GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

THE SANDBELT: What and where is it?

The Sandbelt, for most golfers, especially in the US, means nothing.  Or, maybe it means an area in the Carolinas, around the Pinehurst area perhaps, that is known for golf and its sandy soil.  Yet, for the world-travelling golfer, it is the  “Utopia” of Australian golf.  It is a collection of eight of the finest courses and clubs in the country, and world, all within a half-hour of each other.  Imagine having Augusta National, Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Pine Valley, Oakmont, The Country Club, Merion and Winged Foot all within thirty minutes of each other.  But in this case, they are Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Commonwealth, Huntingdale, Yarra Yarra, Metropolitan and Peninsula Kingswood.  Gary Player said it best when he said, “The Sandbelt … the greatest collection of golf courses in one spot on the entire planet.”

Melbourne is home to the Sandbelt.  It is located in the very southeastern-most part of Australia on the north end of Port Phillip Bay.  The city proper is located at the mouth of the Yarra River where it feeds into the Bay.  It is a gorgeous city filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful, large gardens, street cars, great shopping and better dining.

The name “Sandbelt” comes from the type of land.  Originally farm land, it is known for very sandy soil, a sand completely unique to those of us in the States.  It is from this land that these courses were built, with very little moving of land.  The courses were routed through the collection of trees and vegetation, and while, they are relatively flat, very simple and subtle in design yet devilishly, fiendishly difficult.  They will not beat you up, but they will challenge you like very few other courses.  Get off the grass and you’ll be dealing with the powder-like sand dotted with trees and native vegetation that will make you miss your nicely groomed rough and perfectly manicured bunkers at your home course.  

And the bunkers … oh yes, the bunkers.  The bunkers on many of the Sandbelt courses were designed by renowned golf course architect Alister MacKenzie (you might have heard of another one of his projects – Augusta National).  MacKenzie had a way with bunkers.  They just seem to be in the wrong place when you least need it. 

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Planning is Critical

Once in Melbourne, you will start to feel the excitement.  The reason, or one of the reasons, you are in Melbourne is to play Sandbelt Golf.  Before you step on the courses, there are some things you should keep in mind.  A great place to start is the website SandbeltGolf.com.

Getting on the Courses

Schedule your starting times as early as possible.  This is almost the first thing you should do … maybe even before purchasing your airline tickets.  By doing your research, and contacting the courses you wish to play, you can reserve your starting times.  Courses are very welcoming to international visitors, but remember, you will not be the only person wanting to play these courses.  And, each course may have only a limited number of starting times each day for international players, and some days may be off limits or very restricted in order to accommodate member play.

When scheduling your time, be sure to inquire about any course maintenance that might be happening during the time you are there.  It can be frustrating to have to play on recently aerified greens or be able to play only one nine while the other has routine maintenance being performed.  Also, be aware of sunset times.  You don’t want to start so late that you are not able to finish your round.

It is likely that you will have to prepay your guest fees at the time of booking, and they can be rather steep.  Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath are in the A$350-400 range, and the others are comparable.  Be aware of the refund policy as well in the event something happens and you are unable to play.

Make sure you have the proper credentials prior to leaving the States; be sure to ask what is required at the time of booking.  Many of the courses expect you to be a member in good standing of a private club in America, and, as such, have a letter of introduction from the Club Secretary (General Manager).  If you are not a member of a club here, you should ask if a letter from your Club Professional, State or Regional Golf Association or some other organization will suffice.

Unless you have a full group of four, expect to be paired up with others.  This is a great opportunity to meet others, be they club members and native Melburnians or from another country.  This will add to your experience and create a lasting memory.

Dress Code

The website for each club will have the dress code.  Generally speaking, the dress at the Sandbelt courses will be similar to many of the nicer private clubs in America.  If you elect to go during the Australian summer (December – February), it can be very hot (100*F).  For men, appropriate (Bermuda) length shorts are permitted (be sure they are neatly pressed), but be careful of the socks.  Long socks are the custom in Australia, but short socks are acceptable … but not the “peds” or ankle socks that are common in America.  All shirts must have collars and be tucked in, and hats must be worn facing forward.  The women’s dress code will be comparable.  Be sure to be tactful – no striped shirts with patterned shorts.  Lastly, shoes with soft spikes or knobs are accepted.

Pace of Play

It is very important that you maintain your position on the course with the group in front of you.  The position of the group behind is irrelevant.  There is nothing to keep you from enjoying yourself as long as you are respectful of the people with you and behind you.  Yes, you may have paid a sizable green fee to play, but that doesn’t give you the right to dawdle.  You should walk with a purpose from shot to shot.  Be ready to play when it is your turn.  If you get paired with members from the course, be ready to play at their pace.  Taking photos is accepted, but you don’t need one of every shot.

Etiquette

Etiquette takes on many different forms.  Not only is etiquette your behavior on the course, but it includes items such as adherence to the dress code, (men) taking off your hat upon entering the clubhouse, not being too loud or obnoxious and the language you use … and cell phones.  Most clubs will prohibit the use of your cell phone on the course as a telecommunications device (the camera is okay).  But, unless you get a sim card that can make your phone able to be used in Australia or internationally, your smartphone may not be so smart.  Remember, you are a guest at the club.  Just because you paid a sizable amount for the guest fee, lunch or beverages does not give you carte blanche to do as you please.

Walking/Golf Carts

Virtually all of these courses expect you to walk.  Only individuals with conditions that do not allow them to walk the course will be given the opportunity to use a golf cart.  If this is you, you should notify the club of your condition at the time you make your reservation.  It could require you to have something in writing from your doctor stating this fact.  Carts are limited and may not be available otherwise.

Some courses will have caddies available depending upon day and time.  If you desire to use a local caddie, please include that when making your reservation.  Not all clubs will have caddies, nor will caddies always be available at your time if you do not plan in advance.  Also, check to see about the caddie fee, if it is required to pay in cash and the tipping policy.  It is far better to be aware of this prior to arrival so as to avoid any embarrassing situations.

Lastly, most clubs will have push/pull carts available for your use.  This is far better than carrying your own bag, especially if you brought a larger bag to protect your clubs in the luggage compartment.

Distances

Remember, distances are in “metres” and not yards.  A metre is approximately 10% more than a yard, so plan accordingly.  If you remembered to pack your range finder, you will be able to get your yardage; otherwise, brush up on your math skills.  A slight miscalculation will leave you in a bunker short of the green.  Also, check to see about how the distances are measured.  In some cases, the distance is measured to the front of the green rather than to the middle as it is in the States.  This, too, will leave you chipping or pitching and scrambling to save par rather than having a makable birdie putt.

Getting Adjusted to the Sandbelt Conditions

If you are serious about playing well in the few rounds you will play, you might want to go to one of the local public courses in advance in order to become adjusted to Sandbelt golf.  There are a number of public courses in the area, so finding a place to play should not be much of a problem.  Here are two that I would recommend.

Cheltenham Golf Club

Adjacent to Victoria Golf Club is Cheltenham Golf Club.  Cheltenham is a nine hole, semi-private course playing to 2,755 meters (3,000 yards), par 35.  But don’t let this fool you.  The course is very sporty and very tight.  The fairways are narrow and the trees made it even more so.  The greens are small and far from flat.  As is often the case with the first round in any new environment, you will spend much of the time getting acquainted with putting on different grass, learning to convert distances, playing out of bunkers with a totally different type of sand and experiencing which trees will allow balls to pass through and which ones will not (unfortunately, many don’t … just like here in America). 

One of the unique requirements at Cheltenham is the one to carry a bucket of sand with you so you can fill your divots.  You pick these up at the first tee, but the real challenge is to keep from losing it somewhere on the course.

And, at the conclusion of your round is the traditional end to any round no matter where you play – a pitcher of cold beer.

Sandringham Golf Club

Across the street from Royal Melbourne Golf Club is Sandringham Golf Course.  A tight course with many dogleg holes, Sandringham will help get you prepared.  It is a par 70, 5,646 metres for the men and 4,929 metres for the women (about 6,200 and 5,400 yards, respectively) layout that is regarded as one of the more challenging public courses in Melbourne.  

One of the most interesting facts regarding Sandringham is its history.  The current back nine was part of the original Royal Melbourne.  After Royal Melbourne moved across the road, the City of Sandringham purchased the land and expanded the course to 18 holes.  But if you don’t have the time to play, it has a driving range where you can get the rust off.  Another fun fact about Sandringham is that it serves as the parking lot when major events are being held at Royal Melbourne.

Next week: Huntingdale Golf Club

GOLFING THE SANDBELT: Playing Golf in Melbourne, Australia - An American's Perspective

I never thought it would come to pass.  What was a dream many years ago came to fruition recently when I traveled to Melbourne, Australia, for vacation and to play some of the world’s best golf courses.  My wife’s birthplace was only a place I had heard about in many of her stories and seen when watching the Australian Open tennis tournament and the many Australian golf events hosted in Melbourne.  I knew the sites very well – the Yarra River, Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG) among others.  Yet, it required I stay up late due to the time difference. But, if you live in the Northern Tundra of Minnesota, watching anything coming from Australia in November or January yielded the comfort knowing that at least part of the world was experiencing warm (even hot), sunny weather.

When we made the decision to go to Australia (thanks to a close friend getting married in the Philippines), immediately my mind went to playing the courses I had come to know – Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Huntingdale, Metropolitan, etc.  But, how could I accomplish the feat of getting on these renowned courses?  As a PGA of America Master Professional, of course I would be welcomed, right?  As the son-in-law of a longtime bookkeeper at Kingston Heath, of course I would be welcomed, right?  As the friend of a current executive with Golf Australia, of course I would be welcomed, right?  Not so fast, I discovered.  Playing these courses required significant planning, and I am not just talking about the golf side of things. 

Over the next five weeks, I will be sharing the things you need to know if you plan on travelling “Down Under” for a golf holiday on the Sandbelt courses, as well as information about some of the iconic courses themselves, including Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath.

Getting to Australia

Of course, from the States, getting to Australia is not that difficult.  Qantas, American and United offer flights from many different airports, including LAX, DFW and SFO, directly to Australia on a regular schedule.  However, if you are going directly to Melbourne to start your adventure, then a layover in Sydney may be part of the itinerary.  If you transfer in Sydney, you will go through customs there.  Make sure you leave yourself at least two hours before your flight to Melbourne departs.  Qantas and Virgin Australia offer flights between Sydney and Melbourne hourly.

The cost will be a factor but can be manageable if you plan accordingly.  Airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand will offer fare specials on flights from major cities (LAX, SFO, DFW, NYC) at different times of the year.  You should plan accordingly and well in advance.  But remember, these are from the departure points, so you will have to build in the additional fare to get there, and it could be significant.  Also, if you want to make any stopovers or go to other places in Australia, it might be cheaper to buy those tickets separately.

In our case, we needed to stop in the Philippines for the wedding.  Flying from MSP, we could have gone directly to Australia, with a stopover in Manila coming back.  As a result, the cost would have been over $5,000 each.  However, we booked tickets to Manila and then separate tickets from Manila to Australia.  Doing so saved us over $3,000 per person.

Travel Time & Time On-Board

There are many philosophies regarding overseas travel.  Even if you go “direct” to Melbourne, the entire trip likely will take over 24 hours (especially if you have to connect through one of the departure points in the US) from the time you leave your home in the States to the time you arrive at your “home” in Australia.  If you are not familiar with long travel, it can be an exhausting, frustrating and challenging experience.  Go into it with a sense of adventure, don’t take the little inconveniences seriously, and you will be better in the long run.

How we handle the experience from a physical standpoint varies from one to another.  Unfortunately, so much is dictated by our own bodies.  The single best tip I can give you is common sense … make sure you are drinking plenty of water.

The second best tip is to get as much sleep as possible, but that is easier said than done.  Some sleep really well on a plane; others not at all.  The excitement alone will make it difficult for some to sleep.  While you are awake, you will not be bored.  In addition to any reading material you bring, there are many options for on-board entertainment, from “online” poker against other passengers to a plethora of movies (current and past blockbusters) to our favorite television shows to music.  You will be served at least two full meals and a snack.  (If you have special dietary needs, you are able to order those up to a day or two before departure.)  And, depending upon the airline, you will get a varying amount of free alcoholic drinks – but alcohol can be a stimulant and inhibit your ability to sleep.

And, of course, there is the issue of space.  Depending upon the type of aircraft, you may have a middle seat near a window, or in the middle of the fuselage where you have to get past two or three people to get out to use the bathroom.  Plan accordingly when booking your trip to make sure you reserve the seat you want.  You are going to be in it for a long time.  But, if you follow the first tip (drink plenty of water), you’ll want to be near the bathroom for easy access ... and remember to use it when there are no lines.

Time Change

This is not an issue to take lightly.  It is tough on the body for anyone making the trip, and the older one is, the more difficult it will be. With our typical busy schedules, there is nothing one can, or will, do to adequately prepare for the time change of 16-17 hours.  If possible, try to get on the Australian clock a day or two before leaving.

Length of Trip

If you are considering an Australian “holiday,” two weeks is the minimum you should give yourself for the trip.  Any less and you will not be able to enjoy everything to its fullest ... and you will be wasting your investment of time and money.  That is especially true for the golfer.  You will want to be as sharp as possible so you can play your best and be able to enjoy the spectacular opportunity before you.  It will take you take at least two days in travel going over, and (effectively) two returning.  While you may return on the same day you leave (according to the calendar), you will not feel like doing much the first day or two back in the States. 

Weather

Remember, Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the Australian summer is our winter.  The best time to go for golf is November–April.  You will encounter nearly perfect weather most of the time with infrequent rain, but it can be hot … very hot (100*F).  You should pack accordingly, but make sure you are aware of the dress codes for the courses you will be playing.  And don’t forget the sunscreen!

Luggage Restriction

When traveling to/from the United States, air carriers will allow each person traveling on a coach class ticket two pieces of checked luggage of 50 pounds or less.  Go over that amount, and the additional fees are significant.  This is very important when you are considering the airlines you will be flying.  Try to stay within the “airline partners,” such as American and Qantas or Delta and Virgin Australia.  If you don’t, or are flying on different tickets, then you can get caught with different restrictions. 

For example, the Qantas luggage restrictions for tickets not originating in the United States are significantly lower per person – 66 pounds (30 kg) per person as opposed to 100 pounds.  If you are packing for a three or four-week trip, and include your golf clubs, you will get to 66 pounds very quickly.  If you make this mistake, you will find yourself paying dearly for the overage or pulling out items you don’t want and giving them away at the airport.  The other option is to upgrade to “Business Class” and enjoy the added luggage, additional leg room in better and less crowded seats.  Of course, that is significantly more expensive.

Next Week - Getting on the Courses

Jason Day -- Friend or Foe?

As though my challenge as a Director of Rules and Competitions to keep my players moving around the course in a timely manner isn't hard enough, I now have Jason Day serving as the poster person for being deliberate as professed in this article - http://www.pga.com/news/pga-tour/pace-play-pga-tour-question-no-easy-answers.

In short, it seems that he has blamed his poor start last year to his not being as deliberate, and that was why he played better the second half - he was more deliberate.  And, since this is his "job," he should have the right to take as much time as necessary.  He states, "In my opinion, I don't care so much about speeding up the game. I've got to get back to what makes me good.  If that means I have to back off five times, then I'm going to back off five times before I have to actually hit the shot."  Great!  Thanks Jason!

So, I'm guessing it couldn't be that he simply wasn't playing as well or putting as well.  Of course not, it cannot be the player's fault.  It must have been the fact that he had to play under the very restrictive pace of play policies that got him.  He's a champion and star player, so he gets the prime starting times and, as a result, gets stuck in the middle of the field where it's naturally slower, but he was still not deliberate enough and played poorly.  Hmm.....

Using that analogy, the Cowboys or Patriots would have gone undefeated this year had it not been because they were forced to go by the 45 second play clock.  Some pitchers surely would win 5-6 more games in a year if they could take longer time between pitches.  Who cares that baseball games routinely take three plus hours to complete?  And who cares that Jason and some of his TOUR buddies take close to five hours to complete a round?  

Actually, Jason, many do.  Just ask people who watch golf and play golf.  The commentators at this year's World Cup from Australia were very critical of the pace of the Chinese players, and rightfully so.  At one point, they were nearly three holes behind.

Also, Jason, do you care about your fellow competitors who like to play faster?  Shouldn't they have the same right to play at their preferred pace?  Are they not playing for the same money you are?  Obviously you don't care.  What if one decides he needs to take six hours to play?  Will that bother you?  In that case, probably so.

I have an idea, let's put all of the fast players at the front of the field and slow players (you know who you are) at the back - every round.  Maybe those at the back won't finish some rounds due to darkness.  They'll have to come back early the next morning to finish.  Plus, television won't be there to see them finish, and they'll miss out sharing their sponsor's names to the world.  I wonder if the sponsors (Nike, TaylorMade) will like that idea?

Better yet, if a group gets out of position, that group should be forced to "pull over" and let the following group play through.  That should give Jason plenty of time to visualize his next shot.  I expect after having to let a few groups play through during a round, Jason will get the message and speed up.  (NOTE:  As defined, a group is out of position when it has an entire par 3 or par 4 hole open, or if the group in front is on the putting green of a par 5 hole when it arrives at the teeing ground.  Notice the position of the group behind is not relevant)

Day does make the valid point that the courses they play are set up to be difficult - quick greens, difficult hole locations, longer rough and they have to hole out each hole - but these are the best players in the world.  And, they spend hours hitting thousands of balls to practice their craft.  One would think that they can practice the pre-shot routine enough so that it can be done in 30 seconds.  In the NBA, a team would have turned the ball over by then.  

Lastly, keep in mind, the pace expected by the TOUR is not unreasonable.  It is not making them play as though they are in a West-Coast, run and gun offense where shots are rattled off every ten seconds. The Rules Committee creates a pace that is realistic given the course conditions, weather conditions, time it takes to walk the course, etc.   The standard pace for a group of three is going to be (roughly) 4:40-4:45, potentially longer.

I wish the TOUR would make a statement by creating tougher penalties, but that's a lost cause ... the TOUR is the players.  Kind of like expecting Congress to sanction itself, but at least we get the opportunity to vote them out of office. 

If we all make the effort to walk with purpose to our ball, start our pre-shot routine before it's our turn to play, be ready to play when it is our turn and continuous putt once the ball is inside 3-4 feet, we can reduce the time it takes to play, enjoy the round and (often) play better.  NOTE:  If you play using a cart that is restricted to the path, make sure you take 3-4 clubs with you to play your next shot ... and don't wait until your cart partner has played before going to your ball (unless, of course, you will be in interfering with their shot).

Cheers-
Doug

Happy 2017!

Happy 2017!

The calendar has turned another year, and we wait in anticipation to what lies ahead.  There will be many changes this year, and that's not even considering the political landscape.  (Since this is a golf-based blog, I won't touch those.)  

The new TOUR season begins this week at Kapalua.  Will Jason maintain his dominance ... in Nike clothing?  Will Tiger win again?  Will it be a major?  Will DJ win another major or two?  Will Jordan maintain his form after winning the Aussie Open?  What previously unheard of rookie will become a household name?

As I was looking through social media (Twitter, in this case), I found this article - "Should Golfers Push, Pull or Carry Their Clubs?".   I wish I had seen and known this information when I was a junior golfer lugging my Jones carry-bag on my shoulder!  Maybe I wouldn't have been suffering from back issues since I was 21.  My Johnny Miller-esque swing with the "reverse C" finish probably didn't help either. 

Oh well, no looking back, let's keep facing forward and make the most of what we have.  All the best for a great '17 on (and off) the course!

See you on the course!
Doug