Topic: St Andrews Beach

I’ve heard the same muppett. But I also heard the same from the previous owner. And it all ended in nothing. I won’t hold my breath. I agree. The condition has been good. But it really can’t work with just the public. I’m sure the current operator is realisng that and still has a few months to ride out before he starts to see some traffic.
No worries on Rosebud Country Club. It is the course a lot of people haven’t played for while. My advice is to treat yourself. Play the North course. It’s awesome. And you can sit in a clubhouse after the game too.
I had a great meal and felt the place had a great atmosphere.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

The hype around StAB is understandable as the story of a potential top 10 course in Australia going under and reestablishing itself (at least attempting to if people give it a chance)as a public course.

Didn’t know about Moonah maintaing StAB – even so they have been doing a more than acceptable job. Apparently when the new owner takes over on 1st September there will be an immediate increase in spending on course maintenance. As for the real estate I believe there is plans for a hotel and day spa set up at StAB not sure on housing – although I’m sure the infrastructure will be put in place like Moonah. I must put in a cavet though as this is all second hand news from SEN and from talking to the pro shop and I have no inside knowledge as I’m just a golfing tragic.

As for the condition of Moonah haven’t played it since October last year and agree is usually in fantastic condition, however, I am not a fan of the layout. Goes to show there is golf course design for everyone.

Also thanks for the tip on Rosebud haven’t played it as yet but always looking for new challenges.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

FB, see if you can get down during the week and tee off after 12 and it will cost you $59 pp with cart – take a sicky if you have to!!!!!! Well worth it, just to experience it once.

yes its worth it.

wouldn’t pay it every day but I deserve a treat every now and then.

I think I might be coming down with a cold in a week or so… One of those 24hr flu’s? yeah…that will do.. :-)

Topic: St Andrews Beach

I did hear Moonah Links is keeping the St Andrews Beach course maintained. Apparently they had a visit from the workplace authority. Not happy Jan was the feedback.
Interesting there is so much buzz about St Andrews Beach with a new owner. I just hope he’s got an open cheque book to keep the gate open.
I’m sure his decision to buy was based on real estate not what the course makes in green fees.
Had a game there recently during the week and there were just 8 people that went through. And it wasn’t that bad a day.
Interesting feedback on the The Dunes. I agree. The course condition has seriously slipped.
Moonah is still the best public access course from a maintenance perspective. Second would be Rosebud Country Club. Awesome condition and a great track if you’re after something non linksy. Play the North it’s awesome.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Don’t get me wrong elimb the Dunes is a great course and will probably still be my second favourite if not favourite down Mornington way. I just think the layout of StAB is supurb and to be honest the condition of the Dunes last Friday was not up to the same standard.

I’m not sure which holes you would consider Mickey Mouse holes maybe some play easier with the right wind or didn’t you have any wind when you were there but to me it is a course that you have to think you way around and position yourself even more so than the Dunes.

It is about time that course designers didn’t just try and make courses unplayable to the average golfer to challenge the better golfer. StAB doesn’t play overally long aside from the monsterous 13th but even then clever mounding allows you a chance to find the green with long iron, however, it is as challenging as anything out there with small tight greens, penalising rough (although quite generous driving targets). To me this is what golf course design should be.

This is just first impression and I would like to play it again before displacing The Dunes as my favourite MP golf course.

Interestingly I heard on SEN the other night the new owner has committed to keeping the exisiting 18 as pay for play – building a clubhouse within a year and still plans to build the other 18 which by Doaks reports is the better of the two.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

$69 (or $89pp with cart) for 18holes on a weekend…. Its even more expensive than The Dunes! The pics on their website looks brilliant though…

A bit pricey? or well worth the outlay?

Golf is all about the long game….

FB, see if you can get down during the week and tee off after 12 and it will cost you $59 pp with cart – take a sicky if you have to!!!!!! Well worth it, just to experience it once.

’The only way of finding out a man’s character is to play golf with him.’

this is a good idea – i hvaen’t played it but would like to

Topic: St Andrews Beach

$69 (or $89pp with cart) for 18holes on a weekend…. Its even more expensive than The Dunes! The pics on their website looks brilliant though…

A bit pricey? or well worth the outlay?

Golf is all about the long game….

FB, see if you can get down during the week and tee off after 12 and it will cost you $59 pp with cart – take a sicky if you have to!!!!!! Well worth it, just to experience it once.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

yes its worth it.

wouldn’t pay it every day but I deserve a treat every now and then.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

$69 (or $89pp with cart) for 18holes on a weekend…. Its even more expensive than The Dunes! The pics on their website looks brilliant though…

A bit pricey? or well worth the outlay?

Topic: St Andrews Beach

I prefer the Dunes layout although I have only played SAB once. Need to play it again.

As for the condition of each – you would hope SAB is in better condition as they would be lucky to get 10% of the traffic that the Dunes gets.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

I think The Dunes is a better course. SAB’s greens to tee is not that good and a couple of mickey mouse holes. The first green is bad. Last played SAB 9 months ago though but played Dunes 3 weeks ago.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Was up there on the weekend and speaking to the Pro shop the course was sold last Monday (Sold sign up on the board up the front as well). Pro shop guy was really happy with it reckons it will give alot more certainty to the future of the club so it can be where it should be up with the best courses in Australia.

Played it for the first time on Sunday and the course is an absolute belter. Classic Doak design with some VERY special short par 4’s. The risk reward is not quite as good as Barnbougle but the course layout is sensational. Condition wise I couldn’t really fault it – I also played the Dunes on the weekend and StAB was in far better condition than that.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

according StAB website they have new owners

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Not sure on the finance side of thing’s but the course is a belter – some of the bunkering is extraordinary and the greens fast and true – even at this time of year. I haven’t played it in high wind but I imagine it would get brutal..

I suspect there’s one too many great tracks down that way and something has to give.. I’ve just joined Moonah – the facilities are great.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Does anyone know how they are keeping the gate open at this place?
Spoke to someone who played a weekend recently. They had less than 30 players for the day.
Went to see for myself a weekend later and there were just 12 cars in the front and main carpark at around 2pm.
Like The Dunes and Eagle Ridge, these course just aren’t viable without a membeship base.
So has the sale been finalised? The signs out the front look terrible and the driveway in is over grown and untidy. That said, I am hearing a lot of people say the course is in good condition.

I am sure the mortgagee is bankrolling it, but with those kind of numbers it can’t go on like that forever.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Does anyone know how they are keeping the gate open at this place?
Spoke to someone who played a weekend recently. They had less than 30 players for the day.
Went to see for myself a weekend later and there were just 12 cars in the front and main carpark at around 2pm.
Like The Dunes and Eagle Ridge, these course just aren’t viable without a membeship base.
So has the sale been finalised? The signs out the front look terrible and the driveway in is over grown and untidy. That said, I am hearing a lot of people say the course is in good condition.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Don’t know the courses financial position, however played there again on 10/6 and the course was in great nick! The greens on holes 1,2 and 3 were that fast that they were almost unplayable. As I have said in a previous post, play this course while you can, it is a great layout, in great condition. We teed off at 12 and were finished just after 4. Felt like we had the course to ourselves. Cost was $55 including cart. Experience it at least once while it is still open, you will not be disappointed!

Topic: St Andrews Beach

The potential owners obvioulsy log on to iseekgolf….they read this post and freaked out!

Topic: St Andrews Beach

right-o

Topic: St Andrews Beach

the sale fell through

Topic: St Andrews Beach

did someone say another 7.5m for new clubhouse, accommodation and cash flow for the next 2 years? 7.5m will be the cash flow chewed through operationally for the first 5 years, let alone building a clubhouse and the rest. 20m would have what you are talking about and i don;t see anyone returning that on their investment.
i wish the new owner all the luck and it;s great that someone is prepared to lose that sort of money for the benefit of others being able to play, no matter who they are.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

The rumour I heard was that it had been sold to the family of the jewish kid rejected by Kingston Heath.

Of course, if you want to know what is really happening you might trying ringing the selling agent!!

Topic: St Andrews Beach

I have heard that an Asian family has brought it ( 8.1 mil ) and will be turning it into an exclusive golf club. ( similar to Capital )
If you haven’t already played there, then you have missed out.
Jon…

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Hot news. St Andrews Beach has sold. Went for a tick over $8 million today.

Wrong. It hasn’t sold.

Topic: St Andrews Beach

Hot news. St Andrews Beach has sold. Went for a tick over $8 million today.
A left of field buyer who has plenty of cash apparently. What are his intentions? No idea. But I’m guessing he won’t have the public running around on his investment.
The sooner he shuts down the current pay for play operation from that tin shed the better. If only to save the credibility of the course.
I’m sure Tom Doak would be throwing up if he knew his design was being offered for $22 a round in the afternoon.
NO public golf course can make money on green fee revenue alone on the Mornington Peninusla. That is a FACT.
If The Dunes didn’t have so-called members it would struggle.
You need to lock in at least $1 mllion in member subs to have any chance of reaching break even based on RTO.
I wish the new owner every success with St Andrews Beach. If he’s a smart man, he’d run the business himself for the next few years, rebuild the brand and make it the “must play course” for any golfer.

Totally agree- You can’t survive on one stream of revenue being pay for play punters….just doesnt work if you want a top notch course. That was my point above.