13th Beach (Creek)

The 18 holes at the Tony Cashmore-designed Beach course debuted at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in December 2001 then two years later, collaboration between the same architect and Sir Nick Faldo resulted in the unveiling of the 18-hole Creek layout.

The green complexes are the main highlight of this course and they feature closely mown swales and hollows that sit beside artistically shaped bunkers cut into the putting surfaces – shades of Alister MacKenzie and his Royal Melbourne sand traps here.

The 143-yard 6th is the shortest hole on the course and it plays to a wonderfully shaped green that’s protected to the front by mature cypress pines and to the back by an enormous bunker. Trees also come into play at the short par four 14th hole, where the risk-reward dividend of driving between a pair of tall pines down the left of the fairway is a short pitching wedge approach to a wickedly-contoured green.

A creek has recently been opened up on the course and this water hazard crosses the 7th hole on its way to a small lake beside the 8th hole, adding considerably to the challenge on the front nine.