National (Long Island)

Located on the southern edge of the Melbourne Sandbelt at the gateway to the scenic Mornington Peninsula, Long Island Country Club is one of Victoria’s hidden gems and many consider the eight holes from 3 to 10 to be as challenging as any other similar stretch in the entire country.

The course sits on pleasantly undulating land that was formerly used as Frankston Racecourse and golf has been played here since 1938 when a British architect, Gordon Oliver, routed the front nine holes around the perimeter of the property, enclosing the back nine within the centre of the estate. A very much underrated 18 holes, Long Island is noted for the distinctive bunkering that complements its tree-lined fairways and bent grass greens.

With only three par threes on the scorecard at holes 3, 9 and 12, the focus falls on the longer holes at Long Island with back-to-back par fives played at the 4th and 5th. If the wind is from the east, the 440 yard 7th will feel like a par five too. The 518-yard 13th is a very aesthetically pleasing three-shotter with water in play to the left of a fairway that double doglegs to the green.

In 2015, the members of Long Island Country Club and The National Golf Club voted in favour of a merger to create the first 72-hole private golf club in Australia. Club members can now enjoy full playing rights across four Top 100 ranked courses.