Is there a greater feeling in golf than flushing a fairway wood off a tight lie? And is there a greater place to do it than the Melbourne Sandbelt?

I pondered this after getting one away from the middle of the 18th fairway at the Commonwealth. It must be something about the sand belt turf. As a Pom who’s been lucky enough to tee it up in Australia a few times, I’ve always been fascinated by the way the grass behaves differently Down Under.

The sand belt is a good example. The courses - typically rolling, and built on sandy soil -  look like they should play a little like a classic British links, especially on hot days when the grass is brown and the air is clear. (Me and my buddy played Commonwealth on a blisteringly hot day at the end of a blisteringly hot week.)

But the Aussie turf is tougher and springier than the kind of grass you get in the UK. That means even short rough can be like hitting out of wire wool, and it means you’re on a hiding to nothing most of the time if you try a Scottish-style bump and run.

However, what it does mean is that the fairways react like a brand-new mat at the poshest driving range in the world. Connect with the aforementioned fairway wood and the ball springs into flight and off into the clear blue sky with a joyful “whoomph!”

You’ve got to be straight here though - there are trees, bushes and sandy waste areas everywhere to contend with. Oh, and massive bunkers - many so large they leave a tongue of grass, looking like a green version of the Rolling Stones logo,  trailing down into them so you can access your ball in the sand. It’s a lot easier getting into them than getting out.

The Commonwealth also has water strategically placed - the 16th, the signature hole, being a fine example. A right to left dogleg curving around a small lake that just begs you to cut the corner. I thought I’d hit one perfectly. It turns out I didn’t but, the weather being, as mentioned, hot I didn’t mind paddling in the shallows to literally splash my second one out.