Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Michael Wharton-Palmer on October 21, 2014, 04:32:19 PM
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My dream trip is in the planning.
Tockrts booked leaving DFW March 25th and returnng April 12th.
About 3 days in Sydney before heading to Melbourne nad then onto Tasmania for the last 4/5 days.
Any advice would be appreciated about accomodation, we are more of the bed and breakfst type than the Ritz Carlton type.
Rent a car in Melbourne or not?
Where is the best area to stay for golf course access etc...all input will be much appreciated
Thanks ahead of time
MWP
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I'm willing to offer up my services as your tour guide...ignore the inconvenient fact that I've never been there. 8) 8) 8)
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Would love to have you there, anybody else in fact who is interested in meeting up....lets do it.
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Does Australia allow entry to someone bearing an Arkansas passport? ;D
Have a great trip--I'm envious.
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Michael - stay southeast of Melbourne city for the best mix of access to town and the golf courses. Anywhere between St Kilda and Brighton will do fine. The only real flaw with this side of town is that it's furthest from Tullamarine airport. Car rental advisable from a golf pov.
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Does Australia allow entry to someone bearing an Arkansas passport? ;D
Have a great trip--I'm envious.
will be nice to see inside toilets again ;D
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I cannot believe it has been nearly nine years since I visited. Others will have more informed advice but here is my take:
Definitely rent a car in Melbourne and Tasmania - maybe Sidney as well. Take some time to drive around Tasmania. I loved the countryside and felt like I was at the end of the world. There are also plenty of day trips from Melbourne so you will want one there as well. I enjoyed travelling by water in Sidney but a car would be helpful to get to Newcastle.
Make sure to play Woodlands in addition to the major sand belt courses.
I stayed in St. Kilda in Melbourne which worked out well. Those courses are so close together that it is a short drive from one end to the other. St. Kilda allows you to avoid any significant traffic.
Oh - and the speed limits are actual speed limits. I was driving a bit over them and passing everyone like they were standing still. I avoided a ticket but was told I was lucky.
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Paging Dick Daley who had a great visit recently.
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Michael,
A thread/guide regarding Sydney.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57745.0.html
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St. Kilda is an excellent base for golf, food and nightlife.
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Definetly stay at the lodge at Barnbougle, the food there is excellent. Should the lodge be full we stayed one night at the Bridport Beach Resort which was OK. Not a lot going on in Bridport, but there are excellent wine tasting opportunities. We took the shuttle from Launceston and back and had them take us wine tasting; they are better at dodging wallabys than we were!
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In Sydney you must play NSW. If you have the time I'd recommend The Lakes and St Michaels. You might enjoy a day trip up to The Blue Mountains. Best place to stay for golf access is south of the harbour in the eastern suburbs. A hire car is needed.
Fly to Melbourne.
Hire a car.
In Melbourne you need to work out what courses you want to play, there are two distinct areas that are approximately 1.5hrs apart- the sandbelt in Melbourne and The Mornington Peninsula, you may wish to pick a few to play in the sandbelt and then move camp down to the Mornington Peninsula, don't miss The Old Course at The National.
Rather than going back through Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport, you could catch the car ferry across from Mornington Peninsula to The Bellarine Peninsula and drive to the Avalon Airport to fly to Tasmania.
Fly to Launceston, hire a car, drive to Barnbougle, stay there whilst you're playing.
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My dream trip is in the planning.
Tockrts booked leaving DFW March 25th and returnng April 12th.
About 3 days in Sydney before heading to Melbourne nad then onto Tasmania for the last 4/5 days.
Any advice would be appreciated about accomodation, we are more of the bed and breakfst type than the Ritz Carlton type.
Rent a car in Melbourne or not?
Where is the best area to stay for golf course access etc...all input will be much appreciated
Thanks ahead of time
MWP
Michael,
I believe there are accommodations available at Victoria Golf Club, which is walking distance to Royal Melbourne East & West. That would keep you centrally located for Sandbelt golf, which should also include Woodlands, Peninsula North & South, Kingston Heath, Yarra Yarra and Commonwealth.
TK
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Doesn't Royal Sydney have a dormie house? Rose Bay is a nice location, very close to Bondi Beach.
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I only have the one month long trip to OZ (3weeks) and NZ one week. So I can't really say what other places are like by comparison to what we did in the way of hotels and transportation. But here are a few things you might consider.
From my point of view the Sydney public transportation system is second to none. As a tourist, if you stay anywhere along the main inner city train line, you can get to nearly anywhere except a bit harder to Bondi. Get the weekly pass and you can also go inter-urban to places like the Blue Mountains at Katumba Falls (a must see IMHO)
Of course golf recommendations ought to come from our Aussie contingent on GCA.COM. Follow any and all their advice. I have never had a more wonderful experience than meeting these various gents on their home turf. Given that your reputation is that of a very skilled golfer, I do hope you have a go with Michael "Pup" Taylor. He can flat out play and loves his NSW and well he should.
We took the train to Melbourne from Sydney. I might suggest you fly instead. The price to fly apparently isn't that much more. The public trans system in Mel is also excellent. I can not say enough for the Parkview Hotel on St Kilda, south fron CBD right on the tram line. Best breakfasts of any hotel I've ever been to... And all the food tastes better over there including beef, for my tastes.
I didn't find any need to rent a car until the day we left MEL for a couple days on Great Ocean Drive, akin to our Oregon coastal highways. It took a few days to get comfortable with the left side of road. The wife never did and sceamed like her hair was on fire at every hairpin turn! If you get to Port Fairy don't miss a chance to play the course. It was my biggest scheduling mistake.
Flights are dirt cheap from MEL to Tassie. I loved Hobart. It is a bit like Portland or my hometown Madison WI. If you can, check out Arm End and 7 Mile beach to see what hopefully will become among the worlds great golf courses. See MONA in Hobart. Drive to Launcheston and stop to see what Greg Ramsey is doing at Bothwell, the oldest golf course in Australia, with the agri-tourism complex. It is a great slice of settler history. Then a short drive to Barnygoogles and Lost Farm. Play your brains out! I would not miss a two day return to Hobart airport without a relaxing time on the pristine and nearly uninhabited east coast.
I haven't nary one single criticism of anything we experienced in Australia. The people are great!
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B&Bs tend to be high end in Australia.
If you are a reciprocal member the accommodation at Royal Sydney is very comfortable.
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A couple of good hotels near Brighton
http://www.carolineservicedapartments.com.au/Brighton.aspx?gclid=CK7OgNfmvsECFRcJvAodk6MAPA
serviced apartments right on church street which is full of retsaurants and cafes
http://www.questapartments.com.au/Accommodation/70/Australia/Melbourne_Suburbs/Quest_Brighton_On_The_Bay/Welcome.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=maps&utm_campaign=mapsquestbrighton
Over the road from Brighton Beach
Both are about 12 minutes from RMGC,
I have quite a few clients stay at the apartments and they work well
If you would like to PM me we can exchange e-mails on advice etc
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Staying at Victoria I highly recommended!
Otherwise, I stayed at a Best Western (Moorabin I think), which was clean and very convenient.
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Staying at Victoria I highly recommended!
I would do this and I would do what Adam Lawrence said as well. St Kilda area is key for golf access but stay at Victoria too as it's a closer experience to a bed and breakfast. I did both and would do it again.
I would rent a car in Melbourne and Tasmania.
I would not rent a car in Sydney. Screw it, just take a cab to NSWGC. Spend some time wandering the CBD, the Opera House, and go check out Bondi Beach.
Play Royal Melbourne West as many times as possible. I'm not kidding.
Enjoy the people as they are very welcoming.
Where do you really want to play aside from NSWGC, RM, KH, and BD/LF? You should play Victoria if you're going to stay there.
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I'd suggest spending time down on the Mornington Peninsula. Were it not for family reasons, it would be high on my list of places I'd like to live.
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Staying at Victoria I highly recommended!
I would do this and I would do what Adam Lawrence said as well. St Kilda area is key for golf access but stay at Victoria too as it's a closer experience to a bed and breakfast. I did both and would do it again.
I would rent a car in Melbourne and Tasmania.
I would not rent a car in Sydney. Screw it, just take a cab to NSWGC. Spend some time wandering the CBD, the Opera House, and go check out Bondi Beach.
Play Royal Melbourne West as many times as possible. I'm not kidding.
Enjoy the people as they are very welcoming.
Where do you really want to play aside from NSWGC, RM, KH, and BD/LF? You should play Victoria if you're going to stay there.
I would love to see Metropolitan. Love the way the bunkers eat right into the green surfaces. Beautiful.
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Are you taking the big QANTAS 380 14 hours DFW to Sidney? Long flight.
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Not a piece of advice, but a question: are you planning on playing the new Cape Wickham course on King Island? I think it's supposed to be open by then.
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Are any of our intrepid golf travelers using AirB&B? It looks intriguing. I looked at some listings in Ireland. Particularly if one is traveling solo, it looks like it is worth a try.
I would go back and say that we picked a hotel in Sydney that would be close to the train central station, so we stayed at the Great Southern, a block away. It was adequate as we were never there except to sleep. But, expensive for the dinky outdated room with a view of the rooftop air conditioners ::) But the busy days of world class sight seeing made the couple hours sleepy time in a cramped room well worth it. Being a three minute walk from Central station was perfect. A person could spend a couple days just taking the 50 or so ferry routes around the harbor and you'd say you had a great time in Sydney. When they told me what some of the housing prices were, I darn near fainted. But tourist prices for food and beverage and cost of fun stuff was well within normal pricing.
I'm half Italian, and I found a couple of Italian and Greek restaurants as good as any I have been to around U.S. or Italy. Melbourne has huge Greek Italian communities. It is a good thing Melbourne is a great town to walk off all the great meals.
And, the only deadly snakes I saw were in the Healsville wild life sanctuary behind glass! ;D I think Gray and Taylor were having me on when I nervously jerked my opening drive on first tee shot into left junk followed by third shot to rough on right where Micheal said there were 'browns' lurking there.
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Meet Paul Daley and Greg Ramsey and Dieter Jones and Paul Mogford and every other Aussie and Tassie!
They all made my trip so much better than just the golf.
I stayed at The Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne.
In Tasmania - fly to Launie play Barnbougle, drive to Ratho, stay in downtown Hobart - while there you ought to try and see the Arm End site with Greg!
Picking the great courses is easy.
Have fun.
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The local talent music scenes are excellent as well. The Farmer's Market in Hobart has local musicians playing every block, and they are outstanding, as is the produce and local food products, and crafts.
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At least the dollar is worth more now, making it a more economical trip for Yanks after 11 years of Liberal Party mismanagement in government.
However, Australia is still an eye-wateringly expensive place, so when you think you have enough money saved, keep saving.
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I think costs may have come off a touch in many areas, however bring a spare card for the green fees. I am not absolutely sure as I don't have to pay them, but I suspect as a rich foreign visitor you wont be getting a lot of change from $300-350 at the likes of RM, KH and NSW.
Maybe not quite up there in Pebble Beach territory, but painful nonetheless.
Angle for invites from well connected Aussie GCAers, - guest fees a fraction of the unaccompanied visitor costs.
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Michael,
Great to hear you're visiting us "Down Under". I've sent you a PM, so please let me know if I can assist with anything.
The Metropolitan Golf Club is hosting the Australian Masters from November 20-23. Watching the tournament on TV will give you a good feel for what to expect there. It is quite unique amongst the Sandbelt courses.
RMW and KH are non-negotiables.
Best wishes,
Ben
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At least the dollar is worth more now, making it a more economical trip for Yanks after 11 years of Liberal Party mismanagement in government.
However, Australia is still an eye-wateringly expensive place, so when you think you have enough money saved, keep saving.
Are you serious? Put the axe down and go and play some golf.
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the axe down and go and play some golf.
To be fair, his comment was no sillier than your recommendation to play st michaels.
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Michael,
Great to hear you're visiting us "Down Under". I've sent you a PM, so please let me know if I can assist with anything.
The Metropolitan Golf Club is hosting the Australian Masters from November 20-23. Watching the tournament on TV will give you a good feel for what to expect there. It is quite unique amongst the Sandbelt courses.
RMW and KH are non-negotiables.
Best wishes,
Ben
Michael, get in touch with Ben. Many, many people were very generous with me on my trip in early 2014, but there is no way it would have been as great as it was without the time, effort, generosity and hospitality of Ben Jarvis. And once you meet him, you'll see he's not as bad a guy as people say he is ;D
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Play RM-W with Mike Clayton. Afterward,have him tell you some Ballesteros stories over a beer or three.
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Are you taking the big QANTAS 380 14 hours DFW to Sidney? Long flight.
how about 17 hours..not 14..but yep that one.
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Get Scott Warren to schedule the next GCA Boomerang at Barnbougle to coincide with your visit. The highlight of my trip in 2011 was getting to meet a slew of great guys from half way across the world.
Also, make sure your clubs have arrived by the time you play RM. Nothing worse than stepping up to the first tee at a great course with a rental set.
Sven
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Great information gents, I have been buzzing sonce pulling the trigger yesterday trying to organise internal flights to Kings Island and Tasmania and trhen back to the mainland.
Lokks like I needed another two weeks!!!
Just about got the schedule down now time to start contacing the clubs etc....
Thanks for all the great sharing, very much appreciated.
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Make sure to play Woodlands in addition to the major sand belt courses.
+1
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Okay my schedule of courses is..
Sydney..NSW +1
Melbourne..
Royal..Victoria..Commonwealth..Kingston Heath..Metropolitan..St Andrews Beach..National and Woodlands
then onto Kings Island and Taamnaia for the obvious suspects.
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Okay my schedule of courses is..
Sydney..NSW +1
Melbourne..
Royal..Victoria..Commonwealth..Kingston Heath..Metropolitan..St Andrews Beach..National and Woodlands
then onto Kings Island and Taamnaia for the obvious suspects.
Should be a fantastic trip!
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I'd be interested in the logistics of how you are making the hops to King Island and Tas. Are you going from MEL to KI by prop plane, then on to Tas, or vise versa Tas (Launie or Hobart) and KI back to Mel. Can you share what the extra hop to KI costs? I know you can do RT from Tullamarine to Hobart and Laun for $120 to 180 considering what baggage costs you have. Just wondering what extra a KI would add...
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Michael, if you're up for a bit of driving, make the +1 in Sydney Newcastle. If you're not, spend an afternoon with Scott Warren at Bonnie Doon.
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I'd be interested in the logistics of how you are making the hops to King Island and Tas. Are you going from MEL to KI by prop plane, then on to Tas, or vise versa Tas (Launie or Hobart) and KI back to Mel. Can you share what the extra hop to KI costs? I know you can do RT from Tullamarine to Hobart and Laun for $120 to 180 considering what baggage costs you have. Just wondering what extra a KI would add...
Plan looks like...
Melbourne to Kings Island.....$210
Kings Island to launcseton....pricey at $280
Then Lanceston to Sydney for the flight back to the US..I think about the same $ region
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Are any of our intrepid golf travelers using AirB&B? It looks intriguing. I looked at some listings in Ireland. Particularly if one is traveling solo, it looks like it is worth a try.
Dick, Mrs. and I enjoyed our 10 day stay in a London flat a few hundred yards from South Kensington tube station. Booked through airibnb without a hitch. A logistical breeze and surprisingly affordable for that neighborhood.
Bogey
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Thanks Mike and Mike. 8)
MWP, that seems excessive from our experience unless that is for both of you, then about right. Of course the KI side trip may be the kicker as off the beaten path.
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RJ..no that is single fares with the flight from Launceston to Sydney being only $110.
Anything into or out of Kings Island is high dollar, especially the flight from Kings island to Taz.
I have tried all the local airlines..REX, King Isalnd airways and Sharp and those prices are all about the cheapest.
I can certainly fond moreexpensive, such as helicopter rides and other "charter" companies but for two people those prices are the best I can find.
Thers is a slightly chaeper flight from Melbourne to Kings Island saving about $40 a head but that doesnt leave until mid morning and as such takes half a days golf away and what is that worth ;)
With a trip of a lifetime like this that $40 isnt worth missing an extra nine holes!!!!
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Okay my schedule of courses is..
Sydney..NSW +1
Melbourne..
Royal..Victoria..Commonwealth..Kingston Heath..Metropolitan..St Andrews Beach..National and Woodlands
then onto Kings Island and Taamnaia for the obvious suspects.
Very jealous.
The pics from the work at Bonnie Doon look really interesting and Cape Wickham looks like it will be superb.
No time for Penninsula in Melbourne? I never got around to stopping by and really regret it. Next time...
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Bonnie Doon is really coming along well at the moment. The ten new holes are a joy to play every time, and the three newest ones include two short 4's which are a blast. Conditions are great at the moment. It is well worth a stop if you want to see the capabilities of Clayts and the team on a beautiful, sandy and tight site.
Okay my schedule of courses is..
Sydney..NSW +1
Melbourne..
Royal..Victoria..Commonwealth..Kingston Heath..Metropolitan..St Andrews Beach..National and Woodlands
then onto Kings Island and Taamnaia for the obvious suspects.
Very jealous.
The pics from the work at Bonnie Doon look really interesting and Cape Wickham looks like it will be superb.
No time for Penninsula in Melbourne? I never got around to stopping by and really regret it. Next time...
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No time for Penninsula in Melbourne? I never got around to stopping by and really regret it. Next time...
I have been to Melbourne 15-20 times and I STILL have not had time for Peninsula. That might be an error, but I've never felt like I wasted a day there with wherever else I was playing.
Hopefully I'll manage to get there sometime in the next 3 1/2 years.
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No time for Penninsula in Melbourne? I never got around to stopping by and really regret it. Next time...
I have been to Melbourne 15-20 times and I STILL have not had time for Peninsula. That might be an error, but I've never felt like I wasted a day there with wherever else I was playing.
Hopefully I'll manage to get there sometime in the next 3 1/2 years.
Tom, it's an excellent day at Peninsula. Maybe this will pique your interest... http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58043.html
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Bonnie Doon now officially on the play list ;D
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what would be the concesus of those who have played between playing Gnnamatta versus The Dunes versus the Peninsula courses and I guess versus Moonah.
All carry the same flag rating from Planet Golf so there must not be much to choose between them?
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what would be the concesus of those who have played between playing Gnnamatta versus The Dunes versus the Peninsula courses and I guess versus Moonah.
All carry the same flag rating from Planet Golf so there must not be much to choose between them?
Stab-Pen N- National- Pen S- Dunes. IMHO.
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what would be the concesus of those who have played between playing Gnnamatta versus The Dunes versus the Peninsula courses and I guess versus Moonah.
All carry the same flag rating from Planet Golf so there must not be much to choose between them?
Ignore the flag ratings completely - even National Ocean received one, and playing National Ocean would make you wish you had Ebola.
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Michael, let me know if you'd like to play as my guest at Commonwealth.