Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club North Course

Magazine Ratings

Note – This covers the design before 2019 redesign.

Trying to make the most of my trip to Melbourne, I decided to play Peninsula C.G.C. before going to visit some family who lived in the area. Not really knowing much about the club before the visit, I came to be pleasantly surprised. I organised the visit as an interstate guest, and found dealing with the General Manager to be friendly and quite accommodating, who recommended playing the North Course, due to its ranking. This was my plan anyway.

Peninsula C.G.C. was established in 1925 in Frankston. It was originally supposed to be an 18 hole course for men and a 9 hole course for women, but completion of this complex did not happen until 1948. For the first few years of the club it operated as an 11 hole course, until 1926 when the final 7 holes were completed.

Entrance to Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club

I was expecting to play alone on this day, but was partnered with a chap called Harry (Royal Canberra and The National), courses I will gladly go and join his company on. This also enabled me to enter the local competition for the day. Luckily he had played the course within the previous week, so he helped in giving some knowledge around the course, well when I hit the ball where suggested anyway. I had done a little research before playing to see how the holes would play, so knew some caution of the tee would be required.

Harry my playing partner

I was glad that the temperature had dropped since NYE where temperatures reached 41 degrees, and I had suffered heat stroke. Being a little apprehensive about how I would be due to soreness still from cramps, there was nothing to worry about.

Scorecard for Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club

Hole 1 – 329 meter par 4

Starting the round is a shortish par 4 with plenty of fairway to hit.

Hole 2 – Par 3 based on Royal Melbourne’s West Course 5th

The second hole, 161 meter par 3, is based on the design of Royal Melbourne’s fifth hole. Having played the fifth only a few days before, I could see the similarities in design, but it is a poor cousin to the original.

Hole 3 – 479 meter par 5

The first of the par 5 holes over some heath to a wide fairway, with bunkers down either side.

Play is down slope to reach the green.

Looking back at the 3rd green.

Hole 4 – 374 meter par 4

One of the hard par 4 holes on the course, this turns to the right beyond the fairway bunkers.

Bunkers are either side of the green, which slopes away steeply at the rear.

Hole 5 – 447 meter par 5

The shortest of the par 5 holes at Peninsula Kingswood Golf Country Golf Club plays with a dogleg left.

The fairway slopes severely to the right when getting closer to the green.

Hole 6 – 309 meter par 4

Shortest par 4 on the course, well equal with the 13th. Carry the bunkers angling across the fairway.

Approach shot to the 6th green

Playing close to these bunkers opens up the green for the approach.

Hole 7 – 163 meter par 3

The longest par 3 on the course plays downhill. Bunkers are on all sides but a small opening is found at the front, allowing shorter hitters to run the ball in.

Sloping slightly right to left, finding the bunkers on the wrong side could leave a tricky shot.

Hole 8 – 351 meter par 4

From the tee, you have a downhill shot to the dogleg left hole. There is a massive bunker on the left and anything close will manage to find its way to the sand, due to the slope. There is plenty of fairway to hit right of this, but makes a longer approach shot. Beyond the bunker it looks like there is hardly any fairway, from the tee is looks like the width of an aircraft carriers runway.

View from the 8th fairway to the green

If you manage to stay out of trouble of the tee the hole should be fairly easy, the green has no protection bar some sloping from back to front and right to left.

Hole 9 – 385 meter par 4

A long par 4 finishes the first loop. Playing with a dogleg right turn, taking on the trees could shorten the hole.

The ground is relatively flat leading into the green, although the right side of the fairway sits slightly lower. Bunkers are front and rear of the green.

Hole 10 – 400 meter par 4

The hardest hole on the course, along with longest par 4, starts the back nine. A fairway bunker is found on the right, which offers the best line into the green.

A fairway sloping right to left, sees the green sitting slightly raised. Bunkers are either side, but the green does have some significant slope to contend with.

Hole 11 – 355 meter par 4

A mid length par 4 follows with a slight turn to the left.

This green sits level with the fairway allowing shots to run in. Bunkers are found either side.

Hole 12 – 370 meter par 4

Playing much longer than its yardage suggests, the uphill par 4 plays with a turn to the left.

Waste area runs along the left side of the fairway almost up to the 12th green.

Hole 13 – 309 meter par 4

Equal shortest par 4 on the course, play is over a small saddle. A large bunker is clearly visible out on the left, but another is mostly hidden on the right.

Approach from the 13th Fairway

Playing close to the left fairway bunker offers the best angle into this narrow green. I really liked the layout of this hole. There is a lot to offer from various angles and makes a terrific short par 4.

Hole 14 – 148 meter par 3

My pick of the par 3 holes on the day was the 14th. At 148 meters, this hole plays slightly downhill to a raised green. This shot is nearly all carry, over waste and thick scrub. When I first approached the hole I thought the green was originally further away, but this was actually the green for another hole and would have been at least a driver to reach.

A bunker and false front protect the green

A trap protects the front left of the green as well as the back. The putting surface gently slopes from back to front, but the right has a false front, repelling any balls that are short. This can leave a significant uphill putt to the pin.

Hole 15 – 528 meter par 5

The longest hole on the course snakes right and left to the hole. From the tee you have a blind tee shot over a hill. Position of the tee is critical. Anything right could find a water hazard hidden beyond the hill. If you don’t reach you restrict the possibility of advancing the ball to far up the fairway due to trees. Best to play center or left, to allow a choice with the second shot.

Snaking the way along the fairway of the 15th

Here you have the possibility of carrying sand traps on the left to shorten the hole, or play to the expansive fairway on the right, but leaving a longer approach. The green is protected by a large sand trap to the front right, and gentle slopes away from the green on the right and back. A large putting surface has slight undulations, but this hole is a pleasure to play.

Hole 16 – 148 meter par 3

Bunkers either side of the 16th green

Hole 17 – 521 meter par 5

The penultimate hole is a long par 5 hole.

Approach from the 17th fairway

The 17th green at Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club

Hole 18 – 375 meter par 4

The 18th was a memorable way to finish. I always appreciate a great hole leading to the 19th. The 355 meter, dogleg left, par 4, has a tough tee shot. Similar to the 17th tee, you play through a chute, trees left and right until the fairway opens up. Left of the fairway is a large sand trap, ready to stop the advance of any wayward shot and leaving a tough approach to the green.

Approach to the 18th green

Hitting the fairway will leave a mid to long iron into the green, which is well protected by three bunkers and a false front. The clubhouse overlooks the last, which is a great way to have a drink and recap the events of the day.

Overall the experience at the North Course was a good one. The course was a challenge, quite tight fairways at times, good routing of the land, quite challenging holes as well. A lot of thought is required to pick you club, definitely not a course where you just reach for driver on every hole. I was a bit disappointed with the greens on the first few holes, these appeared patchy with different grass types appearing, but after the third hole this seemed to disappear, so maybe the area had an effect on the greens. The bunkers also seemed quite inconsistent at times, some having loose sand but others quite compact. I enjoyed the clubhouse and staff, especially the view of the 18th green whilst having a cold beverage.

This was the second club on the trip which had two courses, both Royal Melbourne and Peninsula I look forward to returning to play their second course.

To play Peninsula C.G.C :

1. Play with an existing member or someone with reciprocal rights
2. Be an interstate or overseas visitor who is a golf club member