Golf Clubs - The Links
   
 
You are here: Home > Golf Clubs > Australia > The National Golf Club – Old course

The National Golf Club – Old course

www.nationalgolf.com.au
 
 "Aside from the number of impressive golf holes, the key to Moonah’s success as a big dune links are its outstanding bunkers and greens.” “The bunkering is Moonah’s most distinctive feature. The small traps were first excavated quite roughly before the edges, and parts of the faces, were seeded with fescues to provide a wild, jagged and ungroomed appearance, not dissimilar to the fearsome hazards at Royal County Down."
Planet Golf, 2007

Club description

Three 18 hole courses. Located on the Mornington Peninsula coastline, The National ranks as one of the best pieces of golf real estate in the country. The Old Course designed in 1988 features spectacular ocean views. The Moonah Course is a links style that debuted in the Top 10 courses in Australia. The Ocean Course combines the vast knowledge of links golf of its designers and is based on the great links of Scotland and Ireland.

Location: Cape Schank, Victoria, Australia
Year founded: 1985
Courses: Moonah course (6582 meters), Old course (6313 meters), Ocean course (6552 meters)
Architect: Old: Robert Trent Jones, Moonah: Greg Norman (2001), Ocean: Thomson, Wolveridge & Perrett (2001)

Signature Holes


click image to Enlarge

Hole #7 - 139 meters par 3

The stunning topography enhanced by magnificent coastline views makes this The National’s signature hole. Club selection is critical as whilst the huge green is particularly wide, anything hit short, long or left of the green is best forgotten. The deep bunker at the rear should be avoided and a shot to the wrong side of the spine dividing the green will prompt many a three putt. With the prevailing wind into the line of play, a quieter swing with an “extra club” is recommended.


click image to Enlarge

Hole #17 - 511 meters par 5

A rolling par 5 with spectacular ocean views, again with an option for big tee hitters to drive across the dog leg from the elevated tee (a carry of 250 metres from the Black) setting up a possible second shot to the green. A more conventional approach avoids the left side fairway bunkers from the tee requiring the second shot to be played short of further fairway bunkers within pitching distance of the green. The green is split by a central spine and requires an accurate approach shot.

Scorecard

Course played:
Date played: 29th November, 2011