St Andrews Beach - Tom Doak’s minimalist masterpiece on the Mornington Peninsula
St Andrews Beach Golf Course
Location: 209 Sandy Road, Fingal, Victoria 3941 Region: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria Ranking: #1 Public Access Course in Australia
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Holes | 18 |
| Par | 70 |
| Designer | Tom Doak & Mike Clayton |
| Established | 2004 (public access 2009) |
| Style | Links |
History & Background
The Designer: Tom Doak
Tom Doak is an American golf course architect renowned for his minimalist design philosophy. Rather than reshaping land to fit a preconceived layout, Doak seeks out natural holes “just lying on the ground” and builds with minimal disturbance. His portfolio includes some of the world’s most acclaimed courses, including Pacific Dunes (Oregon), Barnbougle Dunes (Tasmania), and Cape Kidnappers (New Zealand).
For St Andrews Beach, Doak partnered with former European Tour player and Australian course designer Mike Clayton. Together, they created what Doak himself described as “the highest expression of his minimalist philosophy.”
A Course Built by Nature
The site was a collection of degraded paddocks on the south-western coast of the Mornington Peninsula, near the thundering surf of Gunnamatta Beach and Bass Strait. But beneath the surface was perfect links terrain - rolling dunes, sandy soil, and natural contours ideal for golf.
Of all Doak’s projects worldwide, St Andrews Beach required the least artificial work. Other than softening green contours and digging bunkers, only three holes needed any earthmoving at all. As Doak noted:
“The land at St Andrews Beach was so good for designing a golf course that it became difficult to decide which holes we couldn’t build. In some cases, we just had to find the right spot to put a green, locate the nearest high point near that green to put the next tee and the following hole would present itself.”
The routing was shaped around dozens of 500-year-old moonah trees that the local council insisted be protected - a constraint that ultimately enhanced the course’s character.
Timeline
- 2004 - Course opens as a private members club
- 2006 - Ranked 9th best course in Australia
- 2009 - Opens for public access play
- 2022 - Ranked #13 in Golf Australia’s Top-100
- 2024 - New clubhouse opens
Course Overview
St Andrews Beach is widely regarded as the best public access golf course on the Australian mainland. Designed by renowned American architect Tom Doak, the course features dramatic elevation changes, stunning coastal views, and challenging links-style golf.
Located near Gunnamatta Beach and Bass Strait, the course offers a true links experience with firm, fast fairways and greens that require creative shot-making.
Course Ratings
| Tees | Distance | Par | Course Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (Championship) | 5,627 yds | 70 | 72.3 | 135 |
Scorecard
Front 9 (OUT)
| Hole | Par | S.I. | White (yds) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 16 | 452 | Opening par 5 |
| 2 | 4 | 18 | 262 | SHORT PAR 4 - Risk/reward favourite |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 364 | Challenging - second hardest front 9 |
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 184 | Par 3 |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | 358 | Mid-length par 4 |
| 6 | 3 | 12 | 125 | SIGNATURE PAR 3 - Tea-tree thickets |
| 7 | 4 | 8 | 349 | Par 4 |
| 8 | 4 | 14 | 332 | Par 4 |
| 9 | 4 | 10 | 327 | Par 4 |
| OUT | 35 | 2,753 |
Back 9 (IN)
| Hole | Par | S.I. | White (yds) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 4 | 3 | 366 | Third hardest hole |
| 11 | 3 | 15 | 147 | Par 3 |
| 12 | 4 | 7 | 346 | Par 4 |
| 13 | 4 | 1 | 426 | LONGEST PAR 4 IN AUSTRALIA - Blind uphill |
| 14 | 4 | 13 | 276 | Short par 4 |
| 15 | 4 | 11 | 328 | Par 4 |
| 16 | 3 | 9 | 182 | Par 3 |
| 17 | 5 | 17 | 430 | Birdie opportunity |
| 18 | 4 | 5 | 373 | SIGNATURE FINISH |
| IN | 35 | 2,874 | ||
| TOTAL | 70 | 5,627 |
Signature Holes
Hole 2 - Par 4, 305 yards
Described as “one of my favourite holes in all of Australia” by golf reviewers. A short par-4 with strategic options - you can be aggressive or play smart. Sets the tone for the risk-reward decisions Doak built into every hole.
Hole 6 - Par 3, 185 yards
A spectacular elevated putting surface guarded by bunkers on the right and flanked by tea-tree thickets. The false front punishes short approaches, and the breeze off Bass Strait makes club selection critical. Don’t miss short-side!
Hole 13 - Par 4, 500 metres
Reportedly the longest par-4 in Australia. A blind uphill tee shot over a large hill (look for the tee box post), then a massive undulating fairway where luck plays a role in your roll-out. Most golfers can’t reach in 2 - play it as a three-shotter and take your par.
Hole 18 - Par 4
A magnificent finishing hole, typically with wind at your back. The right-side tee shot gives more roll and leaves a wedge in, but the left-side plays better with the green contours. “Nothing short of magnificent” - a strategic closer that rewards bold play.
Contact & Booking
| Phone | (03) 5988 6000 |
| bookings@standrewsbeachgolf.com.au | |
| Website | standrewsbeachgolf.com.au |
| Maps | Google Maps | Apple Maps |
Course Strategy Tips
General
- Play the ball along the ground when possible - links golf rewards creativity
- Club selection is crucial with wind off Bass Strait
- Firm fairways mean extra roll - factor this into approach shots
Wind
- Coastal location means wind is almost always a factor
- Check conditions before your round and adjust club selection accordingly
- Morning tee times often have calmer conditions
Getting There
From Melbourne CBD: ~90 minutes
- Take M1 → M3 → M11 Peninsula Freeway
- Exit Boneo Rd → Right on Limestone Rd
- Left on Truemans Rd → Right on Sandy Rd
From Portsea: ~15 minutes
Our Rounds
October 9, 2025 - Mornington Tour Day 1
- Tee Time: 1:48pm
- Players: Simon, Russel, Jonas, Declan
- Conditions: After 3:30am wake-up… challenging!
- Trip: Mornington 2025
Sources
- St Andrews Beach Official Website
- Renaissance Golf Design - St Andrews Beach
- Planet Golf - St Andrews Beach
- Golf Australia - Top-100 Spotlight
Last Updated: 2025-12-10