The Dunes Golf Links

The verdict

The Dunes is the course that opened the Mornington Peninsula to the traveling golfer. When Tony Cashmore routed it through the rolling sand dunes of the Cups country at Rye and it opened in 1997, it set a new standard for what a public access course in Australia could be, world class links land that anyone could play. More than a quarter of a century later it remains, by common consent, Victoria's number one public course and a regular in the national top five.

It plays as a par 72 of about 6,459 metres, but the numbers undersell it. The ground is the star, dramatic dunes that Cashmore used rather than tamed, giving the round bold elevation changes, blind and semi blind shots, and greens that sit naturally into the land. Multiple tee sets keep it fair for every handicap, and the on site Links Lodge makes it the obvious base for a Mornington Peninsula golf trip. For value, drama and genuine links character, few public courses anywhere match it.

The holes worth the trip

What makes The Dunes special is how completely Cashmore let the land lead. The fairways climb and fall through the natural dune ridges, the bunkering is rugged and sandy rather than manicured, and the greens are full of movement, set into the hillsides so that the running shot and the bold carry both have their place. It is a course you have to read, where the smart line is rarely the obvious one and local knowledge counts.

There is real drama in the routing. Several holes play across or alongside the biggest dunes, with elevated tees that reveal the hole below and approaches that must flirt with sand and slope to find the right portion of the green. The par 3s are strong and varied, and the closing stretch gives a group plenty to play for. Wind is the final factor, with the proximity to Bass Strait turning calm holes into searching ones when the breeze builds.

Conditioning has long been a strength, the sandy base giving firm, fast turf and true greens that let the design work as intended. Add the relaxed, golf first atmosphere and the on site lodge, and The Dunes is as much a destination as a round. Visitors routinely rank it among the best value great courses they have played.

Where to stay nearby

The simplest base is Links Lodge, beside the course at The Dunes, which turns an early tee time and a relaxed evening into a single, easy plan. Beyond the property, the Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria's great holiday regions, with the beaches and hot springs around Rye and Sorrento, the wineries of Red Hill, and a deep choice of cottages, hotels and resorts within a short drive.

The Dunes anchors a Peninsula golf trip beautifully. It sits among a remarkable cluster of sandy courses, with the championship layouts at The National and Moonah Links, the clifftop drama of Cape Schanck and the classic links of Portsea and St Andrews Beach all close by. A three or four day trip built around two rounds here writes itself.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around the Mornington Peninsula.