Residing north of the Tweed, I am not that up to date with things in the colder regions. What’s happening with St Andrews Beach these days? A look on the web seemed to indicate a heefty charge ($50 grand)that benefits someone who discovers the secret to eternal life (at least 199 years worth!). Is the second course happening or is it a marginal investment? Saying that, I quite liked some aspects of it compared to the monolyth up the road at the Nat! Thanks

Firstly, with global warming, our weather will be warmer down here than up there:P. Don’t get Golf ball sized hail stones either (make it difficult to find your ball I’d think).

From what I’ve heard regarding, which is just hearsay really, is that it is still going ahead, but hasn’t attracted as many members as they hoped for (I’m guessing that excessive price, even though there is no annual fee, would be deterring a lot of people, especially if it seems that it would be difficult to sell the investment later). They seem to be heavily pushing for corporate members these days, at least there is heavy advertising for them.

Out of curiosity, what aspects of SAB do you prefer to the national? One thing, the fairways are incredibly wide (lessening the challenge i reckon). National has the variety of three very different very good courses (or 2 very good ones and an average one).

Thanks for the info Strike. To answer your question, let me firstly say that I’m not a member of the National although I have considered purchasing a membership a number of times. I have probably played there 25 times with scores ranging from 68 round the Old course to 93 round the Ocean (on a cold and windy Day!!). Things I like about the Nat are:

Its ALWAYS in good condition;

The staff are always curtious, efficient and friendly;

The views (in particular from the old) are spectacular;

The Old course is probably the best risk/reward, old style ‘SPORTING’ course in the country (ie make the shot or suffer the consequences!). In particular, I like shots like 2nd shot back left on 1, Tee shot on 3 off the plates over left traps, Tee shot on 4 to front left pin, 2nd shot on 6 to back pin, Tee shot on 7 off plates to any pin, 2nd shot on 8 going for the green, etc, etc, etc. I know people think the greens on the Old are tricked up, but if you think of them are 2 or 3 greens in one, the concept works! A good shot into the bowl where the pin is located is rewarded;

The weather makes the courses infinitely different. They certainly never play the same two times in a row;

Final thing is that the houses (in general) blend in to the hills. Not like some places ie the Heritage!!!

Things I don’t like;

The Clubhouse (or should I say the Barn!) How could $17,000,000 be more badly spent! The place has no atmosphere. Hardly any of it is used. The locker rooms are never used! It has all the privacy, homeliness and character of a Woolworths. It will never feel like a private club with a social life the way it is set up. If I was a president for life, I would have kept the old clubhouse. In fact, I would have only have had the one course. Growing the membership to vast proportions to service the 3 courses is IMHO a mistake! IT’S TOO BIG! At the original setup, there was a reasonable chance that you knew most of the members if you walked into the spike bar or the main bar. Not Now!

The second thing I don’t like is somewhat related to the first. My general feeling for the place is that MONEY RULES! Its lack of clubby membership feel tends to put importance on what you drive, where your holiday house is and what your worth!! I prefer to judge people on their character (both personality and friendliness) rather than their financial position. Ones company and companionship on the course is the most important thing!! (Saying this, I know a number of wonderful people who are members. Ironically, they mostly say that they preferred the club when there was only 1 course!)

Thirdly, the place is expensive. $80 to $100 to bring a guest when you are already paying close to $3000 a year is silly.

Finally, I think the Norman course is overrated and the Ocean course barely playable unless the pins are in the limited flat areas. (I believe they are/were changing some of the greens to stop balls sucking 60 metres off the front.)

Now, St Andrews Beach. Unfortunately, I have only played it once! The things I liked were:

The variation and detail on and around the greens. ie many different recovery shots required. The use of hollows and humps for protection rather than the standard deep bunker. The fact that it was playable for the average hacker (as long as he was content to take bogey) as well as challenging to the scratch marker. I don’t think this is the case on the courses (any of them) of the National!

The concept of a smaller members club where the golf was the thing that mattered! As the clubhouse hadn’t (and I believe still hasn’t) been built, I was only commenting on the spin from the promotional material. Hence why I was asking for feed back.

Hope that fills you in on my comments at the start of the topic. Finally, all said and done, I will probably join the National one day (unless I’m Blackballed!!!)

interesting that the clubhouse still hasn’t been built. the same company owns kennedy bay, and they have been promising a clubhouse there for the past 5 years.

interesting that the clubhouse still hasn’t been built. the same company owns kennedy bay, and they have been promising a clubhouse there for the past 5 years.

i have heard kennedy bay is struggling as well, it’s a shame because both courses are excellent.

Here’s a cut & paste from the latest Commonwealth Newsletter that has been doing the email rounds this morning.

St Andrews Beach Golf Links
Members may have seen a recent article in a golf magazine,
or may have heard via other sources, comments about the
sandbelt clubs showing interest in acquiring St Andrews
Beach Golf Links. As background to this matter, the golf
course at St Andrews Beach on the Mornington Peninsula
closed down some time ago due to financial difficulties. This
was most unfortunate as this Tom Doak-designed course
is regarded by many as the best course on the Peninsula
with its wide fairways for those of lesser ability and subtle
slopes and strategic bunkering with a requirement for
correct angles of approach for those hoping to score well.
Since that time the greens and tees have been maintained
and more recently there has been a return to fairway
mowing and the course is currently in good condition. Ken
Stumbles, Geoff King, and I played it on January 7 and it
was in excellent shape.
About 12 months ago the proprietor of the project had
a meeting with representatives of the eight sandbelt
clubs but his expectations were quite unrealistic and the
discussions came to nothing. The venture subsequently
went into receivership. The group which currently holds the
mortgage over the golf course section of the development
has recently approached the eight sandbelt clubs with a
proposal to offer control of the course to these clubs.
Discussions are at a very early stage but if agreement on
favourable terms were to be possible then the clubs might
consider taking over the course and setting it up as a
country venue available to their members on a basis which
has yet to be developed.
We will keep members up to date with any further
developments.

Wont get up

Good idea but need as many clubs as possible to contribute and then $40 per round for members of those clubs and $88.00 for non members of those clubs.
Yes we can.

Awesome idea, but i imagine there wll be a hell of a lot of negotiations before anything happens.

The question is how many sandblet club members are willing to drive to St Andrews beach for a game when they can play any of the other sanbelt courses using there sandbelt card. If the sandbelt members dont do this then St Andrews Beach (or the new owners being the sandbelt clubs) will find itself in the same predicament that lead to its demise.

Brad you will find most of these memebrs will have a hoilday house down that what way. Alot closer to drive to Rye back beach from Portsea than to Royal Melbourne.

But like I said, never will get up !

Bingo.

I’m a member at RM, my wife’s family has a holiday house at Sorrento, so I would imagine I’d use the St Andrew’s course quite a bit.

If money were no object I’d join the National, it would be good to me a member of 2 clubs that had 5 courses between them, but until such time the proposal is something I support.

I rest my case, but still wont get up !

• membership will be about $1000 if already a member at a club in Melbourne.
• they aim to create a more inviting and less formal club
  atmosphere when compared to other penisula courses, allowing thongs to be worn in the clubhouse (when they get one!)
• Offer reasonable green fees at $50 a round.

Apparently offers by the national, sandbelt clubs and MCC have been way too short to even consider.

When you say “THONG” are you talking the thong women wear to the beach I hope.

I think you’ll find most public gold course dnt let thongs on a golf course, however cros should be allowed !

sarriepod, it will fail dismally if they try to charge Melb based club members $1000 on top of their already high fees. Why would they pay $1000 when they can pay green fees at $50 a pop?

And they still dont even have a friggin clubhouse?????/

I still reckon as many clubs (including MCC, bowling clubs, even social club, Kelvin club, Melbourne Club lol, etc.) to join in with paid up capital divided equally per club, one vote per club plus subscription. Good Incentives for larger clubs to join in as cost effective. and to play golf there must still be green fee to pay per round as per my previous comment.

That way, it will be like a co-op. I’m looking for a JOB too.
Yes we can.

How many ISG members are there??? We could all spend Uncle Kevin’s $950 or $650 (as long as we get it) and then all chip in..

that’d stimulate the golf economy beautifully

Read at a April golf magazine that there is a buyer for St. Andrew Beach but said nothing new.

Any one care to guess?

racv ?

mcg ??

all the tier 1 sandbelt courses have chipped in together ???

Collingwood f.c.????

Greg Norman ?

Sam Newman ??

Chessman & youradog formed an alliance ????

Not Eastern Golf Club?
For $120 mil, EGC can buy it and also build a new golf course in Yarra Valley.

Not Eastern Golf Club?
For $120 mil, EGC can buy it and also build a new golf course in Yarra Valley.

ellimb

Fair point that

The rumour i have heard is that a japanese group are intersted in it, but converting the yet unbuilt Fingal course layout into a vineyard. I drive past it every day, they have a big for sale out the front but no “SOLD” sticker on it yet

Did they sell the two adjacent properties?

I know the property where the maintenance compound is (off truemans road) has been sold. That’s all i know of so far