On Par – All about golf in Australia

Overview
Moonah Links Legends Course is part of Melbourne’s golfing Mecca on the Mornington Peninsula. The sister to the Moonah Links Open Course, Legends has quickly developed a strong reputation as one of the best layouts in the country. In 2008 the Australian Golf Digest Top Australian Courses ranked the Legends course at 14th, the Australian Golf Course Guide ranks the layout as the 2nd best public access course in the country behind Barnbougle Dunes, high praise indeed.

The par 3 5th Hole

The Layout
I agree with the rankings, the Moonah Links Legends course is a great layout. The variety of shots that are required, the change in landscape, the bunkering and many risk and reward opportunities makes this a tough but fair course. Designer Ross Perrett states “The course is a loop of 18 holes that generally follow the valleys through a variety of landscapes ranging from ancient Moonah woodlands to open links land. The fairways are generous and the putting surfaces gentle, but the bunkering style is bold and wild in appearance. At 6,315 metres, the course should be fun, but it won’t be a pushover”

Condition
In one of the countries best regions for golf courses, the Legends course is always in excellent condition. As at January 2010, the fairways were perfectly grassed and great to hit off, off fairway the rough is often long grass and Moonah trees. The everpresent bunkers are a mix of links style pot bunkers through to huge expansive waste bunkers where a shovel may be a better option than a wedge. The greens are large and undulating, firm and fairly fast. The 15th green in particular is massive, the largest green in the Southern Hemisphere can play anywhere between long iron and wedge depending on pin position and wind.

Favourite Holes

After easing into the round with a short par 5, and a short par 4, the third is a tough par 3, then the golfer is confronted with a tee shot from an elevated tee to a sharp dog leg left. The hero line is a driver with draw hugging the left hand tree line over the bunkers to the raised fairway plateau. Mere mortals should gear down to an iron and hit the fairway leaving a tougher mid iron to the green.

After emerging from the wooded section of the course, holes 7 through to 13 are played in open links conditions, the 8th hole is a classic links hole, played with a semi-blind tee shot, fairway bunkers are strategically placed to capture drives. The approach shot to a double green needs to be up to avoid the false front.

The par 3 10th hole is a tough start to the back nine. At 177metres from the back, the hole is tough enough, wind will make it a true test! A waste bunker captures anything too short, and a nasty pot bunker protects the front of the green. Steep slopes around the green will impact tee shots that arent on target.

The dogleg 15th will wreck a good round if not played with thought. Anything long off the tee will run into rough, anything left into a waste bunker. There is reward for trying to draw a long drive but the landing area is tiny. A well placed iron is the best choice, then a tough approach to an elevated green with trouble everywhere!

The Word
Moonah Links Legends course lives up to its rankings as one of Australia’s best layouts. It should always be part of the itinerary for the Mornington Peninsula golf trip, and teams up nicely with the Open course for a weekend. A golf cart is recommended for all but the fittest golfers, the landscape would make for a tiring walk.

Course details
Moonah Links – Legends Course
- Par 72
- 6,315 metres (Black)
- 5,939 metres (White)
- Address: Peter Thomson Drive, Fingal, Mornington Peninsula
- Proshop: (03) 5988 2088
- Course Bookings