Warrnambool Golf Club

Warrnambool Golf Club: Occupying predominantly undulating duneland terrain, Warrnambool Golf Club is located a little closer to the Southern Ocean than the good-sized, coastal town of the same name. The golf course alternates between an open flatter section, and other more significantly undulating stretches, which push well into the coastal dunes.

With many towering dunes between you and the beach, ocean vistas from the course rarely feature, and are mainly confined to the elevated tee of the par-4 5th. Aptly named Sea View, the 5th is Warrnambool's signature hole, and definitely a case of the longer you drive, the tighter the bush-lined fairway becomes.

The middle-section of the front-nine and most of the back-nine are most firmly ensconced in the wonderfully natural and ever-undulating duneland. Small trees and bushes threateningly line many of the holes.

Although the fairways are generally good-width, they get testingly tight on a few occasions as they weave through the coastal, bushland terrain. Accurate shot-making will be needed, not least at the drivable par-4 8th, played from a wonderfully elevated tee, and long gently doglegging par-5 10th.

The greens here are firm and fast, with many demanding slopes and borrows. This very enjoyable and challenging layout, is characterised by good maintenance and presentation standards throughout, and a predominantly natural feel provided by the coastal dunes.