Portsea Golf Club

Magazine Ratings

In an effort to get my quest to play Australia’s top 100 golf courses on track again, playing Portsea Golf Club worked well with a weekend trip away which had been planned to the Mornington Peninsula. The day before was visiting the wineries in the area, but today was time to get back into action. This was the first game played since moving down south so I was a bit rusty at first.

Clubhouse at Portsea Golf Club

One of the oldest clubs in the Mornington Peninsula area, along with Sorrento Golf Club. The club first started out as a nine hole course in 1925. A tenth hole was added the following year. Over the years further holes were built until 1965 when the course became eighteen holes. Originally most members were from Melbourne, having to make a four hour trip to the course. It now only takes just over one hour.

Course map of Portsea Golf Club

The course is built set amongst rolling sand dunes and coastal vegetation, however there are no water views from the course. Soil in the area is sandy, ensuring good drainage for the course.

Portsea Golf Club Scorecard

The club has a large putting green to warm up and importantly, get a feel for the green speeds. Unfortunately running late I didn’t have the luxury. Today’s game was starting at the tenth hole, but for consistency I will start the process from hole one.

Hole 1 – 308 meter par 4

Starting the round with a shortish par 4 which is pretty much straight. Playing from an elevated tee gives a view all the way to the hole. There is one large mound which ideally you would carry leaving a clear view of the green. The fairway is fairly wide allowing you to settle in on the first shot.

The 1st green

Green one is medium in size and sloping mostly from the rear. There are two bunkers greenside to the left, so avoid them and hopefully walk of with a decent start. I like that it is not an overly difficult hole to begin with.

Hole 2 – 151 meter par 3

Playing the easiest and shortest hole (although equal with the 13th), the second plays over a gully. Trees on the left could come into play on any mishit though.

Looking back at the second green

This smallish green is almost nestled away in a bowl. Slightly right will allow the ball to run back in but the rest of the surrounds are fairly flat or slope slightly away. The main trouble on this hole is hitting it cleanly over the gully and avoiding trees on the left.

Hole 3 – 436 meter par 5

A short par 5, this hole doglegs to the left at the halfway point. Playing from an elevated tee we have to hit over a gully and hopefully carry the first hill. This will give some further distance. The line will be slightly to the right as the fairway will run out and the large bunker complex on the left will come into play.

View back from the slightly raised third green

Playing the approach, the main danger is a bunker on the left of the green. If laying up there is ample room, but best hit to the right, taking the bunker out of play. If attacking the green on the second be cautious of the right side or long, as the green slopes away significantly. The green has some gentle slopes, mainly from the rear.

Hole 4 – 395 meter par 4

Now things start to get a bit more difficult. Hardest hole on the course, this tree lined long par four leaves two choices, take on the carry over the bunkers on the right shortening the hole or play safely to the left. If taking on the bunkers, carry the left bunker as those further right have thick rough beyond. A perfect shot will carry extra distance down the slope.

The 4th green

Potentially you will be playing your second from the top of the first hill towards the green. The fairway dips down then rises again to the green. One bunker is located left whilst another two are found at the rear. There is a bail out area to the right, which leaves an uphill chip to the green and is suitable for the shorter hitters.

Hole 5 – 314 meter par 4

A tricky short par four, especially if its you first time playing the course. A blind tee shot over a hill, with trees encroaching on the right, gives the impression of a narrow fairway. It is actually wider that it looks and possible to carry the right hand trees, which look denser than they actually are.

Speedy fifth green

Once over the hill, on the hole not your age, it is a down slope all the way to the green. This is slightly raised with two traps to the left. The putting surface slopes a fair bit from the rear, leaving a slippery putt if above the hole.

Hole 6 – 330 meter par 4

This mid length par 4 offers a risky tee shot, which can be richly rewarded. The hole doglegs to the right, playing downhill from the tee and uphill for the second. However those willing to take the risk can try to drive close to the bunkers on the right, shortening the hole significantly and possibly getting a flatter position for the approach. Heavy scrub or trees is find on either side of the fairway so steer clear.

Looking back from the 6th green

The green is protected by two bunkers at the front, with another to the right rear. A false front will repel any ball not reaching the green properly.

Hole 7 – 169 meter par 3

The longest par 3 on the course, this hole ‘Glory Box’ plays over a gully with the green slightly lower than the tee. The ground short of the green slopes dramatically to the right, so if you are short, that is where you will end up. Two large bunkers are on either side with another at the rear for good measure. The green has a steep slope from the rear, with some of the surrounds at the back sloping into the green.

Hole 8 – 484 meter par 5

The longest hole on the course, this par 5 turns slightly to the right. From the tee, a hill sloping onto the fairway blocks seeing the hole and most of what is beyond. Taking on part of the hill will give a bit of extra distance and see the ball return to the fairway.

Approach from the 8th fairway

Playing to this green will be like threading a needle. It is a case of knowing your capabilities, the distances to the various bunker complexes and hitting it sweet. There are bunkers to the left, another further on to the right, then more green side on the left. The green is slightly raised and slopes away on all sides except for the left.

Hole 9 – 338 meter par 4

Finishing the front nine is a mid length par 4 which turns to the left. From the tee shorter hitters should aim to the right of the bunkers on the left side of the fairway. If lucky they will reach the down slope and roll to the bottom of the hill. Longer hitters can carry the trees (higher ball flights anyway) which will take them to the bottom of the gully, leaving a 100 meter shot up the hill. The ground around the gully tends to funnel the ball to the fairway.

Hitting uphill to the 9th green

Playing blind to the green from the bottom of the gully, leaves you guessing distance to the pin and also oblivious to some of the trouble. One long trap is on the left, with a smaller one to the right. The green slopes away in all directions and has some gentle slopes to contend with when putting. Great hole to play before getting a drink.

Hole markers at Portsea Golf Club

One gimmicky thing I found was each hole having a name. This can only be seen on the hole markers, so keep an eye out.

Hole 10 – 256 meter par 4

Starting the back is the shortest par 4 on the course, but far from the easiest. We had started this hole with sun towards us which made it a little more difficult to see what was happening. The hole turns to the left and is certainly drive-able for longer hitters. From the tee you play uphill, to what looks like a narrow fairway, trees encroach from the right, but actually has a bit of room to land in. Anything left will roll down a steep slope and possibly into the bunkers near the 14th fairway.

Looking back from 10th green – clubhouse in the background

There are many bunkers to the left of this hole, although it stops you rolling down the hill. The green slopes away on all sides and has some gentle contours and undulations.

Hole 11 – 447 meter par 5

Coming to the easiest hole on the course, this par 5 plays from an elevated tee. Carry a gully to reach the fairway which has some mounds along the way to the green. Play to the center or right is the best angle, as the hole turns to the left with trees blocking the sight to the green. A large fairway bunker is found to the right. Having the tee elevated allows for that extra distance, but brings the elements into play a lot more and also the trees lining the fairway.

Approach from the 11th fairway

Making the approach to the 11th green will be either from the hill before the green or down in the lower section for those taking three shots. A line of traps side the left of the green with one lone trap out to the right.

Looking back from the 11th green

The rear of the hole slopes away to heavy grass. There a some gentle slopes found on the small 11th green.

Hole 12 – 372 meter par 4

A longer par 4 which again plays from an elevated tee. This hole plays fairly straight and plays downhill for the tee shot. The fairway is wider than it appears and starts to slope away and to the left the further we travel.

Approach from the 12th fairway

Playing to far to the right brings trees into play for the approach, which may even force laying up short. This green sits atop a hill with a large deep bunker complex to the right.

Small sloping 12th green

Left and rear surrounds may feed the ball onto the green, although the grass is a bit thicker. The putting surface slopes from the rear towards the front.

Hole 13 – 151 meter par 3

Playing the hardest par 3 on the course, this hole is all up hill to a raised green. The ground slopes slightly to the right here as well. A castle type building gives an interesting scene in the background.

The long narrow 13th green

The green angles away to the right from the tee, which also contains two deep bunkers. Another two are located at the rear. The putting surface is quite long but narrow. The golfer can run the ball in from the left if required to keep out of the wind.

Hole 14 – 407 meter par 4

Having the longest distance for a par 4 on the course, but not the most difficult, the fourteenth has a blind tee shot. Play is out to the fairway which then falls away towards the hole, which also turns to the right at the same point. Bunkers can be seen to the right, but if you hit these you are way off line. Play should be to the left of these and over the trees.

Looking back along the 14th hole

The fairway is peppered with bunkers down the left side, which are reachable from the tee, especially if the angle is not quite correct. Finding the middle of the fairway will allow the ball to roll out quite some distance down the hill.

Approaching down hill to the 14th green

Playing the approach to the green will be from a downhill slope. Protected by a bunker in the center and to the left, the raised green is quite generous. Gentle slopes are found on the green.

Hole 15 – 267 meter par 4

Another short par 4 which plays around the clubhouse. The tee shot is blind over a hill, with the hole turning slightly to the right. The fairway is on the narrower side, with trees in play on both sides. The right has a hill with heavy grass which slopes back towards the fairway, whilst the left slopes away which will leave a chip out the only option.

Approach to the 15th green

The fairway slopes away as it reaches the green which is guarded by a bunker towards the front. This putting surface has some larger slopes to contend with.

Hole 16 – 158 meter par 3

A downhill shot to this par 3, which requires accurate club selection, always love these.  A large trap is found to the right with heavy grass surrounding the right and rear.

16th hole – Called ‘Bank’ this hole lives up to its name

All other areas of this hole slope dramatically away, can see how it was called ‘Bank’. The hole has wide open space front and left to miss, but leave difficult shots back to get your par.

Hole 17 – 365 meter par 4

Beware the golfer on the 16th green, although if you hit there you probably should be turning back to the clubhouse. The closing two holes are two difficult par 4’s. This longer par 4 has a generous fairway to hit from an elevated tee. Sloping of the fairway will ensure an awkward stance for the approach though. Trees down the left and out of bounds will mean trouble.

Approach to the 17th green

The green sits in an area which will protect it from the elements. A bunker to the front right is best avoided. Misses should be to the right, which is all fairway, leaving a slight uphill shot into the green. This putting surface slopes from the left to the right as well.

Hole 18 – 399 meter par 4

The final hole, the second hardest on the course, has a tee shot out to the fairway, which eventually runs away, leaving you to guess where the ball has gone (not quite). Trees run down the right the length of the hole. From the tee a large bunker complex can be reached on the left, leaving an impossible shot to reach the green.

Making the approach from the 18th fairway

The fairway slopes from the right to the left and has many undulations along the way. Avoid the bunkers short of the green (which is located to the right and further along than these), basically hidden from the fairway.

Hidden 18th green

The green complex at eighteen all slopes from the left to right. Surrounds on the left can feed onto the putting surface, the green slopes from the left, with the left surrounds sloping away from the hole. A tough hole to finish on, which makes the drinks even more enjoyable.

View from the clubhouse (and my drink)

Overall I found the course to be quite good. Not up there with some of the other courses in the region, but one well worth playing. This was a little drier and not as lush as some of the other courses further east, but still had an authentic feel to the area. The condition of the course was in a good standard. The routing was smart, giving a good variety in direction of the holes for elements to play a part, play of the hole (left or right doglegs), but there should be varied lengths with the par 3 holes. Three were in the 150 meter range, although one is uphill and another downhill, with one other slightly longer at 169 meters.

To play Portsea Golf Club:

The course is a private members club, however tee times are available to the public . Ring the Portsea Golf Club pro shop to find an available time.