St Andrews Beach
St Andrews Beach
Another great course located on the Mornington Peninsula, an easy 1 ½ hours drive from central Melbourne. St Andrew Beach is a true fully public access golf course.
Designed by internationally renowned course architect Tom Doak, SAB is regularly rated as one of the top courses in Australia. Doak loved that in shaping the course “We moved almost no earth on the fairways was moved. The contours of the land are just the way they’ve always been.”
Whilst universally praised it also attracts lots of discussion about exactly where it sits in the hierarchy of courses in the region and Australia.
Ozziegolf has played SAB many times and most recently had three rounds there in Nov/December 2025. Like all its counterparts on the Mornington peninsula the land is the central attraction. When you are finally released to go to the first hole (that’s another story) the vista of the first is truly spectacular. From the elevated 1st tee the wide open fairway invites you into the round and your off.
There are some quite unique holes at SAB. The third is 405m from the blue tees and the second shot is through a natural land chute. If playing into the wind this shot is a mid to long iron and shows why it is index 2 on the card. Standing on the 7th tee gives you a vista back over the 1st and 8th. A wide expanse of fairway but with just enough trouble with a cavernous bunker needing a 200m carry off the tee.
The 13th is a brute of a par four at 457M from the blue tees. And just to make life a bit harder the tee shot is blind and your line is guided by cairns set in the face of the dune you have to clear. Respite arrives at the short par four 14th which is only 276M.
The run home is a couple of great holes. The par five 17th is a good birdie chance but beware the bunkers at the back of the green in the run-off area. The closing hole has an inviting tee shot with the fairway protected by bunkers left and right.
As it is a truly public course SAB does not have the grand clubhouse of its rivals in the region. However the new “Glasshouse” is a huge improvement over its predecessor and provides a very comfortable place to relax with a beer or soft drink and there is a good range of food available.