The Best Greens Down Under

10:51 November 28, 2016
By: Stephen Benton
Far beyond the boundaries of the Big Easy there's a wonderful land that's always sunny and warm, that has amazing animals and sights for you to see, and where Christmas and New Years' Eve come in the summer. It's not some fantasy land behind a cupboard, or a place you can only reach by spaceship - it's Australia, a continent on another hemisphere, where (surprising as it may sound) people don't fall off the planet, but everything is different. Well, not everything, in fact: golf is pretty much the same as in the Big Easy. And it has some of the most beautiful courses you might think of. 
 
Australians might have different tastes - they play the pokies, they like Vegemite, and they occasionally ride a kangaroo - but basically they are pretty much the same we are. Well, their taste for pokies might be a bit stronger - thousands, if not millions of them step through the virtual gates of the Royal Vegas each year to try their luck (or have some fun). Which is not a surprise: the Royal Vegas has great things for its Aussie players, including an excellent library of games, frequent specials, breathtaking promotions, and an occasional cruise for the Royal Vegas VIPs. But they also like to play golf - in 2005, it was the country with the third most golf courses per capita, beaten only by Scotland and New Zealand. 
 
So, let's take a look at the finest golf courses in Australia, perhaps you'll get a feel to explore the wonderful lands Down Under.

Cape Wickham may sound like a veritable success story: opened in October 2015, it debuted in the third spot of the Australian Golf Digest's Top 100 list this year. No wonder: the course convinced the judges of the magazine with its amazing design and compelling aesthetics, even before it officially opened its doors. "Designed by Mike DeVries, with views of Bass Strait on every hole. The land is gently undulating and interspersed with giant sand dunes and ridges," Ausgolf writes of this amazing, picturesque course. 

 
Let me quote Ausgolf once again: "Gently undulating couch fairways and Bent grass greens, 128 bunkers [...]". One of the premier golf clubs Down Under, located in the sandbelt region of suburban Melbourne (the second largest city of Australia). The Kingston Heath has a long history - it was founded in 1909, and during its century-long "career" it has hosted seven Australian Opens.
 
It seems that Victoria is the Aussie state with the best golf courses, and Melbourne - its capital - is also the capital of Australian golf. It is home to the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, a members-only establishment with two courses. Its West course has been the number one in Australia for years, and it's ranked among the top 10 courses in the world. Although it's an exclusive, members-only facility, the Royal Melbourne has a capacity of 15,000 spectators - no wonder, since it has hosted prestigious events like the PGA Tour, the Presidents Cup, and the first ever Women's Australian Open.
Sign Up!

FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP ON DINING, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, THE ARTS & MORE!