Thirteenth Beach (Beach) - Victoria - Australia

The Beach Course at the 13th Beach Golf Club is certainly nearer the beach than the other course (the Creek Course), on the complex. Though Beach by name it is by no means entirely a links course. The first four holes run out and back amongst some sparsely built out housing blocks. Holes 5 -9, run out and back to the clubhouse along a stretch of sand dunes to the East of the clubhouse that protects the course from the surf of 13th Beach. Likewise holes 10 – 13, 16 & 17 play close to the dunes (this time to the West of the clubhouse) but the 14th and 15th wander off a bit back towards the housing on some fairly flat uninteresting land.The 5th 312m par 4, the 6th 511m par 5 and the 311m par 4 13th hole were my favourite holes, each requiring strategy and placement on each shot. There are other holes that are longer or that require a straighter hit but I thought these holes were more complete packages.We played in January 2016, just 3 weeks before the course was to host the Victorian (State) Open Championship. Fittingly the course was in very good condition.Having played here previously on a Public Holiday it was a less than pleasant experience on that occasion. The pace of play was funereal and the shirtless antics of some drunken patrons ahead of us just left a bad taste in the mouth. This time we played on a Friday and whilst better, play was still slow and just doesn’t seem to be monitored. It seems the clubs practice is to play their Members on one course and leave the public to their own devices on the other on any given day.All in all, a couple of top quality holes and some very likable holes over some great terrain, but it is let down by a couple of weak ones. The whole experience would be so much more enjoyable if the Proshop took an active role in policing the course.It is hard therefore to know how to rate the course. As a golf course it’s a solid 4 balls for me tending toward 5 but not quite making it. As an experience I rate it less than 3. Don’t play on a Public Holiday or busy time is my advice.

Recently spent two weeks golfing in Victoria and liked this exhilarating course very much indeed. I played with a high handicapper who found the going too tough in what was a stiff breeze. The rough was pretty brutal when I was here and the little room for error off the tee. It’s close proximity to the beach is part of its allure and enjoyed many of the holes especially the tempting 5th which asks you to have a go at the green and the SI 1 17th. The huge greens were very slick and found myself struggling to get down in two on many occasions. Very good course for sure.

Thirteenth Beach, (the Beach course), has some truly wonderful golf holes amongst a collection of consistently excellent ones. Yes there are one or two that need something to lift them but overall I have no hesitation in rating this a better course than many of the famed sandbelt courses of Melbourne. If you are a fan of those courses you will not be disappointed with 13th Beach. It will probably never outpoint Royal Melbourne or Kingston Heath but those two aside this is a course well worth a visit. When the wind doesn't blow it is not particularly difficult. Quite manageable for the average golfer but be warned strong winds are not uncommon and a 420 meter par 4 into the teeth of a gale is a tough ask as is the tiny par 3 of 110 meters set on top of a rise. If the wind is up finding the green is a serious challenge. It is a very fine golf course.