Sandy Golf Links
OCM Golf reimagined this public course on genuine Melbourne sandbelt soil beside Royal Melbourne, and it reopened in November 2020 as the most affordable real sandbelt round in the country. A par 65 of roughly 5,300 yards, it trades length for strategy, firm turf and bold, amoeba shaped bunkering, and anyone can book it.
Photo: Sandy Golf Links via Google, by Charles Zhu.
The verdict
Sandy Golf Links is the rarest thing on the Melbourne sandbelt, a great piece of the famous sandy ground that anyone can walk up and play for the price of a public round. OCM Golf, the design firm of Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead, redrew the old Sandringham municipal layout, the Royal Melbourne course staff rebuilt it, and it reopened in November 2020 as a deliberately short, deliberately clever par 65.
Do not let the scorecard length fool you. At roughly 5,300 yards this is a strategy puzzle, not a pitch and putt, full of reachable par 4s that tempt you into trouble, a fine collection of short par 3s, and the firm, fast turf and sculpted bunkering that define the sandbelt. For a traveling golfer it is the perfect warm up or wind down round on a Melbourne golf trip, an honest, low fuss companion to the private giants next door.
Sandy Golf Links at a glance
- Reopened
- 2020
- Designer
- OCM Golf (Ogilvy, Cocking, Mead)
- Type
- Sandbelt public
- Par
- 65
- Yardage
- About 5,300 yds
- Green fee
- From ~AUD 60
Designer, reopening year and par verified June 2026 from Sandy Golf Links and leading course databases. OCM Golf redesigned the course, the Royal Melbourne course staff rebuilt it, and it reopened for public play in November 2020 as a par 65 of roughly 5,300 yards. Indicative 2026 green fees run from about AUD 60 for 18 holes on a weekday to about AUD 67 on a weekend, with Bayside resident concessions; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
What OCM achieved on a tight footprint is a masterclass in width, angle and temptation. The fairways are generous, but the line that opens the green is guarded by the same flashed, amoeba shaped bunkers you find at the great private clubs along the road, and the firm sandbelt turf lets a well struck shot run and a careless one chase into the sand.
The short par 4s are the heart of the round. Several invite a bold tee shot at the green, then punish the miss with awkward recovery angles and slick, tilting putting surfaces, so the smart play and the brave play are rarely the same. The set of par 3s is varied and characterful, asking different clubs and different shapes, and rewarding the player who controls trajectory and spin into firm greens.
Because it is short and walkable, Sandy Golf Links is a course you can play twice in a day and learn something new each time. It plays firm and fast in the warm months, and the lower the scorecard yardage, the higher the premium on thinking, which is exactly the sandbelt lesson the great courses next door teach at four times the price.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Fully public; open to all golfers with no handicap requirement, tee times booked online or by phone |
| Green fee | From about AUD 60 for 18 holes on a weekday to about AUD 67 on a weekend, with Bayside resident concessions (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book ahead online in peak season and on weekends; nine hole and twilight rates are usually available |
| On the day | Walking is easy on a short, flat sandbelt layout; carts and clubs can be hired; relaxed but neat golf attire |
| Getting there | Sandringham in bayside southeast Melbourne, about 30 minutes from the city, alongside Royal Melbourne |
| Best months | October to April for the warm, dry sandbelt season when the turf runs firm and fast |
Access and fees verified June 2026; public rates change by season, day and concession, so always confirm directly with the course before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in central Melbourne or along the bayside suburbs, both within easy reach of the sandbelt clubs and full of excellent hotels, dining and the wider attractions of one of the world's great sporting cities. A bayside base around Brighton or Sandringham puts Sandy Golf Links and its illustrious private neighbours within a short drive.
It is an ideal region to build a multi course pilgrimage around, pairing a relaxed, anyone can play round at Sandy Golf Links with the classics of the Melbourne sandbelt such as Kingston Heath and Metropolitan.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sandy Golf Links.
Build a Melbourne golf trip
We book the public rounds like Sandy Golf Links, secure the private sandbelt tee times where access allows, and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sandy Golf Links questions
Who designed Sandy Golf Links and when did it open?
Sandy Golf Links was redesigned by OCM Golf, the firm of Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Cocking and Ashley Mead, with Mike Cocking leading the routing and the Royal Melbourne course staff rebuilding it. The new layout reopened for public play in November 2020.
What is the par and length of Sandy Golf Links?
Sandy Golf Links is a par 65 of roughly 5,300 yards, a deliberately short, strategic layout built on genuine Melbourne sandbelt soil with firm turf and bold bunkering.
Can anyone play Sandy Golf Links?
Yes. Sandy Golf Links is a fully public course at Sandringham. Tee times are booked online, there is no handicap requirement, and green fees are modest, which makes it one of the most accessible ways to play real sandbelt golf.
How much does it cost to play Sandy Golf Links in 2026?
Indicative 2026 green fees run from about AUD 60 for 18 holes on a weekday up to about AUD 67 on a weekend, with resident concessions available. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, reopening year and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.