Huntingdale
Huntingdale is the Home of the Australian Masters, a private members club in the heart of the Melbourne sandbelt that hosted the event a record number of times. Laid out in 1941 to a design attributed to C. H. Alison and revised by Martin Hawtree and Graeme Grant in 2010, it is a par 72 of about 6,344 yards, a heathland test of length and precision among the great sandbelt names.
Photo: Huntingdale Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Huntingdale is best known as the Home of the Australian Masters, which it hosted a record number of times and which made it one of the most televised courses in the country. It sits in the middle of the Melbourne sandbelt, surrounded by the famous names of Kingston Heath, Metropolitan and Commonwealth, and it shares their firm, sandy turf and heathland character. The course was laid out in 1941 to a design attributed to C. H. Alison, and a thorough revision by Martin Hawtree and Graeme Grant in 2010 sharpened the bunkering and restored sandbelt definition.
While it does not always make the very top of the sandbelt rankings, Huntingdale is a serious championship test and a name any sandbelt pilgrim knows well. It plays as a par 72 of about 6,344 yards and longer from the championship tees, demanding both length and precise iron play into well defended greens. It is a private members club, so plan access well ahead, ideally through a reciprocal club or a sandbelt golf specialist.
Huntingdale at a glance
- Opened
- 1941
- Designer
- C. H. Alison, Hawtree and Grant revision
- Type
- Sandbelt heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,344 yds
- Green fee
- Members and reciprocal
Design history, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Huntingdale opened in 1941 to a design attributed to C. H. Alison and was revised by Martin Hawtree and Graeme Grant in 2010, a par 72 of about 6,344 yards that plays longer from the championship tees. Huntingdale is a private members club; visitors generally need a reciprocal club introduction. There is no published public green fee, so always confirm access and any guest rate directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Huntingdale plays as a proper championship sandbelt course, longer and more demanding off the tee than several of its more celebrated neighbours. The fairways run firm and fast on the sandy soil, and the 2010 work by Hawtree and Grant brought the bunkering back into play and restored the crisp edges that define sandbelt golf.
The premium is on driving the ball into position and then controlling a long iron or wedge into greens that are quick and subtly contoured. The collection of par 3s is strong, and the par 5s give the longer player a genuine chance to score, which the Australian Masters field exploited over decades of low winning totals.
It closes with a run of holes that reward the player who has kept the ball in play and leaves the loose drive punished by sand. Walk it on firm sandbelt turf, respect the bunkering, and Huntingdale gives back the same honest, strategic golf that makes the Melbourne sandbelt the finest collection of courses in the southern hemisphere.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitors generally play on a limited basis through a reciprocal club introduction |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest or visitor rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Contact the club well in advance; a reciprocal arrangement or a sandbelt golf specialist helps secure a time |
| On the day | Walking is the sandbelt tradition; caddies can be arranged; pace and etiquette are expected |
| Getting there | Oakleigh South in southeast Melbourne, about 25 minutes from the city and close to the other sandbelt clubs |
| Best months | October to April for the warm, dry sandbelt season when the turf runs firmest |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Huntingdale is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Visiting golfers base themselves in central Melbourne or the bayside suburbs, both within easy reach of the sandbelt and full of excellent hotels, dining and the wider draws of one of the great sporting cities of the world. A Melbourne base puts Huntingdale and its neighbours within a short drive.
For a golf focused stay, the southeastern suburbs put several sandbelt courses on the doorstep, and it is an ideal region to build a multi course pilgrimage around, pairing Huntingdale with Kingston Heath, Metropolitan and the other classics of the Melbourne sandbelt.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Huntingdale.
Build a Melbourne golf trip
We secure the Huntingdale tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of the sandbelt and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Huntingdale questions
Who designed Huntingdale Golf Club?
Huntingdale opened in 1941 to a design attributed to C. H. Alison, and was revised by Martin Hawtree and Graeme Grant in 2010, who sharpened the bunkering and restored sandbelt definition.
What is the par and length of Huntingdale?
Huntingdale is a par 72 of about 6,344 yards that plays longer from the championship tees, on firm sandbelt turf with strong par 3s and well defended greens.
Why is Huntingdale called the Home of the Australian Masters?
Huntingdale hosted the Australian Masters a record number of times over several decades, which made it one of the most recognised courses in Australian golf.
Can visitors play Huntingdale?
Huntingdale is a private members club. Visitors generally play on a limited basis through a reciprocal club introduction, so contact the club well in advance.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.