Peninsula Kingswood North
A pure Sandbelt experience on Melbourne's southern fringe, the North Course at Peninsula Kingswood was reborn through a landmark Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead redesign that turned it into one of the best modern remodels in the country. Sandy, undulating and beautifully bunkered, it belongs in any conversation about the great courses around Melbourne.
Photo: Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Peninsula Kingswood sits at the southern end of the Melbourne Sandbelt, the band of sandy country that gave the world Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria. Formed when the Peninsula and Kingswood clubs merged, it has two courses on rolling, sandy high ground at Frankston, and the North Course is the headline. Originally laid out in the 1960s by the local golf figure Sloan Morpeth, it was transformed by a landmark redesign from the Melbourne practice Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead, known as OCM, with the remodelled course reopening in 2018.
The result is a par 72 of about 6,158 metres, roughly 6,734 yards, that plays as a textbook Sandbelt course: firm and fast greens, expansive and artfully shaped bunkers, wide fairways and roughs that mix sand, native grasses and heathland scrub. It is strategic rather than long, asking for angles and nerve around greens that repel a loose approach. For visitors lucky enough to arrange a round, it is among the most enjoyable and authentic golf experiences in Victoria.
Peninsula Kingswood North at a glance
- Original
- 1960s, Sloan Morpeth
- Redesign
- OCM, reopened 2018
- Type
- Sandbelt
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,734 yds
- Access
- Members and guests
The 1960s Sloan Morpeth origins, the Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead redesign reopening in 2018, the par 72 and the length of about 6,158 metres, roughly 6,734 yards, from the members tees verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. This is a private members club with no public green fee; visitor access is limited and changes by policy and season, so always confirm directly before planning a round.
The holes worth the trip
What the OCM team did at Peninsula Kingswood is now a reference point for Sandbelt remodelling. They opened up the corridors, rebuilt the greens with the bold contours the sandy ground allows and reshaped the bunkers in the flashed, sand splashed Sandbelt style, edges fingering into the fairways and greens so that the eye and the strategy are constantly engaged. The course feels both old and new, faithful to Sandbelt tradition yet sharpened for the modern game.
The genius is in the short game. The greens are firm and quick and fall away to closely mown surrounds and deep bunkers, so missing in the wrong spot leaves a fiendish recovery while the right miss leaves a chance. Off the tee the fairways are generous, but the angle into each flag rewards the player who drives to the correct side, classic Sandbelt thinking where position beats power. Several of the par 3s and the short par 4s are standouts, asking for precise wedges and brave putts.
Played firm and fast, as it is meant to be, the North Course is a joy: a walk over springy, sandy turf with the ball running and the bunkers daring you to take them on. It does not need length or water to defend itself, only the contour and the conditions, and that is exactly why the Sandbelt is revered and why Peninsula Kingswood North sits proudly among its best.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club; interstate and overseas visitors are welcome during certain periods of the week, subject to club approval |
| Green fee | Not publicly listed; visiting play is arranged through the club rather than a standard public green fee |
| How to play | Visitors generally need to be members of a recognized golf club, with a current membership card or a letter of introduction from the home club; arrange in advance |
| On the day | Walking is the Sandbelt way, with caddies and buggies available; first class practice facilities and clubhouse; smart dress |
| Getting there | At Frankston on the southern Sandbelt, about forty five minutes from central Melbourne and on the way to the Mornington Peninsula |
| Best months | October to April for warm, dry Sandbelt golf; the firm, fast running conditions are at their best in summer and autumn |
Access verified June 2026 from the club; private club policies change without notice, so always confirm directly before planning a trip with Peninsula Kingswood or your trip planner. Ask us about access.
Where to stay nearby
Most golfers base a Sandbelt trip in Melbourne itself, a great food and sport city with hotels for every budget and quick access to the cluster of famous courses to the southeast. From the centre, Peninsula Kingswood and its neighbours are an easy drive, so you can play a different Sandbelt classic each day and be back for dinner in the city.
Frankston also sits at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula, with its wineries, beaches and hot springs, so a Sandbelt golf trip pairs neatly with a few relaxed days down the coast. The combination of world class golf, a vibrant city and the peninsula on the doorstep makes this one of the most rewarding golf regions anywhere.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Melbourne and the Sandbelt.
Play the Melbourne Sandbelt
We build Sandbelt trips around Peninsula Kingswood, Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria, arrange access where we can and sort a base in Melbourne with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Peninsula Kingswood questions
Who designed the North Course at Peninsula Kingswood?
The North Course was originally built in the 1960s by local golf figure Sloan Morpeth and was transformed by a landmark redesign from Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead, the Melbourne practice known as OCM, with Mike Cocking leading the work. The remodelled course reopened in 2018.
What is the par and length of the North Course?
The North Course plays as a par 72 of about 6,158 metres, roughly 6,734 yards, from the members tees. Yardages vary by tee, so confirm the current scorecard with the club before you play.
Can visitors play Peninsula Kingswood?
Peninsula Kingswood is a private members club. Interstate and overseas visitors are welcome during certain periods of the week, but generally need to be members of a recognized golf club, with a current membership card or a letter of introduction from their home club. Arrange access in advance.
What is the Melbourne Sandbelt?
The Sandbelt is a band of sandy soil southeast of Melbourne that is home to a remarkable cluster of great courses, including Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath and Victoria. The sand drains fast and firms the turf, creating ideal golfing ground and the famous Sandbelt bunkering.
Where is Peninsula Kingswood?
The club is at Frankston, on the southern edge of the Melbourne Sandbelt, about forty five minutes from the city centre and on the way to the Mornington Peninsula. It pairs naturally with Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne and Victoria on a Sandbelt golf trip.
Related
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Sandbelt classics, modern remodels and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; private access policy verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.