The Dunes Golf Links

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The Dunes Golf Links is located on the Mornington Peninsula. One of the many great courses in the ‘Cups’ region, this is a true style links course, built over sandy dunes. This is currently the highest ranked publicly accessible course in the region.

Entrance to The Dunes Golf Links

After entering the club grounds you come across the clubhouse. This really suits the area and looks great from the course. Think includes a large bar/restaurant to enjoy before of after your round.

The Dunes Golf Links Clubhouse

Twenty seven holes are actually built on the land. Eighteen being used for the championship course, whilst another nine, called ‘The Cups’ are used on a par 33 course, which is designed for use by the casual golfer. I have yet to play the extra nine but will do so at some stage in the future.

Course map for The Dunes Golf Links

Scorecard for The Dunes Golf Links

Hole 1 – 409 meter par 4

The opening hole is actually the hardest on the course. Nothing like having the kitchen sink thrown at you from the outset. The long par 4 has a dogleg to the left. From the tee you see only a small section of the fairway, basically where you can land you ball. Best to aim to the right side, but avoid the many bunkers located at the corner to catch those trying for a shorter route. Be cautious not to drive through the fairway though from the tee.

Looking back from the 1st green

When approaching the slightly raised green with your second, be sure to avoid the bunkers located on three sides of the green. There is an opening to the right of the green, but depending on the approach angle could be very fine. The putting surface has some small undulations and a swale to the left.

Hole 2 – 365 meter par 4

A hole totally exposed to the elements, playing from an elevated tee, the fairway angles away from the green, then turns to the left nearer the hole. Bunkers and sandy waster are located on the left. This fairway finishes around ninety meters short of the green, so it is possible to drive into the rough from the tee. The day I played there was an extremely strong headwind so it played a lot longer than the card suggested. I was glad the ball stayed straight and out of trouble.

Approach to the 2nd green

The approach to the second green will be uphill and depending on distance and pin position, have a bunkers in front left and right to contend with. There is a bail out area to the right of the green if required. The putting surface slopes away at the front and right of the green.

Hole 3 – 135 meter par 3

A short par 3 sitting on top of a hill, is partially obscured by a large dune to the right. The ground is predominantly short scrub between the tee and green and slopes dramatically to the right.

The 3rd two tiered green

Bunkers surround the right side of the green, saving them from rolling down the hill. The putting surface has two tiers, with the rear being the higher of the two. Quite a picturesque hole. Don’t forget to enjoy the view of the surrounding holes whilst walking between the third green and fourth tee as this is one of the highest points on the course.

Hole 4 – 310 meter par 4

One of two short par 4s which has a bit of reward but a lot of risk. Playing from an elevated tee to a fairly open fairway, a shot which is perfectly hit, I mean perfect, would have to carry a fairway bunker close to the green, find a part of the split fairway, to run the ball onto the green, if it misses the bunkers in front. Too many ifs for my liking.

Collection area for the fourth hole

This hole is interesting though with the fairway splitting near the hole and dramatically sloping to the left for any shots not hit accurately. The collection area for these shots will leave a difficult up hill pitch to the narrow green, carrying rough towards the front of the green and bunkers to the rear section.

Long narrow 4th green

The green itself is quite long and narrow. Putting here with some significant contours and slopes to navigate, will make any putt in the wrong portion a difficult one.

Hole 5 – 473 meter par 5

The shortest par 5 on the course, we face a blind tee shot to the landing area. There is a large dune on the center-right portion, with some bunkers to the left, built into another mound. Ideal line will be to the right of these traps. Too far to the right brings another large mound into play or the 7th tee if you really get the direction wrong.

The fifth fairway snakes its way to the green

For the second shot, you have a multitude of bunkers down the right from around 150 meters out to the green. The narrow fairway also has further traps to the left and a small dip in the fairway. The green slopes away at the front and has some gentle contours.

Hole 6 – 193 meter par 3

Playing downhill to the green, the easiest hole on the course is still a longer shot, which requires selection of the right club. I always find the downhill par 3’s tricky, actually committing to the calculated distance with the club. There is plenty of area in front of the green to land and run the ball in, but a bunker is located in the center of the fairway.

Narrow sixth green

The narrow green on this hole slopes away from the front, but also significantly from left to right.  One trap is located at the rear of the green for any long shots.

Hole 7 – 477 meter par 5

This medium length par 5 plays to a raised fairway, which is located between two large dunes, which contain large bunkers to boot. The fairway angles to the left beyond the left dune.

Tom Watson’s bunker on the seventh

Caution must be taken to avoid Tom Watson’s bunker from the tee. Ideal play is over part of the left dune, but the fairway slopes away and to the right, leading us to this little pot bunker to the right of the fairway. There is plenty of free space around this yet it does attract the golf ball.

The undulating seventh green

Approaching the green, built at the bottom of a hill to the right, caution should be taken. There is a grass bunker located front, never see too many of these, whilst the rear has a large trap among the heavy scrub. The green has some large undulations to the right, but also slopes away from the front and to the left.

Hole 8 – 392 meter par 4

Second hardest hole on the course, this long par four, a dogleg left, requires the tee shot to carry scrub then a couple of bunkers to reach the fairway. Further bunkers are located left to ensure anyone trying to cut the corner to much will potentially be punished. There is the possibility to drive through the fairway and if in the wrong spot have a very difficult second.

Looking back from the 8th green

A narrowing fairway rises up a gentle slope as we near the green. The main danger is multiple traps to the front left, however one is also located towards the back right. The putting surface slopes from the rear to the front, leaving anything above the hole slippery.

Hole 9 – 376 meter par 4

Closing out the front 9 is a par 4 which again doglegs sharply to the left. You have most of the fairway obstructed by bunkers and a large dune on the left, hiding one large bunker running all the way to the green (looks spectacular when looking back from the clubhouse but not fun to be in). Further bunkers are located at the end of the fairway, which are in play as the tee shot is downhill and not overly long to this point. The big decision is on how much you are prepared to try and cut the corner to leave a short shot to the green.

Looking back along the 9th hole

Playing to the ninth green will be a long shot from the fairway, short shot from the rough, or shorter shot from the bunker maze. The green is quite narrow, especially when looking from the fairway. Four further bunkers are located front, rear and right of the putting surface. The right of the green surrounds also slopes away from the target. Great memorable hole and one to look back on.

Hole Marker and pin flag at The Dunes Golf Links

I had been playing alone on the front nine and quite well at that. Another gent, Jack from Canada, was waiting on the tee, as his playing partners wanted to play alone. Always one for having company I gladly decided to play with him. He must have been cursed as I started to play terrible. Maybe that is why his playing partners had wanted to play alone.

Hole 10 – 340 meter par 4

To start the back nine, we have a medium length par 4, with a sharp dogleg to the left. Feels like we have gone in a circle since the eighth, which we actually have. A blind tee shot over a hill has the potential to catch out long hitters. The ideal line would be to the right of left hand fairway bunker. This may allow the ball to reach down slope, gaining further yards.

View back along the 10th hole

The approach shot will more than likely be over two bunkers which protect the green. If out of position there is the possibility to run the ball in from the left, as the slopes run towards the putting surface.

Hole 11 – 300 meter par 4

The shortest and easiest par four on the course, this hole starts to reverse the dizziness from the circle we were playing in. A blind tee shot up a hill with the hole turning to the right. Bunkers are located on a mound on the right half of the fairway, with the short grass sloping down away to the left.

Rear view of the 11th hole

Once at the top of the hill, the approach is to a slightly raised green which is built into a hill. Everything slopes to the left and back down the hill. A deep bunker is located on the left to catch any ball not on line.

Hole 12 – 502 meter par 5

Coming to the second longest hole on the course, but the hardest par 5, we start from an elevated tee. The ball has to carry scrub to reach the fairway with a bunker in play on the left. From the is point it is uphill to the right turn in the fairway.

Large waste area at the turn

The hole turns to the right, with a large waste area surrounding the sand dune which runs across the corner. Hitting over this area will shorten the distance to the hole, but it is a decent carry. Landing in here will require a great shot out.

Approach to the 12th green

There are a few small mounds short of the green, which look a bit artificial and out of place. The green is like a tunnel with bunkers located on either side. As for the putting surface it has gentle slopes and some small contours.

Hole 13 – 160 meter par 3

The mid length par 3 is built into a hill protecting it from the elements. The left portion of the green is obscured from the tee. This green is elevated with a large slope to the front and right to contend with if you are short. Four pot bunkers are also located along the front, with another at the rear.

The protected 13th green

Putting on this green has slopes predominantly from the left to right, whilst the leading edges slope away. The green is narrow so don’t put to strong towards the front of the green or the ball may leave the surface.

Hole 14 – 354 meter par 4

This mid length par 4 has a generous fairway, so make sure you hit it. The hole turns to the left and rises up to the green. A large waste area is located to the left, awaiting those trying to shorten the hole. Don’t go to far to the right, as it will make the second shot quite long.

Approach to the 14th green

Playing up a gentle slope with lots of mounds along the way, the green is quite large and slopes mainly to the left and from the rear.

Hole 15 – 392 meter par 4

Another hole with a generous landing area. The fairway slopes away and dramatically the further you hit the ball. Long hitters may encounter the narrower section, where a bunker is located left and a large waste area to the right. If accurate the ball will roll down the slope picking up a few extra meters.

Looking back along the 15th

A very slight turn occurs in the fairway for the second shot, which must navigate with some of the large mounds in the fairway, which slope to the right. There is sandy waste to the left of the green, but only in play for wild shots, whilst to bunker complexes are to the right. The surrounds of the green also run this way, allowing balls to funnel in, but also funnel away if too much on the right side of the putting surface.

Hole 16 – 505 meter par 5

The longest hole on the course is found at the 16th. This monster par 5 has sandy waste scattered all down the left side, especially where the fairway turns in this direction towards the green. Playing from an elevated tee, the fairway is generous.

Playing partner for the back 9 Jack

The second shot will be slightly up a raised slope, with the sandy waste in play at the corner. A couple of traps are also located on the right side. The second portion of the fairway slopes from the left down to the right and will funnel most balls down into a bowl.

View back from the 16th green

The approach to this green built at the base of another large dune, must hit the green. Many undulations are found around the sides, whilst the putting surface itself almost has two tiers, sloping from the back to the front of the green.

Hole 17 – 179 meter par 3

The penultimate hole is the hardest par 3 found at The Dunes Golf Links. A plaque near the tee quotes Tom Watson “This is an exquisite golf hole”. It definitely does look quite good and challenging to boot. Playing over a slight gully, the green is on an up slope with a large bunker complex located left, best avoid that. A lone bunker is out on the right for good measure, preventing the golfer from running the ball in from this direction. The putting surface itself is quite large with many small undulations.

Hole 18 – 370 meter par 4

At last, the final hole. That should be damn, the last hole really. The round is almost over. Playing down hill to the fairway, this is partially blocked to the left due to a small mound and heavy grass. There is no danger on the fairway, except for the wild shot finding the heavy stuff on either side. The fairway narrows then turns slightly to the right for the approach to the green.

The end is near on the 18th green

Playing up a steep slope to the last green, a large complex of deep bunkers is located to the right. The putting surface is quite large and wide. There are a few small contours to contend with, but put it in the hole and go for a well deserved drink at the clubhouse, or a nice hot cup if play is during the colder months.

I quite enjoyed the course, having a great love of links golf. This surely is a links, plenty of open area to allow the elements to play there part, as well as the natural appeal of sandy waste and long grasses, especially being near the coast. There are a couple of small criticisms, from the 8th to the 10th we play holes with left turns. They are significantly different, lengths and terrain. I can see this has taken advantage of the land and is probably the best route, but it is good to have a slight variation. The Par 5s on front are of similar distance (473 and 477 meters),  with the same thing occurring on the back (502 & 505 meters). There should be a mix up in the lengths throughout the back and front.

Back to a more positive note. I had rated The Lakes Golf Club as one of my favourite links style courses on the mainland, but this has seriously left me undecided. The Dunes Golf Links was definitely my favourite on the Peninsula and possibly now the mainland. Can’t wait to return.

To play The Dunes Golf Links:

Course is open seven days a week to the public. Ring the pro shop to book a tee time.