stay@carmelatsorrento.com.au